Best tig welding equipment according to redditors

I'd guess 90% of welders have never burned a rod before they went to school. That's been the case with nearly everyone I've talked to (including myself). There's nothing to be nervous about. If your instructors are worth a shit you'll be just fine. I'll give you a few tips that might help a little.

Go to class everyday, don't dick around, burn rods and wire every chance you get.

If you aren't comfortable when you start a weld, stop. Once you strike up it becomes very difficult to adjust your position without ruining your bead.

When you're stick welding or MIG welding, do a dry run. Get comfy, then move your gun or stinger along the weld path to make sure you can make short welds in one pass. Restarts (aka tie-ins) are the weakest point of a weld, the fewer restarts the better.

If you can afford it, buy a GOOD automatic shield. 3m Speedglass, Miller Elite, Lincoln Electric Viking are all very good and you can't go wrong with them. You can get a Viking for about $200. I honestly like them more than my Miller Elite. Do not buy those shitty $50 shields or you're going to burn your eyes.

Lock your shit up. People will steal from you. The shop should provide lockers. If they don't, take everything home every day. It may help to spray paint your stuff so it's easily identifiable.

Watch these videos. Jody knows what he's talking about and has been a huge help to me over the years.

Buy one of these. Hell, buy 2 for when the first on gets stolen. This thing goes over one of the fingers on your glove and lets you rest your hand on top of red hot metal without burning yourself. This will make TIG welding much easier.

Use google. You need to learn about the contractors in your area as they will likely be your first job after school. Also you need to learn about tools.

Learn to prep with a grinder. My school had 2 track cutters for beveling plate and another for beveling pipe. You won't have those in the field.

When you get to stainless steel you need to have a separate file. Using the same file you used on carbon steel will contaminate the stainless and turn it black (and it'll rust). There are multiple handle options available, so just get a different handle for your stainless file and they'll be easy to tell apart.

Be wary of anyone who went to Tulsa Welding School. I've seen dozens of guys from there bust out on tests. The school is a joke. They're more worried about getting as many students through their program as possible than actually teaching people to weld. I can't tell you how many welds I've had to fix because a Tulsa boy fucked up.

And remember, this shit isn't easy. This is a hard life. This is a hard trade. You will hurt.

It's worth noting that Everlast now sells a MIG/TIG/Stick machine that does AC/DC TIG. As far as I know, they're the only company offering this. Their website doesn't list it yet. It's only been out a couple of months, and they always seem to keep new products off their sit until they've been out for a few months, but here's an amazon link if you want to read over specs. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075H41B11

https://smile.amazon.com/AHP-AlphaTIG-Stick-Welder-WARRANTY/dp/B076BSD6PG

If your boss doesn't already know of them. They are great for the price.

Amazon.com

AHP AlphaTIG 200X

Furick's FUPA 12 Gas Lens Kit

SSC Controls Pedal

I am just a hobbyist fabricator for my car. I just picked up the TIG welder a few weeks ago and have been using this subreddit and r/welding for all my feedback.

Would this soldering iron from Amazon work on my Pi? http://www.amazon.com/Lotos-TIG200-DC-inverter-Welding-stainless/dp/B0118HQMUK

What is his favorite welding process? If it's MIG I recommend a nice pair of welding gloves, If he is a TIG guy, I recommend the TIG finger XL.

if you just want to get in hours and add welding to your garage I would totally recommend a dual voltage HF start tig welder. buy off amazon and get a 3 year protection plan with good reviews and don't sweat the haters. my Buddy has had a great experience with this one. you will need a bottle and a foot pedal.
https://www.amazon.com/EVERLAST-PowerARC-160STH-160amp-Voltage/dp/B00H2VETB6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1538001782&sr=8-3&keywords=tig+welder+everlast

then there is this one, no idea on quality, id buy one for fun and see how it goes. just get a warranty. if it only lasts three years it cost you like 30 cents a day.
https://www.amazon.com/Torch-Inverter-Welder-Voltage-Welding/dp/B06XD7TCGN/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1538002117&sr=8-5&keywords=dual+voltage+tig+welder

If you can't go over $1000 look at the AlphaTIG 200X or the PrimeWeld TIG225X for an AC/DC machine. You need AC for aluminum but if you find a good multiprocess AC/DC machine for $1000 you'd be getting a steal. I just don't think there are any out there.

I'm personally just getting into tig welding with no experience and I bought the PrimeWeld machine when it was in stock (it seems to be popular and running out often). So far it's worked for me, most of any issues I've had have all been operator error since I'm new. I did spend another $100 to get a better foot controller for it though, the one that comes with either of the machines I linked are pretty bad, but still usable. I always felt like I had to slam it to get my max amp setting.

Also you asked in another comment about DCEN and DCEP. For aluminum, you need AC because you need to "clean" through the oxide layer before you can make a puddle. Using AC uses a cycle of both DCEN and DCEP as DCEP is what "cleans" through the oxide layer and DCEN is what actually makes the puddle. Inverter machines like the ones I mentioned above you can usually set the balance of this cycle for either more cleaning or more penetration. Too much cleaning (DCEP) and you'll burn up your tungsten, too much penetration (DCEN) and you won't get a nice, clean, uncontaminated puddle and it will all go downhill from there. Hopefully I illustrated that correctly/easy enough to understand.

I'm going to stick with recommendations based off new equipment (used is tough because you could find a really good deal but it's a total luck of the draw thing).


