new from Ireland

[ian o driscoll]

hi all, new to the site from ireland. had a quick look around the site and already enjoying it!

as for why i joined? i was working as an apprentice in a big engineering company here in ireland, specialising in grain/milling machines etc..so i was mma and mig welding on a daily basis, between here and there i left that copany and got another apprenticeship in a stainless steal fab shop. i love tig welding and i want to master the trade, i have tig experience, i have my own tig lines at home, but there very basic ( have to strike the arc, no slope and running off an ordinary inverter welder)

so i am on the market for a good beginers tig set up..as for most places, noone wants to help the apprentice so thats why im here to look for advice .

i have the option of buying a esab buddy tig 160, complete package (ready for tig welding) and also comes with mma lines, now its not brand new, maybe a months or so but has only been used two or three times for mma welding, hes looking for 550€ all in for the whole lot ready to weld, i cant sem to find prices for these anywere online so im just wondering what is yer opinions on it?
thanks

 

[ronan]

Hello. I used an esab when i was getting my asme ix certs in tig , from what i can remember it was ok but dit changed to fronius and i found them good. Don't know why they changed, but esab is (or was) a good brand.

 

[ian o driscoll]

we have an esab at work for when were out on site and there very good just wondering would the relatively new model buddy tig stand up to the reputation

 

[johnny max]

Hi Ian
Offer him 450

 

[ronan]

Maybe now that you have done an intro, re-ask the question in the "buying a welder" area, you will get more traffic there.

 

[ian o driscoll]

will do thanks

 

[wheresmejumper]

I was in a class full of welders recently, esab everywhere.mig, arc, ac dc tigs.
the newer esab stuff, particularly the tigs, were shockingly unreliable.a total disgrace really.
the machines, torches and watercoolers gave trouble.all less than a year old.

the older machines, maybe 5 or more years old, rarely acted up.

 

[ian o driscoll]

thats not great news, this one is air cooled

 

[ronan]

Like wheresmejumper said the older ones were very good, i didn't know the newer ones were lesser quality or unreliable. If you have a few bob to spend have a look at the r-tech plant, they are chinese but are great value for money. Look on doubleboost's channel on youtube and see him with his new one.

 

[wheresmejumper]

That doesnt sound a great bargain really.that package is on ebay uk for €489