Best inexpensive tig welder ?

[STANIMAL]

https://goo.io/KKQVMl

Looking to get into a tig , but dont really want to spend thousands in case I **** at it . I have seen decent reviews on the HF model , but want to keep my options open . Please give me some info on your experiences .

 

[dogdog]

what ever you do don't buy those Chinese tig welders on Ebay.... they purely ****......except their torch. they are nice when works, just when they mysteriously breaks. that is when you kick your self. Not that it won't happen on name brand stuff.... but it happens more often on cheap brands. I would just spend a little on a good brand. Miller / Lincoln even if it is used.


you can easily pick up tig with a few practice projects.

 

[hogdaddy]

This may be something to check out.
http://www.usaweld.com/Invertig-131-DC-HF-TIG-Welder-p/70131dchf.htm

 

[zkling]

This topic gets discussed on a regular basis with little to no change in resolution. If you didn't have the fortitude to do a search, I'm not sure if attempting to learn to tig weld is going to be feasible for you.

You basically have three options:
1.) New, name brand, expensive from mild to wild.
2.) Used, name brand, older, larger, power hungry machines are the cheapest.
3.) New chinese or the like smaller brand, you roll the dice.

When I see "In case I **** at it"; I read "too lazy to practice". No one was born knowing how to tig weld.

 

[pi_guy]

Take a TIG class at a community college.
Some times welding suppliers have demo days.
Buy a gas torch setup and practice on that, motion is very similar.
After you try some different machines ask the question again.

 

[DekeT]

What is your current skill level at welding with oxy/acet, stick, or mig? If you have no experience with these it is likely you will **** at tig. If you are currently a fair to great welder, especially oxy/acet, then likely you will be good at tig and love it.

 

[rsanter]

I don't care of you buy a $9000 TIG. You will **** at it.....at first.
It's all about learning and practice

Bob

 

[bcradio]

When I see "In case I **** at it"; I read "too lazy to practice". No one was born knowing how to tig weld.

I like this comment

 

[1950mercury]

1St question is what do you plan on welding. Steel,aluminum, stainless? Some welders will not weld everything

 

[gayler]

Looking to get into a tig , but dont really want to spend thousands in case I **** at it . I have seen decent reviews on the HF model , but want to keep my options open . Please give me some info on your experiences .

Here is another review of the HF welder. For basic get your feet wet, I wouldn't be scared of it.

 

[54stude]

1St question is what do you plan on welding. Steel,aluminum, stainless? Some welders will not weld everything

If you are just welding steel and stainless, consider an old transformer machine used.

 

[Advan]

I think the best beginner machine is a used Lincoln Squarewave 175. AC, DC, HF, foot pedal, and its also a great stick machine. You can usually find them for $1000, the same as a new Chinese POS. If you're sure you'll never get into aluminum, find a used Miller Maxstar 150STL, or 150STH. Less than $1000 spent, and you get a gas solenoid, foot pedal capability, and again, a good stick machine!

 

[Tim37]

I have been very happy with my Chinese ebay pos everlast.

My only regret is I got a DC only machine I should have spent a little more and got a ac/DC machine

 

[engineer2]

Made in USA brand names have good resale value. I sold my 2 year old Miller MIG welder for only a couple hundred less than I paid for it. The girl who bought it could lay down a pretty good bead.

 

[Murphy4570]

Miller EconoTIG. Older out of production model. I bought one New-In-Box for $1,200. Lighter duty model, won't weld really thick metal. Good to get your feet wet. You can find them for less than I paid usually.

 

[STANIMAL]

I didnt realize I was lazy , but..........



I would like a machine that will weld all types of metals . I have plenty of use for one that does aluminium , but would like to do stainless as an option . maybe even titanium .

 

[Jack Olsen]

If you're going to get a Chinese welder, get the Eastwood. It's their own design and they (clean swap) warranty it for 3 years.

 

[ishiboo]

If you're going to get a Chinese welder, get the Eastwood. It's their own design and they (clean swap) warranty it for 3 years.

I'd vote for the Eastwood too, because of the support. It gets good reviews as well. I will probably end up buying the 200A AC/DC.

I doubt though it's their "own design", and given the failure rates of the Chinese machines I would much rather they shipped me the broken part, than have to pay big bucks to send a machine back. Do you have to pay for return shipping as well?

 

[Tinner]

Take a TIG class at a community college.
Some times welding suppliers have demo days.
Buy a gas torch setup and practice on that, motion is very similar.
After you try some different machines ask the question again.

