TIG / Arc welder

[tcianci]

I have seen TIG / arc welders advertised at HF. Is there any way to make a home grown TIG welder from a regular arc welder. I have a nice old Sears 220amp arc welder, it doesn't get much use since I got my MIG. Please advise.

 

[fflintstone]

I have seen TIG / arc welders advertised at HF. Is there any way to make a home grown TIG welder from a regular arc welder. I have a nice old Sears 220amp arc welder, it doesn't get much use since I got my MIG. Please advise.

there are inverter boxes you can power with an arc welder. they dont work very well. if you dont weld alot you wont be happy with the performance.
you have to be a decent gas welder to tig well. save your money or do some side jobs and buy a miller diversion 165, or the new lincoln square wave 175 for about $200 more. I prefer and plan to buy the lincoln. you still have to cough up for a regulator and an argon cyl.
I picked up a full argon cyl off CL for cheap.

 

[slipknot]

why not just buy a multi purpose machine ? i bought a power arc 160 from everlast generators went to the local welders supply and bought me a tig torch and a bottle of argon/co2 cost me around 450 all together http://www.everlastgenerators.com/

 

[DHS]

there are inverter boxes you can power with an arc welder. they dont work very well. if you dont weld alot you wont be happy with the performance.
you have to be a decent gas welder to tig well. save your money or do some side jobs and buy a miller diversion 165, or the new lincoln square wave 175 for about $200 more. I prefer and plan to buy the lincoln. you still have to cough up for a regulator and an argon cyl.
I picked up a full argon cyl off CL for cheap.

I've been interested in this also, but from my understanding as long as you have a ac/dc machine you can use it without anything else. If I am wrong please tell me so I know, thanks.

 

[yea.mitch]

i use my old lincoln sa 200 all the time hook the ground to the positive and hook the torch to the neg. it wont be high frequency and it will be "scratch start"

 

[Stuart in MN]

i use my old lincoln sa 200 all the time hook the ground to the positive and hook the torch to the neg. it wont be high frequency and it will be "scratch start"

When I took a welding class, this was how we did tig welding for the most part. All you need to add is the torch and a gas bottle. The scratch start does contaminate the torch tip more quickly but it does work pretty well.

 

[Underdog]

When I took a welding class, this was how we did tig welding for the most part. All you need to add is the torch and a gas bottle. The scratch start does contaminate the torch tip more quickly but it does work pretty well.

Strictly a stick, mig guy, but my understanding is yes you can tig steel but for aluminum you need a high frequency box?

 

[OccupantRJ]

I've been interested in this also, but from my understanding as long as you have a ac/dc machine you can use it without anything else. If I am wrong please tell me so I know, thanks.

You are correct. See my previous thread on this.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65000

 

[OccupantRJ]

Strictly a stick, mig guy, but my understanding is yes you can tig steel but for aluminum you need a high frequency box?

You are correct.

 

[hedjhawg]

I am a huge HF fan, and I have owned a couple of their welders, including the one you mention.

Save your money and buy a Miller (or Lincoln)

 

[atari]

......I weld with a Powcon 300st every day in a production environment and have had zero problems with the machines. I have a Miller Maxstar 152 at the house and have never had a problem. I run Weldlogic 150s and a 300 and have never had a problem. All inverter type welders. I would not waste my money on a HF welder of any kind but dont dismiss all inverters as junk. If you dont run aluminum they by far out perform the AC/DC style welders every time. Hell you can get a maxstar that comes with a shoulder strap!

 

[JASTECH]

I have a Lincoln 225AC in one bay and a Miller Bobcat 250 in another bay that I was told to get something I cant remember to MIG weld with it?
Then I have a Hi-Freq welder in my 73' Scout thats stick and would like to MIG with too. I will keep eyeballs on this thread.

Thanks, JASTECH