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TIG suggestions please

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boost97gst

10+ Year Contributor
3,036
134
Apr 2, 2012
st jacob, Illinois
Im looking for suggestions on what TIG welder i should get. I dont want to spend 4 or 5 grand, hell, i cant even weld. Thats the idea though. I want to get an affordable, mid grade TIG and practice. Its a skill i think i must have to continue in the DSM game. If i have time im thinking of taking some classes this fall at the local comm college.

I dont really want a mig. I would really like the ability to weld aluminum.
 
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0081BEOD4/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER"]Everlast Powertig 185 ac dc[/ame]

I've been looking for a tig welder within a budget and in my opinion I've concluded that this is best bang for a buck since it can both be used in 110v or 220v.

Otherwise if I have more money to throw around I'll probably get a miller diversion 180.

If I were you, I'll probably take a class and play with machines they have there and see which brand and type you like.
 
If u want a good tig without spendin a lot of money, look at the Miller Diversion 165 or 180. Last i saw they are goin for about $1800. Which isnt that much for a high quality tig. Their very easy to use and learn on. It has settings for aluminum and another setting for all other metals. That would be what i would get if i wasnt looking to spend an insane amount.

Everlast Powertig 185 ac dc

I've been looking for a tig welder within a budget and in my opinion I've concluded that this is best bang for a buck since it can both be used in 110v or 220v.

Otherwise if I have more money to throw around I'll probably get a miller diversion 180.

If I were you, I'll probably take a class and play with machines they have there and see which brand and type you like.

Just saw u said the Diversion. haha. Good man. :hellyeah:
 
The diversion is a huge waste of money. Unless you can find one used. New they are OVER priced.
 
^LOL LOL LOL . I love my diversion. I got it for 1800 brand spankin new. I'll be upgrading to a dynasty. Gamble shutup LOL


Maybe if you have a 350 amp pulse, square wave, AC balance and high freq, and pre/post flow adjustment i may be interested also
 
It's a good machine, just grossly over priced. I paid $1800 new for my 180 and then $100 for the torch upgrade. So almost 2k and it still has no pre or post flow adjustment, no pulse, no frequency control, no balance control.
I was able to weld 2 pop cans on a welder half the price, can't do it on the diversion.
 
It's a good machine, just grossly over priced. I paid $1800 new for my 180 and then $100 for the torch upgrade. So almost 2k and it still has no pre or post flow adjustment, no pulse, no frequency control, no balance control.
I was able to weld 2 pop cans on a welder half the price, can't do it on the diversion.

Did u not read the original post. Hes a BEGINNER welder who wants something good on a budget. And the diversion is a really good machine for a beginner on a budget.
 
It's a good machine, just grossly over priced. I paid $1800 new for my 180 and then $100 for the torch upgrade. So almost 2k and it still has no pre or post flow adjustment, no pulse, no frequency control, no balance control.
I was able to weld 2 pop cans on a welder half the price, can't do it on the diversion.


Thats cause you sucked at welding when you had the diversion. I can weld pop cans.(gonna try LOL)
 
Well you don't have to buy new...

Search Craiglist and sometimes you'll find gems and even though it might be a older model, it all works the same usually.
 
Thanks guys. Im still waiting til my shop is decked out with everything else but ive got my eye on that longevity 200sx. Under a grand, lots of options... seems pretty good. Then again, when the time comes im gonna check craigslist. Like^^ said, you can find some really good stuff very cheap if you have patience. Ill keep my eyes open but if i buy new its looking like the 200sx would be perfect for me.
 
Did u not read the original post. Hes a BEGINNER welder who wants something good on a budget. And the diversion is a really good machine for a beginner on a budget.

Do you not understand what a budget is? It's far from a $1800 miller diversion with no options.
 
Get a HTP 221. The best welder for the money by far. I have used everything. They run a black friday deal if you ever can wait that long.
 
I'm late on the thread but you can not go wrong with the maxstar 150 I love mine.

I believe the Maxstar series is direct current only which would make welding aluminum extremely difficult.

To the op, I have a Lincoln Squarwave 175 for home use. Its a work horse, has an incredibly stable arc, and has done everything that I have needed from it. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles as some machines, but in the end, you don't really need them. The only thing I wished it had was pre-post flow adjustment, but again, you can live without that as well. If I were you, I would find a used machine or sign up for a local C.C. class for some basic welding experience. People will always put down school for welding, but if you're smart and you factor in the cost of a machine, cylinder, material, consumbales, etc. a semester at a C.C. is much cheaper.
 
I believe the Maxstar series is direct current only which would make welding aluminum extremely difficult.

