I am looking for a entry level TIG setup to learn on. I am good at mig, and want to step up to tig and make some nice pieces like IC piping, down pipes, exhaust, intake manifolds… From what i gather everyone recommends a AC/DC setup for aluminum with a HF start. I want to do stainless and aluminum. So I need to look for a DC/AC with HF.
I am looking at a Miller Diversion 165. Can be had for $1200 new. while it isnt a total power house, I think it will get me rolling. Anyone know of a nice used unit better than that miller above for around the same price tag?
I read a ton of reviews and for the money this thing is hard to beat. It doesnt have all the little tuning features, but make the process as simple possible for the user to hone their skills, not program a main frame to make metal stick.
It’ll suffice for most steels you’d weld but isn’t going to be of much use for anything in aluminum except thin plate.
Lack of control is actually scary, especially in AC and especially on thinner material. Adjustability is NOT hard to learn on an adjustable square wave setup. I’m not talking digital sin wave control as in most inverter setups, but even simple rotary control over square wave to determine ion pulse for penetration/cleaning action with welding aluminum. Makes welding aluminum 100 times easier in both form and function(look and strength). Wave pulse, and its adjustability, is also a nice feature for beginners.
My opinion, hold out and save you money for something a little better, that you’d get more use and have a better experience with. Find a used Lincoln PT 185, has all the features I listed. Lot’s of people can weld, far less actually know how. A good welder definitely assists with the latter of those two…
OK I am picking one up this weekend I hope… I found three… and cant choose…
Lincon Squareware 175 for $850
Miller syncrowave 180SD for $850-$1200
Thermal Arc 185 for $1200
Miller syncrowave 250DX for $1500
i am sure the 175/180/185’s will be plenty, but the 250DX is a monster but much bigger physically and might be overkill as far as materials I will see goes.
I like the TA185, becasue it is MUCH smaller, (45lbs) and from all the reviews and reading I did people say it is just as good as the miller.
The syncrowave 180 is what i am leanign towards rigth now becasue I found one for $1200 with gas, rods, spare parts and only a few hours of use.
what do you think???
I dont know were u getting those prices from. I hope those r used units, cause other wise that shit must be from the home boy’s shopping net work cause the price is way off or ur gonna get a nice box with a pretty sweet brick inside it !!
Ur prices r off by atleast 1,000-1,200$ except for on the lincoln square wave thats right on!!
just remember. u can always do a small job with a big machine but you’ll never beable to do a large job with a small machine !!
Miller Syncrowave 180SD, (2006 model) Paid $1200 for it. 39 MINUTES on the computer. Diamond back torch, 10 different tungstons, bunch of tips, collets, etc. About 5 lbs of different filler rod, nice leather tig gloves, all paperwork.
Once I preped a tungston and got about 20 mins of practice, I can lay a decent row or dimes on some aluminum plate. It isnt easy with a cast on my torch hand! Steel is a piece of cake!
I got a brand new welder mig/tig at my house that has less than 3 hours on it for sale 300 bucks and it also still has a 3 year warranty. along with a brand new spool already in it
Now that you have a TIG there are two things you must do:
buy a proper tungsten grinder. You have no idea the difference a proper bevel and polish on a tungsten cut can make on arc control. There are a couple very nice small hand held units that work perfectly for a couple hundred bucks.
throw out all thiorated tungsten(red lable). It’s radioactive and dangerous in dust form(grinding). Go buy some 1.5" lanthanated. 1.5%L can be used for both ferrous DC and non ferrous AC welding, and can hold a point on low amp AC welding much like an inverter will do. Good arc starting and control, and good resistance to contamination.
once I find my cable to my cam I will upload the pics of the welder, I thought it was a mig/tig BUT I could be wrong after reading it it just says Dual Mig Welder my bad
Thanks dude… I was thrilled when I found the deal. well worth the 4 hour drive. Even got soem dirt cheap booze in NH on the way back!
Yeah I have been just sharpening my tungsten on a new stone drum in a dremmel so far. I was lookign today for a better way to do that as amatter of fact.
I read about the radioactive tungsten too, I will ditch the ones he gave whenthey are junk and get the other ones for sure.
Last night I made a nice edge weld with 2- 1/8th aluminum plates… I was happy.
Horiz. lap welds are hard for soem reason… I can get the arc to heat the face piece and move up and kiss the edge to creat a pool. I think I need to move up in tungsten dia?
I also tried to do the bottom of two soda cans. again, I think the 1/16th tungsten was too small and I could get the arc to hit both sides. The second can I got decent. I melted a little filler rod and used thatto move the heat to each can, and then I got a nice pool flowing and it worked out ok.
I also had to exten the tungsten farther out of the cup… which helped too.
