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Which TIG should I buy?
Need to weld 4130 tubing, .058 wall. Also some aluminum
I am pretty fair with a stick. Very little gas experience Need a TIG that is forgiving for a first timer. Not too pricey. Any suggestions? Thanks |
Which TIG should I buy?
On Sun, 29 Feb 2004 22:06:16 GMT, "Chief McGee"
wrote: Not too pricey. I think you have just removed yourself from the equation. grin I'll be surprised if you find much under $1K. Don't forget to factor in the cost of the gas bottle too. You may also want to check available power in your house/shop as the tend to run in the 30A++ range. -- Kind regards, Jenny and her tribe of survivors. |
Which TIG should I buy?
In article snt0c.10683$PR3.227192@attbi_s03, Chief McGee
wrote: Need to weld 4130 tubing, .058 wall. Also some aluminum I am pretty fair with a stick. Very little gas experience Need a TIG that is forgiving for a first timer. Not too pricey. Any suggestions? Thanks The cheapest AC/DC TIG would be a used Miller Econotig. They tend to fetch about $800 on eBay. They work fine for simple stuff. The best buy on a new one would be the Thermal Arc Prowave 185TSW. It is an AC/DC inverter based TIG, comes with a full setup, and goes new for about $1700. |
Which TIG should I buy?
Ernie Leimkuhler wrote in message ...
In article snt0c.10683$PR3.227192@attbi_s03, Chief McGee wrote: Need to weld 4130 tubing, .058 wall. Also some aluminum I am pretty fair with a stick. Very little gas experience Need a TIG that is forgiving for a first timer. Not too pricey. Any suggestions? Thanks The cheapest AC/DC TIG would be a used Miller Econotig. They tend to fetch about $800 on eBay. They work fine for simple stuff. The best buy on a new one would be the Thermal Arc Prowave 185TSW. It is an AC/DC inverter based TIG, comes with a full setup, and goes new for about $1700. Check carefully when considering a used Econotig. With the earlier models the max amperage setting on the dial didn't affect the foot pedal operation. In other words, the foot pedal ALWAYS had the same range, from minimum to machine's max amperage. The pedal range could not be scaled back to reflect the max amperage setting on the dial, the dial's reading only worked with stick welding. I know this because I had one of of the first series that came out. Apparently, they changed this on the later models. Another thing I didn't like about the Econotig, the sales literature and the machine's manual said there was an inexpensive accessory that would allow an amperage setting below the facory minimum of 15 (or was it 20) amps. Such an accessory never was available from Miller. I sold the Econotig while it was still bright and shiny, got a Lincoln 175 in place of it. |
Which TIG should I buy?
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Which TIG should I buy?
My new Miller Syncrowave 180SD "Tig Runner" package was just under
$1,600 delivered to my door, even though they list it at about $2,000 on their website: http://www.millerwelds.com/products/...rowave_180_sd/ David "Chief McGee" wrote in message news:snt0c.10683$PR3.227192@attbi_s03... Need to weld 4130 tubing, .058 wall. Also some aluminum I am pretty fair with a stick. Very little gas experience Need a TIG that is forgiving for a first timer. Not too pricey. Any suggestions? Thanks |
Which TIG should I buy?
If you've got more time and room than money you can start searching for an
older used machine. It could take months to find, it will be much bigger than a new inverter based machine, but it will be cheap. Aluminium takes a lot more power to weld than steel so don't buy a machine based only on your steel needs. In article snt0c.10683$PR3.227192@attbi_s03, "Chief McGee" wrote: Need to weld 4130 tubing, .058 wall. Also some aluminum I am pretty fair with a stick. Very little gas experience Need a TIG that is forgiving for a first timer. Not too pricey. Any suggestions? Thanks |
Which TIG should I buy?
why do you like the thermal arc over the miller or Lincoln in that size?
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Which TIG should I buy?
Boris Mohar wrote in message . ..
