AC or DC TIG: say exactly what the used welding set can do
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A TIG welder's exact model determines whether it provides DC output, AC output or both. Confirm that from its identity and matching manufacturer documents before writing the sale description.
Do not confuse the machine's mains supply with its welding output. Nor should a familiar family name or control-panel appearance decide the answer.
Kemppi's MasterTig documentation shows why this matters: the same equipment family includes DC models and AC/DC models. It also identifies different control panels and an optional cooling unit. A family brochure therefore needs to be matched to the equipment actually offered.
AC/DC is a capability, not a package description
After confirming the output type, record the installed panel and the available documented functions. A potential buyer may care about a particular control or remote arrangement as much as the headline current rating.
Then list the physical package. Identify the torch, cooling unit if present, remote control or foot pedal, return lead and trolley. Record model or part numbers where available.
A liquid-cooled torch shown beside a machine does not establish that the matching cooler is included. A pedal found on a shelf may belong to another set. Ask the supplier about uncertain matches, rather than making a connection as an identification test.
The commercial choice is straightforward: offer the identified package together, or describe a smaller package accurately. If the cooler or remote is sold separately, make that exclusion visible in the TIG listing.
Build the description from four pieces of evidence
| Claim in the listing | Supporting evidence |
|---|---|
| Output type and documented processes | Full model identity and matching manual |
| Rated output | Relevant rating with its stated conditions preserved |
| Included equipment | Itemised list and photographs of the actual accessories |
| Current condition | Dated observations, reports and known faults |
Avoid adding a material-suitability promise just because a model supports AC or DC. A buyer's application depends on more than that one feature. Provide the specification so the buyer or welding specialist can assess it.
A hypothetical advert could read:
Used TIG power source, model [full identity]. Matching manual identifies [confirmed output type]. Supplied with torch [identity], return lead and listed trolley. Cooler and foot pedal are excluded. Display photographed on [date]; welding operation was not observed. Known fault: [specific description, if applicable].
Every bracket needs a real fact before publication. If a feature cannot be confirmed, say so rather than leaving an implication that it is present.
What does a demonstration add?
An authorised demonstration can show a specific operation under recorded conditions. It should not be used to claim that every process or accessory works if only one was observed.
Record the equipment combination used, the date and the scope of the observation. A sample weld does not replace a formal assessment for a buyer's intended work. Use the fabrication demonstration guide to agree a proportionate brief.
Keep known faults visible even if another function operates. Buyers can assess a defined limitation more easily than an unexplained phrase such as "needs attention".
Where the same workshop has several sets, the MIG package inventory provides a useful way to prevent accessories being reassigned between lots. Apply the method with the correct TIG component identities.
Keep the rest of the offer clear
Unused filler materials, electrodes and accessories need separate identification and condition evidence. The welding consumables guide covers packaging and storage questions without assuming that unused means suitable for use.
If the power source is engine-driven, the engine-driven welder guide separates welding output from auxiliary generation. A generator-related model description should not be carried over to a mains-powered set without documentation.
Before the catalogue is final, compare its photos against the inclusion list once more. This catches a simple problem: the machine was photographed with a pedal or torch that the owner later retained.
UK Auction Group's manufacturing asset service can discuss the set using the confirmed model, included accessories and condition evidence. More workshop sale guidance is available in the fabrication and welding hub.
Sources
This guide gives general information. Equipment-specific, legal, tax and safety decisions may need a qualified adviser or competent specialist. The guides do not promise sale prices, fees or results.