This is excellent advice.

 

[STANIMAL]

I am not specifically looking into a chinese machine , but jut dont want to have $3k into one . I have a Hobart mig and it works well for a $500 welder . I am thinking of spending about $1000 on one and will look into the Eastwood unit as an option .

 

[STANIMAL]

I like this combo :

http://www.eastwood.com/ew-tig200-versa-cut-kit.html

 

[383 240z]

Take a TIG class at a community college.
Some times welding suppliers have demo days.
Buy a gas torch setup and practice on that, motion is very similar.
After you try some different machines ask the question again.

Not as easy as you may think. I have been trying for the last 4 years to "take a TIG class at my local community college" I've been checking the class list of 3 different schools every semester. Community College of Beaver Co. the school closest to me, does offer 1 welding course, it is 4 months and costs $3000. The $200 learn to lay a bead in a week classes haven't been offered around here in a long time.

 

[danscobra6]

I've had nothing but good luck with Chinese welders and plasma cutters. The one on the right is offered with many different names and colors but are pretty much the same. They work very well if you pull the cover and rearrange the wiring so they don't blow up when you plug them in. The Everlast PP 205 is flawless and the Simadre is the same, all 200 amps. Also have an AHP200dx ac dc and a Lotos Mig 175 with a spool gun. No complaints on any of them. This is a new hobby that's why I have so many, that and I just like to test their abilities.

 

[theoldwizard1]

1St question is what do you plan on welding. Steel,aluminum, stainless? Some welders will not weld everything

The CHEAPEST way to go, is to buy the small HF DC arc welder and convert it to TIG. Several video on YouTube. Here is one.

This rig has very limited capabilities, but it will get you started TIG welding cheap ! Ther are lots of video on YouTube about TIG welding. Look for ones on "scratch start TIG".

IMHO, the 2015 AlphaTIG2000 is the best bang for the buck. Around $800. Make sure it is the 2015 model as it has a few additional features.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I like this combo :

http://www.eastwood.com/ew-tig200-versa-cut-kit.html

Before you drop you coin, watch this video.

Welder Comparison - AHP AlphaTIG vs Eastwood TIG200 vs Longevity TigWeld 200SX


Executive summary: All performed well, but the AlphaTIG was best. Many more features that are typically only found on much more expensive machine.

 

[Greatbear]

I have a Hobart EasyTIG 165. Almost too easy to set up and use. US made, not outrageously priced.

 

[DenisG]

If you get a TIG torch and can make the connections for the cover gas and cooling water, you can TIG weld with a regular old arc welder using "scratch start". It's nicer having high frequency to start the arc and all the controls for pulse and balance, but there are other ways to learn and get a taste of it.

 

[trackwelder]

I've had nothing but good luck with Chinese welders and plasma cutters. The one on the right is offered with many different names and colors but are pretty much the same. They work very well if you pull the cover and rearrange the wiring so they don't blow up when you plug them in. The Everlast PP 205 is flawless and the Simadre is the same, all 200 amps. Also have an AHP200dx ac dc and a Lotos Mig 175 with a spool gun. No complaints on any of them. This is a new hobby that's why I have so many, that and I just like to test their abilities.

What's wrong with the wiring and how do you rearrange it

 

[Tim37]

I wouldn't recommend a convention gat something with high frequency start and a pedal . its hard enough to keep your tungsten clean and get your amprage right when your learing no need in making things worse.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Take a look at the Lincoln Precision Tig 225 on the used market.

 

[Kracin]

Not as easy as you may think. I have been trying for the last 4 years to "take a TIG class at my local community college" I've been checking the class list of 3 different schools every semester. Community College of Beaver Co. the school closest to me, does offer 1 welding course, it is 4 months and costs $3000. The $200 learn to lay a bead in a week classes haven't been offered around here in a long time.

that may just be your own area that is crazy expensive like that. an entire 2 year degree with 90ish credits costs 3k here.

you can sign up and take welding classes at the local community college for 200 for a 3 month class.

although i pondered over the idea, which basically would have been all the money necessary to pay for consumables, gas, material to practice on etc covered by the school! the downside would be that you wouldn't be able to mess around as much.

you could definitely learn the practical side to welding, but i'll be honest, the best welders i've ever met haven't stepped foot into a classroom, and learned everything from experience and someone who had been doing it already.

