Bought my first Tig

[bauschracing]

I bought a Diversion 165 last year before retirement. I found out that the pedal that came with the 180 had bad reviews and the pedal was the only factor for me. I found out that a company names AAC (i think) has replacement pedals for about $150 for the Diversions as well as other brands. Google replacement pedals for Diversion, and keep this in mind if your pedal goes away. I do not think that the pedal is under warranty and is made in China.
Mike

 

[casetractorfarmer]

The best thing about my diversion 180 is the pediel cable is just standard cat 5

 

[Gamble]

Pedal is scc I think.

 

[kevin47]

Man, I always buy my machines used...The last was a Miller Dial-Arc w/ HF...$1000 bucks...For every thing including a killer Airco cooler...Miller Cart...Turns out the guy bought it thinking he could teach himself to weld aluminum and it just wasn't happening...So, it had about 20 hrs on it...

 

[R.Anderson]

Everyone I've heard that gets an everlast they show up not working.
HTP is basically the top welder, up there with the miller dynasty 200dx. Htp is made in italy.

I LOVE my longevity stuff. It welds just as good as my miller did. In fact so well I sold the miller since the longevity has more features and saved me $1k!

I have an everlast PP205 works just fine out of the box and I know there are others on here that have everlast welders that work fine.

This is the one I have:
(http://www.everlastgenerators.com/PowerPro-205-379-pd.html)
Made offer and paid only 1400 free shipping. Welds just as well as the miller dynasty 350 and Syncrowave 250 DX I have used, just wont be able to weld past 200 amps.

The torches, foot pedal, and stick electrode holder are cheap like the tig torch thats pictured with the Miller Diversion 180. Scraped the cheap TIG torch and bought a couple of weldcraft air cooled flex heads with 25' cable on each, one is setup with a custom built amp adjust and switch. Bought the low profile foot pedal from everlast. SSC Controls Company makes this, they make the best pedals I have ever used. The plasma torch is OK but the cable *****, planning on replacing it soon.


If your planning on welding just steel this would be a good way to go.

Miller Multimatic™ 200 does MIG, Fluxcore, TIG, and Stick this machine replaced the Miller passport plus and its $1900 on ebay. Wish I knew this three years ago when I bought the passport plus, I would of waited lol.

 

[R.Anderson]

I bought a Diversion 165 last year before retirement. I found out that the pedal that came with the 180 had bad reviews and the pedal was the only factor for me. I found out that a company names AAC (i think) has replacement pedals for about $150 for the Diversions as well as other brands. Google replacement pedals for Diversion, and keep this in mind if your pedal goes away. I do not think that the pedal is under warranty and is made in China.
Mike

SSC Controls Company make pedals.

 

[Gamble]

I have an everlast PP205 works just fine out of the box and I know there are others on here that have everlast welders that work fine.

This is the one I have:
(http://www.everlastgenerators.com/PowerPro-205-379-pd.html)
Made offer and paid only 1400 free shipping. Welds just as well as the miller dynasty 350 and Syncrowave 250 DX I have used, just wont be able to weld past 200 amps.

The torches, foot pedal, and stick electrode holder are cheap like the tig torch thats pictured with the Miller Diversion 180. Scraped the cheap TIG torch and bought a couple of weldcraft air cooled flex heads with 25' cable on each, one is setup with a custom built amp adjust and switch. Bought the low profile foot pedal from everlast. SSC Controls Company makes this, they make the best pedals I have ever used. The plasma torch is OK but the cable *****, planning on replacing it soon.


If your planning on welding just steel this would be a good way to go.

Miller Multimatic™ 200 does MIG, Fluxcore, TIG, and Stick this machine replaced the Miller passport plus and its $1900 on ebay. Wish I knew this three years ago when I bought the passport plus, I would of waited lol.

If you got one and it works and works well that is all that matters. And $1400 is a good price.
The only machine I've seen/used that comes with a good cable and torch is the htp 221. I never realized how much I hated the one on my diversion until I got rid of it.
Oh and the lincoln 185 at my college has a great torch too (WP20) but not sure if it came with it or not. And can't speak for a higher end miller as I've never used one.

