TIG Welding

[Patrick Gookin]

What kind of TIG welder would I need for small gunsmithing welds. I'm just getting into gunsmithing and I've been stick welding for years, but I figured I ought to get a TIG welder for small fixes.

Would an AC or DC welder be best? Amperage range? Type of gas?

 

[ercnjasmine]

Not a gunsmith, but as a former certified welder I would recommend a inverter machine so you can do both. DC for carbon and stainless, AC for whatever alumium comes your way. As for gas, Argon should be fine. A Miller Dynasty 200 or 250 would be perfect, depending on your power input. Be sure to get a water cooled torch and pump set up for it as well.

Also, with a Dynasty machine you can hook up a stick stinger and use it for SMAW no problem.

 

[rcmodel]

Figure on rewiring your house or shop too.

None of them will run off an extension cord plugged a 15A wall socket.

rc

 

[Kp321]

I have a good DC (rectifier) welder and do all the TIG work I need to with a cheap TIG torch that clamps onto the stinger lead, not water cooled, but I don't weld for long periods of time. I use pure argon for shielding.

 

[Patrick Gookin]

So, would a rectifier be something integrated onto a TIG welder or would it be an aftermarker part added to an AC welder? Also, what's the water cooling for? Just so the handle doesn't burn your hand? Or does it actually keep the temperature of your weld down?

On another note, would I really need a 220v welder for small TIG applications? I have a 220v 50 amp line that I use for larger stick welding, but when I'm welding sheet metal, I just use a 110v stick welder with a 1/16th inch rod. I don't really know much about TIG, but I figured a 110 line would suffice.

 

[rjrivero]

I have one of these. Great machine. Runs on 220. Easy to learn on, and easy to use.

 

[CAWalter]

Figure on rewiring your house or shop too.

None of them will run off an extension cord plugged a 15A wall socket.

rc

Not true today with inverter technology. I have a Thermalarc 190 GTS, bought 12 years ago that delivers 95 amps on 110v, and 190 amps on 220v. Gunsmith welding rarely requires more than 50 welding amps if ever, easily provided by a std. 110 outlet.

CAW

 

[velocette]

Things that are worthy in a TIG welder,
1, Good foot control for the amperage
2, Soft start (imposed High frequency to initiate the arc without touching the workpiece with the electrode)
3, AC & DC operation.
4, Water cooled torch is nice but not critical.
5, Good control at lower amperage output. This makes it easier to do small delicate items which frequently are needed in gunsmithing.
6, Best of all is a neighbor or freind that has a high end TIG machine that will let you use his whenever you need it.

Roger

 

[ercnjasmine]

velocette is right. I still have a production mentality when it comes to welding, not repair or small items, so thats why i recommended the dynasty and water cooler. For most jobs, a decent 220 inverter will be fine. The water cooled torch isn't necessary, as it allows for a greater duty cycle, but more than likely wouldn't be necessary.

 

[Patrick Gookin]

Thanks for all the info guys, I've definitely got a grasp of what to look for know. Thanks for the list velocette, I'd never even heard of a foot control for amperage or soft starting / stopping.

 

[CAWalter]

And a very important feature of a good TIG machine for welding small parts is it's ability to go down to at least 5 amps, lower is better. Some inexpensive machines will not go low enough. Foot petals have been around since the '40s when TIG was developed, first registered as Heliarc by Airco.

CAW

 

[jmorris]

You'll want an AC/DC machine with high frequency, if you plan on doing steel and aluminum. I prefer Miller syncrowave machines but Lincoln squarewave machines work well too. I also have a Miller inverter machine that will plug into either 110 or 220 with no machine changes needed.

I would also suggest remote amp control and water cooling but neither are must haves, just more expensive to add after the fact.

If your house is old enough to have the washer/dryer in the garage you already have enough power to run most TIGs up to 200 amps (output) or so.

 

[beag_nut]

If you have the choice which you can afford, get a machine with a foot control. MUCH easier to use!

 

[Patrick Gookin]

Yeah, that blew my mind when I read about a machine that goes down to 5 amps. I've been welding very thin sheet metal with a cheap Harbor Freight stick welder at about 30 or so amps. It'll burst through pretty quickly on some metal if I'm not paying a lot of attention. Looks like I need a TIG more than I realize...

I found a few TIG machines that are air cooled and thought that might be a better solution for me. I don't plan on manufacturing anything, so it'll probably be used fairly little. And the foot control sounds like a really useful feature to have, so that'll be a selling point for me. I've always bought pretty cheap welding supplies, but a TIG machine is starting to sound like something I shouldn't scrimp out on. I definitely don't intend on purchasing it at Harbor Freight.

 

[jmorris]

Yeah, that blew my mind when I read about a machine that goes down to 5 amps. I've been welding very thin sheet metal

This was done with a $1000 machine that (will go up to 375 amps output/100 amps input at 240) would have cost over 6k with everything it came with. My best advice would be to buy used (when so many are shutting down) and you can get great deals.