TIG Welding?

[IntheBatCave]

Aside from a small crap job using a borrowed mig welder to replace the cat in my exhaust 7 or 8 years ago, I have basically no welding experience. It probably won't be any time soon but I'm hoping to pick up a welder. I'm noticing a lot of the newer inverter welders have a lift start DC TIG option. A couple questions, what is lift start TIG good for? Is it better for somethings than an AC TIG process is?

[mkgearhead]

You won't be able to TIG weld aluminum with DC. Only steel with DC. Problem with lift start is it contaminates the tungsten. High frequency start is the way to go but use caution around anything electronic. Some MIG welders say you can TIG with an optional torch kit but it's very limited. Years ago I bought one with my Snap-on MIG, used it twice. Love the MIG though. You can't control current, it's just on/off. Very hard to control heat an like I said no aluminum.

A few years ago I bought a Miller Dynasty 200 with water cooled torch and the whole nine yards. Cost me almost 4k but it welds almost anything up to 1/4. I haven't used it much, I need a ton more practice to be any good at it, I just don't have the time or money. Argon and consumables get kind of expensive if you aren't using it as a business.

You can do aluminum with MIG and a spool gun but they are tricky too. I used one for ICAR aluminum certification at work, took a while to get the hang of it. I haven't had to use it other than that.

Anyway, try looking at Miller and Lincoln websites. They have a lot of tutorials and good info.

[mkgearhead]

Here's a video that might help. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYn4...&feature=share