- Thread starter Oldbanger
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Richard.
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I'm sorry mate but it doesn't work
It doesn't work at all
I've seen first hand on many occasions the effects even a tiny bit of co2 can do under a tig arc and to say it's not as nice an arc is a bit of an understatement
It just obliterates the electrode making any arc you do have pretty much uncontrollable. That aside oxides are let in causing alsorts of contamination issues, soot, etc etc. I very much disagree in this instance argon gas only for tig.
So after some consideration I have come to the conclusion that it might be best to wait and set aside a bit more money for a good ac/dc tig welder.... without spending in excess of 1k... I was hoping for a few recommendations ? something well built but still fairly portable? 
Hood
I am obsessed.
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Parweld XTT202P is what I have, welds pretty nice and I am happy with it.
Came in at £840 including VAT at the back end of last year from my local supplier
Has 3 year no quibble warranty
Fairly heavy at 24Kg compared to some but still light and small enough to carry about.
Came in at £840 including VAT at the back end of last year from my local supplier
Has 3 year no quibble warranty
Fairly heavy at 24Kg compared to some but still light and small enough to carry about.
chunkolini
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Go for pure Argon.
I was frightfully clever and plugged my Mig And Tig sets into my mixed bottle.
I struggled for almost a year before giving up. Then some wag on here asked me what gas I was using.
I was frightfully clever and plugged my Mig And Tig sets into my mixed bottle.
I struggled for almost a year before giving up. Then some wag on here asked me what gas I was using.
Richard.
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I think hood got an extremely good deal on that and the likelyhood is your gonna realistic be looking at spending all your £1000 budget on one of those or equivalent. You were considering a thermal arc 175 before you could look at there 202 AC/DC which is the same as the parweld machine hood has. The thermal arc would be my preferred choice though because the extra bits like tweco torches and SSC pedals are nicer imo than the offerings from parweld. My own machine is a victor product which has an SSC pedal and it's a lovely tool. I ditched the tweco torch for a tectorch but one thing at a time I think as the price of that would probably make your eyes water. Tweco torches as far as oem torches go are ok in my book. I'd sooner have a tweco over a fronius or lorch torch. They are awful.So after some consideration I have come to the conclusion that it might be best to wait and set aside a bit more money for a good ac/dc tig welder.... without spending in excess of 1k... I was hoping for a few recommendations ? something well built but still fairly portable?
Hood
I am obsessed.
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- Carnoustie, Scotland
The boatyard got the same deal about 2 months later, in fact the bleeders got a better deal as they got a free parweld auto lid thrown in as a Christmas promotion
The £ has dropped since then so chances are the cost may have gone up although Steve at Highland Industrial in Dundee seems to be able to get top notch prices on Parweld stuff, the price he gave me a few weeks back for a Parweld stick was very tempting but decided the GYS was the one I wanted.
Again gentlemen... thankyou for taking the time to respond.
I've passified the Mrs by booking us a wee holiday... she has been complaining that all I do is work and spend money on tools and cars.... hopefully I've just bought myself some peace and quiet when I turn up with my new tig set!!! the thermal arc stuff seems to be held in high regard... it may well be the route I go down , that said Im going to give Highland industrial a wee call... see what they can offer.
I've passified the Mrs by booking us a wee holiday... she has been complaining that all I do is work and spend money on tools and cars.... hopefully I've just bought myself some peace and quiet when I turn up with my new tig set!!! the thermal arc stuff seems to be held in high regard... it may well be the route I go down , that said Im going to give Highland industrial a wee call... see what they can offer.
OK guys.... so there is a lincoln invertec v205tp on flea bay at the moment.... I'm seriously tempted as it seems to have every feature that I would need.... however - it's used , obviously no warranty 
what are the opinions on this little number? I'm seriously tempted.
looking on Barnet welding I could get the thermal arc 202 for 950 and I've found a the Parweld for around the 850 mark.... oh bloody hell!!! decisions decisions!!!
thanks in advance
what are the opinions on this little number? I'm seriously tempted. looking on Barnet welding I could get the thermal arc 202 for 950 and I've found a the Parweld for around the 850 mark.... oh bloody hell!!! decisions decisions!!!
thanks in advance
I'm sorry.... does this mean you would take a chance on a used lincoln instead of the new parweld or thermal arc?
Brad93
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Sorry that typed out all wrong. Yes they are good machines Lincoln welders.
Would I buy one second hand? Only if the price is right. Personally I would rather have a Used European or American machine over the likes of rtech jasic parweld etc
Would I buy one second hand? Only if the price is right. Personally I would rather have a Used European or American machine over the likes of rtech jasic parweld etc
Richard.
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Bear in mind the v205p is dc only. The p stands for pulse.OK guys.... so there is a lincoln invertec v205tp on flea bay at the moment.... I'm seriously tempted as it seems to have every feature that I would need.... however - it's used , obviously no warranty
looking on Barnet welding I could get the thermal arc 202 for 950 and I've found a the Parweld for around the 850 mark.... oh bloody hell!!! decisions decisions!!!
thanks in advance
Richard... you are a gentleman and a scholar!!! if you hadn't pointed that out to me... I would have gone and bought a dc machine!!!
I watched this YouTube video of the Lincoln and wrongly presumed it was an earlier version on eBay...
and this is the welder I was considering...
Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222585937797 nearly a 3 hr drive from where I am and a major face palm moment when I tried to weld ally!!!
I watched this YouTube video of the Lincoln and wrongly presumed it was an earlier version on eBay...
Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222585937797 nearly a 3 hr drive from where I am and a major face palm moment when I tried to weld ally!!!
Richard.
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Ha yes that is a v205T. AC/DC. You won't get one of those for 500 quidRichard... you are a gentleman and a scholar!!! if you hadn't pointed that out to me... I would have gone and bought a dc machine!!!
I watched this YouTube video of the Lincoln and wrongly presumed it was an earlier version on eBay...and this is the welder I was considering...
Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222585937797 nearly a 3 hr drive from where I am and a major face palm moment when I tried to weld ally!!!
lol.... one can but dream!!!
Richard.
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Yeah.
Bear in mind that the v205T is still a £3k machine new and it's a machine that remains pretty much unchanged for almost 20 years. Very much a tried tested and desirable unit you would struggle to find a nice example for under £1300 used.
right guys... I feel that I must strike while the iron is hot!!! in the Mrs good books right now and she knows I want me a tig welder.... I've just negotiated 750 for a new parweld xtt202p and ordered it... comes with torch and regulator - what sort of consumables should I be buying to get me started?? ie , what tungstens and tips shrouds etc....
