AHP alphaTIG 200X. Anybody got one?

[joefriday]

So I don't have a tig machine, nor a large budget, but am looking to gain the ability to weld thin wall (irrigation pipe) aluminum and stainless steel sheetmetal.

Been reading /watching a bunch of reviews and everybody seems pleased with the AHP alphatig 200x for an entry-level machine after you throw out the regulator.

Anybody on here have one? Thoughts?

I appreciate the help.

[Vinny]

If noone here has one, you may want to try weldingweb.net.

[EdK]

I watched a couple of youtube videos of that welder and it sure seems like a nice welder for the money. It would complement my Miller MIG welder quite nicely.

Ed

[joefriday]

Well, I ordered one. Haha. We'll see how it does / goes since I have no TIG welding experience. :)

[EdK]

We expect a review with a full compliment of pictures. A video would be the icing on the cake.

Ed

[Vinny]

You're drooling Ed. Here's a napkin..

[Highpower]

(04-10-2015, 10:39 AM)joefriday Wrote: We'll see how it does / goes since I have no TIG welding experience.  :)

I recommend you have a few extra tungsten's on hand and sharpen them all. You'll get more seat time running beads instead of regrinding the same electrode over and over every few minutes. Don't ask how I know this. 

[Roadracer_Al]

My favorite way to sharpen a tungsten is chucked in a cordless drill and pointy end on the belt sander. Works great.

And, yes, Willie is right. Buy a box of tungstens. On of your learning projects can be an electrode holder. Two cups - one for sharp, one for dirty - with either a heavy base, or a clamp that clamps to your welding table. Otherwise they're top heavy and tip over easily.

[joefriday]

Haha, well, I have the welder now and it has been a learning experience!

Odd thing though: I had a brand new s-size bottle of argon and used the regulator they sent with it.

I didn't look at units and set the dumb thing to roughly 40cfh and had a heck of a time welding thinwall stuff (duh).

But after probably 6 hrs of on/off welding/grinding/farting around, I ran out of gas.

Would having the flow rate set to double still burn through all that gas in that amount of time?

I did notice that when I touch the pedal, I hear a sizable hiss coming from the upper back part of the machine.

Maybe its time to take it apart...

[Highpower]

A size "S" tank is what....  150 cubic feet? About 50" tall with the safety cap on?

So at 40CFH that works out to what....  3.75 hours? (Yes, I suck at math.)    

The sizable hiss you hear when touching the pedal could just be you hearing the gas solenoid opening in the machine when starting it's "pre-flow" to the torch head and you get a "burst" of gas flow. Although it would be a good idea to check all of your gas connections with some soapy water to check for any leaks to be on the safe side.

Another thing to remember (on non-fuel cylinders) is to open the valve on the tank ALL the way to prevent leaks past the valve stem on the tank. The inert gas tanks have valves with TWO seats in them - one to shut off the tank when closed, and one to seal off the stem when FULLY open and seated at the top of the valve. It's different on FUEL cylinders (Acetylene, propane, etc.) where you only want to open the valves slightly so they can be turned off quickly if something bad happens.  

Congrats on the new welder purchase. Let us know what YOU think about it.