 

[afirover]

I bought my 165 fro the local shop it was used in the back for classes for a year and i got it for 1200 plus full warranty and a bunch of consumables for free i only wish they were open on Saturdays now im out of gas and im gone during the week arg ...

 

[outsider347]

I m is the same situation. Cash in hand, & ready to make the purchase

Anyone look at the Miller Syncrowave 200?
Im kinda leaning toward it

I know its a heavy transformer rig once in my shop it will be not moving
and the track record of the Syncro is impressive

What do you think?

 

[AndyA]

You probably won't go wrong with the sync 200. The only thing I might see as a problem is duty cycle. I have the dyn200. I think it has about the same duty cycle/amp spec as the sync200. There are times I wish I had a larger machine. I couldn't afford the dyn350. I really considered the sync250. If you have the electrical service to power it and the coin to afford it, that would be a really good shop machine. You'll probably want a water cooled torch when you get to the power levels of the sync250,but that'll raise the price. You can always start with an air cooled torch, and buy the cooler and new torch later if needed.

I didn't like the diversion series because of the low duty cycle, and the lack of stick.

 

[dragginbalz]

..... If you have the electrical service to power it and.....

You hit the nail on the head on this one! This is the first thing you need to consider when looking at a transformer machine.

54 amp input @ rated output so a 60 amp breaker min. 80 amps if you want to be able to use the machine to the max (230V). That is a lot of juice for a home shop! Syncrowave 250 are around 100 amps!

If you have the power, Sycrowaves will offer outstanding reliability at the cost of having a basic AC output (Squarewave AC wave shape only). Dynastys will give you much more options (Adjustable AC waves, AC balance, large pulser range, less electricity consumption, portability) all with at a cost of course.

 

[outsider347]

Oh-Oh

Good thing I asked you guys

I might be a bit short on juice
I have a 60A breaker/ # 8 wire out to the garage, with a main breaker in the garage sub panel at 50A

You think its too light for a Syncro 200?

If so which rig would be a good tig?

MY plan is for home hobby shop use welding up to .250 max thick

Aluminum & some stainless as well as steel

Glad I asked
Thanks Gents

 

[Gamble]

http://www.usaweld.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=70221-12.5

 

[outsider347]

Gamble

You like the HTP Invertig 221?
do you own it?
or on your shopping list

thanks

 

[Gamble]

Yes sir it's in my garage

Simply stated, I LOVE this thing.
One of the ways I like to judge some welders is by the accessories. Cheap welders come with cheap accessories.
Has a scc pedal (much like lincoln, miller, thermal arc)
Biggest ground clamp I've ever come across
Superflex cable and the smallest ck17 torch I've ever used. It's the only welder I've ever used that I didn't want to toss the torch out the window and buy a new one.

It's small and lightweight, quiet fan. The front panel looks intimidating at first glance, but once you read the manual it's very easy to figure out. This thing has 64 different memory settings. So say I build a lot of whatever I can fine tune my settings and just save them so I don't have to go through all the menus next time I want to weld it. I did crank this thing up to 219 amps (why i didn't go 220, I don't know ) but it was fun welding a thick piece of aluminum.
It's really nicely built and welds fantastic. Still need to do more welding with it as there are so many adjustments to play with.
I haven't tried stick mode with it yet, and probably won't for awhile as I **** at stick and have no use for it really.

 

[ckpitt55]

Yes sir it's in my garage

Simply stated, I LOVE this thing.
One of the ways I like to judge some welders is by the accessories. Cheap welders come with cheap accessories.
Has a scc pedal (much like lincoln, miller, thermal arc)
Biggest ground clamp I've ever come across
Superflex cable and the smallest ck17 torch I've ever used. It's the only welder I've ever used that I didn't want to toss the torch out the window and buy a new one.

