freeman 180 mma/tig welder anyone used one

[davidjohnperry]

i have "borrowed" my fathers mma/tig welder from our yard so i can use the tig part to practice me welding. i know the company is now called something else. has any one used this or something close to it. i know its a scratch start sadly is it bad to practice with it??

p.s happy new year every one and thank you for your help in advance :-)

 

[Wozzaaah]

They're now known as Inverter Fusion I believe and are very highly regarded machines.
Why do you think it might be bad practice? Nothing wrong with scratch start tig welding, it's not as easy as HF start but many people get on fine with it.

 

[davidjohnperry]

but will me learning scratch start tig syle be better in the long run?

 

[davidjohnperry]

here is a pic of the little beauty

 

[Wozzaaah]

If you can learn tig using scratch start then you'll find it a doddle if you ever get an HF start machine.
You've got the machine there so why not give it a go and see how you get on?

 

[smithy1851]

ive used the above fusion inverter and can only say they are a good tig set...ideal onsite and gives good results welding stainless process pipework...

scratch start tig just takes alittle bit of getting use too, but theres nothing wrong with it..as above if you progress to hf start u'll find it much easier..

 

[davidjohnperry]

scatch start tig set has arrived :-) tommorrow i will head to my work shop at work had have a go on some stainless plate i got laying around can i just use mig stainless steel wire as filer rod to practice ?

 

[Paul.]

can i just use mig stainless steel wire as filler rod to practice ?

Yes you can, but being thinner than tig rod you will have to feed it faster than normal, using a small tungsten and keeping the amps low will help

 

[davidjohnperry]

cheers tig paul for your imput i cant wait to have a go :-D excitment

 

[Paul.]

You can bulk up mig wire by twisting 2 or 3 strands together using a vice and a cordless drill, the twisting action will also straighten it.

 

[shenion]

Take 2 or 3 strands of MIG wire about 3' long. Clamp one end in a vice and the other in a drill. Then twist them up

I have done it several times. I have also done it with 1.6mm TIG rods where I needed heavier filler, works well.