To the op, I have a Lincoln Squarwave 175 for home use. Its a work horse, has an incredibly stable arc, and has done everything that I have needed from it. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles as some machines, but in the end, you don't really need them. The only thing I wished it had was pre-post flow adjustment, but again, you can live without that as well. If I were you, I would find a used machine or sign up for a local C.C. class for some basic welding experience. People will always put down school for welding, but if you're smart and you factor in the cost of a machine, cylinder, material, consumbales, etc. a semester at a C.C. is much cheaper.


Thank you. And yes, thats the plan: take a fall course this year. I may purchase one before so i have something to practice with but im pretty set on taking courses. I DO, however, know a boilermaker. Hes been welding for 30 yrs. Recently retired and he just so happens to play bass in my band. Lol, i play on the weekends with a bunch of old guys, garage band covers. Anyway, hes an incredible welder so he would be a good source of knowledge as well. Time is on my side, im in no hurry but i appreciate all the suggestions from everyone. Ill be posting up when i make a purchase or maybe even show you all some of my first (horrible) welds:rocks:
 
All Miller Maxstar series are DC only. No aluminum.


I am a big Miller supporter for inverter welders. But I am also super die hard for Lincoln engine drives.


But I have just recently used a Thermal Arc 185 tig inverter that my buddy acquired, and they are very solid machines. He picked his up for around $1200, used with everything on ebay. I welded with it for about 8 hours and they are actually really great machines. I have seen then go for dirt cheap on craigslist and ebay.

This is not the Thermal Arc 186 (made in china) that is currently on the market. But from what I have read they are not as reliable and the arc is not as focused or crisp
 
All Miller Maxstar series are DC only. No aluminum.


I am a big Miller supporter for inverter welders. But I am also super die hard for Lincoln engine drives.


But I have just recently used a Thermal Arc 185 tig inverter that my buddy acquired, and they are very solid machines. He picked his up for around $1200, used with everything on ebay. I welded with it for about 8 hours and they are actually really great machines. I have seen then go for dirt cheap on craigslist and ebay.

This is not the Thermal Arc 186 (made in china) that is currently on the market. But from what I have read they are not as reliable and the arc is not as focused or crisp
The 185 is a proven machine over and over again. However the parts were made in china and assembled in Japan. So it's still a made in china welder. Like it or not. Even miller has parts from china. Lincolns helmets are made in china. And pretty good but disgustingly overpriced.

Only downside to ANY inverter machine is if something fails expect to pay $800+. So figure that into your cost as well. I've read countless stories about peoples dynasty shitting out after the warranty and the repair wasn't cheap at all. The way the repairs are done now is not at the component level. So even if you had a 50 cent cap or resistor crap out they are going to make you replace the whole board.
 
So I've been getting the bug to buy a tig welder as well. I'll be going to school in fall for welding and would like to get a head start on tig welding. My shop has Miller mig welders so I don't need practice on Mig welding. I have tried a Lincoln tig welder once and it sure is a challenge. But I would like to get better. I'm looking to spend about $1500-$2000 for the best bang for the buck machine. What should I be looking for? I definitely want to do aluminum like intercooler/exhaust piping and such. Possibly chromoly for roll cages. Stainless steel for sure. I've heard Thermal Arc and Everlast were great machines with a ton of features. Miller and Lincoln seems to be out of the budget. Any other machines I should look for? Pretty much I would like to purchase a machine that will last me 10 years or so.
 
Thank you. And yes, thats the plan: take a fall course this year. I may purchase one before so i have something to practice with but im pretty set on taking courses. I DO, however, know a boilermaker. Hes been welding for 30 yrs. Recently retired and he just so happens to play bass in my band. Lol, i play on the weekends with a bunch of old guys, garage band covers. Anyway, hes an incredible welder so he would be a good source of knowledge as well. Time is on my side, im in no hurry but i appreciate all the suggestions from everyone. Ill be posting up when i make a purchase or maybe even show you all some of my first (horrible) welds:rocks:

Don't worry about the quality off the bat. You want to get your hand eye coordination, muscle memory, basic knowledge and basic passes down. Once you get all that down packed like second nature, then you will be nickel and dime stacking with 100% penetration in no time!!! Then they can stress it, magnaflux, x-ray, do whatever they want to test the integrity of your welds. Trust me, all of us didn't start off as experts in a day, it takes time, blood, sweat, and tears for progress like this to happen.
 
Longevity is supposed to have s good machine coming out soon. So is tweco.
 
Eastwood Tig 200 AC/DC welder

What do y'all think about this? Im buying tools left and right for my garage and this has been up for a couple weeks. Brand new. I DO like that longevity i saw though but this is a few hundred cheaper and, LOL, i know jack shit about TIGs but it has a few extra dials on it. Im assuming those are extra features? 200A ac/dc is all id ever need. Cart and helmet with it too........ idk. Good deal or not?
 
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