TIG · lift start against HF
Is high-frequency starting worth €142 on a first TIG machine?
Both weld steel, stainless and copper on direct current. They differ in how the arc starts, how long they can hold it, and in whether the reference resolves outside Germany.
| Compared on | TIG200 (140 A DC) | WE 202P DC |
|---|---|---|
| Arc start | Lift — no HF interference | HF, contactless |
| Current | 140 A | 200 A |
| Duty cycle | Not published | 100% at 155 A |
| Pulse | Not published | Yes |
| Job memory | No | Yes |
| Torch supplied | Not detailed | 4 m (13 ft) SR 26 with ball-joint handle |
| Radio interference | None — lift start | HF start can disturb electronics |
| Listed on amazon.com | No | No |
A tick marks the better answer on that line only. Counting ticks does not decide the page — the two verdicts below do, because these machines answer different questions.
No amazon.com listing was found for this one. We hold references for other markets but none for the United States, so it may not be buyable here — which is the first thing to weigh against anything below.
Prefer the SSimder to find out whether you enjoy TIG. It is a genuine DC machine at the price of a helmet, it makes no radio interference, and it resolves on five markets.
No amazon.com listing was found for this one. We hold references for other markets but none for the United States, so it may not be buyable here — which is the first thing to weigh against anything below.
Buy the WELDINGER if you are in Germany and already know you want TIG. A published 100% duty cycle at 155 A and a proper 4 m (13 ft) torch put it in a different class.
It costs tungsten life and a little cleanliness. Touching the electrode to the work to strike picks up contamination each time, so you regrind more often. In exchange there is no radio-frequency burst — which matters if you are welding near a controller, in a house, or on a vehicle with its electronics connected.
Because a product page that does not exist on your country’s store is a link we will not send you to. The WELDINGER reference was verified on the German market alone, so readers elsewhere get a local search instead — and that is a practical reason to prefer the cheaper machine outside Germany.
140 A DC · lift start · no HF · €128
The cheapest way into TIG, and the one machine here that starts without high frequency — which is a feature, not only a saving.
Best for: Finding out whether you like TIG before spending €400 on one
200 A DC · 100% duty cycle at 155 A · €270
The only machine on this page that publishes a 100% duty cycle figure — 155 A, all day, with a number attached.
Best for: Long stainless seams where the machine must not stop before you do
Prices quoted in these summaries are dated readings. The live price is shown next to each product.