It's small and lightweight, quiet fan. The front panel looks intimidating at first glance, but once you read the manual it's very easy to figure out. This thing has 64 different memory settings. So say I build a lot of whatever I can fine tune my settings and just save them so I don't have to go through all the menus next time I want to weld it. I did crank this thing up to 219 amps (why i didn't go 220, I don't know ) but it was fun welding a thick piece of aluminum.
It's really nicely built and welds fantastic. Still need to do more welding with it as there are so many adjustments to play with.
I haven't tried stick mode with it yet, and probably won't for awhile as I **** at stick and have no use for it really.

at $3k before any accessories, bottle, consumables, cart, etc. (assuming you want dual voltage capability) you're in dynasty territory. out of curiosity, any reason you chose this machine over the miller if they're relatively comparable in price when it's all said and done?

 

[Gamble]

HTP is local to me; so I can just walk right in if I needed to have service done.
I don't 'need' dual voltage so that saves me a lot of cash. Plus this thing was on a black friday sale just before the holiday for $300 off (ish), it was posted on their facebook.
I also took the 4 hour tig class there and got to use the machine. I never touched a dynasty and have no need for a more expensive machine that does the same. I'm just a hobbyist anyway. I'm not saying the dynasty is a bad machine I'm just stating I have no personal experience with it.
Also I'm not too sure, but doesn't the dynasty for 3k include no accessories?
Also the superflex cable is a plus for sure that comes with the htp. The water cooler they sell is a direct connect if I chose to get one.

Also I'm sure you have heard it before but the customer service at HTP is second to none.

Now don't get me wrong; I loved my miller diversion 180 I started with, but it just seems really expensive for the blue color. No options, over priced. It welded great, but I'm a budget shopper. I want the best bang for my buck. I don't care if it's pink as long as it performs good. Also the 221 is made in italy so it's quality for sure.

People can argue all they want about miller being made in the usa. I have no facts, but I have read that they are stamped with "assembled in usa" so who's to say all the parts aren't from overseas anyway.

My friend bought his mig welder from HTP late last year and had a very pleasant experience and had nothing but good things to say. I find my LWS doesn't stock a whole lot of welders and they are all kind of a pain to deal with.

So multiple reasons is why I chose it; not really one more than another, but a lot of fab shops out here that do crazy builds and beat the **** out of their machines daily use HTP.

Next on my list is their tungsten grinder. I can't wait to have something like that. Just can't decide between the new battery powered one or the wall charged one. so many decisions

 

[R.Anderson]

SSC not SCC Lincoln, Miller both had there cheap pedals before they started supplying with SSC pedals. Judging a welder by its accessories is
not the best way. Cheap accessories is just a way of cutting down the price of some packages. Research, read product reviews, find people who own one and ask them, look into the company that makes em, are they going to be around when your machine breaks down and you need parts.

Some things to think about before buy a welder

What do you want to weld - steel, aluminum, Both when a machine can weld those two metals it can weld just about any other metals such as stainless steel, chrome-molly, titanium, copper
Power input - single phase or three phase, amperage
Power output - how thick of material do you want to weld (always go above rated thickness than you are planning on welding makes things easier)
What welding processes do you want to do with the machine GTAW(TIG), GMAW(MIG), SMAW(Stick), FCAW(Flux core), Spray, Pulsed Spray, ETC
Heavy or medium use - air cooled or liquid cooled, duty cycle
Cost - purchase price, maintenance/consumables
Maintenance/customer service - take it to a local dealer or have to ship it in
Size and mobility - inverter or transformer
Operation options/settings - frequency adjust, waveform adjust, preset programs, preflow, post flow, 2t 4t, pulse, pulse frequency ETC
Brand - Miller, Lincoln, ESAB, Everlast, HTP, Thermal Arc
Warranty

There is a lot to take in consideration when choosing a welder to buy.
Have fun shopping

 

[R.Anderson]

People can argue all they want about miller being made in the usa. I have no facts, but I have read that they are stamped with "assembled in usa" so who's to say all the parts aren't from overseas anyway.

