Welding Tips and Tricks

Hello everyone!

My name is Vando and although I am a 6G certified pipe welder (ferrous) I have yet to be fully employed in the area..

Resources over here aren't easy to come by here on the island of Santa Maria in the Azores, so when there is a welding job to do I usually only do Flux core Mig and Gmaw steel and stainless.

I am however looking in to getting a decent AC/DC inverter Tig welder in the next couple of weeks.. just haven't decided on what to get just yet..
Just need to get some practice in because I need to update my ISO welding certifications..

And yes, I already bought myself a Tig finger and an XL Tig finger!
Glad to be on here!

Welcome to the forum!

Welcome to the forum, Vando.

Welcome.
What price range do you have in mind and what do you I tend to use it for?
On the high end machines you probably have Esab EWm and Kemppi available not so sure about mid range alternatives for you but I believe Thermal arc are available in Portugal.

Hello everyone!
I'm glad I finally decided on signing up here on the forum!

@AndersK and everyone of course!
Well, I am currently undecided on which machine to get..
I'm def going for something in the mid range because I'll be going back to the States for work with my Work Visa (in the construction field) in two or three months.. I'm just waiting on my paperwork..

I firstly was looking to get something with a "basic" AC function for aluminum Tig:
(0.5 to 5hz pulse frequency and no adjustable AC frequency)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/371462503465

This one at 615€ shipped and has a little better Pulse frequency:
(Pulse frequency 0.5 to 300hz and also no adjustable AC frequency)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/391845960330

Than comes a 687€ with very very very basic options:
(adjustable AC frequency from 20 to 250hz and AC balance 10-90%)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/182539070785
Doesn't even have pulse frequency on DC at all for thin stainless..

My decision I believe is resting between these last two machines I'm going to show you..

This one has almost everything the previous ones did but just at 625€ shipped:
(AC frequency 40 to 120hz, AC balance 20-80% and 0.5-300 HZ pulse frequency)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/352256790588

And the most expensive one I've seen so far is this one at 775€ shipped:
(adjustable AC frequency from 50 to 200hz and AC balance 20-80%)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/151405257784

This last one is really good for it's price AND has a 5 year warranty which beats the others with 1-2 year warranties..

My question is, Should I pay 150€ more for the this last machine just because it has a better AC frequency than the previous one with only 120hz?
That warranty tho....I do like that assurance!


I'll take all the opinions and advice on these machines is Welcome!!
If you know something that I'm misreading or misinterpreting on those machine descriptions, please point it out to me..
I've never done AC TIG welding before.. but clearly I want to have a go at it!

Sorry for the long post and I hope It's ok to post these questions on this section of the forum!
Let me know what you guys think!

Thanks!
Vando

There is also an offset machine I didn't mention on the previous reply but I'm not really considering it:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/151388807182

No AC frequency adjustment but has AC balance, 50A plasma cut function, 5 year warranty, 0.5 to 200hz Pulse frequency...
but comes at the same price tag as the most expensive one that I mentioned above at 775€ shipped

As over here we use 230v @50hz the no AC frequency would mean I'll be welding at 50hz on AC for aluminum..


Again, any opinions and advice are welcome!

Thanks again!
Vando

I believe I answered my own doubts..

Just bought the more expensive!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/151405257784

Now i just gotta wait a few weeks to receive it.

Hope its worth waiting for. I think there were someone here bought one a while ago.

Hope it turns out as expected

Thanks! I just hope it gets here without any damage to it!

This welder comes with a WP-26 torch...
Now I'm looking in to normal gas lenses, stubby gas lenses and even some Pirex cups to go with it.

Any idea on what sizes I should actually get to start with? there's way too many sizes out there..

Still waiting on the seller to let me know how many pins for the foot pedal this machine has so I can buy the appropriate foot pedal for it as well.

Can't wait to have a go at it on some stainless and aluminium.


Vando

Quick update..

After a couple of issues with the purchase on ebay because of shipping and the company I bought the machine from ran out of stock on the model I purchased, They upgraded me to the machine version with Plasma cut (50Amps) for free..

I just had to have the machine shipped to a good friend on the Mainland and he'll ship it to me here.. which will take two to three weeks longer..

At least the machine upgrade saved me about 200 dollars..


=)