Hello,
I'm in the market for a tig welder for semi professional use, I would like it to be able to weld aluminium aswell so an AC/DC set would be good,
HF start a must, able to weld 5mm, run off a conventional 240volt 13amp supply. A foot pedal? is that really necessary?
I want a well made quality machine, ideally under a thousand pounds
Cheers
David
All my kit is from R-tech welding in Gloucester, good kit reasonably priced.
http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/
I purchased from R-tech recently, excellent machine.
Look for the special offers/shop soiled, my 200amp machine was unmarked @ £999
You need IBGT technology, not MOSFET's as in the cheaper models.
Regards Mark
under £1000 with a footpedal is pushing it for a quality, new AC/DC set. There's some good reports on the R-tech stuff, with good customer
support, warranty etc. Depends on what thickness, how often you will use it, duty cycle etc, etc. You're probably looking at a transformer unit
if you want a "quality" "semi pro" set up for that money.
If you are earning money from it then, warranty, and back up should be high on your shopping list.
Most of the quality inverter sets, Kemppi, Lorch, Fronius, EWM go for 3 x that with no pedal !!!!
Just to give you an example, I'm in the market for a pedal on my Fronius..................£650 !!!!!
You might be able to pick up a Cebora tranformer with a footpedal, (had one myself, great tool) for about the £500-£800 mark. A Thermalarc might just
stretch you're budget (but these have far eastern origins)
Otherwise the usual suspects, Murex, Esab, Miller, Migatronic, Lincoln will be what you're after on the transformer front, with that budget.
Maybe pick up an inverter with a pedal for the same price For a new inverter expect to pay more.
Check out here, there's tons of info......
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/index.php
[Edited on 6/3/13 by clanger]
[Edited on 6/3/13 by clanger]
Another vote for R-Tech.
I use a 200Amp AC/DC machine every day.
Get a foot pedal if you want to do al.alloy welding.
Had a Chinese set which did its job but not great on a/c now have an r tech and its a great bit if kit for home use .
I have used RTech, first class kit and service, very helpful.
MikeF