TIG welders are ridiculously expensive. I have a strong desire to play with the big kids, but the cost is definitely prohibitive. I am helping a friend rebuild his car, and he may help chip in half for a welder that's a bit better than the Hobart 110 Mig I have now, but even at half price it's still expensive. Will something like the Miller Diversion work for occasional chassis work? I've done a little research on it, and everyone seems to be disappoving of it, but only because of minor little things. I don't care if they "dumbed" it down with the labeling (instead of AC and DC, says Aluminum and Steel, and they throw in a "TIG for Dummies" book) as long as it works the same. As far as I can tell, it still has the same features of the other welders, except it has a hand control instead of a foot control. Anyone try this welder yet? Any other recommendations? So, I don't want to spend much more than $1400 for a welder, is an entry level TIG going to make me happy or should I just get a 220 Mig? Thanks.
Not just chassis work. Brackets, small fab stuff, and body work too. I want something that I can use to weld up patch panels and still be stout enough to weld a chassis when needed.
Body work with a tig can be tedious. A mig is faster. I have a Miller 140 that I am building my entire chassis with. I do get a friend to tig the things that I want better than average appearance on, but structurally, I have zero concerns about my mig. All of my chassis material is well within the range of my machine and it allows me to do nice work where my tig skills are lacking.
I don't mind tedious too much, as long as I think it's worth it. I'm pretty anal retentive about stuff; plus I hate the way the Mig weld tends to crack if I try to bump it around.
Yeah, I use the tig mostly for sheet metal. If I can get a hammer and dolly on it, I will tig it every time. I wouldnt get the one you are talking about, if for nothing else, it has no foot control. Get a tig, but as they say, you get what you pay for.
I TIG on a $400 or so Hobart stick machine from Tractor Supply. No pedal, but welds pretty good. Been practicing, and am really happy with it. If I TIG enough to justify it, I'll upgrade to a dedicated TIG later.
I ordered my Miller diversion 165 from an e-bay dealer for $1280 delivered. I just got it yesterday but I have not tried it yet. You can add a foot pedal if you want one (I don't) by just plugging one in! It looks to be of regular Miller quality and I will let you know although I have never welded so my opinion won't be worth much. I can't see why the AC/DC switch label would cause consternation! It is obviously intended as a "starter unit" nothing wrong with that!
I've heard a LOT of good things about the new Diversion 165, though I haven't struck an arc with one yet. From what I've heard it's just a stripped down Dynasty, which is an excellent rig. The Diversion will do everything a tig rig ought to do including aluminum sheet. I've seen them go out the door for $1100 COMPLETE except the bottle. That's including torch and foot pedal, and they usually toss in free leathers and shit too. While it's true that an equally priced mig setup is a little more convenient in the here and now, it's nowhere near the rig a tig setup is, even a cheap one like the Diversion. Welding rigs are one of the few hard goods remaining that you are better off buying local- you should go down to your local welding supply shop and see what they'll do for you on a complete setup, you will be shocked.
Have you read these yet???? I've been looking at the Diversion as well....I can weld just fine with a Mig, but would love to try Tig....mostly for bodywork and pretty brackets. This is a long one......and many of the older welders don't like it, even though no one's tried it....still a good read if you are serious about the Diversion. http://millerwelds.com/resources/communities/mboard/showthread.php?t=13331&highlight=diversion http://millerwelds.com/resources/communities/mboard/showthread.php?t=14186
Go used. I bought a Miller Dial-Arc HF several years back for $700. One of the best investments I ever made. Also, the inverters are nice, but I still really like the big transformer machines; my dial arc is the smoothest welding machine next to the Lincoln "torpedo" rig at my Dad's.
Gad, what a bunch of freakin' dumbasses. Here's a hint for 'em- if you weld for a living, THE DAMNED ENTRY LEVEL BOX AIN'T MADE FOR YOU. If you've got enough scratch to park a Syncrowave 350 in your garage, THE DAMNED ENTRY LEVEL BOX AIN'T MADE FOR YOU. I especially like how they all talk shit about the book that's included while in the same breath admitting they haven't even read it. You've got to start somewhere, and the Diversion looks to me like a good start. I'm definitely not brand-specific when it comes to either cars or to welders- but I like how the rep nuts up and defends his product in the threads. As he says, this is intended for the beginner and the casual user, not the tradesman.
Check with your local welding store for used or repossesed units, thats where I picked up my Lincoln 275 square wave for $2000 which included a full large bottle of argon and a Optrel brand auto darkening helmet and some extra tungstens .
I have 2 Tigs, both were used...like them both. Miller Econo Tig Miller Dialarc HF (HF is a must if you want to do aluminum) they are both very basic...Both are very solid. You can get either one for $600 to $1000 if you look hard enough and depending on condition. My 2 cents. Also have a Miller 140....they are pretty reasonable, great for metal under 3/16". Miller also has a dual voltage model, (DVI2) 110/220.......I wish I would have bought it instead of the 140. Check your local welding shops for used welders. they normally go through them and make sure they re working properly, and if there is a problem, they can service it for you.
Wow, I just read those posts on the Miller forum! Seams like newbies are in for it no matter where they go,LOL The only time I ever "stuck" two pieces of metal together was 40 years ago in aircraft school. At the time they only taught gas welding and I did fairly well. Now 40 years later just for fun I tried MIG and did an awful job of it. As stated before I bought a Miller Diversion 165 because I am a newbie! I do hope it will do the job and I hope I'll learn how. We are all newbies at one time or other and all of us are newbies at some things! Newbies need advice and encouragement not the experts making fun of thier learning manuals or "starter level" machines, right?
John, move here and we can split the cost of buying a tig. I want one super bad. Billandbeaufort, Thats awesome you want to learn how to weld again. Tig welding is really fun. REDDOG here on the HAMB gave a bunch of us some Tig lessons. He taught me in about 3 hours what would have taken me at least 3 months to learn on my own. Id suggest trying to find someone who can help you learn the basics. It will realy speed up your learning curve.
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