Hobart Tigmate

Hi,

I have read the various threads on the Web discussing the Hobart Tigmate.

Usually they go..."for a little more you could have Brand X so why buy it?"

Well the question I have is when would you consider the Tigmate a good purchase?

For a hobbyist who welds occasionly on a variety of metals, would it be a good fit?

As for its welding (stick and TIG) capability, just how good is the Tigmate REALLY?

Several posters mention that they consider it to be overpriced.

At what price would you consider it to be a good buy for its capacity?

Thanks in advance for any information you can offer.

TMT

Reply to
Too_Many_Tools
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I believe the Miller Econotig is the same welder and for some reason the dealer selling it on eBay has it for about $100 less than another dealer has the Tigmate. There are also a couple of used Econotigs on eBay now.

I've used an Econotig and liked it but I have limited TIG experience.

At any rate I'd suggest you read threads on the Econotig as well. Hopefully others with experience with other TIG welders will offer advice.

Best Regards, Keith Marshall snipped-for-privacy@progressivelogic.com

"Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." - Will Rogers (1879-1935).

Reply to
Keith Marshall

The Tigmate is a Miller Econotig in grey paint. I owned a Econotig, about 5 TIGs ago.

They work, but are pretty much a hobby machine only. Very limited low end control and high end AC output make it only suitebale for a narrow rnge of materiels.

If you can get one for around $850, it is a worthwhile deal. That is what I sold mine for.

Reply to
Ernie Leimkuhler

local) while the NIB Tigmate I have found will end costing in the neighborhood of $500-600. (Cheaper is good...more money to spend on other toys...err I mean tools.)

Reply to
Keith Marshall

The real unit is called a choke coil, but I found the one I had only affectedf the DC side. AC walked righjt through.

Reply to
Ernie Leimkuhler

It is not a resistor. It is a large iron cored coil. The power gets diffused into an induced EM field in the coil. Hence why AC is unaffected. Some people have had luck using long lengths of iron chain as inline resistors.

Reply to
Ernie Leimkuhler

A reactor coil is often used to limit the current with only limited reduction in voltage. A reactor can only function with AC, so if control of DC current is desired, the reactor must be placed before the rectifier in the circuit. Check out the web site I found.

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This web site shows how to build a saturable reactor. It also explains how it works.

I have also heard that a strip of stainless steel can be used as a resistor, and can be an effective means of limiting output in both AC or DC. I have no idea of the size or length of stainless conductor one would need.

Good luck with your project,

Bob

discussions.

Reply to
Bob

What the web site is showing is a bucking coil - in the AC line. The DC control voltage builds a field and increases the reactance or AC resistance of the coil. Another way is to have a variable short on the DC side so the AC voltage generated in that winding saturates the core.

In power supply deigns one deals with AC control like this for transformers and motors. In DC power supply the coil or inductor or choke is placed after the rectification section and is used to smooth the current flow by building and clasping the field as needed to maintain steady current. Capacitors try the same in the voltage mode. Often both are used - in L or T or PI being like |~| where the vertical bars are caps to gnd and the tilde (~) in the choke.

Mart> A reactor coil is often used to limit the current with only limited

Reply to
Martin H. Eastburn

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