On 1 Mar 2004 08:27:44 -0800, (DougR) wrote: I sold the Econotig while it was still bright and shiny, got a Lincoln 175 in place of it. How do you like it? I have chance on buying one. Regards, Boris Mohar Got Knock? - see: Viatrack Printed Circuit Designs http://www3.sympatico.ca/borism/ Boris, It's OK. Since then I got a killer deal on a Thermal Arc inverter, 200 GTS. The Thermal Arc was new, never used, still under warranty, $700. Got it from a pawn shop about a mile from Ernie's house. Love that little machine. |
Which TIG should I buy?
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Which TIG should I buy?
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Which TIG should I buy?
In article , williamhenry
wrote: why do you like the thermal arc over the miller or Lincoln in that size? The Thermal Arc Prowave 185TSW is an inverter, so it only draws up to 30 amps , rather than the 50 - 60 amps for the Miller Syncrowave 180 or Lincoln Squarewave 175. It is smaller, lighter and gives you variable output frequency for aluminum TIG. It also has pulser,sloper, sequencer built in. It comes complete just like the Syncrowave 180 and the Squareweave 175. Just add a bottle of gas and weld. So for about the same price as a Syncrowave 180 you get a much better machine. The comparable Lincoln and Miller Inverters end up about $1000 more once you add in all the parts you need. So right now, the Thermal arc Prowave 185TSW gets my vote for best deal in the business for a small AC/DC TIG. Mind you, if you need multiple input voltages, the Miller Dynasty 200DX wins hands down. It will eat anything from 80 volts to 500 volts, single or 3 phase. |
Which TIG should I buy?
In article , Leon
McAtee wrote: (DougR) wrote in message . com... In other words, the foot pedal ALWAYS had the same range, from minimum to machine's max amperage. The pedal range could not be scaled back to reflect the max amperage setting on the dial, the dial's reading only worked with stick welding. So that's whats wrong with my EconoTig! Other than that it's nice to know that the Tig I'm generally disatisfied with is worth less than a 1/3 of what I paid for it :-( I bought an Econotig a few months after they came on the market. I wrung every possible limit out of that machine until I just had to upgrade. Along the way I got the motherboard replaced under warrantee to the one that reactivated the dial in TIG mode. For $1200 it was a great little machine. To get the most of mine I was running it with a Helium/Argon mix gas and a water cooled torch. I had mine for 6 years until I upgraded to a Syncrowave 250, and a year ago I upgraded again to a Syncrowave 250DX. |
Which TIG should I buy?
Ernie Leimkuhler wrote:
The Thermal Arc Prowave 185TSW is an inverter, so it only draws up to 30 amps , rather than the 50 - 60 amps for the Miller Syncrowave 180 or Lincoln Squarewave 175. It is smaller, lighter and gives you variable output frequency for aluminum TIG. It also has pulser,sloper, sequencer built in. It comes complete just like the Syncrowave 180 and the Squareweave 175. Just add a bottle of gas and weld. So for about the same price as a Syncrowave 180 you get a much better machine. So right now, the Thermal arc Prowave 185TSW gets my vote for best deal in the business for a small AC/DC TIG. & from another post: Thermal Arc's 185TSW is made in Japan by Sanrex You seem quite keen on this welder, Ernie. Do you have any comments as to the quality and durability of this machine? How about the kit that comes with it? I've been looking hard at the maxstar 150sth, but wouldn't mind AC as I will probably _eventually_ want to do aluminum. The cost of a Dynasty200DX is hard to justify at this point, but the Thermal Arc is cheap enough to warrant serious consideration. I can live with only being able to use 1ph 230V power. Jeff Dantzler |
Which TIG should I buy?
