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Thread: Tig welding

  1. #16
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    I just use mig wire most of the time as I always seem to have plenty of it around. If you want the wire a bit thicker you can also twist a few strands together

    It's not too hard to learn really, make sure you have you parameters right first, gas flow is important, you don't need a lot for tig.

    I'd start out with 2mm or 3mm mild steel and do a few fillet and butt welds.

  2. #17
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    As other have said try learning with Steel and definitely not Aluminium. Make sure your Tig Torch is (-) Negative and your Earth Clamp is (+) Positive and use straight Argon Gas. In regards to the Filler rods ER70S-2 is the most common, but your metal has to be clean to use them. The rods that will handle some rust and scale are ER70S-6. What China might be referring to are ER70S-4 which are apparently suitable for both Tig & Oxy https://dynaweld.com.au/product/boss...-welding-rods/ . Tig filler rods are deoxidised, I think triple deoxidised from memory and they are copper coated. It seems Black Wire Oxy Rods are still available https://dynaweld.com.au/product/boss...-welding-rods/ but they definitely will not work as a Tig filler rod as they are too dirty.
    All The Best steran50 Stewart

    The shortest way to do many things is to do only one thing at once.

  3. #18
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    As another beginner after a few years of hobby welding with rods, then a few years of MIG I decided that is time to upgrade to TIG. My question will be: what can you, gentleman, recommend as a simple TIG welder for a new guy to learn with (model, parameters, gas type and etc) I hope that topic starter won't mind my small hijack. I just don't want to start a new thread with similar questions. Thank you for your time.

  4. #19
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    Please do a search (lots of info here already).
    Buy the best brand you can (this equals quality), new or used within your budget.
    Buy once cry once.

    Start out with a lift-arc DC power source, then go to an AC/DC model with all the trimmings if you need to...

  5. #20
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    Buy once cry once, but start with a scratch start DC power source... Guarantees you have to spend twice and get frustrated as in the process. If you are a pipe welder using stone age equipment in the 60’s it’ll probably be a useful skill, in 2020 where you can literally control every factor or function of the output at the electrode, not so much.
    Have a look at magnum welders in Victoria. Machines are good, service is good, they keep parts on the shelf if you need them. Bought my plasma and TIG through them about 10yrs ago and haven’t had any issues. No affiliation other than being happy with the product and service offered.

    My take on learning to TIG weld is a bit different, I went with Jody Colliers take (welding tips and tricks) and started on ally. His theory is ally is harder to control the puddle and requires you to be sharper on the heat management, master it and steels are easy.

  6. #21
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    Scratch start is asking for trouble, erratic arc, tungsten inclusions, hissy fits etc.

    Lift arc is much better, and machines in this price point start at a few hundred bucks (250-450).
    HF and ACDC machines of honest quality will start at the $650 mark, and likely be north of $1K.

  7. #22
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    Buying a DC lift power source doesn’t really work for you if you are looking at TIG as a means of welding ally (which is why everyone I know that owns a TIG bought it).
    The Magnum 200 I was referring to earlier, is currently selling with torch, pedal and some torch consumables for under $1200 (not as cheap as eBay certainly, but it comes with a level of local support behind it).
    So if you spend say $300 on a lift arc, then decided to move on to aluminium you’re out of pocket $300 (less the meagre amount you get selling it on market place with all the others that decided DC lift was the way forward) and still have to spend to get an AC capable machine.
    It’s not really a recommendation that makes a lot of sense to me.

  8. #23
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    Adelaide
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    Quote Originally Posted by racingtadpole View Post
    Buy once cry once, but start with a scratch start DC power source... Guarantees you have to spend twice and get frustrated as in the process. If you are a pipe welder using stone age equipment in the 60’s it’ll probably be a useful skill, in 2020 where you can literally control every factor or function of the output at the electrode, not so much.
    Have a look at magnum welders in Victoria. Machines are good, service is good, they keep parts on the shelf if you need them. Bought my plasma and TIG through them about 10yrs ago and haven’t had any issues. No affiliation other than being happy with the product and service offered.

    My take on learning to TIG weld is a bit different, I went with Jody Colliers take (welding tips and tricks) and started on ally. His theory is ally is harder to control the puddle and requires you to be sharper on the heat management, master it and steels are easy.
    Does Magnum sell their welders somewhere in Adelaide? Maybe you know the place for me to contact? Thank you for your help.

  9. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by Commander_Keen View Post
    Scratch start is asking for trouble, erratic arc, tungsten inclusions, hissy fits etc.

    Lift arc is much better, and machines in this price point start at a few hundred bucks (250-450).
    HF and ACDC machines of honest quality will start at the $650 mark, and likely be north of $1K.
    I might as well buy both machines. What machine can you recommend for starters and what technical parametes of the machine I should seek before making a purchase? Thank you for your time.

  10. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by barnes View Post
    Does Magnum sell their welders somewhere in Adelaide? Maybe you know the place for me to contact? Thank you for your help.
    Magnum don't have an agent in Adelaide, they are a family business based in regional Victoria. Give them a call. Freight wasn't ridiculous when I shipped mine across.

    Quote Originally Posted by barnes View Post
    I might as well buy both machines. What machine can you recommend for starters and what technical parametes of the machine I should seek before making a purchase? Thank you for your time.
    If you buy a lift/scratch start machine it will be DC only, you can only weld steel. An AC/DC machine will allow you to weld aluminium also and generally also come with high frequency start, meaning no need to touch off to light up. You dont need both. Have a look at your needs, if anywhere in there is the remotest possibility you will want to weld aluminium then buy a machine that has AC and DC.
    Unless you are looking for a production class machine to do production size work, then a 200Amp unit is plenty for a home workshop. I rarely run anything over a 1.6mm tungsten. On nearly all the imported AC/DC machines you have control over just about everything, when you are first learning the amount of control over the process will probably be more a hinderance than help. Buy a machine you can grow into.

  11. #26
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    I really want to weld aluminium, like checker plate 1,6 mil. Steel I can weld with my MIG skills. It's not ideal, but it's enough for my needs for the time being.
    What brand will you recommend for aluiminium and what accessories I should look for (pedal, torch type, etc) Thank you again for your help.

  12. #27
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    Any AC capable machine will be able to weld aluminium. They all pretty much come standard with a torch and some consumables.
    Do a bit of a google search find your price point and the colour you like, they are pretty much all the same in the way of imports, nothing really changes until you start looking at $5k European made units.
    Maybe take a look at Adelaide Tools, their website shows a bit of choice.

  13. #28
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    Quote Originally Posted by racingtadpole View Post
    Any AC capable machine will be able to weld aluminium. They all pretty much come standard with a torch and some consumables.
    Do a bit of a google search find your price point and the colour you like, they are pretty much all the same in the way of imports, nothing really changes until you start looking at $5k European made units.
    Maybe take a look at Adelaide Tools, their website shows a bit of choice.
    Do welders in Adelaide have a club like woodworkers have, where you can join and get help from people who know the subject of interest. Have you ever heard of one?

  14. #29
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    Quote Originally Posted by barnes View Post
    What machine can you recommend for starters and what technical parametes of the machine I should seek before making a purchase? Thank you for your time.
    Graeme (the Moderator) pointed me to Token Tools. I ended up getting their ADCD pulse, plasma and Stick combo...has a 5 year warranty.

    Plasma works great. as does stick...but you can tell it was me that laid the weld down...hahaha

    now I gotta get back to learning the tig.

    ATEC in SA has a 2 day basic tig course coming up in August. $390.00...I am thinking of doing that

  15. #30
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    Try you tube, lots of info there that will help you to learn.

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