Q1: im somewhat new to welding, would a tig welder be too much for me?

Q2: most of the ones i see are around $800. how cheap can i go before i buy a POS?

:::EDIT:::
just to add in, ive got some exp with mig welders and none with a tig. i have "0" experience with tig. this is strictly a hobby oriented thing.


Modified by 85 at 7:32 AM 10/2/2008

 

i can only share personal experience here.

the first welding i ever did was tig, and this was done after i took a 8 hr tig class at a local welding school (well worth the $300). so i bought a $400 scratch start tig with no pedal control and a hand gas control valve.

it was hard work to get tig welding down. but i just practiced every night.

and 2 yrs later i'm still learning.....

would i do it again this way with no other experience in welding. yes

would i recommend it, NO

unless you are the kind of person who has patience and doesn't get discouraged easily.

now on the other hand i hope you don't think you will be slinging "full-race" manifolds in 2 months time......


but all i have to ay is practice, practice, pratice.......

 

i started with OXY-Acetylene torch welding. it was a huge help because tig is essentially the same only with an electric torch. IMO 91JDM went about things the hard way. dont buy a machine without a foot pedal. I'd say you need to learn pedal control right from the start. his way just seems insanely difficult and downright impossible for delicate work such as aluminum.

 

In for this thread, I'm looking at buying my first TIG as well here soon.

 

I took a course at a local welding shop that was awesome. It was 6 weeks long, 1 night a week for 3 hours a night. Definitely worth the $300 or so I spent.

As far as used welders go, there's plenty of Miller's out there around that price. Check Craigslist, 180s are on there all the time as well as some older ones too.

 

miller just released a affordable tig for noobies, the Diversion 165 is a 50 pound inverter AC/DC tig that comes with torch/ground, regulator and also a "tig welding for dummies" book and a dvd to show you the tig process all for $1275.

http://www.millerwelds.com/pro...n_165/

http://store.cyberweld.com/mitigwedi165.html




Modified by ROTARY at 2:14 AM 10/2/2008

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ROTARY &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> miller just released a affordable tig for noobies, the Diversion 165 is a 50 pound inverter AC/DC tig that comes with torch/ground, regulator and also a "tig welding for dummies" book and a dvd to show you the tig process all for $1275.

http://www.millerwelds.com/pro...n_165/

http://store.cyberweld.com/mitigwedi165.html




Modified by ROTARY at 2:14 AM 10/2/2008</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's actually pretty awesome!

 

MIG and TIG are two totally different beasts. Pretty much anybody can pick up a MIG and call themselves a welder. As previously stated, TIG is closer to oxy-acetylene. TIG takes lots of practice to become adept at it.

I wouldn't go out and spend your money just yet on a TIG. Instead, take a welding class that offers instruction in TIG welding. You may be able to find an adult school class at your local high school for very little money. Also, go to your local welding supply and talk to the people that work there. They usually have info on classes, as well as they can point you in the right direction when it comes to buying a machine. When you're ready to purchase, watch for the deals that pop up on craigslist in the tools section. Good luck!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ROTARY &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> miller just released a affordable tig for noobies, the Diversion 165 is a 50 pound inverter AC/DC tig that comes with torch/ground, regulator and also a "tig welding for dummies" book and a dvd to show you the tig process all for $1275.

http://www.millerwelds.com/pro...n_165/

http://store.cyberweld.com/mitigwedi165.html




Modified by ROTARY at 2:14 AM 10/2/2008</TD></TR></TABLE>


that thing prolly has like a 35% duty cycle @ 50amps

 

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ROTARY &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"></TD></TR></TABLE>

ok not bad then

 

Just my two cents. I wouldn't try to learn on the cheapest machine you can find. Tig is something that requires a lot of patients, a lot of skill, a good understanding of welding practices. I would recommend learning on a top notch machine, maybe at a welding school, or ??? but once you've got the skill and some knowhow, maybe then play around with a lesser model. And FYI, a $800 welder will have a hell of a time welding aluminum over 1/4" thick, especially if it is 110v.

 

For someone with access to a good MIG welder, a smaller TIG machine would be fine since it would likely just be for welding exhausts, roll cages, etc and not like 3/4 inch steel. I never have the need to weld aluminum, and if I did, it would only be thin. If you do, you can grind bevels in it and just lay down multiple passes to achieve enough penetration.

 

What gases & polarity settings are used with carbon steel, stainless steel, & aluminum?

Is high frequency needed for aluminum?

 

With tig you have to be able to get enough heat into the piece you intend to weld before, it will accept the filler material (welding rod). Aluminum dissipates heat so quickly that it can be a chore. I have a Miller Syncrowave 200, and it has a real hard time welding anything over 1/2" thick. It can be done, I just don't like to push it to the limits. It does however kick butt at the thinner stuff (exhuast, intake, intake manifolds, headers).

 

I use 100% Argon for everything I weld with the tig. I want to play around with tri-mix soon, and maybe helium. You can get a lot more heat and penetration using helium, so if you did need to weld something thicker than your machines comfort zone was, I suggest helium. Settings, refer to the machines charts.

 

d16,
Thanks for Reply

 

I just found out about the Diversion 165 today and I'm excited. I was trying to save up for a Dynasty 200. But even after two years of wanting a TIG, it was hard to justify the price tag just for a personal garage welder. Not to mention the 6 week welding class at the local community college has not prepared me for the extensive range of controls the Dynasty would give me. I had planned to learn a lot with trial and error. But the Diversion looks like the perfect tool for the project I have in mind. I'm not building sellable products and I'm not welding everyday. So the simple to use interface gives me more time to practice actually welding instead of fooling with settings that I don't really need. I'm sold.