I had made up my mind to buy a small TIG welder for my bodywork, either a Lincoln 175 Pro or Miller Syncrowave 180, in order to make nicer welds with less build than I can get with my MIG welder. In many cases, I would be puddling very close joints in sheetmetal with no filler rod. I used to do this with my Harris oxy-acetylene torch, but warpage was always a problem. Recently, I've been looking at micro torches, such as the Meco or the Smith Airline AW1A/AW10A as a much cheaper alternative. Anybody have experience using these on 20 to 28 gauge sheetmetal? How do the results compare to a TIG? It probably isn't quite as nice or as versatile as a TIG, but for $120 compared to $1500 for a TIG machine, it's worthy of consideration.
TIG vs. micro torch?
Feb 27, 2004
2 Replies
First reply
The torches that you're looking are certainly usable for light guage steel and much larger work. I own one much like the two you mention. At one time I did some light sheetmetal welding with a Smith Little Torch O/A set. The control on steel was as good as TIG and in my hands…
Read the full replyThe torches that you're looking are certainly usable for light guage steel and much larger work. I own one much like the two you mention.
At one time I did some light sheetmetal welding with a Smith Little Torch O/A set. The control on steel was as good as TIG and in my hands was probably a bit better. Within its range the Little Torch was excellent and very easy to handle.
Cheers,
Kelley
I watched one of the EAA gas welding instructors, at Oshkosh, use the Smith Little Torch to weld a "T" out of 4130 steel aircraft tubing. He had just demonstrated the "T" with a bigger touch, probably an Airline. Some one asked if he could do it with a Little Torch. The questioner let him use a torch that he had just purchased. The instructor proceeded to do another "T". Using their #6 tip, it went slower, but still looked like a very good weld.
I have one at home and work. For miniature to light welding and brazing they're great.
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