 

[dogdog]

I've had nothing but good luck with Chinese welders and plasma cutters. The one on the right is offered with many different names and colors but are pretty much the same. They work very well if you pull the cover and rearrange the wiring so they don't blow up when you plug them in. The Everlast PP 205 is flawless and the Simadre is the same, all 200 amps. Also have an AHP200dx ac dc and a Lotos Mig 175 with a spool gun. No complaints on any of them. This is a new hobby that's why I have so many, that and I just like to test their abilities.

Not sure, the one on the right without the build in compressor was one of the first tig welder I had, worked fine for two years DC tig only 3-in-1. then didn't use it for 2 years cause I got the dynasty 200DX. and bam, Nothing worked when you try to use it and guess where the vendor that originally sold me that machine is...."enjoying honeys with my money some where smiling"

Just make sure you buy from a reputable company, Miller, HTP , Lincoln and few other welding machine manufacturing companies (Chinese or US) at least you know support will be there when as oppose to a tool company that relabel / re-brand machines, especially not fly by nights from Ebay.

 

[Thumper68]

Not as easy as you may think. I have been trying for the last 4 years to "take a TIG class at my local community college" I've been checking the class list of 3 different schools every semester. Community College of Beaver Co. the school closest to me, does offer 1 welding course, it is 4 months and costs $3000. The $200 learn to lay a bead in a week classes haven't been offered around here in a long time.

I was having the same issue finding a machine shop class, then I called the school and talked to a person and she was able to tell me about the night class next fall, they also have welding and a few other night classes designed to fit into a busy schedule for not a lot of coin.

None of these classes were listed on their web site.

 

[Kracin]

I wouldn't recommend a convention gat something with high frequency start and a pedal . its hard enough to keep your tungsten clean and get your amprage right when your learing no need in making things worse.

ive used touch start tig quite a bit. after a week of using it you'll keep a sharp tip just fine and won't be contaminating. you aren't sticking the tungsten to anything when you touch or scratch start, its just starting the current.

 

[STANIMAL]

I have a Hobart EasyTIG 165. Almost too easy to set up and use. US made, not outrageously priced.

I found this and the welder has great reviews .

http://www.hobartweldshop.com/factory-refurbished-hobart-ez-tig-165i-tig-welder/

 

[Tinner]

I found this and the welder has great reviews .

http://www.hobartweldshop.com/factory-refurbished-hobart-ez-tig-165i-tig-welder/

If you can live with the 165 max amperage and low duty cycle, that would be a good starter rig. Aluminum welding will be pretty much limited to 1/8" maybe some short welds on 3/16".

 

[mossyboy6]

I recommend Everlast, great warranty, good prices.

I love my tig.

 

[zkling]

I found this and the welder has great reviews .

http://www.hobartweldshop.com/factory-refurbished-hobart-ez-tig-165i-tig-welder/

Hobart clothed Miller's Diversion 165. Everything you find on the Diversion will apply to this. Major downside is you lose stick welding capability which is handy if you don't have a good sized mig machine.

Check the used route for a 200amp or greater transformer machine. Then again you never mentioned what exactly you want to do with the machine in the first place.

 

[warweapon762]

The CHEAPEST way to go, is to buy the small HF DC arc welder and convert it to TIG. Several video on YouTube. Here is one.

This rig has very limited capabilities, but it will get you started TIG welding cheap ! Ther are lots of video on YouTube about TIG welding. Look for ones on "scratch start TIG".

IMHO, the 2015 AlphaTIG2000 is the best bang for the buck. Around $800. Make sure it is the 2015 model as it has a few additional features.

I have the DC stick welder and its great to learn entry level TIG on. You can snag TIG leads for it on ebay for like $90 or less. It will be scratch lift TIG, but you should probably start there. Scratch start isn't much more difficult than regular stick welding. I've had great success doing body work with this machine and welding exhaust too.

 

[danscobra6]

What's wrong with the wiring and how do you rearrange it

All of the 3 in 1 tig/stick/plasma's such as the Accurate Tools one have a wire tie that runs under the power board holding the solenoid wires. The tie believe it or not has a metal wire core that WILL short out the circuit board causing smoke and as a result no power. You will read about these complaints in many reviews but it's a simple fix if you pull the cover and reroute these and any other wires touching the hot boards. I just ordered a Cut-50 pilot arc plasma and when I pulled the cover it has the same gold tie smashed under the power board. I have a rather large collection of these ties suitable for a loaf of bread. I would guess the majority of failures are caused by this.