Building a tig kit?

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A while ago i baught a mig welder from a guy at my job picked it up for 400 bucks its the Snap On MM140SL he just had a new liner put in it and everything is in good shape. I still didnt get to use it with the mig setup as i want to tig more then anything is there any way i could setup my own tig kit instead of buying the flextig kit from snap on thats 600 bucks, id like to run a pedal setup if possible. Thanks alot guysAlex
Reply:I am sure their is a way.The question it self shows you are vary green and this will make the process a daunting one at best. In the end you will have a vary limited capacity tig machine.
Reply:Originally Posted by getcrunk88.........is there any way i could setup my own tig kit instead of buying the flextig kit from snap on thats 600 bucks, id like to run a pedal setup if possible.
Reply:If i spend around 1000 dollars on an older miller machine then i have to have a 220 volt line run to my garage which that will probably cost close to 3-400 and then i also have to buy a bottle on top of that which is 170 bucks or so? So now i almost have 1600 bucks down on a tig setup, i see where your coming from that the snap on tig attachment is very limited but is there any way to get a quality machine for a lil cheaper?thanks for the replies guysAlex
Reply:Any way you could throw me some links on these machines i know the basics of the miller line but dont know much about what to look for in a good unit..I never said i wanted to get a complete ready to weld kit that would be 600 bucks.  I have a welder that has the capability to do light tig welds for 600 bucksThe reason i wanted to run it with the welder i have is because it runs off of 115v supply voltage wouldnt have to install anything to use it.  If i can remember correctly my machine has 60% duty cycle.  Im not going to be doing any crazy fab or anything its just for a hobby so having a full featured welder is a bit overkill for a guy like me, although id like to learn to use one of those machines!Yeah i need a bottle no matter what i was just adding the prices up.  I understand you get what you pay for but since when is 1600 dollars next to nothing today? I know its nothing compared to how much i could spend on a quality setup but why would i do that if i never even tig welded before?  And there is a diffrence between someone who is **HARDCORE** welder and someone who is just starting out Mr.Salesman
Reply:7A749 - You got to love these demanding type guys.  Help me !!!!!!....... but don't tell me what I  don't want to hear.                                               They tend to be quite entertaining. Attached ImagesLast edited by 59halfstep; 08-15-2009 at 07:59 AM.Charlie
Reply:You are getting some good advice here. Ever since TV has shown tig welding to be so cool, so many people are trying to get into it. I don't know if this is true for you but it is getting to be a common thing now days on the forums. I kind of fell into this notion myself, so I do talk from some experience. I am into custom sheet metal and other projects where tig is the best process. I spent several hours searching the net and talking to my LWS learning everything I could get hands on. To get into tig welding to any extent requires a decent reliable machine. I bought a harbor freight unit to learn on only to find out that I should have bought a decent unit with all the controls I needed or wanted. Their is no real cheap way to get set up properly other than a good used unit. For those reading this post that are interested in tig welding, Please consider the fact that their are many tig welders here that do know what they are talking about and should be listened to on this topic. I think it is great how so many people what to learn the process but for gods sake stop beating a dead horse here. A decent tig setup is going to cost money. I bought the Lincoln PT225 last december and I am still spending money setting it up. I have spent a few hundred bucks just on consumables and filler rods for all the materials I am welding on. It has been a learning curve for sure setting a tig up but I did go into it with the right idea of trying to do it right.7A749, my hats of to you. Miller DVI2Lincoln Precision Tig 225Thermodynamics Cutmaster 38Everything else needed.
Reply:Ok. I'm gonna jump in here.I'm a welder, coded blah blah blah.  I would advise you to go buy one of the cheap chinese thing's.  Old red crapped out some time back and I replaced it with some yellow  'made in China' deal.  It works. $1200NZD which would be maybe 700USD?, put a bottle on and go. TIG torch, regulator, stick lead the lot. It's not the greatest by any stretch but hay.  It does the job on the light stuff, what more would you need?The crew I'm currently working for bought a few for $600AU which I suppose would be something like 400-450 USD. Fine for lighter jobs which is what your doing by the sounds of it to me.It's all well and good having the flowery machine tucked up in the corner, but sometimes it's just not needed.  If you out grow it then it's gone and you upgrade......I'd rather be hunting........USE ENOUGH HEAT.......Drifting around Aussie welding more pipe up, for something different.....wanting to get home.
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749First of all..My name is NOT Mr. Salesman.You can call me Steve.If you really read what I wrote, you will see that I challenged the ridiculous notion you can get something for nothing. Getting a TIG machine completely set up for what you were originally talking is indeed, nothing. I never said $1600 was nothing.You got in a huff because I told you how it is. I told you up front, I wasn't being a sarcastic jerk, but after selling welding machines for over ten years, I like to think I know what I'm talking about.Surf the web & do some looking around. See for yourself.There are some here who would have said it in a MUCH NOT SO NICER WAY.If they were to have responded, you'll think I was being nice. Good luck dude. You're going to need it.
Reply:Originally Posted by wirehuntOk. I'm gonna jump in here.I'm a welder, coded blah blah blah.  I would advise you to go buy one of the cheap chinese thing's.  Old red crapped out some time back and I replaced it with some yellow  'made in China' deal.  It works. $1200NZD which would be maybe 700USD?, put a bottle on and go. TIG torch, regulator, stick lead the lot. It's not the greatest by any stretch but hay.  It does the job on the light stuff, what more would you need?The crew I'm currently working for bought a few for $600AU which I suppose would be something like 400-450 USD. Fine for lighter jobs which is what your doing by the sounds of it to me.It's all well and good having the flowery machine tucked up in the corner, but sometimes it's just not needed.  If you out grow it then it's gone and you upgrade......
Reply:Spend the money up front.  Equipment is like crack, you get a little taste and are just left wanting more.
Reply:Originally Posted by BoostinjdmSpend the money up front.  Equipment is like crack, you get a little taste and are just left wanting more.
Reply:So Snap On sells a conversion kit that will allow you to TIG with you FCAW/GMAW machine? Ifso post up a link, as I'd like to see it.Hillbilly
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749If this is going to turn into a who gets the last word kind of thread, don't bother.  I'll just report you if it gets nasty.
Reply:Oh and getcrunk88.Forget about the foot pedal, the only way to learn is raw.  It will make you a better welder because it's the best way to stop you from getting bad habits.I'd rather be hunting........USE ENOUGH HEAT.......Drifting around Aussie welding more pipe up, for something different.....wanting to get home.
Reply:That will learn you for not reading the whole thing hahhaI'd rather be hunting........USE ENOUGH HEAT.......Drifting around Aussie welding more pipe up, for something different.....wanting to get home.
Reply:Originally Posted by hillbillyfabSo Snap On sells a conversion kit that will allow you to TIG with you FCAW/GMAW machine? Ifso post up a link, as I'd like to see it.Hillbilly
Reply:7A749-I understood where you were coming from and i know you were giving me good advice on buying the good stuff upfront and not wasting my money on junk.   I accept your apology.  Now i have to keep my eye on craigslist for some deals like you found hahah
Reply:Well I think the question you may want to ask is is this welder made/engineered by Snap-On or just another domestic brand with the snap-on colors, if so their very likely could be a difference in prices from OEM and Snap-On.I have alot of Snap-on tools and alot of their items seem like they are just that painted a different color.