Hobby level TIG welder

[Mr Bean]

Back in the days of trouser turn-ups and 405 line TV I started welding cars with an arc welder running off a large auto transformer and for very thin metal I got her ladyship to wind down the current once I had struck up. Tricky but do-able. Then when the metal in cars got even thinner I got a hobby level MIG welder and Pub C02 bottles. I know my last C02 Pub gas cylinder will run out eventually and bunging the local pub to get them charged prob isn't going to work nowadays. Plus C02 is not an ideal shield gas.
So I have been eyeing up the circa £500 TIG machines but I do less welding nowadays a and including the hassle of getting Argon just seems a step too far.
But then I spotted this one which I guess is a double imported Chinese job: http://www.expondo.co.uk/stamos-germany ... 2009?c=414#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; I am struggling to find details on the supply of gas and clearly this is the very bottom end of the market anyway.
Anyone any knowledge or experience in this area?
CS

[Simon Baxter]

I bought one of these, been great.
http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/tig-weld ... dc-160amp/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I think BOC do some small disposable bottles.

[Woodyyellow]

Ops!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
E D I T.................
(Excuse my silliness! Just re read the OP and realise that of course he was talking about TIG welding!!!)

never mind, I'll leave it here, it might just be useful to others! Doh!


When I retired from my job as a Craft Design & Technology teacher I needed to buy my own set of equipment as i was unable to borrow and bring home to use the school equipmentand so this is what I bought myself.

http://www.wellyweld.com/products/Redli ... 72561.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Now I know this is from a company local to me but I'm sure other welding suppliers would have similar equipment for sale.

I also bought into the 'Hobby Weld Gas' system which has been very economical and easy to use. I have heard of people using pub co2 bottles but this is specifically designed for MIG welding and does a very good job.

http://www.wellyweld.com/products/Hobby ... arge-72530" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

I have found the equipment to be first class and a very good investment.

[busbuddy]

got a clarke mig and lincoln electric tig, had both for well over a decade now

i used to have a gas welder but got rid when i moved house a lot because the insurance got a bit twitchy, have not used the mig with co2 for years (i use the gasless wire) because most of my mig stuff is outside in a gale and i can weld with the gasless wire good enough

[what2do]

Migatronic pilots or rally's often come up for a bargain on eBay. Brilliant machines in my opinion.

[silverbullet]

Reading with interest...

Sent by Morse code from the bunker

[Titus A Duxass]

I bought one of these

https://www.stahlwerk-schweissgeraete.d ... e-set.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So far I've had no issues and it has good back up support should anything go wooing.

I've got a lot of learning ahead of me.

[JonathanR]

Slightly off topic. When I bought my Mig, gas supply was an issue. Did not want to source pub gas, BOC rental was too much of a commitment for the use I would give it, and the hobby cylinders were not ideal (small).
Searching the web I found this and have been using their L11 cylinder. Made my regulator redundant but very pleased (as a novice hobby welder).
http://www.albeegascylinders.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
£175 for initial purchase of 11 litre cylinder and then £50 for subsequent "refill". Their distribution network seems to have grown since my original purchase 5 years ago.
They appear to do just argon which I think is what TIG use.

[Mr Bean]

Yes that seem to be a goodish scheme. I will give them a bell and see if there is a dealer local to me.
Thanks for that
CS

[weegaz22]

Slightly off topic gas supply was an issue. Did not want to source pub gas, BOC rental was too much of a commitment for the use I would give it, and the hobby cylinders were not ideal (small).
Searching the web I found this and have been using their L11 cylinder. Made my regulator redundant but very pleased (as a novice hobby welder).
http://www.albeegascylinders.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
£175 for initial purchase of 11 litre cylinder and then £50 for subsequent "refill". Their distribution network seems to have grown since my original purchase 5 years ago.
They appear to do just argon which I think is what TIG use.

Thats a bit pricey to me for a rental free option, i just got a 10 litre bottle of Sure Sheild 5 which is a MIG gas for my R-Tech MIG 180, its a hobbyweld cylinder, 60 quid deposit and 31 quid refill, they do a pure argon version too for TIG , similar prices of deposit and gas for the Argon 10L cylinder

Get over to migwelding.co.uk and ask about for deals in your area, they do TIG based stuff over there too, its just the forurms been running for years before TIG became as cheap and accesible as it is nowadays