Thread: Super Cheap auto inverter welder

Poped into the local SCA today to grab a few things, spotted this thing goin for $100 and thought why not, also a tig tourch for $10 that comes with some consumables (bargin).

took it home, fired it up and layed some test arc welds, hooked up the gas to the tourch and tried it out, Not bad for $110 all up.

inveter is a 125A @25duty cyle, 10amp main plug.

Just thought id let yous know for anyone who is after something cheap to try get into welding.

the $10 torch pack in particular seems a bargain.

Yep, plenty more bargins, also picked up a few packets of 1.6 and 2.4 thoriated electordes, even a few CIGweld earth clamps and stick handles

I thought getting a Tig torch for $20 the other day there (which looked to be a return) was good, you've done well.

You just need the rest of the Tig setup like me. I'm thinking of biting the bullet and hiring a small tank, at least while I learn to Tig.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by stiffman

I thought getting a Tig torch for $20 the other day there (which looked to be a return) was good, you've done well.

You just need the rest of the Tig setup like me. I'm thinking of biting the bullet and hiring a small tank, at least while I learn to Tig.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

I just hooked it up to the argon bottle from my tig welder that you can see in the back ground of the 4th pic

ah, very nice. I was looking on my phone, so I didn't notice it in the background

I see the super cheap welding table underneath too!

Cheers

Justin

This is one of those things that makes me love this forum.
Dropped by my local SCA and picked a TIG torch up too, works fine on my Bunnings inverter. My method of connecting it to my bottle of argoshield (will this be fine as an interim thing? I am flatly not going to hire a bottle of argon) leaves something to be desired, I'm going to need to get some proper fittings before I chuckle myself to death over how horrible it is

Brilliant price at ten bucks, finally lets me play with TIG at home, and gives me the perfect excuse to buy a bench grinder

Originally Posted by LordBug

My method of connecting it to my bottle of argoshield (will this be fine as an interim thing? I am flatly not going to hire a bottle of argon) leaves something to be desired,

You need straight Argon. Absolutely no C02 or you will destroy the Tungsten.

Originally Posted by distractor

You need straight Argon. Absolutely no C02 or you will destroy the Tungsten.

Thanks for that
Definitely explains the outcome of my bit of testing last night. One very oxidised tungsten tip
At least the packet was very very cheap, it will give me something to practise with (I am a cruel cruel man sometimes).
Now, the fun task of finding out the cost of straight argon hire, and if it'd be worth getting a bottle of CO2 to either run the MIG straight on, or mix with the argon.

from talking to the couple of suppliers here in canberra, for a (I think) D sized cylinder, gas was about $80 - $120, and rental was between $14-$16 / month
prices may be different where you are, but it might give you an idea on costs.

Originally Posted by LordBug

Thanks for that
Definitely explains the outcome of my bit of testing last night. One very oxidised tungsten tip
At least the packet was very very cheap, it will give me something to practise with (I am a cruel cruel man sometimes).

Wondering how you sharpened the tungsten without a bench grinder? I may or may not know a bloke who's been known to sharpen tungstens with a flap disc on an angle grinder when he didn't have a bench grinder, do you know a bloke like that too.

You'll probably still have that packet in a couple of years time, just that they'll all be about an inch and a half long. At which point they fit nicely into that water cooled CK worldwide micro torch you bought a little while ago

Originally Posted by Jekyll and Hyde

Wondering how you sharpened the tungsten without a bench grinder? I may or may not know a bloke who's been known to sharpen tungstens with a flap disc on an angle grinder when he didn't have a bench grinder, do you know a bloke like that too.

You'll probably still have that packet in a couple of years time, just that they'll all be about an inch and a half long. At which point they fit nicely into that water cooled CK worldwide micro torch you bought a little while ago

Yes, I do indeed know a fellow who used a grinding wheel in his grinder, definitely a handy fellow to know

Haha, I wish that you'd posted this before I went out and bought two more packets of 1.6 rods (Clearance prices make me buy big, bad habit )
At least I also purchased some 2.4 rods too, so I can do some thicker stuff.

Originally Posted by LordBug

Yes, I do indeed know a fellow who used a grinding wheel in his grinder, definitely a handy fellow to know

Haha, I wish that you'd posted this before I went out and bought two more packets of 1.6 rods (Clearance prices make me buy big, bad habit )
At least I also purchased some 2.4 rods too, so I can do some thicker stuff.

Hmmm - just to rub it in, I've got a pack of 1.6mm tungstens.... 9 of them are still the same length as when I bought them 2 years ago, and one is almost the same length. I just don't have a need to use them, 2.4 works for every thing I've done, including welding two Solo cans together the other day....

Sorry.....

A gas mob that sells argon cylinders - Speed Gas - Products - Argon