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Buying Guides for welding equipment

Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 1:37 am
by railroad bob
I met a welder this summer from Idaho. He has at home, a Thermal Arc welder that he can use for stick or tig.
The electrode size is limited to 3/32".
I did a search this evening and found some links. One of them is an EBay seller, weldingsuppliesatioc.
http://www.ebay.com/usr/weldingsuppliesatioc

This seller has buying guides about the differences in types of welders.
Pretty informative info, in a non-technical tone.
Scroll down the page for the guides.

I was looking at Thermal Arc machines, something fairly cheap that will tig steel tube. a couple models fill the bill.
The 95S and the 161S are similar, with mostly power differences.
95S is 115V only, limited to 3/32 electrode for stick
The 161S is 115/230V, and will run 5/32".

Both are DC only, and WILL NOT TIG ALUMINUM.

Here are links to some of the on-line stores a quick search turned up.

The manuf, Victor, a well known name is torches... didn't know they made welders. (Wups, made in china)
http://www.victortechnologies.com/thermalarc

http://store.cyberweld.com/tharcwe.html
http://store.cyberweld.com/tharc16stwep1.html
http://store.cyberweld.com/tharcstwe95s1.html

Both stores offer free shipping in the 48 states.

I'm thinking the 95S will do what I want, is almost $300 cheaper. Mostly I want a way to Tig some tube without spending a thou.
I already have equipment to stick and mig, so the limited size of the electrode is not a problem.
I don't have any plans to weld aluminum, but I think I could use some aluminum electrodes, or set up a wire feed with a bottle to do that.

I don't claim to be a welder, don't really have much experience with doing it. I've seen a lot of welds, and watched welders a lot,
but there are gaps in my experience. I ask questions, but it's not the same as doing it.

Does this seem like a reasonable way to do what I want?

Re: Buying Guides for welding equipment

Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 8:22 am
by Jeff L
I bought my Welder though these Guys.It's a Thermal Arc Prowave 185.Was actually looking to buy local, but nobody could come close to thier prices.Have it now 10 Years.

Re: Buying Guides for welding equipment

Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2013 8:56 pm
by railroad bob
Thanks for the input, sounds reliable if you've used it much.

Re: Buying Guides for welding equipment

Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 1:55 am
by BIGJIM
I just sold a Thermal Arc 360 amp welder with a 300 amp tig torch.
You could weld battleships with it, great machines, they are made for production.
Mine was made in Japan.

Re: Buying Guides for welding equipment

Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 1:35 pm
by hansgoudzwaard
I would be happy with the 95S considering you have all the others available. looks great.
This is the cheapest one.
This is the cheapest one.
95S.JPG (20.1 KiB) Viewed 4967 times

Re: Buying Guides for welding equipment

Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 1:59 pm
by railroad bob
yep, the only thing I don't like is that you can't do aluminum with it.