Looking at Tig Welders

[Rastus]

Never welded TIG before. Interested in learning. Looking to buy one first quarter of next year. What's y'alls opinion on this one.

Maxstar 161 STL

thanks

[entropy]

As long as the lack of AC is not a problem; then based on my years with my now old MStar I'll say good choice!

E

[Rastus]

Originally Posted by entropy

As long as the lack of AC is not a problem; then based on my years with my now old MStar I'll say good choice!

E

Read that in the specs after posting. I would like the option of welding aluminum also. The diversion 180 seems more like what I would want. Getting out of budget range though.

[Asm109]

Look at the Lincoln Tig 200. Bought one last year and I am very happy with it.

[Scrambled]

Are you looking for something small and compact? What is your budget?

I have a Miller 180 SD. I can tig and stick with it. It also has AC so I can do aluminum.

Steve

[Graham08]

It's not the latest technology, but if you can find a Miller Syncrowave 180 or a Lincoln Square Wave 175, they're both really good, solid welders. I have a fair amount of time using both machines at friends' shops and have no complaints with either.

The Miller has a few more adjustments on the AC side than the Lincoln. The Lincoln is a no-frills, solid, square wave power source...a new one with torch, regulator, etc. is about $2,000.

[stock93]

I know it's out of budget, but the dynasties have really nice controls for ac. I've have an old dial arc with basically no control other than hi frequency. It's night and day difference on aluminum. Looking for a used 200 might be a good route to go if you're wanting to do aluminum.

That said, there's learning to tig weld and there's learning to tig weld aluminum. You'll have a much easier time if you learn steel first.

[jbracing]

id look on craigslist for a used machine. keep an eye out and you can usually come across a pretty good deal. i picked up my lincoln square wave 350 with torch, water cooler, and a bunch of tungsten for $1200. i wasnt looking for a machine that big but for the price i couldnt pass it up. only thing i had to buy was a bottle of argon and flow meter. i would stay with a name brand though. ive run miller sycrowave machines at both of my welding jobs for over 5 years now and they are older machines (70s) and they never skip a beat welding aluminum for 10-12 hours a day sometimes 6 days a week.

[wyoming9]

I would really learn to Tig weld first using as many different machines as you can .

To get a idea just what you really need in your machine for what your going to do.

I see both sides way to small for what they plan to do.

Then others go buy a Dynasty 700 package and only weld stainless. A few times a year

[hartz]

Miller is the best for beginners. The Miller Maxstar is a DC TIG.

[Captainfab]

While I am a big Miller fan, I have been looking pretty hard at the Everlast 250EX. It's pretty hard to beat for the price and they come with a 5 year warranty. With a cooler you will be about $2000-2100. Jody at www.weldingtipsandtricks.com speaks highly of them and has been using one for several years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u4Efn1twUo

[Ladderbar]

I have owned a Lincoln 185 for many years no complaints, made me lot's of money. Ac is very easy to use can't go wrong with this machine.

[Rastus]

thanks for the advice and replies. Going to keep looking but not as hard, still using my mig for now.

[kkroger]

Late to the party BUT the AHP AlphaTIG 200X $709 shipped to my door.
200Amps at 60% 150 amps at 100% Pulse, AC/DC, etc etc.

Add a better pedal and a lighter torch.
HTP, SSC and NOVA make pedals for this unit, right around $160 regardless, I got mine from HTP.

A better Torch and Leads (It comes with a 17 Flex knockoff, I added a Ck 20 Flex and 25' leads for $174

That is a water cooled torch soooo I added a cooler, I got the one from HTP it is $439 and has a Restriction Alarm, but you can get one similar and almost identical to the Everlast or Longevity units on E-Bay for $250 but it has no restricted flow alert.

I modified the welder by adding a 120VAC outlet above the circuit breaker in the back plane.

Had one of these at the business shop since first of the year, I liked it and was impressed enough of it to

I laid some beads of Aluminum on a machined piece doing a mock build up just for practice and built up a half inch by half inch mound of beads along one machined side Worked very well at 200Amps the cooler kept the torch cool as it should. I like it.

[Rastus]

Still shopping.. only been 3 years.. :)

any feedback on the Square Wave™ TIG 200 Welder?

[Bo185]

Originally Posted by Rastus

Still shopping.. only been 3 years.. :)

any feedback on the Square Wave™ TIG 200 Welder?

Save your money. Get a Primeweld tig or AHP alpha. Both are decent welders for price and the Prime comes with a CK torch. Google prime welders.

[Rastus]

Resurrecting the dead.

Went with the Miller Multimatic 215. Still working on the mig part, havent gotten to the tig section yet.

How does this look?

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I'd be happy, but I'm not a certified welder.

[TheBandit]

Congrats! Looks like a very good start.