ESAB weld machine, anyone hear of it?

[red1993gsallmt]

I assembled a sbc bottem end for a guy and he is short on cash so he wants to give me a esab tig welder. I do need a tig that can do aluminum, mine is simply an old stick machine i converted to tig but isnt high freq so I cant do aluminum with it. I see the price of it on this web page but want to know if any more expieranced welders have heard of the brand. Are they any good, is it worth $300. ESAB Heliarc 161 TIG Welding Power Source HW17 25' STING TC-2B - 0558004453 | Baker's Gas + Welding Supplies

 

[Gamble97]

Never heard of it. Try posting it on weldingweb.com

 

[99gst_racer]

I'm not familiar with ESAB, but I'm blown away they their box is more expensive than a comparable Miller or Lincoln. Either way, it seems well worth $300 as long as it's working properly. You're on the better end of the deal by a long shot.

 

[4g63tc]

ESAB is an excellent high end fabricating welder. hell the OC coppers guys built a bike for them.

That and i own one, works great never had any issues, def worth the 300

 

[Gamble97]

Well that's good to know. Just make sure it all works.

 

[red1993gsallmt]

Its like brand new, all works great. Ill have to post a pic of the controls and ask you guys how to set it for aluminum

 

[sparky1987]

I've used esab machines before and they're very smooth running machines definetly worth it.

 

[Gamble97]

Its like brand new, all works great. Ill have to post a pic of the controls and ask you guys how to set it for aluminum

If you don't know, I don't think you want to start with aluminum. Frustration will set it rather quick and you will quit.
AC - aluminum
DC - steel/stainless/chromoly etc

 

[red1993gsallmt]

If you don't know, I don't think you want to start with aluminum. Frustration will set it rather quick and you will quit.
AC - aluminum
DC - steel/stainless/chromoly etc

Thanks for the tip, Ill get used to the machine with steel first.Same thing my father told me.

 

[Gamble97]

Spend a few hours watching Jody's videos
Welding Tips and Tricks - TIG, MIG, Stick and a pantload of other info

 

[92awdgsx]

Good machine. I would get it. Esab is good stuff.

 

[gsxitement]

We have an ESAB plasma cutter at work...I know it's not a TIG, but the quality of the cutter can only lead me to believe the welder will be right up your alley.

 

[leepen]

it better be a good welder, its price marked from $3.399-3,264

 

[turboglenn]

ESAB's are killer machines. And when it comes to MIG welding aluminum they probably have the best push-pull machines on the market, I have a thing with "Big Tex" Towing trailers here locally and one time I got to check out their texas facility and they were exclusively using ESAB MIGmachines for assembling their aluminum trailers ( I haven't used anything else thye make personally but i'm sure anything they make is a great piece after playing on their MIG setups)

A note on MIG aluminum, it works great but the fast/rapid onset and stopping of filler and heat that happens when MIG welding makes them prone to cracking under stress, that's why i have a good amount of work with repairing their trailers, not that there's anything wrong with them or their process,, just aknown fact about MIG aluminum and on their end it's a production vs. overhead costs and production time that keeps them using MIG for assembly (if they TIG'ed the entire trailers the prices would p[rbably tripple due to their overhead on labor and materials)

 

[chaclark83]

Just a little tid bit, ESAB pretty much pioneered and invented tig welding.