I've been gas, stick, and Mig welding for many years, but I have never had anything to do with Tig and am clueless...

Three questions:

Are any of the Tig Welders one sees on e-bay for around 300 bucks worth getting for light weight aluminum work such as mufflers, engine cases, etc.?

Also, do the Tig welders use the same 75/25 Argon/CO2 mix as I use in my Mig welder, or is it pure Argon for the Tig's??

What exactly DO I look for when shopping for a cheap Tig?

Thanks,
AV8TOR

No chance! Sorry. You need AC to weld ally and they are expensive but worth it. Last time I used one was about 15 years ago and they are a joy to use! Get one with a foot pedal (more control) I used 100% Argon. The welders we had at work were water cooled (tips last longer) 300 amp 440volts. Expensive but would weld anything. Titanium welding is a ***** so avoid. Now I work as an aircraft mechanic (new job) and get the welder at work to do my stuff, if you need any more info let me know and I will ask him tomorrow.

Rich

A Miller Econo tig is as low on the scale as I'd go.
Argon for all the steels.
Helieum or argon for aluminum.

If you're stick welder has AC ya can get a HF unit and use that for aluminum or the steels.
If the welder has DC straight polarity ya can just buy the torch and lead and do what they call a drag start but, can't do aluminum with it with out the HF exciter.
Weldcraft is an excelent tig torch $60.00 for one with a gas valve built into it, 200 amp.

Hope this helps,
BB1

Ok here it goes......

Tig welding is the most difficult because unlike mig you control everything, such as feed (filler rod) and heat (foot control). Where Mig is set it and forget it for the thickness of material. I weld with all three at work. I also work with Billzair who is a certified welder. I'm sure he will be joining in on this topic at any time. I only run Argon on the tig for mild steel, stainless steel and aluminum. Miller sells a nice small portable unit that would work great for you applications. [link=http://millerwelders.com/products/tig/maxstar_150_sth/]Miller Tig[/link]. The thing is the smaller one tend to be just as much $ then some of the bigger ones. I'm shure there might be a small cheaper one out there. But I know you get what you pay for. Billzair might know of somthing.....

Hope this helps

my advice to you....

1. Stick with a name brand!! Miller or lincoln are good choices. they've been around a long time and youll be able to get parts for them if you need to. Some guys will say one brand is better than the other, but is the same ol chevy vs. ford type of arguement.I personaly have a lincoln 180 SD. It cost me around $1400.00 I can weld up to 3/16 aluminum with no problem. I would not go with a liqiud cooled machine unless you find an awsome deal on one or are going to do alot of continous welding. Its just not nessary.

2. Argon is a great gas for almost everything youll weld. I use argon for stainless, aluminum, mild steel, galvinized, and titanium.
helium is good on aluminum but makes for a "hotter" weld so it is best suited for thicker peices in my opinion.

3. 2% thoriated tunsten is also very versitile. I also use it to weld just about anything.


hope this helps, and remember.....you get what you pay for.

I have an old 110 buzz box.Montgomery ward.100 amp.Can i buy somthing to use with this unit to do aluminum.If i can,what do i need to look for.I can use up to a 1/8th rod.

Thanks for the info guys. You have given me some info to help me browse.... and dream! I would love to have a big, heavy, super capable machine, but I just can't justify the cost and room for one to do the little aluminum welding I would be doing. We'll see if a cheaper machine shows up for me in the ads with what you have recommended as necessary to do what I want to do.

He who dies with the most toys wins. He who dies with the most toys, and cool tools to work on them wins TWICE!

Thanks again,
AV8TOR

To rephrase a question no one has addressed yet.... Can I use my existing Argon/C02, 75/25 mix for welding with my Mig on a Tig welding aluminum too, or do I need a pure Argon rig for the Tig??

Thanks,
AV8TOR

Nope. Helium, or pure argon.

BB1

Ok, thanks again!

AV8TOR

Yup, about $1000.00 more of equipment.
Stand alone high frequency unit (on. off switch and contacter sold separate), buy bottle of argon or helium (usually first fill free). flow meter, tig torch, collets, pure tungsten and fittings.

Getting up into the professional welding stuff gonna get expensive.

BB1

Since you say you can mig. Here is another much less exotic welding option on the cheap.

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/knowl...compactmig.asp

Thanks for that tip, but I don't think I will go that way. I have heard too many horror stories about the wire not feeding properly. However, that did remind me that they sell a little spool for aluminum wire that attaches to the handle of my Miller Mig welder that might be ok for limited work. I'll look into that. Will a Mig set up like that and running pure Argon make decent welds, or am I just trying to "cheap out" to no good advantage??

AV8TOR

They do a decent job.

But I've had trouble on "small" stuff

Quote:
“I have heard too many horror stories about the wire not feeding properly�.

This is true. You, having experience with the mig welding of steel,would
know about correct tip selection,wire alloy,liners, polarity, roll tensioning feed rates etc.etc.

Improper setup will lead to all kinds of “horror stories�.AS it could not be the operators fault...

Tig is a superior/slower process as well as being beautiful. Ask yourself how much are you willing to pay in $, and time to learn the puddle..dip…puddle... dip…in order to form those evenly spaced “fish Scales� like one northern Illinois gentleman that posts here.

AV8TOR, Go for it ...get a good tig welder and build some neat goodies for yourself...and some to sell US! Best Regards Capt,n

Thanks for the reply.Ill skip the thought for now.

Buck, if your unit has AC then you can buy 1/8 dia aluminum arc welding rod. And by AC I dont mean air conditioning
On the down side though, I think even the best welders would have a hard time making a muffler look good with aluminum stick.

I purchased a Miller Econo Tig a few years ago and am very happy with it. It runs on 220 single phaze and welds with stick or tig. It will run AC or DC straight or reverse at the flip of a switch and comes with a tourch, stinger, regulater, foot control and a few other little goodies. Add argon and it does a very nice job on aluminum up to about 3/16".
Just don't let your frinds with aluminum boats find out you can weld aluminum.

D7

OK,maybe ill buy a couple sticks and try it.I have to get hold of a guy i know in IL.Hes tried somthing with his torch but i dont remember it all so ill ask and find out.He tried it and said with a little practice it might work,not sure.
Buy the way i sent the info about the mufflers out to ya today.

buck1856,
dont buy any rod...Ill send some to you when I send out your muffler.

Hey,great,thanks a lot.Let me know when your done and ill send payment however you want.