In my personal opinion, I think that your budget will point us away from the big industry names (Miller and Lincoln). The big names will have units under $2000 but they will be very bare bones.


I own an AHP Alphatig 200x.. I believe I purchased mine for $750 (same price currently at that Amazon link above). Going this route will leave you lots of additional money to pick up an argon tank, filler material, and whatever else you might need. AHP also has an upgraded model of this welder, the Alphatig 201dx. This new model is currently on sale through the website for $720!


The other brand I'd recommended is Everlast. Some quick recommendations that probably fit your requirements: Powertig 200dv or the Powertig 255ext.

Google both of those brands, check out their websites, and do some additional research to see if there are better options for you.

The main reasons (I think) these brands will be better for you are:

1. Price point vs. available features
   
   
   
2. Anticipated use (you don't require a high duty cycle for a low production environment (although both of these brands have machines with really good duty cycles considering their price points), you're not lugging this around a construction site/through mud/banging it up so you don't need the absolutely most durable piece you can find.)
   
   
   
3. Ease of use and adjustability
   
   
   Everlast has several even lower price point models that might fit your criteria as well. The models I chose (including AHP) have AC/DC capabilities (allows you to weld aluminum one day as well as some other more exotic metals if you ever get bored), dual voltage capabilities (can run off a standard wall outlet 110 V or off of 220 V), and tons of other features to fine tune your output.
   
   If you get into all this and have any more questions, shoot me a message. Good luck!

Or here is links to 2 packs on amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/WeldingCity-ER308L-Stainless-Steel-Welding/dp/B007JCQSWQ?crid=2Z3W4UDZ0IKT4&keywords=1%2F16+tig+filler+rod&qid=1537992917&sprefix=1%2F16%22+tig&sr=8-10&ref=mp_s_a_1_10

https://www.amazon.com/ER308L-16-stainless-steel-welding/dp/B07BSW2B1H?keywords=1%2F16+tig+filler+rod+stainless&qid=1537993368&sr=8-5&ref=mp_s_a_1_5

How about stainless steel welding rods? I.e. the ones like these, should also be available from a hardware store. You could bend them with pliers and I think it would be easier to keep it straight than wire.

I just found out that is thanks to u/GeorgeOlphin 's comment

Here is a link to the welder

That looks like it should do pretty much every thing you need, but I would check craigslist or similar for a used welder first because you might be able to pick up something cheaper or better for around the same price (like a used synchrowave, etc.) especially if you don't mind if it requires 230V.

Edit: I haven't used that specific welder, but the Amazon reviews are pretty good https://www.amazon.com/Square-Wave%C2%AE-200-Welder-K5126-1/dp/B017DQ8DJ8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8.

9 bucks. Surely you can afford that?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07LCSXYN5/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_3?smid=A2MS8SHOMSQ9EP&psc=1

Found this one for 700 was thinking about getting one myself. Good lick

Assuming your power supply is like 90amps, you will want a 120amp (9 series) torch with gas valve. The Ck part is ck9v-12 for 12’ or -25 for 25’

https://www.amazon.com/CK-CK9V-12-RSF-Torch-Valve-Piece/dp/B00JMG453G/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=ck9v-12&qid=1556883994&s=gateway&sr=8-1

You will then need a ground lug to attach your argon hose to and clamp your stick electrode holder to:

https://www.amazon.com/Weldmark-105Z57-15PCA-Power-Adapter/dp/B0711BKF7Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr2_1?keywords=tig+torch+ground+lug+ck&qid=1556884235&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmr2

The torch hose goes in the smaller opening.

You could also get a torch that plugs directly into your machine with a gas pigtail but I don’t know what fittings your machine has if they are 3/8” dinse:

https://www.amazon.com/9V-Cooled-Torch-1-Piece-Connector/dp/B07KRPGRKH/ref=mp_s_a_1_15?keywords=9v+tig+torch&qid=1556884503&s=gateway&sr=8-15

I would suggest going with ck for the torch and their braided hose.

The socket is a 4 pin but looks to only have 2 connections in there.
You'd need 5 pins for a foot switch anyway.

I usually use the BSX black TIG gloves for Thin TIG welds and on my fill hand, the BSX Black patch or similar for MIG and Stick, or the heavy glove on whatever hand I'm holding the torch with while TIG welding thick materials, also often with a TIG Finger XL or similar to help protect me and allow me to slide along surfaces better.

Most important for me is finding that line between feeling what I'm doing and protecting myself. I'm super pale and burn very easily, so I am fairly invested in PPE

Nice price, but No aluminum with that one. :(

I got the AlphaTig 200 and am pretty happy with it.

I am a 30 year novice, but this AHP tig welds very well for under $1000. A good tig machine will weld aluminum just fine. Just be aware, welding thin aluminum is not easy, but you don't need a really expensive machine to do it. Many of the prominent welders on youtube use this AHP machine with success. I have one and I can weld aluminum with it, but not well. Aluminum is just more delicate and harder than steel. Please check out youtube for this machine and welding aluminum. Please show us your creations when you get to that point, good luck! :)

https://www.amazon.com/AHP-AlphaTIG-Stick-Welder-WARRANTY/dp/B076BSD6PG

no

it will pick up the thermal difference in the tank due to heating/cooling of changing pressure, but you won't see the gas probably unless you use an internally cooled camera (50k+ USD)

most argon tanks have a flow meter for welding so you could get one of these

25' torch

The 12.5' one is under $50