Hi everyone, I made this topic to get some advice before buying my first DC TIG machine.

I'm form Latvia(Eastern Europe), so, getting the same Everlast(seems pretty ok for first machine) is allmost impossible, machines I'm able to get here in Latvia for the money I have(~800$) are made by GYS(france company - www.gys.fr). As far as I know, they are made by some company in france, and sold under GYS, IMS and some other two names... As far as I know, if I wont drop it on floor, or hit it really strong with my leg or something, and wont use it from morning to night, everyday in week, it will live for something around 4-5 years...

There are two models I'm interested in, both the same specs only one is 130amps and second is 160amps... machine with is 130amps costs me 730$, with 160amps 880$, so, my main question is, should I get 130 or 160 amp TIG? Both will come with 2 year warranty, and I know place where they can be serviced is something breaks.

The dealer has 3x 130amp machine in hes shop, but if I will want 160amp machine, i will need to wait 1-2months...

One man I know a bit, who welds pretty good to, said, that I should get 130amp machine, because in TIG welding, rarely someone weld steel that thicker then 4 or 5 mm, and if welds, then in few beeds one on another, not with one time - this is the main question I need answer here, cause I got no one to ask - is this true? Cause I want to practice welding on 3mm thick mild steel, and when I will do sometinhg for real, for my car or buddies cars, I think it would be a header, turbo manifold, maybe roll cage, so, I cant think of anything thicker than 4mm too... So if thats true what the man said, I really could buy that 130amp machine

Ok everyone, I'm sorry for so big post, I just need some advice, and tried to explain everything so everyone could better see my point of view.

Thank you!!!

P.S. this is link to that machine - http://gys.fr/spip.php?page=produit&...id=738&lang=en

 

I would suggest you be patient and save some more money so that you can get something a little more reputable. You should try and pick up something with AC so you can do aluminum. You may think you will upgrade later, but it's definitely much easier to do this now.

130 A is plenty for most steel/ss work in the automotive world. I honestly can't remember ever going above that. Aluminum is a different story though.

Hope that helps!

 

Thanks for replay

The main reason I want to buy TIG is cause I want to practice welding... AC is great, I know, I really would want to have AC/DC machine, but honestly, I dont know how much I would really use it in real world aplication in automotive stuff, cause cost of aluminium, if I'm not wrong, in our country, is twice like SS, thats one of the reasons we all build our IC charge pipes and intake pipes from SS, cause aluminium is just much more expensive... and of course, cost of welding if you pay someone is +/- twice too :D So I'm pretty sure that only time I really would need AC is in practice @ home

In Latvia only respectable welding machines we can get is Lincon Electric... And they cost from 2000-5000$ new... so, thats really not my size of pocket ;D if you know what I mean maybe after 4years, after GYS :D when I will really earn money with welding, then I will buy Lincon Electric, but for now, I need something more then my dads old peace of sh*t, MMA, scratch/lift tig, without any controls :D

P.S. And for information, the same GYS machine only 200amps AC/DC costs 1900$... so thats more then twice 130amp machine

P.S.S. So if I understand correctly, you are saying, that I should be fine with that 130amps for practice and some automotive stuff...

Thank you really much

 

Is there someone else, who could give opinion on this?

Thank you

 

If you are only going to weld steel and SS, you will be fine with that machine. You will be able to do everything we do here atthe shop except aluminum. Manifolds, roll cages, exhausts and anything else!

Best of luck!

 

Curious to know what type of machine you guys are using at the shop, i am between the water cooled dynasty 200DX and the lincoln 205 T, both are inverter machines any suggestions ?

 

Ok, great, thank you very much then I think I will buy that machine maybe this week, and then when I get down welding, will try to post up some pics or something