Nice intro to purchasing a TIG. Here are a few thoughts: - Air cooled torches are almost always bigger, bulkier and clumsier than water cooled torches. - A water cooled torch requires a water cooler, which makes the machine bigger and more expensive - but TOTALLY spring for the water cooled torch if you can afford it. (especially for aluminum) - Pay attention to the "duty cycle" of the machine you are considering. This number represents what percentage of the time you can actually use the power of your machine - I've been TIG welding 25 years at this point. I"m not gods gift by any means, but I can do a decent job on about anything, and I've used lots of different equipment. - My personal machine is an Everlast 255ext, which is truly excellent. Ton's of great features and really creates a smooth arc. It's high frequency AC makes aluminum almost weld like steel. It has a "Advanced AC pulse", which allows you to weld aluminum with the power of DC, combined with the cleaning action of AC. Truly awesome. I think I gave $2500 delivered for the power source, water cooler, two of the "premium" torches, the premium foot pedal, and also an additional wireless foot pedal (which is awesome)
Have got a CIG Weld 200a AC/DC tig. My mate is a boiler maker for 25 years and certified pressure vessel welder had a go on it, and he did not complain. Trust me, he would!! 🤣 About $2k ish
If you're willing to learn or are beginning to learn about welding. Go to School for it. If you can't afford to go to school, TH-cam is your friend. If you live in the USA, Harbour Freight is also your friend. Until you're absolutely serious about it and you have some skills under your belt. You can upgrade your welding Machine. Do NOT go spending $4,000 USD just because someone told you X Machine is the best. Lies, the machine doesn't make you a good welder, it just help the Weldor to weld nicely.
Came here to check out what this channel had to say. I agree that each machine and process has its own purpose and try to not buy one machine for multiple processes ie... 1 machine that does 3 or 4 different processes. I myself currently have 3 different mig machines, 2 Arc welders, 1 spot welder, 2 ACC sets and last count 3 Plasma cutters, my wife thinks that I have a problem and I have to admit I do have a problem I've ran out of shop space so I'm going to have to build a bigger shop. For I do believe in the old saying he who dies with the most tools wins.
Ask yourself, Are you going to weld aluminium, if so the addition of A.C. will double or treble the cost of the welder. If your serious about welding two names stand out, Lincoln or Miller, any thing else has PRC written all over it, even the GYS kit which is supplied from France. For a learner trying to learn with junk kit is twice as hard, if your experienced you can weld with some big batteries, jumper cables and a rusty nail. I kid you not.
I wish I could agree with you. But Miller and Lincoln both source most components from PRC, and have for some time. There are several excellent, quality machines on the market that provide all the goodness of a Lincoln/Miller for way less money. For example, I purchased an Everlast 255ext, which is more or less the equivalent to a Miller Dynasty - though I'd argue the Everlast has more and better features - and it cost 1/3 the price of the Dynasty. If the Dynasty were actually constructed from all american components - I'd understand the extra cost, but it isn't. The IGBT transistors inside both are all made by the same company in Taiwan, so ask yourself what you're getting (and who is getting rich) when you spend 3X the price for the Blue or Red machine. Also, HTP is all European. More expensive than Everlast for sure, but not Lincoln/Miller money. Last, check out the Everlast "Advanced AC pulse" feature! It allows you to weld Aluminum and Magnesium on DC, but it interrupts the DC with a burst of AC for the cleaning action. This is all configurable, of course - but bottom line is it lets you weld Aluminum with the power and penetration of DC, with the cleaning action of AC - all while using straight Argon. I've welded on 500lb aluminum castings this way, and get an instant, steady, clean arc - with no preheat.
What a pleasure to hear an Aussie scaffolders accent on one of these videos. Great video btw. Very informative and you added a few items/considerations I haven't heard on other vids. At home I use a Tokentools AC/DC unit. Great unit and fantastic after sales service, which was the biggest seller for me. A workmate of mine has the SWS like yours and loves it. Came with a heap of accessories too.