Ya and no with Miller and most likely with Lincoln and others smaller units like 120v input machines some are made over seas larger units made in the states. but if you break it down just about every little electrical component in all electronic devices are made over seas and Mexico.

 

[R.Anderson]

I can grind tungsten faster and just as good if not better on a belt sander or grinder than a special tungsten grinder that cost $600+. Just takes practice and a good technique.

 

[brianpgriset]

Oh-Oh

Good thing I asked you guys

I might be a bit short on juice
I have a 60A breaker/ # 8 wire out to the garage, with a main breaker in the garage sub panel at 50A

You think its too light for a Syncro 200?

If so which rig would be a good tig?

MY plan is for home hobby shop use welding up to .250 max thick

Aluminum & some stainless as well as steel

Glad I asked
Thanks Gents

I have a Syncro 200 I bought recently and I really like it. That said you should look at the new Thermal Arc 186, inverter machine with all the capabilities at a great price point. It is made in china though, if that affects you decision. I really wanted a blue machine.

 

[ckpitt55]

HTP is local to me; so I can just walk right in if I needed to have service done.
I don't 'need' dual voltage so that saves me a lot of cash. Plus this thing was on a black friday sale just before the holiday for $300 off (ish), it was posted on their facebook.
I also took the 4 hour tig class there and got to use the machine. I never touched a dynasty and have no need for a more expensive machine that does the same. I'm just a hobbyist anyway. I'm not saying the dynasty is a bad machine I'm just stating I have no personal experience with it.
Also I'm not too sure, but doesn't the dynasty for 3k include no accessories?
Also the superflex cable is a plus for sure that comes with the htp. The water cooler they sell is a direct connect if I chose to get one.

Also I'm sure you have heard it before but the customer service at HTP is second to none.

Now don't get me wrong; I loved my miller diversion 180 I started with, but it just seems really expensive for the blue color. No options, over priced. It welded great, but I'm a budget shopper. I want the best bang for my buck. I don't care if it's pink as long as it performs good. Also the 221 is made in italy so it's quality for sure.

People can argue all they want about miller being made in the usa. I have no facts, but I have read that they are stamped with "assembled in usa" so who's to say all the parts aren't from overseas anyway.

My friend bought his mig welder from HTP late last year and had a very pleasant experience and had nothing but good things to say. I find my LWS doesn't stock a whole lot of welders and they are all kind of a pain to deal with.

So multiple reasons is why I chose it; not really one more than another, but a lot of fab shops out here that do crazy builds and beat the **** out of their machines daily use HTP.

Next on my list is their tungsten grinder. I can't wait to have something like that. Just can't decide between the new battery powered one or the wall charged one. so many decisions

Thanks for the thorough reply. I wasn't in any way chastising you, I was legitimately curious for what made you choose HTP. I feel the same way you do about Miller, though. Diversion is a dumb machine for what you're paying - even if you've never tig'd, watching Jody's tig vids at weldingtipsandtricks for a couple hours will give you an understanding of why you may need to have more than zero adjustability on a machine (aside from amperage). And I agree, as a hobbyist like you the dynasty is overkill for guys like us. Now that you mention it, you're right - 3k for the bare machine. You going to post an unboxing / review vid like you did for your other tigs?

 

[Gamble]

I will let you know about a video later.
You know I never appreciated how simple the diversion was until I sold it. Just set the amps and AC or DC and go! 5 seconds to set up.

 

[ckpitt55]

I will let you know about a video later.
You know I never appreciated how simple the diversion was until I sold it. Just set the amps and AC or DC and go! 5 seconds to set up.

I think a comparison to automatic vs. manual transmissions would be appropriate here. I'm a manual transmission kinda guy, I like to know and have control over what's going on.

After looking into the HTP I'd rather save up and plunk down the extra coin on one of those. With the diversion it just seems like you're paying a premium to have a machine that's painted blue. Will I ever need any of the additional features that the HTP offers? I have no idea. But I've been working on things long enough to know that it's better to have the tools for the job when you need them than the alternative. But in the end I know it comes down to personal preference, I'm sure the diversion is a fine machine.