In article 1078273025.39597@yasure, Jeff Dantzler
wrote: Ernie Leimkuhler wrote: The Thermal Arc Prowave 185TSW is an inverter, so it only draws up to 30 amps , rather than the 50 - 60 amps for the Miller Syncrowave 180 or Lincoln Squarewave 175. It is smaller, lighter and gives you variable output frequency for aluminum TIG. It also has pulser,sloper, sequencer built in. It comes complete just like the Syncrowave 180 and the Squareweave 175. Just add a bottle of gas and weld. So for about the same price as a Syncrowave 180 you get a much better machine. So right now, the Thermal arc Prowave 185TSW gets my vote for best deal in the business for a small AC/DC TIG. & from another post: Thermal Arc's 185TSW is made in Japan by Sanrex You seem quite keen on this welder, Ernie. Do you have any comments as to the quality and durability of this machine? The guys who have bought them seem to like them a lot. I have yet to try one myself. The stores selling them in Seattle have yet to have any complaints. They have been out for about a year now. How about the kit that comes with it? Once again it all seems to be OK stuff. The flow gauge is a litte cheap but I don't know any company that gives away good ones in kits. I've been looking hard at the maxstar 150sth, but wouldn't mind AC as I will probably _eventually_ want to do aluminum. The Maxstar 150 is a very nice machine, and with the new features it has it would be a really nice portable TIG for stainless steel repairs, however since they are now feeding the gas through the power connector it is very difficult to do DCEP aluminum TIG with it. The cost of a Dynasty200DX is hard to justify at this point, but the Thermal Arc is cheap enough to warrant serious consideration. I can live with only being able to use 1ph 230V power. Jeff Dantzler |
Which TIG should I buy?
Jeff Dantzler wrote:
Ernie Leimkuhler wrote: The Thermal Arc Prowave 185TSW is an inverter, so it only draws up to 30 amps , rather than the 50 - 60 amps for the Miller Syncrowave 180 or Lincoln Squarewave 175. It is smaller, lighter and gives you variable output frequency for aluminum TIG. It also has pulser,sloper, sequencer built in. It comes complete just like the Syncrowave 180 and the Squareweave 175. Just add a bottle of gas and weld. So for about the same price as a Syncrowave 180 you get a much better machine. So right now, the Thermal arc Prowave 185TSW gets my vote for best deal in the business for a small AC/DC TIG. & from another post: Thermal Arc's 185TSW is made in Japan by Sanrex You seem quite keen on this welder, Ernie. Do you have any comments as to the quality and durability of this machine? How about the kit that comes with it? I've been looking hard at the maxstar 150sth, but wouldn't mind AC as I will probably _eventually_ want to do aluminum. The cost of a Dynasty200DX is hard to justify at this point, but the Thermal Arc is cheap enough to warrant serious consideration. What does the Thermal Arc cost? |
Which TIG should I buy?
In article , Jim Stewart
wrote: Jeff Dantzler wrote: Ernie Leimkuhler wrote: The Thermal Arc Prowave 185TSW is an inverter, so it only draws up to 30 amps , rather than the 50 - 60 amps for the Miller Syncrowave 180 or Lincoln Squarewave 175. It is smaller, lighter and gives you variable output frequency for aluminum TIG. It also has pulser,sloper, sequencer built in. It comes complete just like the Syncrowave 180 and the Squareweave 175. Just add a bottle of gas and weld. So for about the same price as a Syncrowave 180 you get a much better machine. So right now, the Thermal arc Prowave 185TSW gets my vote for best deal in the business for a small AC/DC TIG. & from another post: Thermal Arc's 185TSW is made in Japan by Sanrex You seem quite keen on this welder, Ernie. Do you have any comments as to the quality and durability of this machine? How about the kit that comes with it? I've been looking hard at the maxstar 150sth, but wouldn't mind AC as I will probably _eventually_ want to do aluminum. The cost of a Dynasty200DX is hard to justify at this point, but the Thermal Arc is cheap enough to warrant serious consideration. What does the Thermal Arc cost? About $1700 complete. Just add a bottle of gas and some filler rod. |
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