As it is metalworking that you do. You might also need to spend money on a drill press, grinding stuff like a angle grinder, die grinder and dremel. Yes basic sandpaper too.
If you're a beginner, Unimig is pretty good. I got their kit, and while it didn't have a foot pedal, it had everything else I wanted to do TIG, MIG, ARC & Oxy. Unimig 182 Welder, Helmet, gloves, all the torches, 17 piece MIG starter kit, few TIG tips, 1kg wire spool. All I had to do was set it up, get some Argon and I was good to go. 👍 Best bit about this kit was the price and the timing of the purchase. I bought it from Sydney Tools for only $899. The VERY NEXT DAY, Unimig (and therefore all distributors aswell) discontinued that SKU, transferred the kit to a new SKU with NO CHANGES TO THE KIT for $150 more! 😳😬 Safe to say, I love my kit for those reasons too. 😎👍
About the only thing I would add is to check if the fittings for the cables, etc, are generic/standard types or if they're unique to the brand and/or model of the welder. With standard fittings you can swap them out for better/more comfortable items, but if they're propriatory to the brand you're stuck with what they give you.
We merged RaceCraft with HPA last year. If Andre was here I'm sure he'd be asking about your living conditions and if they involve a rock 😂 But yes, it would have for sure! Always great to see you kicking around too btw mate - Taz.
I have the SWS Alumtig 200 AC/DC I learnt to tig on a miller dynasty as shown the SWS is a awesome machine and would be one of the best low budget tig machines on the market. Make sure you look at the Duty cycle this is a biggy when buying a cheaper machine
Take $25 USD off ANY HP Academy course with this coupon: TH-cam25
Enroll now: hpcdmy.co/25offytc - Taz 👨🏻
Nice intro to purchasing a TIG. Here are a few thoughts:
- Air cooled torches are almost always bigger, bulkier and clumsier than water cooled torches.
- A water cooled torch requires a water cooler, which makes the machine bigger and more expensive - but TOTALLY spring for the water cooled torch if you can afford it. (especially for aluminum)
- Pay attention to the "duty cycle" of the machine you are considering. This number represents what percentage of the time you can actually use the power of your machine
- I've been TIG welding 25 years at this point. I"m not gods gift by any means, but I can do a decent job on about anything, and I've used lots of different equipment.
- My personal machine is an Everlast 255ext, which is truly excellent. Ton's of great features and really creates a smooth arc. It's high frequency AC makes aluminum almost weld like steel. It has a "Advanced AC pulse", which allows you to weld aluminum with the power of DC, combined with the cleaning action of AC. Truly awesome. I think I gave $2500 delivered for the power source, water cooler, two of the "premium" torches, the premium foot pedal, and also an additional wireless foot pedal (which is awesome)
Handy info, I'm actually considering one of these machines currently
The Everlast MTS 275 has been such an affordable and reliable welder so far. MiG,tig,stick,cooler, cart for about $3200
Have got a CIG Weld 200a AC/DC tig.
My mate is a boiler maker for 25 years and certified pressure vessel welder had a go on it, and he did not complain.
Trust me, he would!! 🤣
About $2k ish
Exactly the same here. It's a great unit. One thing that makes it even better is a CK 9 torch.
If you're willing to learn or are beginning to learn about welding. Go to School for it.
If you can't afford to go to school, TH-cam is your friend. If you live in the USA, Harbour Freight is also your friend.
Until you're absolutely serious about it and you have some skills under your belt. You can upgrade your welding Machine. Do NOT go spending $4,000 USD just because someone told you X Machine is the best. Lies, the machine doesn't make you a good welder, it just help the Weldor to weld nicely.
Came here to check out what this channel had to say. I agree that each machine and process has its own purpose and try to not buy one machine for multiple processes ie... 1 machine that does 3 or 4 different processes. I myself currently have 3 different mig machines, 2 Arc welders, 1 spot welder, 2 ACC sets and last count 3 Plasma cutters, my wife thinks that I have a problem and I have to admit I do have a problem I've ran out of shop space so I'm going to have to build a bigger shop. For I do believe in the old saying he who dies with the most tools wins.
