Tig welder

[Farmer888]

Hi everyone

Looking for some suggestions on a tig welder. It will be mostly just hobby/ personal use etc. I am pretty well versed with mig and stick welding but have only done a small amount of tig.
I personally have a 170 amp razor weld inverter stick machine right now. And have free use of my dads( retired from welding) machines powermig 350 and engine drive.

We did have a syncrowave 351 that came with some other equipment but it was just too large and on 230 volt power needed at least a 100 amp breaker. Wasn't practical for us.

Anyway I'd like to go with Lincoln preferably or a miller. Thinking something around the 200-250 amp range will be plenty for me, and has to be ac/dc Cause I want to do aluminum.

Anyone have experience with the square wave 200? Or precision tig 225? I have been searching the classifieds for a good deal on a used machine.

 

[dr_clyde]

I have either owned or ran the two machines you are asking about.

I sold the SW TIG 200 to a friend. It works fine, used it last week. It does have some clipping/arc stability issues on AC at full amps. It is still a very good welder for the money, but it does have some shortcomings that are not to be ignored. It is decidedly a hobbyist grade machine, and as such has a distinct lack of features, accessories, build quality and capability commensurate with the price. But, I would still recommend it if you need 200A AC/DC inverter and want to stick with a brand your LWS will service.

The Precision Tig is a much nicer machine, fully featured and professional grade welding machine. It is a transformer based machine, so it will be heavier and require a larger electrical circuit. But of the two you've listed, I would take the Precision Tig every day.

I honestly prefer Miller for TIG machines, and if you can afford it the Syncrowave line is still the best bang for the buck in industrial TIG machines. The Dynasty is the cat's pajamas, but they are expensive.

I avoid any welding machine I can't call up my welding supply and get service and parts for.

 

[Ohmthis]

I own the precision tig 225. I’ve had it for 10 years or so. I, like you was looking at Lincoln or Miller exclusively. There are some really good inverter machines now, albeit import ones. That being said, I really enjoy using my welder and plan to keep using it for as long as it will let me. I have welded steel, SS, aluminum, and cast iron with mine. There are newer tungsten that I want to try that I believe will help the AC side of the machine. I plan to add a water cooled torch (look around because the PT225 has a specific plug) soon.

 

[zmotorsports]

I've welded with the Lincoln Precision Tig and although it is a nice machine I'll take my Miller Dynasty any day of the week and twice on Sunday over the Precision Tig as a hobby or a professional machine.

 

[Ohmthis]

Yes, the dynasty is an awesome machine. When I was looking a PT225 was $2000 with a tank and the dynasty was over $4000! Too much for me and I had a synchrowave 250 at work to play with. About the only limiting thing on the PT225 is the duty cycle in high amp settings.

 

[Brand X]

I prefer Lorch machines myself..(over any machine out) but a old school PT-225 is a solid machine for sure.

The Miller 200 SW had a real old school soft arc..It just can't compete with the 230 amp AC output of the Lincoln PT-225. Since the PT-230 has been made about the longest of the mid power machines, it will have the best support. Still made too..

 

[theoldwizard1]

AlphaTIG

 

[Brand X]

AlphaTIG

I think in his post he said something like this..

Anyway I'd like to go with Lincoln preferably or a miller.

 

[dmaxfireman]

I sold my Miller EconoTig a few years back and got an Everlast 200DV. Going from the older transformer machine to a new inverter was amazing. I know they are not on your list but IMO you should check them out.

 

[Farmer888]

Thanks so far for the suggestions everyone! I'm still pretty well stuck on lincoln or miller, I can get parts and support through the welding supply etc. I am in Canada but if they were more readily available here I actually really like the looks of the HTP invertig 221.
I've looked at everlast on their website but I still have a hard time spending that on a newer brand with some not so good reviews.

I have heard that miller does probably make better tig machines that lincoln. I'd love to have like a dynasty but out of the budget.
I have been looking for used but seems like everyone has them priced pretty high in my mind i'd almost rather just go buy new.

Is the precision tig 225 high freq start?

 

[Ohmthis]

Yes, the PT 225 has high frequency start/stabilize built in. It also has a pulser and the ability to change the AC balance adjustments (to go neutral, deep penetrating, or cleaning).