Mig/tig

[bryna]

Ok, I'm going to be asking for a flood of information but I need everyones help.

I'm looking for a new welder... I have a stick welder and a small MIG.... Lincoln 140 I beleive.

Anyway, I'd like to step up to something that can MIG and TIG, I know nothing about welding aluminum but I'd like to learn.

I'm a hobbist, not a professional welder... what are your suggestions and experiences???

Thanks

 

[kc-steve]

I'm just a hobby welder too, but I'm not sure there is such an animal. If there is one then I'm sure it costs out the ying-yang for it. Maybe it would be cheaper just to buy a small TIG and add it to your current inventory.

They might have a small suitcase TIG I think, but cannot remember who makes them.

Steve

 

[kc-steve]

^^ I just found a link to the suitcase welder I was thinking about . . . made in St. Louis.

http://www.thermalarc95s.com/

Steve

 

[JC23]

Lincoln makes TIG inverters that run on 110 as well as some high powered inverters.

 

[38D]

I have a Miller Dynasty 200 as my only machine. It can TIG and stick up to 200 amps which more than you likely need. A good, less expensive TIG machine would be the Miller Diversion 165 or 180.

 

[DHS]

If your stick is ac/dc you can scratch start TIG on it. My brother just brought a setup by for me and I love it. Much easier than you would think.

 

[vkuhns072]

Or the very small and portable SS/steel only DC tig by miller called the Maxstar 200. I have one I use in the field for SS repair and fabrication. Great little machine! Sorry I see you want to play with Aluminum. Maxstar is DC only.................Im out.

 

[Ign]

You could watch CL for a multi-process machine or stand-alone power supply. Once you've got the power supply you can add a high-freq unit or wire feed unit, and hopefully it'll be sold w one or both. You can pick 'em up at a reasonable price depending upon age but they're generally not compact. Not usually hard to find in single phase but some will want a 40 or 50A breaker.

 

[35mastr]

I personally would get a TIG. Miller Syncrowave 200 is on my list.

I buy alot of my stuff from www.cyberweld.com. Free shipping to boot.

 

[fflintstone]

Don’t shoot me for saying this but the Chinese make decent relatively cheap multi process (all in one) machines. One of the better ones is Everlast.
You would find more information if you joined this forum

http://weldingweb.com/

 

[DeadSock]

discussing Everlast machines at weldingweb has become verboten.

check out the machines at http://www.everlastgenerators.com and/or ask question on theit forum at http://www.everlastgenerators.com/forums

 

[kc-steve]

I don't have anything against Chinese welders, but I always try to buy tools that have a good resale value. That requirement tends to shoot-down almost any Chinese tools. We can't just demand more money for used equipment, . . . we are limited by what people will pay for it.

For example, after using a Miller/Hobart for a year or so I sell it for 80-percent of retail then a Thunderbolt cost me roughly $100, on the other hand a $400 Chinese might sell for $100 used actually cost more to use.

Steve

 

[IndyGarage]

I have a Diversion 165 Tig. I think it's the perfect machine for a hobbyist.

I'd never Tigged before, but I can now do a pretty good job on Aluminum and steel.

I've welded with it for hours on end and never run into a problem with its duty cycle or power. Hobart makes a version of the exact same welder, and as far as I can tell the only difference is Hobart comes with a foot control, while the miller has finger controls on the torch. I've also welded back to back between it and the Dynasty 200 and the arc is pretty much the same - the starting may be a little more powerful on the dynasty, but they weld pretty similar. The real difference are all the arc adjustments available on dynasty, but not on Diversion.

Sometime this year they brought out the Dynasty 180 - which has 110 volt capability a little more power and a digital readout - but costs 400 dollars more. Personally, I'd stick with the 165 or move up to something like a Thermal Arc 185 vs the 180.