Scratch start TIG Stainless (Northern Tool)

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I plan on buying a 200amp hybrid MIG, Arc, Tig welder from Northern tool http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...5145_200485145There is a Tig torch available and I am wondering if something like this could weld 22 Gauge Stainless. I have tried with Mig and 0.023 wire and it is tricky, easy to burn through, would the tig do a better job. Does anyone here have one of these welders, what do you think of it? It comes with a spool gun for $600.00
Reply:Tig on stainless that thin won't be a whole lot easier than mig. Tig in general has a much longer learning curve than mig. Thin stainless is several factors harder to weld up than say 1/8" stainless. You will have to have perfect fit up and have heat control down perfect to get satisfactory results. Also I don't believe that machine has the option to use a pedal. That will add to the difficulty on very thin materials.Can it be done...? yes. Is it probably the "right" tool for the job...? Probably not, but some one with a lot of skill could make it work.Just to give you a feel for things, on average at the tech school where I help teach night classes, the average new tig welder will get thru a flat lap joint and maybe start on flat T's on 1/8" mild steel, by the end of the 48 hrs of class. Most will need quite a bit of time before they can do all positions on 1/8" MS before they will start on Stainless. Then they'd want to do the whole thing over again on thin stock, and then tube would add another level of difficulty. I'd say probably several hundred hours of good hood time to be able to do nice welds on 22 ga round tube consistently. It's not something you simply buy a machine and start cranking out parts after a few hours on a weekend.Best bet if you want to learn tig is to take a class 1st and learn the basics. When you sit down and add up what it would cost you in materials, gas, rod, electric etc, not to mention instruction, a class is stupid cheap. Good luck..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Actually doubt it can be done with that machine. Without a foot pedal anyway. What is the starting amperage?Miller Dynasty 700Miller Dynasty 200Miller 350pMiller 252Hobart Handler 187Lincoln Weld pack 180Victor O/AHypertherm 1250Hobart Airforce 500IPractical cnc
Reply:The welder can do it, but from the sounds of things the weldor likely can't.Have we all gone mad?