TIG welder

[94_2wdCherokee]

Hello all

I am thinking about buying a beginner level tig machine. It is going to be kept in a shop so portability isnt really an issue. I will be doing mostly hobby work with it. I have a millermatic 211 right now and love the machine. I really want to buy a tig machine because i know the beads are prettier and lay much flatter than a mig machine. The reason i want to buy the tig is because i am going to build a cage out of DOM tubing for my rhino and a few other parts for a race car and such. I know the first question most people are going to ask is what price range i want to be in...not real sure on how much to spend...i am going to say around 800-1000$...it may not be possible in the range, which i totally understand.

[Todd W]

Double that $$$

[94_2wdCherokee]

I figgured that but I have seen the th plasma cutter/tig/stick combo for like 500-700 but they are not miller or Lincoln

[Valkyrie Rider]

I think the only quality machines you will find in that price range is an older industrial unit. You can find these cheap, but most home shops don't have the available power to use them. Most are three phase although I've seen some single phase, bit the ones I've looked at required a 90A circuit on 240v. If you are only going to do steel, that changes things as a stick machine can be made to run TIG without adding much other then the torch, but also limits you by not having all the features unless you have a stick machine with remote capability.

[OBM]

Do not buy one of those plasma/tig/stick welders, most of them are junk. A friend bought one and had nothing but trouble with it.

[Niknar]

all depends on material one thing u can look at is the scratch tig setups i know a bare setup from miller is like 700 dollars but im talkin about the miller lunch box welder which is the maxstar 150 we use them at work not only can u tig weld with em but u can stick weld as well

[MQYJ]

You might be able to score an XMT for a bit over $1000. I'm pretty sure you can score them all day long used for around 1500. I know because I priced out replacing a main board and the guy at the service place told me for 500 or so more I could trade in on a newer used one.

[94_2wdCherokee]

yes i have been told that the miller maxstar 150 is a good machine..but not sure if it is really limited or not. i want to be able to do alumimun so i can make some doors and stuff for utvs. What is a scratch start up? What does that mean

[MQYJ]

Originally Posted by 94_2wdCherokee

yes i have been told that the miller maxstar 150 is a good machine..but not sure if it is really limited or not. i want to be able to do alumimun so i can make some doors and stuff for utvs. What is a scratch start up? What does that mean

Then the xmt is out and you'll def. need to up your budget if you want to get into aluminum too. I just checked and the maxstar is DC so no aluminum there either. You'll be looking for a synchrowave, dynasty ($$$$$) if you're looking at Miller. I'm not familiar with Lincoln or the imports.

[bigpappy]

If you have time, look for deals EVERY DAY on craigslist, ebay, etc.
Also, get on good terms and get to know your local welding supply place.
When mine get new/old stuff in, they let me know every so often.

Ooorrrr, have a welding contract with a company and make stuff for them... then they hook you up.





This cost about $1500 for the machine, 12gal water cooler, new 20ft water cooled torch, new pedal with 20ft cord, new ground clamp with 20ft cord, 10lbs of er70s2 filler, 10lbs of 4043 filler, new flowmeter, argon tank, etc.

It has the power factor corrector on it, so it should be hooked up to a 96 amp breaker.
That obviously doesn't exist, so I just put it on a 90.

Anyway, if you do find a big old one for cheap, make sure you have the power for it.

I like the older units, whether Lincoln or Miller, just because the technology is much simpler and will last FOREVER.

[Wyoming9]

If you can Tig weld then it is no big deal to go try out used welders before buying which is a must to make sure it does what it should.

To scratch start is just what it says you have to be really good as you scratch the tungsten just like a stick electrode most of the time in a piece beside the joint to be welded .

It takes a long time to become good enough that you don`t contaminate the tungsten causing a very erratic arc.

There is something to the simple design of the older machines they do last much longer then the new ones with all the fancy boards .

I would look for a used Miller Syncrowave 180/200 that someone has out grown

[Niknar]

scratch tig is what we use in the trade u scratch it along ur material first to start the torch it elliminates the foot pedal but if u want to do alluminum u can use a pedal on the xmt's u plug it in where the feeder plug is. if u want to do alluminum the maxstar is outta the question xmt would be better but if u want to DOM and stainless and just play around with it the maxstar isnt something to pass lookin at its light portable and not concidered a bad buy

[Valkyrie Rider]

Originally Posted by Wyoming9

I would look for a used Miller Syncrowave 180/200 that someone has out grown

Good call! I forgot about them, buy you may be able to find on for about $1k as the Syncrowave 200 can be had for just over $2000 new.

There was also the Miller EconoTIG, but I'd pass on those. I've known a few who bought them and then sold them off as soon as they learned to TIG for a more capable machine.

[94_2wdCherokee]

So it looks as if I need to find a 180/200 syncrowave

[JOSHUACROWE]

Check out the Miller Diversion 165 and 180.

Good little machines that require less power, less knowledge of the TIG setup controls, and less space and give you AC capability. They come as complete packages- air cooled torch, pedal, regulator, power cord with MVP plug so you can hook into 110 or 220, and some accessories.

I have a Diversion 180 for more mobility and to serve as backup to my Syncrowave 350 and I would say the arc characteristics are very similar but the cost of those units is at opposite ends of the spectrum. The Diversion packages are definitely worth a look.

[Jrod-13]

Originally Posted by Niknar

all depends on material one thing u can look at is the scratch tig setups i know a bare setup from miller is like 700 dollars but im talkin about the miller lunch box welder which is the maxstar 150 we use them at work not only can u tig weld with em but u can stick weld as well

i picked up a used stl 150 last year for around 750, bad ass machine.... tons of power.. I've tiged a bit of .120 tube, and my .25 wall links with it, with power to spare, and no issues of hitting the duty cycle. It's also one hell of a stick welder... Its really a bad ass little welder.

[Wyoming9]

The Diversion welders are nice while under warranty.

Out of warranty we are seeing repair costs well above the cost of a new one so when it goes kaboom out of warranty just throw it away and buy another new one.