sixdogs
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2007
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- 13,772
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- Ohio
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- Kubota M7040, Kubota MX5100, Deere 790 TLB, Farmall Super C
How much of a TIG welder would I need and how much would it cost?
I'm a somewhat intermediate MIG hobby welder and almost always work with mild steel for farm fabrication or street rod things. While MIG is nice, I'm thinking of buying a Lincold TIG machine to use for the same things and some aluminum as well. The prettier welds look better on nice cars and it's less mess in a nice shop. It would be more convenient to practice and I want to get into aluminum.
My question involves what I need and that gets me to price. I have been told I must have water cooled and a foot pedal to do aluminum because scratch start fouls the tip. Adult Ed at a tech school is my only experience with TIG and it was water cooled and foot pedal so I don't know any different. I really liked that setup but those features in a Lincold welder is around $5,000. Wow. Is that the way it is or are there alternatives or any directions to point me? I'm not sure what I want to do yet but thinking about it.
I'm a somewhat intermediate MIG hobby welder and almost always work with mild steel for farm fabrication or street rod things. While MIG is nice, I'm thinking of buying a Lincold TIG machine to use for the same things and some aluminum as well. The prettier welds look better on nice cars and it's less mess in a nice shop. It would be more convenient to practice and I want to get into aluminum.
My question involves what I need and that gets me to price. I have been told I must have water cooled and a foot pedal to do aluminum because scratch start fouls the tip. Adult Ed at a tech school is my only experience with TIG and it was water cooled and foot pedal so I don't know any different. I really liked that setup but those features in a Lincold welder is around $5,000. Wow. Is that the way it is or are there alternatives or any directions to point me? I'm not sure what I want to do yet but thinking about it.