Ive been looking for a TIG welder for a while and ran across this ad on CL. Can some of you welding guru's tell me if its a good deal and what to look out for. Ive been oxy/acetelyne, arc and MIG welding for 40 years and its about time I got one of these. http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/tls/1408655268.html
I believe that unit is to be used WITH an arc welder or compatible power source. It is of no use by itself. But, you probably knew that, already. http://www.airgas.com/browse/product.aspx?Msg=RecID&recIds=11739
Looks like an add on to me. look for an American made machine, try to get all the accessories with it...Just sold a nice self contained Ltec unit to a friend for $500, so they are out there....good luck. (The Monster Garage how to weld anything book has a pretty good overview, and instructions for a first timer.)
I'd go Miller or Lincoln for sure, just for ease of service and parts if anything. I got my Precision TIG 185 from a friend of a friend a few years back for a smoking deal. They're out there. I see them and comparable Millers here for around $1k pretty regularly.
Get a Miller syncrowave, it's the best tig welding machine you can buy (I had a lincoln tig welder, it ****ed).
You're gonna have to do better than "it ****ed". What model and why? I'm a blue fan all the way, but I got my Lincoln TIG for a better deal than any other one I could find and it's great.
Lobucrod That unit is a DC only which means your only able to work with metal.You can't Tig aluminum. Pat
I read up on it a little, and it looks like it's just a multi-output power source. It actually needs the first piece you listed to make it a good TIG welder. I agree with the earlier post; I'd hold out for a Synchrowave. I've used a lot of different TIG welders, and Miller just got everything right with that one.
I bought a Lincoln Precision Tig welder 225 Ready-Pac unit.It's worked great for me.Just remember Pay me now or Pay me later.If all you need it for is 1 project I would suggest to try a Rental company first.
I was told by my Welding instructor that they still make all the parts for the miller machines, even the old ones. Like patrick was saying get a AC/DC tig so you can weld steel and aluminum. I found a complete unit (older) from a local body shop that hadn't used it in 3 years, picked it up for $500, it's a beast though 4' x 3' x 3'... has a hook on the top, we'll have to move it around with the cherry picker or the tractor!! So they are still out there!
You can also get good deals on production line welders all the time at auctions. You just have to know where to look. Beware though, a lot of those machines will be 3PH 480V input. Some can be re-wired, but make sure before buying!
Don't forget to stop by your local welding shop. Many times they have trade-ins or in these bad times, repos. They also might have a listing on the wall of used stuff for sale. Ask around. I'm a Miller guy all the way. I have a Millermatic 180 mig machine, and a Syncrowave 180SD tig machine. They rule all. I have done everything from body work to building trailers with them. Lots of ch***is stuff and tube work. Great machines.
You can't go wrong with Lincoln or Miller. I've used both the Lincoln Precision TIG and the Miller Synchrowave. Both are good machines. I prefer the Lincoln. I think the foot pedal and torch are a little better. When Miller still used the old Diamondback torches, I loved them though. There are some things I prefer about each machine. Either one is a good machine. I would think seriously about if you need an AC/DC machine or just a DC machine only. If you don't ever weld aluminum and don't ever care to, save the $ and get a DC machine. It's probably just me, but I prefer a transformer based machine. BUT inverter type machines are pretty cool and the ability to use 110, 220 or 3-phase is awesome. Makes for a more versatile machine. Also, the inverter based machines are more portable (I doubt you need to move it though). Always look at the duty cycles of the welder that you want. I always try to get a little bigger welder than I need, but that's just me. However, you can go nuts with it. If all you do is sheetmetal then don't get a machine that can do 1/2" Aluminum.
Inverters are nice if you need portability and flexibility in terms of power source, but they are not nearly as durable as transformer machines, are more expensive initially, and are more expensive to repair. Plus, most people don't understand or need all the wiz-bang wave custom wave form settings and all that stuff that come standard on most inverters. I gave it a lot of thought when I bought my last machine and I ended up picking a Syncrowave 250 DX.
Does it look like this? I have on of these that I picked up for $600. The damn thing weighs about 800lbs, and most of that is in the transformer, that's a **** ton of copper. It welds DC great, AC isn't square wave like the newer machines I learned on, so I'm still getting used to it, but hell, people were welding aluminum with out square wave for decades with these and similar machines.
That is the machine that I have as well. You can still get parts for it at any Miller Shop. Now, I just have to learn how to weld. I had to hire a guy with a fork truck just to get it off the bed of my truck.
If you or anyone is interested, I have an extra Miller Synchrowave 180sd. I havn't run the serial number but if I had to guess it's less than 5-6yrs old and I know it hasn't had too many hours on it. It is in great shape welds great. It has the newer style foot pedal and diamonback water cooled torch. Needs it's own water cooler or switch it to air cooled. When I bought it it had a home made bucket style cooler that I threw away after a quick welding test. Haven't used it since. 220v single phase. Lmk
Mike, I've got a Lincoln Ideal Arc 250, an older machine without square wave. Not quite as easy to use on lightweight thin stuff as the Miller Syncrowave, but you can't beat it on heavier stuff! Dunno what sort of shop electrical service you have, but pay attention to current draw on any big machine. My 250 requires a 100 amp circuit! That's one place where the new inverter machines shine! Dave PS: I like the insulation I ordered from you.
That's the one!! I think he told me it was like 20 years old or older? Mines got a water cooler unit on top for the tip!
Hey 52Pickup is that the 330A/BP? Thats' the one they called the 'gold star' because of the tag on the transformers. Thats just the best machine ever. I bought mine from the shipyards in baltimore and it sit on a cart like a pallet jack that is the water tank and it has a big water pump on the back. I have no idea how much the whole thing weighs. I have a standing offer to sell it to one of the local steel production shops. The miller rep just comes by to look at it from time to time.
I've got a bucket style "cooler"on my Ideal Arc 250 and I get by just fine with it. Nothing but a plastic 5 gallon bucket with a pump sort of like a mini sump pump that sits over the bucket with a bit of space below in the bucket for sediment to settle out. I've used it this way for way over 10 years and at least 7 of those years operated a boat prop repair business. Sometimes I would weld for an hour or more, almost continuous when building up a prop with a badly damaged blade. The water in the bucket never got more than lukewarm. A "real cooler is nice, but seldom will you run beads for as long as I did on blade buildup and no way am I buying a cooler setup. Dave
When I got mine I did a little research on them, if I remember right, they made them from the mid to late 60's to the early 80's. They have a serial number on them that will tell you what year it is, but I've never looked mine up. Mine has a hose attachment, when ever I am running it heavy I hook the hose up. For sheet metal I usually leave it off unless I know I'm going to be at it for a while. Back to Lobucrod, if you can find one, I recommend these welders. I found mine listed on craigslist as a ARC welder, because thats all the guy had ever used it for, but he had all the tig parts for it. There are a billion of them around. The model number is a 330a, the later ones were 330a bp. If you read the owners manual(still available on miller's site), it says that the max output is actually something like 440 amps (!!!), WAY more than most of use will ever need. Good luck finding a welder that meets your needs.
Yea, mine has a big gold star decal on the sides. That pic is just one I found on google, mine is a lot cleaner than that one. Great machines, although, when I really get on it, I see it in my electric bill
Thanks for all the info. Looks like there is much more to learn on this TIG business than I originally thought. Just want to make sure I dont throw money away on a good deal that wont do me any good.
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