TIG welders, any suggestions?
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TIG welders, any suggestions?
Hello all,
I'm considering the purchase of a tig welder. I've always loved mig, but I want a little more of a challenge now. I'm considering either a lincoln invertec v-160-t, or a miller maxstar 150. Does anyone have experience with these? Also, should I save the money and buy an ac/dc tig or would it be a waste of money? -Will
I'm considering the purchase of a tig welder. I've always loved mig, but I want a little more of a challenge now. I'm considering either a lincoln invertec v-160-t, or a miller maxstar 150. Does anyone have experience with these? Also, should I save the money and buy an ac/dc tig or would it be a waste of money? -Will
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: The Big, Oregon
Get the Miller, I use one of these daily. IMO, the lincoln is a waste of money. The Miller has what they call autoline, where you just change the plug on the end of the cable, and can run it on anything from 110 to 3ph 440, without having to change anything else. If you plan on doing aluminum work later on, spend the money and get a Dynasty 200. These are even better, with a/c, d/c, stick and TIG. You can adjust the arc force, waveform and balance individually. You can usually pick these up from tool rental places in the $1600-$1900 range, with minimal use.
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Joined: Apr 2005
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get one that will do a/c, you will need it for aluminum. tig will be frustrating with out a good machine. I like both the lincoln and miller machines. Miller has better customer service which is important because everything breaks.
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From: "Islander"
A used 250 synchrowave would be a nice find is someone ever lets one go. I have a 350 Synchrowave purchased new in 92 with adjustable pulser, pre and post flow, water cooled torch, everything but spot weld and really enjoy it without any breakdowns. What i'm trying to say is don't limit yourself, buy the best you can afford for the type of work used on. Miller's for me as I've had Hobart and Lincoln's before. I replaced my old used 4th owner Millermatic 200, needed a feed motor when purchased with a Millermatic 251, added the 30A spoolgun, it's one great machine.
Carl....=o&o>....
Carl....=o&o>....
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From: Seattle
In the price range you're looking at, the new Miller Econotig would be a better bet, and here is why:
The Maxstar 150 utilizes strike arc technology, requiring the user to touch the electrode to the workpiece to start the arc process. This is OK for the guy who is a master, but you will find it very frustrating as a hobbyist, especially for small parts you cant necessarily clamp.
For about the same price, Miller has the new Econotig. This machine for one, utilizes a foot amperage control (a MUST for the weekend warrior) and arc assist (High Frequency start in the big machines), which 'jump starts' the arc from the electrode to the work piece, a FAR better set-up for sure. if you can afford the extra few hundred bucks, look into the Miller Syncrowave 180SD (more amperage). I have a variant of this model in my garage.
Now, about this:
This is an urban legend.
In our manufacturing department, my company employs four full time certified welders. TIG welding, IMO, is probably the easiest welding process to learn from an instructional standpoint. A person can perform TIG welding while standing on his head, leaving the most beatifull weld you'd ever see. Nope. The guy that can stand on his head running a nice vertical pass with stick (SMAW), now he can weld!
The Maxstar 150 utilizes strike arc technology, requiring the user to touch the electrode to the workpiece to start the arc process. This is OK for the guy who is a master, but you will find it very frustrating as a hobbyist, especially for small parts you cant necessarily clamp.
For about the same price, Miller has the new Econotig. This machine for one, utilizes a foot amperage control (a MUST for the weekend warrior) and arc assist (High Frequency start in the big machines), which 'jump starts' the arc from the electrode to the work piece, a FAR better set-up for sure. if you can afford the extra few hundred bucks, look into the Miller Syncrowave 180SD (more amperage). I have a variant of this model in my garage.
Now, about this:
Originally Posted by kc8ard
....but I want a little more of a challenge now....
In our manufacturing department, my company employs four full time certified welders. TIG welding, IMO, is probably the easiest welding process to learn from an instructional standpoint. A person can perform TIG welding while standing on his head, leaving the most beatifull weld you'd ever see. Nope. The guy that can stand on his head running a nice vertical pass with stick (SMAW), now he can weld!
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this is the one I'll be ordering shortly for my workshop at home... we have a lincoln unit at the shop tho'
http://www.usaweld.com/products/tig_welders/tig201.html
http://www.usaweld.com/products/tig_welders/tig201.html
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Tig almost seems like soldering. You have the torch, which I guess is similar to a soldering iron and the stick which seems like rosin core solder. I've been soldering since I was about five years old. I build radios, both tube type and solid state for a hobby. Would these skills help me with TIG? I love the quality of a good tig weld...Mig is nice, but I'd like a little more versatility too. -William
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: The Big, Oregon
It's more like gas welding. You don't want to actually touch the base metal with the tip, the arc jumps the gap and creates enough heat to melt the metal. Once you have a little puddle going, you add the filler metal to create the bead. Oh yeah, don't try to tin the tip, either, they don't like that...........
Rocket-
What about the guy who is laying on his side between the deck and hull, stick bent in a J-shape, welding overhead, having to use a mirror. Let me know what the good welder thinks of what I did yesterday.
Rocket-
What about the guy who is laying on his side between the deck and hull, stick bent in a J-shape, welding overhead, having to use a mirror. Let me know what the good welder thinks of what I did yesterday.
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Post Fiend
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From: "Islander"
KC, when you solder the solder "sticks" to the base metal, same for brazing. Tig your melting base and adding filler if needed, don't compare the two. Tig's the strongest weld process done correctly.
Carl....=o&o>....
Carl....=o&o>....
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From: Seattle
Originally Posted by Ford_Six
Rocket-
What about the guy who is laying on his side between the deck and hull, stick bent in a J-shape, welding overhead, having to use a mirror. Let me know what the good welder thinks of what I did yesterday.
What about the guy who is laying on his side between the deck and hull, stick bent in a J-shape, welding overhead, having to use a mirror. Let me know what the good welder thinks of what I did yesterday.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
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Welding something where a weld just must not fail must be a nightmare. I thought working on stuff for DOE was bad. I had some supervisors try to get me to "pencil test" something once. There just was no way I was going to do it. Unfortunately it ended my career there. I went from being an exemplary employee to the worst scumbag in the plant overnight, but I sleep nights, at least for my part in things, -but then I wonder about the others that went along to get along... And some of my stuff still travels in those boats of yours. 
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From: Seattle
Originally Posted by RocketScience
....TIG welding, IMO, is probably the easiest welding process to learn from an instructional standpoint. A person can perform TIG welding while standing on his head, leaving the most beatifull weld you'd ever see. Nope. The guy that can stand on his head running a nice vertical pass with stick (SMAW), now he can weld!....
My intentions of this post was NOT to imply that people who TIG weld are any less skilled than those proficient in other processes (they surely aren't), and I apologize if I offended any of you great TIG welders out there(Torque1st, Ford_Six). My post was only to state that from an instructional standpoint, based on my experience with ALL forms of welding processes, all-position SMAW is the most difficult to learn and become proficient at.
