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Metalworking (rec.crafts.metalworking) Discuss various aspects of working with metal, such as machining, welding, metal joining, screwing, casting, hardening/tempering, blacksmithing/forging, spinning and hammer work, sheet metal work. |
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#1
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TIG welder
I am cnsidering a tig welder. My main interests are welding aluminum,
steel and stainless, in thicknesses up to 3/4 in, mostely repair and small shop fabrication projects. I have a big-a**ed stick welder for the heavy work on steel. Questions: 1. The choices seem to be between the transformer welders and inverter welders. I know that generally inverter types have lower duty cycle. Other than that, are the as reliable? Has there been a problem with blown power semiconductors?? Is the ability to weld (within the capacity of thre machine) similar for transformer and inverter supplies? 2 I presume that if one tries to exceed the duty cycle for long, the machine will trip out on overload/thermal protector... How does this effect the weld in process?? Will an abrupt termination of the weld mid way result in damage/ruination of the parts, or does one merely commence welding again when the machine cools down? Can one extend the duty cycle by adding a fan to cool the inverter supply? 3 Some TIG welders claim that HF is not needed because they output square wave power or other means to start the arc, Are the non-HF types as easy to use/start as the traditional HF equipped ones? 4. Almost all of my welding jobs would be of short duration - a couple of minutes. Would a water cooled torch be needed or is air cooled sufficient 5. I have noticed some off brand TIG machines on Ebay, mostly inverter types, i.e. an outfit called Smiley Tools which makes a combo tig/Plasma/ARC unit typically providing 120 or 150 Amps to the Tig torch. The unit looks like an inverter. There is a similar unit by MITECH. These units sell for under $1000. Is this a strictly you get what you pay for situation?? Has anyone out there seen or used these units? I presume that they all are made in China or thereabouts. Thank you in advance for your comments. |
#2
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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TIG welder
In article ,
Bradford Chaucer wrote: I am cnsidering a tig welder. Price range? My main interests are welding aluminum, steel and stainless, in thicknesses up to 3/4 in, mostely repair and small shop fabrication projects. I have a big-a**ed stick welder for the heavy work on steel. 3/4" aluminum is not practical to TIG weld. For aluminum heavier than 1/4" consider a MIG welder. Much more efficient than TIG for heavy aluminum. Questions: 1. The choices seem to be between the transformer welders and inverter welders. I know that generally inverter types have lower duty cycle. Other than that, are the as reliable? Has there been a problem with blown power semiconductors?? Is the ability to weld (within the capacity of thre machine) similar for transformer and inverter supplies? The newest Inverters exceed any transformers in duty cycle and efficiency. 2 I presume that if one tries to exceed the duty cycle for long, the machine will trip out on overload/thermal protector... How does this effect the weld in process?? Will an abrupt termination of the weld mid way result in damage/ruination of the parts, or does one merely commence welding again when the machine cools down? Can one extend the duty cycle by adding a fan to cool the inverter supply? It is unlikely you will trip the breaker on a large inverter. 3 Some TIG welders claim that HF is not needed because they output square wave power or other means to start the arc, Are the non-HF types as easy to use/start as the traditional HF equipped ones? Inverters don't really need continuous high freq for AC TIG. They generate something that works just as well using capacitor discharge high freq. 4. Almost all of my welding jobs would be of short duration - a couple of minutes. Would a water cooled torch be needed or is air cooled sufficient A 200 amp air cooled torch like a CK210 from CK Worldwide would work just fine. 5. I have noticed some off brand TIG machines on Ebay, mostly inverter types, i.e. an outfit called Smiley Tools which makes a combo tig/Plasma/ARC unit typically providing 120 or 150 Amps to the Tig torch. The unit looks like an inverter. There is a similar unit by MITECH. These units sell for under $1000. Is this a strictly you get what you pay for situation?? Has anyone out there seen or used these units? I presume that they all are made in China or thereabouts. Thank you in advance for your comments. For the size of work you want to do a transformer will likely be more affordable. Look at the Syncrowave 350LX -- "I love deadlines, especially the wooshing sound they make as they fly by" - Douglas Adams |
#3
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TIG welder
Thank you for your input. The situation is resolved. I picked up am L-Tec
Heliarc 306 off Ebay. Seller is local to me so I can avoid shipping which is a good thing as this is one heavy beast!! Now all I need is to become familiar with using it!! On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 08:00:32 GMT, Ernie Leimkuhler wrote: In article , Bradford Chaucer wrote: I am cnsidering a tig welder. Price range? My main interests are welding aluminum, steel and stainless, in thicknesses up to 3/4 in, mostely repair and small shop fabrication projects. I have a big-a**ed stick welder for the heavy work on steel. |
#4
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TIG welder
On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 08:00:32 GMT, Ernie Leimkuhler
wrote: 3/4" aluminum is not practical to TIG weld. For aluminum heavier than 1/4" consider a MIG welder. Much more efficient than TIG for heavy aluminum. I didn't know that -- never having welded any aluminum much over 1/4"! So what thickness of aluminum could be welded with something like a Millermatic 210, Ernie? |
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