AC DC TIG Welders - What is good?

[jff45]

Cmon John show your crap ones 2..... I've seen worse from trade qualified people

Too late mate, already binned for recycling. Don't want bad reminders lying around
Happy to take the compliment though..

[NissanGQ4.2]

Too late mate, already binned for recycling. Don't want bad reminders lying around
Happy to take the compliment though..

Funny.... I was happy 2 post up on Faceache my bad mig welding and blowing holes in metal..... Its all apart of learning

[jff45]

This is my $10 eBay flex head torch. The torch supplied with the welder was too thick with the start button on it and I didn't use the button anyway. The flex head allows you more choice of angle without getting your hand too uncomfortable.
It has a #7 nozzle with a gas lens that allows me to use the electrode further out. Electrode is 2.4mm zirconiated.
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IMG_5370.JPG

The foot pedal supplied is a cheapie. You could probably make one similar from junk in the shed and gets a 10k linear pot from Jaycar.
It only has 40mm travel to go from 0 to 200 amps so not easy to get accurate settings.
To compensate for this I added another 10k pot in a plastic box and put it in line close to the machine so I can adjust it easily. I can now set max amps down to as low as 45 so the pedal is much more precise.
Cost about $10 in parts.
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IMG_5366.JPG

Hope that helps to show that you can get a reasonably priced setup that can do acceptable welds for the automotive hobbyist.
It's also not as hard to learn as some would have you believe if the put the effort into learning.

[dom14]

Too late mate, already binned for recycling. Don't want bad reminders lying around
Happy to take the compliment though..

Thanx for the posts mate. It is really helpful indeed.

John, would you be able to try fusing two coke cans as in below video(check the time stamp 1:10)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq6ENYc55H4&t=37s

[jff45]

Ive seen lots of coke cans welded in the different forums but it's never interested me to try.

[dom14]

Ive seen lots of coke cans welded in the different forums but it's never interested me to try.

Do you think it's possible with your setup?

[jff45]

Do you think it's possible with your setup?

I don't see why not. Probably need to go down to a 1.6mm electrode. I did the 0.8mm thick weld I posted there with a 2.4mm electrode.
You could probably find Youtube vids where people have done coke cans with cheap chinese machines.

The alu tube for the drawers I'm going to weld for my GU is 1.5mm thickness so I now know I can do that with confidence.
You're not likely to see coke can thin work very often, if at all, so I don't see why that should be a criteria for choosing a machine.

[dom14]

I don't see why not. Probably need to go down to a 1.6mm electrode. I did the 0.8mm thick weld I posted there with a 2.4mm electrode.
You could probably find Youtube vids where people have done coke cans with cheap chinese machines.

The alu tube for the drawers I'm going to weld for my GU is 1.5mm thickness so I now know I can do that with confidence.
You're not likely to see coke can thin work very often, if at all, so I don't see why that should be a criteria for choosing a machine.

It is to do with some of my hobby project ideas. Not coke cans per say, but thin aluminium.

[BigRAWesty]

It is to do with some of my hobby project ideas. Not coke cans per say, but thin aluminium.

So Dom what did you end up going?
Ive just invested in a new unimig viper.
It's only mig, but i have my tig in my other machine.

[dom14]

So Dom what did you end up going?
Ive just invested in a new unimig viper.
It's only mig, but i have my tig in my other machine.

Hi Kallen,
I'm still using the old one and haven't bought the new kit yet. What happened was I was onto a good deal but wasn't able to purchase it before the end of financial year(That was the special for) and the price went up.
I bought a MIG unit off ebay.
I'm getting the TIG unit soon.
I'll update the thread soon with the outcome.
Cheers
Dom