TIG starter kit?

admin

I'm looking for suggestions for a new TIG setup. I plan on teaching myself while drawing on the experience and advice of the community and coworkers. I found this lil guy on CL http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/tls/2794847953.html I used this machine for a stick application one time in a flour mill where we couldn't bring in outside contaminates. It worked for what we had to do but I wasn't TIGing w/ it either..... Does anyone have any experience running tig with this machine?Is there a better setup for the money?Also need some suggestions for a torch...
Reply:That machine will work for some things, but will have some limitations.Number one, It's going to be limited to thin steel and stainless, probably 3/32" and less with only 95 amps max to work with. Duty cycle will be low at that amperage. Say 16 ga and down for general purposes. Second, the machine can not take a pedal, so you will have to do basic scratch start tig and do any heat adjustments with the amp knob before you start and then make your adjustments with arc length and travel speed. It can be done, but it's much harder than learning on a dedicated tig with a pedal.Tig torch selection is probably either a #9 series torch or a #17 series. Both are overkill for that machine, being rated well over it's max amps. The 9 is smaller and lighter, the 17 is usually more common and rated for more amps if you want to move it to a bigger machine later..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:>16ga and no foot pedal? probably not the machine for me then. Not right now anyways I still think it would be nice to have one just because of the mobility. I'm seeing some on ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/TIG160S-DC-I...item27bda59412 would this machine be foot pedal compatible?
Reply:I doubt that has an option for a pedal either. I'd avoid a unit like that personally. No support or parts available if it should break. Track record of many of those cheap import units is spotty at best, down right horrible at worst.I have a feeling for the money it looks like you want to spend you will have a hard time finding anything decent. Expect to spend $500-800 minimum to get a decent used older transformer machine. If you want to go with an import, take your time and do some homework. It will not be easy, but you will be able to get an idea what many here think of those machines and why. I won't get into details here. We just covered a bunch of this in the last week in a thread that's now closed in the Off Topic section.... so there's no reason to start that up again..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:yea I know you get what you pay for right? Im just frustrated, I've been trying to learn TIG for quite some time. My problem has been getting hood time. School just is not an option for me. TIG projects rarely come up in our shop and when they do there is little patients with management for OTJ training. $500-$800 is a lot of money for me to spend on a dedicated TIG machine. That money is already allocated to a broke down engine drive....
Reply:There's a Hobart Maxtar 150 STH on eBay right now for $500 bid.  It has the original box and full kit. IDK if includes a foot pedal or not, but it's capable.  As for he TA95, that's too expensive and looks like it doesn't include the TIG torch setup which will cost you another $125.  They are on eBay for $290 stick only, and $400 with the TIG brand new.  The TA is a great little machine.  It's my go to machine for small repairs.  Not much to set up.  I brought mine to work and stick welded a few broken office chairs back together with it with 3/32 6011 and a 7018 cap.  Saved myself $300 in new chairs.Last edited by Drf255; 01-18-2012 at 06:53 AM.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:You can do the same basic scratch start tig that you could use on that TA95S with any DC capable stick machine. All you need is the torch, reg and hose/leads. This thread covers the basics of what you need.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=38106.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:I feel your pain. I have wanted a Tig for the past two or three years but didnt have the cash. Been saving and saving since. I made a list of what I wanted at a minimum and didnt settle since I knew it was just going to cost me more in the end. Didnt eat out as much and saved about 900 just in loose change. Looked and looked for a used machine but everyone wanted way too much, Then looked some so so local auctions. They went for more than private sale did. So, I just kept saving and in the mean time read everything I could about Tig and watched Videos. I also dont have any time to go to school. Me and my wife work different schedules so we dont have to do daycare. So between work, after work hours training for work (study), and taking care of a 5 yo I don't have time to sleep let alone take a course at school for "fun". I do have an hour or so after I put my son to sleep to play a bit with welding and making stuff. That and some weekends. I finally just bought a machine that I am really happy with. I'm glad I waited.Hobart Handler 210 with SpoolgunHypertherm PM30 PlasmaHTP 221 Tig WelderHF BandsawHF Auto Dark Helmet