TIG welders

Start with material and output mode

A TIG request should state the material grade, thickness range, joint type and required access. Ask the supplier to identify the output modes of the exact quoted machine and explain the proposed application. AC/DC, pulse and other catalogue terms should become specific, documented configuration items rather than a general claim that the equipment can weld every material.

If the same machine must cover several production jobs, list the jobs separately. Include the most delicate joint as well as the heaviest one, and tell the supplier whether work will be manual, mechanized or part of an automated cell. The resulting enquiry should describe the task the equipment must perform, not simply the largest current number you can find.

Look beyond the upper current rating

For thin or detailed work, ask about the documented lower current limit, current control and arc-start arrangement as well as maximum output. Request the model manual and clarify which controls are included on the base machine. If a remote control, pedal or torch control is necessary, identify it in the quotation rather than assuming it will arrive with the power source.

Current and duty cycle should be recorded with their reference conditions. A lower-temperature rating and a higher-temperature rating are not automatically equivalent. Provide the facility voltage, phase and frequency and request installation requirements for competent assessment. Ask whether the cooling package changes the facility services or equipment arrangement that the supplier expects you to provide.

Specify the torch, cooling and consumable package

The power source, torch and cooling equipment form a supplied system. Tell the supplier how the operator reaches the joint, how far the work is from the source and whether the torch must fit a restricted position. Ask which torch rating and cooling arrangement apply to the proposed operating conditions.

Break out the torch, leads, cooling unit, work return, gas-control equipment and starter consumables in the offer. Ask for the part numbers and compatible replacement items. If a torch is selected only because it can connect to the source, the enquiry has not yet established that it suits the job. Miller's torch-selection reference explains why current requirements and cooling are relevant selection considerations; the actual application still needs a model-specific answer.

Make the trial representative of the difficult joint

Send drawings and material information for the joint that is hardest to reach or control. Ask the supplier to record the equipment configuration, relevant settings and consumables used in its proposed trial. If a mechanized system is involved, include the fixture and travel arrangement rather than evaluating the power source alone.

Define how the result will be assessed by the people responsible for the component. A clean demonstration is a good start; agree the production requirement it must meet before you rely on it. Keep the proposed acceptance method, observed results and any remaining questions separate. Ask whether the delivered machine and accessories will match the trial configuration.

Clarify installation, training and changeovers

A TIG quotation may omit fixtures, gas supply, preparation tools, installation or operator training. Ask for a responsibility list and confirm which services your site must provide before delivery. If operators will switch materials or configurations frequently, describe that workflow and request instructions for the offered machine.

Keep the manual revision, accessory list and service documents with the offer. Before deciding, compare the actual supplied scope and documented operating range across quotations. This category does not rank factories by unsupported welding quality, invent a suitable parameter recipe or claim that every product in a family has the same capabilities.

Published TIG guides and suppliers to compare

Two TIG guides are published, and they answer different questions. The Linlong TIG200PGD / TIG250PGD page covers DC pulse inverters for steel and stainless work, with a 110 V / 220 V option on the smaller unit. The Linlong TIGACDC200GD page covers the AC/DC model you need if aluminium is on the job list. Its table repeats the DC model's figures without saying whether they apply in AC mode, so ask for AC ratings in writing. Both pages show how a duty rating has to be matched to a supply and a process column before it can be compared; the duty-cycle explainer goes through that step by step.

Three manufacturer profiles are relevant here. The Linlong profile places these models in a wider MMA, MIG and plasma catalogue. The Keyue profile lists TIG power sources alongside stick, MIG and submerged-arc equipment. The Eweld profile is different in kind: it describes automated plasma, TIG and plasma–TIG systems for thin-wall and precision joints, which belong closer to welding automation than to a portable TIG set.

Some multi-process machines also offer a TIG mode: the Dabu MIG160 LED lists Lift TIG and the Linlong OMNI210 publishes its own TIG column, but neither replaces a dedicated pulse or AC unit for regular TIG work.

For portable TIG sets, read the nameplate for supply phase, input current and the stick-mode rating, which is often the highest load on the circuit. Where the torch, foot pedal or water cooler is optional, list it in the quotation so two offers cover the same kit. If you are choosing between processes, the MIG / MAG category is faster on thicker steel, and the MMA category tolerates outdoor work better. For any aluminium contract, run sample welds on your alloy and thickness before accepting either machine; if the joint needs repeatable positioning, look at fixtures as part of the scope.

TIG quotation checklist

Example enquiry — replace the bracketed fields

Please propose a TIG configuration for [material grade], [thicknesses], [joint] and [access constraints]. Identify output modes, current limits, arc start, controls, torch/cooling package, electrical supply requirements and included consumables. State how you would assess the attached part and which equipment or preparation we must provide.

Prepare a sourcing request

Buying questions

Does AC/DC mean every material is covered?

No. Ask for the model-specific modes and application documentation and a proposed assessment of your component. Ask the supplier to confirm that the complete torch, cooling and consumable package fits your production requirement.

Is a torch or pedal always included?

No inclusion is assumed. Record each control and accessory as included, optional or buyer-supplied, with the part number where available. Compare quotations for the same package rather than treating the base source price as a complete system price.