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Random one but im a bit stuck on this.
I am writing a datasheet for procuring a load of equipment to furnish a Mechanical Workshop.
I am ok with the Mill, Lathe, Drills, Saws etc but completely no idea about welding.
ive tried to read up on the terminology but its a minefield.
All i know is we need to do GTAW (Tig) welds, and also a SMAW (stick) welds.
Is there a product that does both or am i looking at two completely different machines?
A tig welder will do stick welding, but its a bit of overkill as the tig welder will be very expensive and stick welders are cheap. Might be sensible to get a basic stick welder as well to save anyone ham fisted getting their hands on the tig welder.
If you want to tig weld aluminium then you need an AC DC machine.
If you dont want to weld aluminium then a DC only machine will be cheaper.
Is there a product that does both or am i looking at two completely different machines?
A tig welder will do both but if you’re being asked for both you maybe need to understand why. Tig would typically be used for quite fine, controlled work so they’re not typically very powerful welders. A reason to want a stick welder in addition to a tig, rather than use a tig for both, might be that it’s an economical way to have a powerful welder for thicker gauge stuff.
When you buy a welder you would hope that there is decent aftersales support, if things go wrong or you need a new torch etc.
Weldability sif have a reasonable reputation.
They are currently getting rid of some machines at what looks like a good price. This for example is a tig AC DC machine that does MMA as well.
But it is really just a rebadged Telwin machine, so still an OK machine but not such a great price.
Inverter Fusion Ltd have a good reputation for after sales support, and they seem to be getting rid of their own range of UK made machines.
https://www.inverterfusion.co.uk/TIG-Welding-Machines-s/140.htm
They seem to be stocking Lincoln machines now.
In general a good tig machine can be used for MMA welding.
Its probably best just to got to your local welding supply company and give them some idea about what you are looking for, and let them recommend something.
If you get a tig welder you will need a cylinder of argon. Therefore you need an account with eg BOC.
Plenty of options for gas without a contract these days. I have a bottle with a deposit from my local gas place. I just pay for refills as and when. No account or rental charges.
ESAB, Inverter Fusion Ltd, Miller, GYS, Lincoln, Kemppi, Rehm, Cebora, Parweld, Oerlikon, Fronius, EWM, Migatronic, Lorch etc are generally all good welders
Thanks all.
I am for now only looking for information to populate the datasheet, aftersales support is not an issue. this equipment will be part of a huge package sub-supplied by single vendor.
Also cost not really an issue. it should just be the best available.
i think i will just specify a multipurpose Tig welder for now and let the supplier advise whether separate machines would be more suitable
I have 2 Lincoln's for prototype work - an Aspect 300 that does AC & DC and a smaller Invertec 220 DC.
Both do MMA but to be honest once you can TIG you'll never want to ever weld stick (or MIG ever again).
The Invertec was ~£1300 the Aspect was ~£5k
Awesome bits of kit, nice and stable at everything from coke cans thickness to 20mm plate. Make sure you get a foot pedal for amperage control and budget for an air fed mask as welding fumes have been reclassified as carcinogenic.
Depends on what your or the shops needs are. Ac/DC tig is a given, not scratch start.
You will need a arc welder at some point. If you want to weld a thick scruffy chunk of steel with slag on and even paint then arc is your weapon of choice.
It also depends on what the welders are trained on. no point if they cannot use them.
Also arc welding is super for site work in windy areas if that's an issue
^ HF start (will do scratch also) is great on my Lincolns with multi trigger settings, both also have settings for pre and post gas time, ramp up/down, adjustable pulser and AC wave form.
Invertec is 16amp supply for 220amp the Aspect is 32amp supply for 300amp
Lincoln's are very good.
Speak with a local welding supplier, they should be able to advise on what you need and they should also have loan machines for you to try before you buy.
Also cost not really an issue. it should just be the best available.
Perhaps stick with the three German ones from the list above from @paton - Lorch, EWM and Fronius..! (AFAIK Rehm have no UK dealer presence, if that's important.)
I've just gone from R-Tech (Far East mfr with UK support... but you may find you need the support, as I have...) to a Lorch (German) DC TIG and the difference is more than chalk and cheese; it is sublime.
Yes you can get a TIG that will also do stick
You need some more info, what materials to be welded, thickness etc. Also duty cycle required, do you need a water cooled torch etc. Also whether you require redundancy. Portability required?
Technically you should be removing welding fume at source if operating in a workshop, so budget for some extractors. Decent ones are a couple of grand each.