I bought a used Daytona Mig Power Pulse TIG welder on eBay for $450, and I
love it. Had to add a bottle of argon for $75 to purchase both the bottle
and gas, and I have been going to town. I did spend another $175 for an
auto-darkening hood, as my eyes hurt after trying the HF $49 version.

I believe that with the new Harbor Freight $199 TIG machine, TIG welding has
become the _least_ expensive way to get started in welding, rather than the
most expensive. Note that neither my Daytona Mig Power Pulse TIG machine
nor the HF TIG machine will easily do aluminum. Also note that both of these
are lift start, which is not a big deal, and neither have foot pedals, which
is also not a big deal. I have been going to welding classes at my local
community college, where I learned on a great Synchrowave unit, but except
for aluminum, I haven't found any real practical difference for the hobby
and art welding that I am interested in...

My portable O/A setup cost me $249 new, and my used Hobart 175 MIG machine
was $450 plus the bottle and shielding gas... All of these are 220v units...

I love TIG welding - I find it to be precise, accurate, and almost
meditation in molten metal...

"Grant Erwin" wrote in message
...
Jon Elson wrote:

Save your nickels up, watch eBay and local sources, and wait for a good
deal on a TIG welder.

- snip -

I finally got a good eBay deal on a great Lincoln square wave TIG 300,
a totally fantastic machine.

- snip -

Jon, how much would you estimate it cost you to get into TIG welding? -
GWE