Ask yourself, Are you going to weld aluminium, if so the addition of A.C. will double or treble the cost of the welder. If your serious about welding two names stand out, Lincoln or Miller, any thing else has PRC written all over it, even the GYS kit which is supplied from France.
For a learner trying to learn with junk kit is twice as hard, if your experienced you can weld with some big batteries, jumper cables and a rusty nail. I kid you not.
I wish I could agree with you. But Miller and Lincoln both source most components from PRC, and have for some time. There are several excellent, quality machines on the market that provide all the goodness of a Lincoln/Miller for way less money. For example, I purchased an Everlast 255ext, which is more or less the equivalent to a Miller Dynasty - though I'd argue the Everlast has more and better features - and it cost 1/3 the price of the Dynasty. If the Dynasty were actually constructed from all american components - I'd understand the extra cost, but it isn't. The IGBT transistors inside both are all made by the same company in Taiwan, so ask yourself what you're getting (and who is getting rich) when you spend 3X the price for the Blue or Red machine.
Also, HTP is all European. More expensive than Everlast for sure, but not Lincoln/Miller money.
Last, check out the Everlast "Advanced AC pulse" feature! It allows you to weld Aluminum and Magnesium on DC, but it interrupts the DC with a burst of AC for the cleaning action. This is all configurable, of course - but bottom line is it lets you weld Aluminum with the power and penetration of DC, with the cleaning action of AC - all while using straight Argon. I've welded on 500lb aluminum castings this way, and get an instant, steady, clean arc - with no preheat.
Best welder to buy YesWelder FIRSTESS CT2050 Powerful 7-in-1 Welder & Cutter
How much?
What a pleasure to hear an Aussie scaffolders accent on one of these videos. Great video btw. Very informative and you added a few items/considerations I haven't heard on other vids.
At home I use a Tokentools AC/DC unit. Great unit and fantastic after sales service, which was the biggest seller for me. A workmate of mine has the SWS like yours and loves it. Came with a heap of accessories too.
As it is metalworking that you do. You might also need to spend money on a drill press, grinding stuff like a angle grinder, die grinder and dremel. Yes basic sandpaper too.
A drill and measuring devices are pretty high on our list too - www.hpacademy.com/technical-articles/your-top-5-essential-fabrication-tool-guide/
If you're a beginner, Unimig is pretty good. I got their kit, and while it didn't have a foot pedal, it had everything else I wanted to do TIG, MIG, ARC & Oxy. Unimig 182 Welder, Helmet, gloves, all the torches, 17 piece MIG starter kit, few TIG tips, 1kg wire spool. All I had to do was set it up, get some Argon and I was good to go. 👍
Best bit about this kit was the price and the timing of the purchase. I bought it from Sydney Tools for only $899. The VERY NEXT DAY, Unimig (and therefore all distributors aswell) discontinued that SKU, transferred the kit to a new SKU with NO CHANGES TO THE KIT for $150 more! 😳😬 Safe to say, I love my kit for those reasons too. 😎👍
About the only thing I would add is to check if the fittings for the cables, etc, are generic/standard types or if they're unique to the brand and/or model of the welder.
With standard fittings you can swap them out for better/more comfortable items, but if they're propriatory to the brand you're stuck with what they give you.
Iv always used Miller but I dont own my own yet
I think stuff like this would be great at your racecraft course
We merged RaceCraft with HPA last year. If Andre was here I'm sure he'd be asking about your living conditions and if they involve a rock 😂
But yes, it would have for sure! Always great to see you kicking around too btw mate - Taz.
I have the SWS Alumtig 200 AC/DC I learnt to tig on a miller dynasty as shown the SWS is a awesome machine and would be one of the best low budget tig machines on the market. Make sure you look at the Duty cycle this is a biggy when buying a cheaper machine
Awesome 👏🏾
Kemppi mastertig ac/dc.