HF Tig

[russo2]

I learned to weld on a big ol lincoln 225 arc welder and i wanted to try to learn tig on a budget but dont know of it is even worth the money for this tig...help please?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?function=Search

 

[sayre315]

i've been thinking about that also
always wanted to lean how to tig and arc weld

 

[hedjhawg]

Check out the Miller Diversion 165. Retails on the street for $1,300 US. The HF is junk.

 

[sen2two]

the HF TIG welder can be "OK" at best. the main problem is no adjustability. with most TIG welders you can press down on the pedal or relaes to get more or less amperage. witht eh HF one, when you start it, its ON. plus its very low powered, and if something breaks. your screwed. i almost bought the HF one until i did my research.

i wounnd up getting a Lincoln 175 sqaure wave. AC/DC, this thing does it all.

 

[zero1dhd]

Normal progression of welding techniques

ARC - cheap easy and ugly. You can pretty much just drag the electrode and get a strong enough weld. Minimal skill required.

MIG - can be cheap, relatively easy, but requires a little skill to get a quality bead. Practice makes perfect...

TIG - if you cannot MIG like a champ, I wouldn't even try this one. It is an entirely different technique than the other two. If you watch TV shows with guys TIG welding and say that looks cool I wanna learn how, realize those guys have been TIG welding for years if not decades, it is nowhere near as easy as they make it look. You need to have good foot control, hand control, and really good hand-eye-foot coordination. As you weld, the metal will tell you when it is time to dab the rod. I could go on for days about TIG techniques, but I won't unless asked...

And then there is
BRAZING - which I don't consider welding at all, but it can be strong. I would say it's somewhere between ARC and MIG as far as skill set. All you need is rosin (aka flux), brazing rod, and a torch. Apply the appropriate flux to area of desired "weld" heat from opposite side and apply appropriate rod (opposite side of heat source so the rod flows to the heat just like soldering) and let cool.

 

[sen2two]

dont forget oxy acetaline welding also...

like brazing, but you actually weld. brazing is more of a bonding. with welding, the metals melt into eachother.

oxy acetaline is VERY easy and can look almost as nice as TIG if done right. alls you need is a torch and some wire hanger...

 

[lemegacool]

i swear only by hf tig welder!!! full control on ALL parameters i'm using the previous version of this welder http://www.millerwelds.com/products/tig/syncrowave_250_dx/

a real dream to work with! and yes with the hf and remote you can adjust the amps on the pedal, or leave it 100% dont know where you heard that!

 

[hedjhawg]

i swear only by hf tig welder!!!

The "HF" TIG welder we were complaining about is the Harbor Freight unit. The HF you are praising (rightly so) is the Miller (High Frequency) unit.

There is no comparison.

 

[lemegacool]

The "HF" TIG welder we were complaining about is the Harbor Freight unit. The HF you are praising (rightly so) is the Miller (High Frequency) unit.

There is no comparison.

PWAHAHAHA fail lol. in my head "hf" was for high frequency! lol

 

[the1leadhead]

i weld for a living and trust me,the Miller is one of the best rigs out there.

 

[fluxcored]

i weld for a living and trust me,the Miller is one of the best rigs out there.

I've been out of the game for so long but yeah - Miller's good quality kit to have.

I refuse to get rid of my MIG just because it's a Miller altho I have'nt used it in over 4 years now.

 

[modelengineer]

ARC - cheap easy and ugly. You can pretty much just drag the electrode and get a strong enough weld. Minimal skill required.

Ahh.......? I'd say arc is MUCH more difficult than MIG welding. MIG is like a glue gun compared to arc welding, much more difficult to get a clean bead with arc. MIG welding is just getting the settings right and off you go.
(and before you ask, yes I've tried both)

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

Ahh.......? I'd say arc is MUCH more difficult than MIG welding. MIG is like a glue gun compared to arc welding, much more difficult to get a clean bead with arc. MIG welding is just getting the settings right and off you go.
(and before you ask, yes I've tried both)

agreed, and flux core is the most "glue gun" like, and easiest welding process, then mig (gas isnt that hard to set but its just one extra step) . I picked up the welder and was laying down decent beads within 10 minutes, and it only took me that long because my dad had the wire speed at its lowest and said it should be any higher than that.

 

[Khyren]

I personally have the XMT 304 CC/CV Miller unit but lack the TIG torch for it. Anyone know a good place to buy one at a decent price? I have the MIG feed unit that we had for it at work with it. There was a TIG torch for it but it grew legs and walked out of the shop one day.

Khyren

 

[lemegacool]

I personally have the XMT 304 CC/CV Miller unit but lack the TIG torch for it. Anyone know a good place to buy one at a decent price? I have the MIG feed unit that we had for it at work with it. There was a TIG torch for it but it grew legs and walked out of the shop one day.

Khyren

yeah xmt304 ROCKS!!! tough as hell! and performs really well with all process! and check ebay for a torch...

 

[Khyren]

It is 10 years old and still works great. I got it with a s22a feed unit, 44lb spool of wire, and a 15 foot m-25 lead for just under a grand from the :going out of business" sale at work. Anyone interested in a Millermatic 251? Got one of those too.

Khyren

 

[fluxcored]

It is 10 years old and still works great. I got it with a s22a feed unit, 44lb spool of wire, and a 15 foot m-25 lead for just under a grand from the :going out of business" sale at work. Anyone interested in a Millermatic 251? Got one of those too.

Khyren

If I was close by I would have taken you up on that offer!!

 

[lemegacool]

It is 10 years old and still works great. I got it with a s22a feed unit, 44lb spool of wire, and a 15 foot m-25 lead for just under a grand from the :going out of business" sale at work. Anyone interested in a Millermatic 251? Got one of those too.

Khyren

d'ahh it's the semi auto welder i would like to have at home... well me too i'm not close...

 

[Scout]

dont forget oxy acetaline welding also...

like brazing, but you actually weld. brazing is more of a bonding. with welding, the metals melt into eachother.

oxy acetaline is VERY easy and can look almost as nice as TIG if done right. alls you need is a torch and some wire hanger...

Oxy-fuel is just like tig, just a different heat source.

If you have an ac/dc stick welder you can add a tig torch and bottle and get a cheap tig. I've got $600 in mine and that's buying local, I bet if you watch for deals on ebay you can set one up for half price.

 

[rgvkid]

Another problem with the HF, isnt it 220 only? I need a portable 110 Tig to take with me for onsite installations for my work. I make custom iron work and Mig is just to worrysome when im working in doors over High end Hardwood floors or tile. What would you suggest for a portable 110 tig.