My first Tig...
Turbo Mini Forums

Well,

just had my first play with an AC tig....

made a very poor looking crank sensor bracket from scrap alluminium. but starting to get the hang of tigging a bit now!!

ok, assuming i have also managed to work out how to post a picture......

nope, too stupid so here's the link's....

http://www.turbominis.co.uk/index.php?p=20&id=2619

http://www.turbominis.co.uk/index.php?p=20&id=2620

http://www.turbominis.co.uk/index.php?p=20&id=2621

Edited by Joe C on 19th Aug, 2006.

looks pretty good for your first go at it well done.

no longer a series, but still 1.3 turbo.

Cheer's

I think its obvious which end I started,

It aint pretty, but its not gonna break in a hurry.

the main problems were i kept dipping the tungsten, then i run out of gas (just using those stupid disposible bottles of argon til i get a proper bottle), and the filler rod is too thin so it's difficult to feed in quick enough.

still, bit more practice.....

There are - from my research - very few tigs worth buying if you're serious about welding aluminum alloys full-stop. it's the Miller Dynasty, or the Thermal Arc; both invertor units. These weld sand cast, and even die-cast aluminium pretty easilly.
I'm saving for the dynasty myself, but if i need to economise, the thermalarc is reputed to be every bit as good.

I went for one of these cheap chinese one's, a mitech AC/DC200. also rebranded as Butters here in the uk,

it's basic but seems like it'll do for me in the garage.

Must say i'm liking this tig stuff, its easier than mig (so far) and the welds on steel stay nice and soft, and you can touch up your cockups. I was intending to use it to do my plenums and exhaust then flog it, but i reckon i'll hang onto it now. or until I can afford something like a Miller or Thermal arc, as Dave says they are quality, about 5x what I paid for this one though.

We have a Millers at work, apart from being about £2k its a stunning unit that gets used soo much at work that it has paid for itself.

both, cheap tig and home brew...