Needs Pictures: 0
Picture(s) thanks: 0
Results 1 to 15 of 23
Thread: TIG Shopping List
-
12th Jul 2020, 04:08 PM #1Golden Member
- Join Date
- Jan 2016
- Location
- Wodonga Vic
- Age
- 38
- Posts
- 633
TIG Shopping List
Hi strangers,
I'm setting up my little inverter welder for TIG and wanted to be sure I'm making the right purchases,
My welder is a Jasic Arc Champ 170: https://weldgina.com/?product=jasic-arc-170
Which as far as I can tell is just a pre-branded UniMig https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/W164
I plan on buying this TIG torch from eBay: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Unimig-1...5b4c%7Ciid%3A1
and this accessory kit: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/49X-TIG-....c100005.m1851
My welders lead connectors are 12mm diameter which I believe is an 35/50 fitting.
I bought an Argon regulator from Total Tools yesterday and I'll probably get the gas from them or Bunnings, the only other thing I think I might need is an extended gas hose to reach from the torch coupling up to the regulator.
Hopefully I'm on the right track.
Cheers,
Ben
-
12th Jul 2020, 06:17 PM #2
A Unimig is a rebranded Jasic machine. Jasic is just another Chinese welding equipment manufacturer.
That 17 series torch will work for you.
You will need to add some tungstens to your shopping list.
I like the red tip thoriated if you are welding steel using DC.
Gear up for 1.6 and 2.4 consumables.
-
12th Jul 2020, 06:46 PM #3Golden Member
- Join Date
- Feb 2010
- Location
- Ballina, NSW
- Posts
- 900
While there's nothing wrong with the kit, I find that I would use the following about 95% of the time (I'm typically welding 1.2 - 6mm in mild steel or aluminium):
2.4mm tungsten (and hence the that size collets, etc.)
2% lanthanated tungstens, which are good for welding everything (there's some fancier ones out as well, but haven't used them).
#7 gas lens
All the other bits and pieces sit around and get used rarely.
Get a good auto darkening helmet - you'll be spending a few hundred for a reasonable one. I've had this one for years: https://www.totaltools.com.au/148219...et-mojo-k36164, but seem to remember picking it up at half price - maybe they come on sale regularly?
Get a wire brush or two.
Grinder and at least a few flap disks, cutting and grinding disks.
Acetone for cleaning
Also think about how you're going to sharpen your electrodes, you'll be doing a lot of it to start with. Also, don't use you gas lenses until you have a bit of practice. If you keep dipping your tungsten or muffing it generally, you will find that all the crap will end up in your gas lens gauze. Wait till you're better so you don't wreck the gas lenses.
Cheers
Mick
-
12th Jul 2020, 07:45 PM #4Golden Member
- Join Date
- Jan 2016
- Location
- Wodonga Vic
- Age
- 38
- Posts
- 633
Thanks Mick,
Maybe I won't bother with the kit and buy consumables locally when required.
I was going to buy 1.6 tungsten, would they be too limiting? I'll mostly be welding thin SS sheet and RHS/SHS ≤ 3mm with occasional heavier projects in the future.
I have a lower end Lincoln Viking auto darkening helmet, paid about $160, I'll check the specs but I think it'll be OK for TIG.
Angle grinder with separate cutting/grinding discs for stainless and mild steel already covered.
I also already have a silly carbide wheel for my bench grinder for sharpening lathe tools that I no longer use since switching to insert tooling.
-
12th Jul 2020, 11:40 PM #5Golden Member
- Join Date
- Jan 2016
- Location
- Wodonga Vic
- Age
- 38
- Posts
- 633
I've ordered the torch and a pack of lanthanated 2.4mm tungsten electrodes, the rest I'll source locally.
Where do you blokes get your filler rod from?
-
14th Jul 2020, 06:19 PM #6Novice
- Join Date
- Apr 2020
- Location
- Melb, Vic
- Posts
- 12
eBay (Australia onshore only) - so far quality has been acceptable and price is great.
-
14th Jul 2020, 08:05 PM #7Diamond Member
- Join Date
- Jun 2010
- Location
- Canberra
- Posts
- 1,322
Good choice on the 2.4mm Lanthinated.
Which brings me to a question, given tungstens get sharpened to a point, why would you ever need 1.6mm?
