I'm looking into getting a TIG machine and noticed that the lincoln PT185 offers a built in pulser? How is it? Any input is appreciated.

Would I be better off getting a miller syncrowave 180 and getting a separate pulser for it? (Is this possible?)

Again, any input is appreciated. Especially Engloid, the noob.

 

if you'd search engloid already made a whole thread about this and its a few pages long

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by b16hybridsol &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if you'd search engloid already made a whole thread about this and its a few pages long </TD></TR></TABLE>

ahh **** on me!! I found it.

So based on that, the miller syncrowave would be a better deal since the pulser is a POS. anymore input?

 

i honestly would rather have my pt185, the pulser isn't anywhere near perfect, but it still works

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by b16hybridsol &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i honestly would rather have my pt185, the pulser isn't anywhere near perfect, but it still works </TD></TR></TABLE>

So, what's the difference from 'pumping the peddle' and having a pulser? I read Engloids brief description on his long thread and it seems that they are one in the same?

but at the same time, Engloid says pumping is not the right way to weld. there's something i'm missing.

any thoughts on the thermal arc 185? it seems to have a good programmable pusler.

let me add, what about the life of these machines? how reliable are they?

lincoln pt185
miller 180
thermal arc 185

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DefiantGSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

So, what's the difference from 'pumping the peddle' and having a pulser? I read Engloids brief description on his long thread and it seems that they are one in the same?

but at the same time, Engloid says pumping is not the right way to weld. there's something i'm missing.

any thoughts on the thermal arc 185? it seems to have a good programmable pusler.

let me add, what about the life of these machines? how reliable are they?

lincoln pt185
miller 180
thermal arc 185</TD></TR></TABLE>

you are never gonna get the frequency and consistency you need by pumping the pedal, and also you aren't getting the backround/foreground settings you want as you are not actually adjusting the squarewave itself. You shouldn't pump the pedal at all. Either buy a true pulser or use steady.

 

inverter machines have the best arc and adjustability of the arc. but they do have a major down fall, when they break a 30 cent part on the board, you have to replace the whole board. on a dyansty 300 the boards are 1400.00$, just to fix a 30 cent part. this is why i shyaway from inverters for now. as far as your inquiry to the pt 185 i have one and i love it, its also cheaper than the miller even with its kinda cheap pulse feature. but make your own decisions. they are both great machines.

 

where did you find it for cheaper than the miller syncrowave 180? On ebay, the typical price of the pt185 is 200 dollars more!

 

http://www.weldingsupply.com
lincoln pt 185 ready to weld pak is cheaper than the miller 180 sd read to weld

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fulldragcrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">http://www.weldingsupply.com
lincoln pt 185 ready to weld pak is cheaper than the miller 180 sd read to weld</TD></TR></TABLE>

cool. that's pretty cheap. the ebay miller syncrowave 180 w/ cart is about the same price on ebay w/ free shipping. So, its pretty much the same price.

But any input on the thermal arc?

which machine is more reliable? the miller or lincoln?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DefiantGSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So, what's the difference from 'pumping the peddle' and having a pulser? I read Engloids brief description on his long thread and it seems that they are one in the same?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Imagine if somebody told you to hold the pedal at half way, then pump from half to 1/4, hold at the 1/2 position for 40% of the time, and do this cycle 10 times per second. I don't think you can do this manually....however, with the full functioned pulser, you can do it...not only that, but it will adjust as you let up slowly at the end of the weld, so the pulse stays proportional to the amperage.

The PT185 pulser will not give you this control. You can only tell it how many times per second to pulse. Better than nothing? Sure, but don't be dependent on it to make a nice weld. Pulse is not designed for, nor is it a good idea to lay down a weld and then wash over it without filler wire, just to smooth it out.

As you likely have found, the Miller PC-300 pulser is not cheap. I lucked into one new at $175. I found them at one place in Texas for $300...but list retail price on them is $600. They seem to resale very well though. Personally, I prefer the Miller machines over Lincoln. If money is not a limiting factor, I'd reccomend the Miller with a PC-300. The Lincoln pulser is better than nothing, but since it's not really a full featured pulser, I don't think it's good enough to really base your decision on.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DefiantGSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">let me add, what about the life of these machines? how reliable are they?</TD></TR></TABLE>
I know there's a lot of people that will chime in about how they have or have used some really old Lincoln machines. I have too. In fact, a local pawn shop has one just like what I used in welding school. It was a great welding machine. However, I don't really think that they are putting the same quality in their new machines. I have had nothing but bad experiences with Lincoln's customer service, and nothing but good from Miller.