Practical answers on choosing, setting up and looking after a DC inverter TIG welder package with its torch and earth lead.
What does a DC TIG welder package normally include, and what else might I need?
A package normally pairs the power source with a TIG torch and an earth (work) lead and clamp. Some packages use an air-cooled torch, others a water-cooled one, and single-voltage and multi-voltage versions are usually separate packages.
Items that are often separate include the argon regulator or flowmeter and hose, a gas cylinder, tungsten electrodes, filler rod, a foot pedal or other remote control and, for water-cooled torches, a cooler and coolant. What a package includes varies, so check the exact contents list, and ask our team if anything is unclear.
What can a DC-only TIG welder weld, and what can it not?
A DC-only TIG welder is sufficient for steel and stainless steel, and is also used for other metals such as nickel alloys and titanium. For these, only DC output is needed.
Metals with a persistent oxide film, such as aluminium and magnesium, need alternating current, which cleans the surface on one half of each cycle. A DC-only machine is therefore not the right tool for aluminium. If you will weld aluminium regularly, look at an AC/DC machine instead.
Should I choose an air-cooled or a water-cooled TIG torch?
Air-cooled torches use the surrounding air and the shielding gas to carry heat away. They need no radiator or coolant hoses, so they are simpler to set up, maintain and move around, but the cable has more copper and is heavier and less flexible.
Water-cooled torches circulate coolant, which gives a lighter, more flexible cable and usually longer consumable life. They suit higher currents and long periods of welding, but need a cooler, coolant and leak checks. Running any torch above its rating makes the handle and cable heat faster, so match the rating to the welding you do.
What does a water-cooled torch need, and how do I look after the coolant?
A water-cooled torch needs a cooler unit with a reservoir, pump and radiator, plus the coolant and hoses that connect it to the torch. Many coolers include flow monitoring that may stop the welder if flow is lost. Do not bypass it.
Use the coolant your welder and cooler manuals specify, and do not use conductive coolant for TIG. Never run the cooler with an empty reservoir, keep the radiator fins clear for airflow, clean any strainer and check hoses for wear and leaks. Flush and change intervals depend on the maker.
What does multi-voltage input mean, and what should I check before using it?
A multi-voltage machine can run from more than one mains voltage, for example a lower and a higher supply. The specification normally gives a separate maximum output and duty cycle for each input voltage, so the machine may not give the same performance on both. On the lower voltage the machine draws more current.
Before use, read the rating table in the manual, confirm the outlet and its protective device are suitable for the current the machine draws, and use the correct plug and lead. Have the electrical installation checked by a competent person if you are unsure.
What is the difference between high-frequency start and lift-arc start?
High-frequency (HF) start uses sparks to ionise the gap between the tungsten and the work, so the arc begins without contact. It is usually preferred for high-quality work, but HF can interfere with nearby control systems and instruments.
Lift-arc (touch) start avoids HF. You touch the tungsten to the work and lift it off, and because current only flows as you lift, the risk of tungsten inclusions is low. It suits sensitive areas where HF interference matters. Check which start methods your machine has and the settings in its manual.