Which Welder?

[Monkey_beast_182]

Well, not sure if I've put this in the right place.

I'm thinking of getting a welder, but I'm not sure which is the best way to go. I've done some arc welding in the past, so am sort of ok welding, but I'm thinking of getting either a TIG or MIG welder. I'm hoping to weld aluminium, so i'm assuming (possibly incorrectly) that I'd probably need a TIG welder to do this. Has anyone got any experience or tips as to what I should look for? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Also, any tips about possible places to buy from?

Cheers again.

 

[Puressence]

you need a tig welder for ally and make sure you buy the correct filler rods

 

[Fred@BTM]

and £2K spare for the welder, i've used cheap TIG welders before (£1K-£1.5K) and they're ok, but you need to spend the money (reliability is an issue)

i use a Lincon Electric Invertec205, awesome

 

[Monkey_beast_182]

that's about £1k-1.5k more than I was hoping to pay. Think I'll be renting one! Lol!

 

[wickedbitch]

definately tig its so much prettier ive just bought one so i can learn to weld, my uncles top notch at welding has done deep sea welding and all sorts so hopefully i should be pretty good at it eventually

 

[Fred@BTM]

you can buy DC (direct current) TIG welders cheap enough

but to do Aluminium it has to be an AC/DC type

Machine mart sell one for just over £1K but its crap!


if you can find somewhere that will hire out an AC/DC TIG welder then i'll buy you a beer!

 

[ben_p]

you can weld ally with MIG. you just need the rite gas and wire

 

[Fred@BTM]

and not ben at the controls!

 

[ben_p]

lol.. its improving..... i got/getting a welder in to finish the cage me thinks

 

[Fred@BTM]

give me a shout if you're stuck!

 

[Monkey_beast_182]

if you can find somewhere that will hire out an AC/DC TIG welder then i'll buy you a beer!

Beer based reward system.... I think I might do some ringing around at the weekend! You saw it here folks - Fred offered to buy me a beer!

 

[Fred@BTM]

you have to find somewhere first!

 

[Fred@BTM]

oh and for everytime you shock yourself when using the TIG, you have to buy me a beer

(i'll be s**t faced by the time you're done, first timers on a TIG is hillarious to watch!)

 

[Monkey_beast_182]

Mine's a Theakstone's Old Peculier please.

http://www.webbs-site.co.uk/hire/inverterwelder.htm

 

[Fred@BTM]

thats an arc welder, pint of peroni for me

 

[Realtwin]

oh and for everytime you shock yourself when using the TIG, you have to buy me a beer
(i'll be s**t faced by the time you're done, first timers on a TIG is hillarious to watch!)

Thats cruel!!!! lol. I think they would pick it up very quickly with the electro therapy reminding them.
As said to do it properly you need an AC machine I paid 2k three years ago for my murex machine "its the dogs". You also need to use the correct filler rods. I have welded ally with a mig and its a t**t. You also do not get good penetration. You need to be sure you are going to use it a lot to warrant the investment, factor in £80 for a large bottle of argon and £15/month rental on said bottle. Will be cheaper to find a decent local welder and take your bits to him unless your after a career change.