-
14th Jul 2020, 09:47 PM #8
You can point them, but you can get better current carrying and less likelihood of the point splitting off but having a truncated point. Included angle you grind to also has a part to play in the penetration profile and arc focus (higher angles give a narrower, deeper penetrating arc)
The idea is to use the correct sized tungsten for the job. Using a 3.2mm on a job at 60A won't do you any favours. So for some jobs, a 1.6mm is very much a necessity.
-
15th Jul 2020, 10:20 PM #9Most Valued Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2011
- Location
- Southern Flinders Ranges
- Posts
- 1,552
Those gas lens kits are well, to keep it family friendly, poo!
If you want one I’ll send you the one I bought for postage cost. It doesn’t flow gas properly. Much disappointment when I put it on and attempted to use it, so much in fact that I ordered a name brand one from the US almost immediately after trying the Chinese one. Night and day difference.
I was buying consumables like filler locally from SupaGas but they have stopped retailing now, and I refuse to deal with BOC. The last couple of tubes have come from Hampdon through eBay, I ordered 5kg of 2.4mm ER70 filler earlier today for $60 shipped.
Mick is on the money, the only thing I differ in opinion on is flapper discs, I prefer resin fibre discs, last longer and cost less. Bunnings sell the flexovit and norton ones for under $3 ea for a 5” grinder (you will need to spend around $20 on a one off purchase of a backer).
-
17th Jul 2020, 07:45 PM #10Diamond Member
- Join Date
- Jun 2010
- Location
- Canberra
- Posts
- 1,322
-
17th Jul 2020, 10:25 PM #11
But why would you bother with all that extra tungsten grinding when a smaller diameter one would work all the same? Copping a lungfull of thoriated tungsten is not my idea of a life well spent.
You'll get more arc wandering on an oversized tungsten.
Also get more difficulty with arc starts. Perhaps even arcing in an area you were not wanting, and marring the job (defect).
In a production environment probably a bigger concern, but by all means, you shed, your rules.
-
18th Jul 2020, 12:45 AM #12
when you get your torch get the longest lead available, for me 4m would be to short if your just welding seated at a bench shorter lead is ok but start working on cars or larger things it'll soon annoy you.
I'd agree with the others 1.6 electrode for finer work up to 100amps 2.4 would take your machine at max setting, 2% lanthanated is my preferred
Online Hampdons on ebay are pretty good to deal with great range to.
Mate you've gotten yourself on a slippery slope buying a TIG....................................................................
-
19th Jul 2020, 01:51 AM #13Golden Member
- Join Date
- Jan 2016
- Location
- Wodonga Vic
- Age
- 38
- Posts
- 633
Oops, too late I bought the 4 metre leads, it's a small inverter welder so it isn't too bad to drag around.
Looks like I'll be getting some 1.6mm lanthanated electrodes, I think most of my work will be light gauge steel with occasional root runs on heavier gauge, I do have some titanium that needs to be welded so that should be fun.
I'll check out Hampdons.
Cheers
-
20th Jul 2020, 01:10 AM #14Golden Member
- Join Date
- Jan 2016
- Location
- Wodonga Vic
- Age
- 38
- Posts
- 633
I was perusing Blackwoods webpage tonight and found 5kg 2.5mm filler wire with an R45 classification, would this be a good general purpose TIG filler? the price seems good @ $36.65.
https://www.blackwoods.com.au/weldin...4mm/p/03347019
-
20th Jul 2020, 08:33 PM #15Member
- Join Date
- May 2020
- Location
- s.w. sydney
- Posts
- 53
i always use a flexi head on the torch, a cheapie for about $40 gets the job done.
i didn,t see a flow meter in the list, probably in there somewhere.
i always use 2.4 tungstens , and is common practice in industry.
Similar Threads
-
Shopping list to convert to CO2 MIG (well GMAW really)
By WelderMick in forum WELDINGReplies: 18Last Post: 10th Feb 2015, 10:13 PM -
What criteria do you use when shopping for tools?
By Grahame Collins in forum METALWORK GENERALReplies: 30Last Post: 22nd Sep 2014, 07:49 PM -
Shopping for a new lathe
By th62 in forum METALWORK GENERALReplies: 19Last Post: 16th Jul 2013, 12:33 AM