Ive saved up enough brass to get a ac/dc tig and have been looking at the GYS 180 which seems a resonable bit of kit.
Ive also seen these:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7583653518
and
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7603232029

Any comments?


[Edited on 26/3/06 by Gav]

[Edited on 26/3/06 by Gav]

Always go for the foot switch pedal type and not the scratch start type. You will find it easier.
Butters is a good name for welders, but the ad says nothing about pedals.
Buy the best you can afford (single phase if you work from home).
I spent 5 years welding Tig, Mig and arc during the last recession (I am an electrician by trade).
Just practice, practice, practice

I already have a gys 130HF DC which i got off ebay for a bargin, but i want something reasonalbe to last long term and i just know if im gonna buy something decent for long term ill want AC

edit: thinking long term, i was looking at the ro-tec one as its not inverter based.

[Edited on 26/3/06 by Gav]

go for the butters have demoed and it welds very well on ali even on a 100 meters of cable.

Must admit the butters one was the fav, ive used BIG butters migs for structural work before and they were very good.

Hi Gav

Have a read of this thread. It may help.

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=38129

I've helped, I think, the odd one or two set up their new Tig welders
and without doubt the best I have come across is a Lincoln.
If I were to change my dc Sure Weld for an ac/dc this would be what I'd go for,
expensive I know, but then you pays your money... etc, etc.

Paul G

We've got a Lincoln tig at work (just DC) but it's 400amp with water cooled torch and foot control.

Fab machine - list was about 3k, ex demo (used twice) £1600

Gonna pester the old man (father and boss!!!) to try and persuade our welding supplier to find an ex demo ac/dc (our current one is a 30 year old (estimate) BOC contraption) as we seem to be getting more ally work.

ATB

Simon

PS and they use Lincoln in Foose's workshop

[Edited on 26/3/06 by Simon]

Although I've no personal experience,I've heard and read a lot of bad reports about the Butters machines not being very reliable.
One I've been looking at is the THERMAL ARC 180 ac/dc, £1499 inc torch.
It's all down to how much you have to spend.
The problem with Ebay is that you're never sure on the condition of items like this. If you're spending a fair bit of money, you want some sort of warrenty.
Cheers John

worked in welding for over 20 years as a service engineer..
gys -- french good price problem if they go wrong..
butters -- used to be british, no recent experance.
thermal, american company now made by sanrex, french very good quality and reliable inverter.
consider also weco, italian good value 200 amp ac/dc inverter cheep to repair £1350 ish.
dean

Cheers dean, interesting comments!