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22nd Sep 2020, 04:35 PM #1Senior Member
- Join Date
- May 2010
- Location
- Perth
- Posts
- 135
bossweld vs AIG vs similar suppliers - ACDC TIG
G'Day,
typical story, small amount of funds, and permission to buy a new toy. I'm thinking an ACDC TIG machine gives me the best versatility since I Have several stick welders, and figure the TIG aligns with most of my planned work.
The big names (lincoln, miller, CIG) are out of my price range, and the unimig machines are probably my upper bound.
I see a few Perth stores offering Bossweld, and AIG, TopGun, etc
I know there is a local agent for LOTOS in the swan area
Anyone got feedback on these brands, or can recommend a brand/model for the "less than $2k" price range?
thoughts?
Des
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23rd Sep 2020, 11:01 AM #2Senior Member
- Join Date
- Oct 2019
- Location
- Tasmania
- Age
- 53
- Posts
- 150
I cant comment on the brands you mentioned but I can tell you my experience.
Many years ago I bought an Ebay special ac tig and for the price it did what i needed to do at the time. It lacked the adjustment required to get beautiful welds every time but it melted alloy together.
I recently 'upgraded' to another asian import welder from total tools.
https://www.totaltools.com.au/111558...welder-acdc200
Keep in mind I am just a home hobbyist but so far I am very happy with it. It has all the adjustability required to lay down a decent weld in all scenarios and again, for the price I couldn't be happier.
The welder is better than me at this stage (I probably do not do enough alloy welding to keep my eye in so to speak).
When I have a big alloy project pop up I am going to buy a foot pedal for it as I think that will give me a lot more control, even though the hand piece has an amp dial it is clunky to use while welding.
As for longevity, only time will tell but buying it locally 'should' help in that regard if I have problems with it. It is a chinese welder after all!!
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24th Sep 2020, 11:20 AM #3Most Valued Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2011
- Location
- Southern Flinders Ranges
- Posts
- 1,554
I have a Magnum Welders 200A TIG. The welder is good, and Graham and his staff have been very friendly to deal with in the small handful of instances I’ve needed to contact them.
Current price on the machine is just on the other side of $1000 I think.
Based on my experiences with a BossWeld MIG that failed pretty much as soon as the warranty was done, and a lot of suppliers dropping them as a brand, I wouldn’t look at any of the BossWeld gear again.
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24th Sep 2020, 01:01 PM #4Novice
- Join Date
- Apr 2020
- Location
- Melb, Vic
- Posts
- 12
I have a Bossweld AC/DC TIG purchased from Bunnings about 2 years when I had $1k in Bunnings Gift Cards and they had it on special for $890. I thought deal too good to pass up.
My TIG skills are still a work in progress, and the machine it still better than me. Great range of settings and able to adjust all the important one. My skills took a big jump when I sourced a foot pedal and OWS torch + lead combo. Those cost roughly $600 combined, so all of the sudden a cheap machine doesn’t look so great.
I don’t regret the machine as I wanted to learn TIG and had a few alloy projects that needed AC TIG. However much like my original MIG which serviced me well, I’ll probably replace it in a year or two for a better quality machine. I’d expect a similar jump in my welding quality when I went from a Cigweld Weldskill machine to Transmig level.
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24th Sep 2020, 03:38 PM #5Senior Member
- Join Date
- May 2010
- Location
- Perth
- Posts
- 135
Totally understand what you're saying.. the argon cylinder and other consumables are factoring into my costs, and I'm still looking. The longer I delay, the more I can save... but that has impacts as well (last time I saved up for something, the HWS sprung a leak, and 2 months later a druggy crashed into my car and wrote it off... needless to say my savings evaporated quickly recovering from that)
Thanks for the feedback... I'll keep looking, thinking, saving, and watching for good gear at good pricing as much as possible.
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