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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    sydney
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    12

    Default CIG Transtig 180 manual and advice

    These welders are twenty to thirty years old and I am wondering are they still a good welder. I'm looking at purchasing a transtig 180 for around $600 with extras, which is supposedly in good working order.

    Are parts still available any advice would be appreciated.

    I'm also after a manual if any one would have have a copy my email address is [email protected]

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Townsville, Tropical Nth Qld.
    Posts
    225

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by 02howdy View Post
    These welders are twenty to thirty years old and I am wondering are they still a good welder. I'm looking at purchasing a transtig 180 for around $600 with extras, which is supposedly in good working order.

    Are parts still available any advice would be appreciated.

    I'm also after a manual if any one would have have a copy my email address is [email protected]
    Hi 02howdy,
    I have one and still use it weekly as a Stick on AC and TIG on DC Neg. These welders are multivoltage, i.e. 240 volt single phase or 415 volt 2/3 phase. The only problem I have had was when the HV capacitor for the Pilot Arc failed. A very kind Forumite gave me a compatable replacement, then I also sourced some brand new ones from the USA. At $600 I think it is overpriced, but an equivelent new one will be much more, with a lower duty cycle, so you have to decide. Most parts can be sourced as its a rebranded Miller welder from the USA. If you do a search through these threads someone has posted the manual up before.
    rgds,
    Crocy.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Armidale NSW
    Age
    52
    Posts
    915

    Default

    I have an old TransTig 250. I use it for stick (normally DC) and TIG (both AC and DC) and is my "go to" welder. It may be old, but it works very well. Great welders
    Cheers.

    Vernon.
    __________________________________________________
    Bite off more than you can chew and then chew like crazy.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lebrina
    Posts
    1,910

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by 02howdy View Post
    These welders are twenty to thirty years old and I am wondering are they still a good welder. I'm looking at purchasing a transtig 180 for around $600 with extras, which is supposedly in good working order.

    Are parts still available any advice would be appreciated.

    I'm also after a manual if any one would have have a copy my email address is [email protected]
    They are alright and that's about as far as I would go.
    From memory, they have no AC balance control, (I know my Transtig 250 does not), which means that for AC welding, they do not perform as well as a machine that provides balanced AC current, (they will eat 2.4mm tungstens at much over 100A but 3.2mm work alright albeit with a less focused arc but will give acceptable results in the 2-5mm thickness range. Duty cycle will not be marvellous, somewhere between the Transtig 150 (150A @ 25%) and the Transtig 250 (250A @ 30%/ 140A @100%). Working on the 1 amp per thou rule or 40 amps per mm if you prefer, 3mm ally will require around 120A so it will be relatively easy to hit the duty cycle point when TIG welding. They don't have line voltage compensation either, so can be fussy buggers to set up.
    The AC balance issue will of course not be an issue if DC Tig is your main usage.
    I have just gotten rid of my Transtig 250 for these reasons and upgraded to a Hobart Tigwave 250 - a machine that I would damn near propose marriage to.
    If you can get a few more dollars together, other welders are probably better options, but if you are maxed out at that price range then the Transtig 180 will be better than no welder at all. $600 does seem to be on the high side for that machine though. If you have 3 phase, then many doors will open up as options, but as far as single phase goes, you are a bit restricted to machines like the '150 and '180 or the newer crop of inverters, (just don't buy a BOC, they are crap construction and as bad as the worst ebay specials, but cost 50% more).
    As an example, a Token Tools AluPulse 200 with a one year warranty comes in at $1350 and a Magnum Welders Tig200P could be as low as $1090. Both would exceed the Transtig 180 in duty cycle and welding performance. Lincoln make some beautiful entry level welders too, so don't forget to look at them if you are in the market.
    Contact BOC for a manual for your Transtig 180, that's how I got one for my Transtig 250. They were very helpful and emailed me a PDF scan of a manual.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    sydney
    Posts
    12

    Default

    thank you for your input, it has been a great help

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lebrina
    Posts
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    Default

    Well, don't keep us in suspense
    Did you make a purchase?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    sydney
    Posts
    12

    Default

    I purchased the welder and was a bit annoyed with my self, as I paid a deposit so was obligated to buy the welder before listening to everyone's advice, however I tested the welder prior to pick up and all functions seemed to work fine, tested ac on ally and dc welding stainless and arc welding.

    I'm concerned with the current draw on single phase, as the seller had his own moch up fuse arrangement of approx 30 amps. I have a unimig 190 which runs fine on the 15 amp single phase at my home, so just wondering what the other users are using for their fuse arrangement to run these on single phase.

    I didn't have time to test the transtig at home, as I have had to travel overseas, so would be interested in any information.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lebrina
    Posts
    1,910

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    First thing I would do is ring the cigweld customer service number and they will email you a manual. The manual will tell you what your current draw is and the recommended fuse. If you are running circuit breakers then they really should be D curve.
    From memory your Transtig 180 will be around 30A input, so you will need a good supply and heavy wiring.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Armidale NSW
    Age
    52
    Posts
    915

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    Quote Originally Posted by Karl Robbers View Post
    First thing I would do is ring the cigweld customer service number and they will email you a manual. The manual will tell you what your current draw is and the recommended fuse.
    They are very helpful. I rang them and they sent out the manuals for my 250.

    Quote Originally Posted by Karl Robbers View Post
    If you are running circuit breakers then they really should be D curve.
    Ideally yes, but I wouldn't worry too much about changing an existing breaker unless you start having issues with that breaker tripping. If however you are getting a dedicated circuit put in anyway, then may as well do it then I guess.
    Cheers.

    Vernon.
    __________________________________________________
    Bite off more than you can chew and then chew like crazy.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lebrina
    Posts
    1,910

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Vernonv View Post
    They are very helpful. I rang them and they sent out the manuals for my 250.
    Cigweld are one of the best companies that I have dealt with. I rang them last week for a manual for a Transpulse 350 and it was in my inbox 5 minutes later.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    sydney
    Posts
    12

    Default

    Thanks Karl for your help I have already got the manual from Cig weld and like you they replied within a day
    Ashley

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lebrina
    Posts
    1,910

    Default

    Not a problem mate.
    As a matter of interest, what supply fuse is recommended in the manual?

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    sydney
    Posts
    12

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    I have attached the manual for anyone who may be interested, however on page 4 it says the supply voltage of 240 voltage uses 26 amps (specifications). I'll test it out when I arrive home in another month.
    Attached Files Attached Files

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    Newcastle
    Posts
    13

    Default My machine

    Hello
    I bought a Transtig 180 some time ago. I have had it in storage since.When I finally got around to test it yesterday, shock horror the thing only emits a very small spark and nothing else. Can anyone advise me what can the problem be? does it sound expensive to fix? Thank you .
    Tony Cav

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lebrina
    Posts
    1,910

    Default

    Are you saying that the High Frequency start only emits a small spark, or that you can only get a small spark from the output leads when stick welding for example.
    The HF can be due to dirty spark points or incorrectly set points gap. The manual posted earlier will have the location, procedure and specs for rectifying that issue.
    If the second scenario is the case, then I would start by checking the output in both AC and DC modes which should eliminate diode failure, before taking the covers off (providing you are comfortable and competent around electrical equipment), naturally you will have unplugged the machine first. Give everything a good blow out and then check all connections are clean and tight with no signs of heat damage. If that doesn't fix the issue, then you will need to look at the diodes and associated wiring. The Transtig is a very basic unit, which works in your favour as there really aren't too many electronics to fail which means that the cause of failure will hopefully be more of a physical nature - broken wires, loose connections, failed switching etc.
    Let us know how you go.

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