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Author: Subject: Tig welder
chris_harris_

posted on 29/11/06 at 06:53 PM Reply With Quote
Tig welder

I'm on the look out for a tig welder, just something to learn with. Anyone with any advice on type and spec of machine would be great. And what does this little starter machine look like.

Ebay Linky





Regards Chris

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big_wasa

posted on 29/11/06 at 07:22 PM Reply With Quote
Yeh I am thinking of investing after x-mas.

I would want hf Start and a bit more power.

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chris_harris_

posted on 29/11/06 at 07:28 PM Reply With Quote
So, as i don't know much about these things, what is an Hf start.And what sort of ampage woud i need?





Regards Chris

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chris_harris_

posted on 29/11/06 at 07:44 PM Reply With Quote
Thanks very much for the info, thats really helpful, from what i gather so far dc is for steel and stainless and ac is for aluminium, but how much harder is aluminium to tig, or is it ok to just go with a dc, Oh and can all tigs plasma cut? Thanks all.





Regards Chris

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907

posted on 29/11/06 at 07:46 PM Reply With Quote
Hi Chris, (again)


My advise would be to have a go with one first.
That way you would understand what all the knobs and whistles do, which would give you a better idea of what to buy.

I would say that auto gas flow, (that round knob on the torch is an on/off tap,) and high frequency arc start is a minimum requirement.

You'd be welcome to try mine but I'm a bit far away, must be someone local.

Gas is a big expense. Got to sort that one out.

ATB

Paul G






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chris_harris_

posted on 29/11/06 at 07:53 PM Reply With Quote
I take it its like a firework show then. Could be fun. Just wandering really how much i'm likely to weld aluminium, so may go with a dc only, however it seems an extra £100 could get a 200 amp ac/dc tig set, Oh decisions again. Is it just argon you need for all metals when tiging?
Thanks everyone!

P.s How about this one. LINK

[Edited on 29/11/06 by chris_harris_]





Regards Chris

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chris_harris_

posted on 29/11/06 at 08:00 PM Reply With Quote
Hi paul, just looking at your pics, how do you make the exhasut end pieces, got to make a couple, or get hold of couple for my two carbon cans. Any help always appreciated..





Regards Chris

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chris_harris_

posted on 29/11/06 at 08:05 PM Reply With Quote
Hi CaLviNx i did think they lokked pretty similar but i missed out on the group buy thing. Given that your buying these type of tig sets in i presume they are a pretty good standard for the hobbyist.





Regards Chris

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907

posted on 29/11/06 at 08:34 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by chris_harris_
Hi paul, just looking at your pics, how do you make the exhasut end pieces, got to make a couple, or get hold of couple for my two carbon cans. Any help always appreciated..



The o/d is spun on the lathe and the i/d is cut under size and a tapered former is pressed through to expand the hole and form the shape.

I bet you wish you'd never asked now.

Paul G






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Valtra

posted on 29/11/06 at 09:20 PM Reply With Quote
I don't want to break any rules but

Sorry I'm not a registered trader (how do I do that ) but as a Draper dealer I can give a competitive quote on any Draper welder etc etc I trade on Ebay as toolkitool . don't know a lot about tig inverters though , I'm a stick and Mig dinosaur
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chris_harris_

posted on 29/11/06 at 09:24 PM Reply With Quote
Too right i am, surely there is an easier way.





Regards Chris

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907

posted on 29/11/06 at 10:01 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by chris_harris_
Too right i am, surely there is an easier way.




Cone shape??

Paul G






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jolson

posted on 30/11/06 at 03:34 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by CaLviNx
... if you want to try and weld ali with a DC setup can i come and watch


Apparently someone thinks it can be done. There's a description in the Wikipedia on TIG welding. I've always used AC for ali; if you forget to switch the welder over, it usually just makes a blackened mess.





Cheers

John

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clementine

posted on 30/11/06 at 03:42 PM Reply With Quote
quote:

Apparently someone thinks it can be done.


Someone on this very forum has done it quite neatly, though possibly with some little oxide inclusions: http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=50458

DC MIG can do it as well as DC TIG. The advantage of AC TIG is the oxide is cleaned away more nicely.

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Jebus

posted on 30/11/06 at 09:00 PM Reply With Quote
you can weld ali with dc tig if you want, its just that its harder, what happens when its on dc electrode positive you get good penertration, but crap cleaning the weld wont look good, dc electrode negitive you get great cleaning but sod all penertration, on ac normal you get half and half so thats good, and a lot of machine you can adjust it 2 give more cleaning or penertration. by cleaning i am refering to remvoing the very thin layer of aluminuim oxide that you get on ally even if you clean it it reacts very very qickly, and this stuffs metling point is 3 times that of the ally under it.
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