Just thought I would share my initial impressions with the Pro Wave 185. Many were telling me to spend my money on the Syncrowave, so here is why I am glad I didn't:



First impression. This is a full-featured TIG that only weighs 42 pounds. Hell, the thing is both smaller and lighter than my MIG machine (Clarke MIG130EN). I need to learn how to operate it correctly, but the display and workings of the control system are all electronic.



Although I was not sure what all the TIG would come with, here it all is. Complete with torch (CK17), consumables kit (with 3 sizes of 2% thoriated tungstens, collets, and #5-7 alumina cup), clamp and Arc welding clamp, gas line, regulator (Victor Medalist), and pedal.



There is only one problem. I have this receptacle....



And the TIG has this plug. I guess I will be making a trip to Home Depot to get the correct socket to fit the welder. The plug is sealed on the welder so there is no way to replace it. On the plus side I don't need to wire up the welder. On the negative side a new socket will cost another $30. Oh, well. I also need to pick up a larger gas tank because my 20's are not going to cut it with the TIG.



While I'm at it, here is the first project that I will be finishing with the Pro Wave once I get it all set up and get some practice in on scrap. This Kia Mi-Tech Ramhorn is just mocked up and tack welded for now.



Another shot. Building it was easy once it was designed in SolidWorks.

 

How much did that run you? And how well does it work?

 

$1670 shipped. I will tell you how well it works when I get the correct socket. But many people swear by these machines. Then again some people prefer the Syncrowave. I got this unit because it was full-featured and super lightweight. I move a lot.

 

nice

 

I think that's about what I got my lincoln PT185 for. I'm really happy with it, but I wish it was more moveable... What are the specs on the TA185? AC? Duty cycle? It looks like a good machine for people getting into TIG. Thanks for the Write up.

 

Here is the manual:

http://www.thermadyne.com/uplF...3.pdf

True square wave AC/DC, full control over the cycle, and all the other cool features like pre and post flow, lift and HF start, pulser, etc. It is very comparable to the Syncrowave. It has 15 less max amps than the Synco 200, but for the tradeoff it is a little cheaper and a LOT lighter. The Syncro is 238 pounds!

 

so modeling it in solid works tells you what size pieces you need to cut to construct the final project?

 

Yes. I even made a paper pattern to cut to collector pieces using SolidWorks.

 

cool beans. here is my 60 ft dryer~welder extension cable, 10/3 soow cable.











Modified by Lam.N at 3:09 AM 2/25/2006

 

how will your compressor housing clear your runners? Looks like it would hit.

congrats, but the Miller >> Thermal Arc.

 

Nice welder. They're great, you'll be very happy. Good thing you didn't get the Syncrowave 200. It uses twice the electricity as your prowave, has a lower cycle duty, and it's not portable. Transformers are obsolete technology. Nobody will even make them 5-6 years.

Comparing this welder to a Syncrowave 200 is like comparing apples to oranges. The Syncrowave is a transformer, Pro Wave is an inverter. The comparable Miller model to the Pro Wave would be a Dynasty 200. $1670 shipped > $3000+.

Good luck with your welder!


Modified by Motorhead_AZ at 5:54 AM 2/24/2006

 

is that right? i thought it was the other way around?

 

^^^ LOL. You just changed your post.

 

yeah I was like..wtf thats all backwards. wrote the post and then was like...woah buddy I fucked up. I couldn't find any info on it saying one way or the other...so im pretty sure Im wrong lol.

 

yeh the sw200 duty cycle is a little weak "150 A at 26 V, 40% Duty Cycle".

4 minutes at 150amps
???????????? 200amps

the thermal arc does duty cycle is "160 A at 16 V, 40% Duty Cycle"

4 minutes at 160 amps
3 minutes at 185 amps

the thermal arc puts out higher amps in 4 minutes then the sw200 and it pulls less power from your outlet.

i wonder what the duty cycle for the sw200 at 200amps is... 2 minutes?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lam.N &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i wonder what the duty cycle for the sw200 at 200amps is... 2 minutes?</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's between 10 to 20%. Go to this link: http://www.millerwelds.com/pdf...4.pdf . There's a duty cycle graph on the bottom of the second page.

 

ahhh i see it now...

wow, sounds like they Barely sqeezed 200amps out of that machine. gotta take alot of cigg and beer breaks in between cool down times.

inverter&gt;transformer

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lam.N &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">inverter&gt;transformer</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

Dynasty 200 DX isn't even in the same class as the TA185. The advanced squarewave of the Dynasty and it's arc shaping capabilities are far superior to the TA185. However, it is twice the price, for good reason. Not knocking the TA185, as it is a good machine for the money.

 

I've had mine for about 6 months now, not sure how I lived without it now.
Not sure if you are new to tig welding or not, but when I got mine it was the first time I had used one. And even after reading all the hype about a gas lens I didn't get one till a couple weeks ago. All I can say is go ahead and get one now, especially if you are going to be doing stainless. Makes a huge, huge difference.

Later
Randy

 

Where did you get it from?

I was quite impressed when I got mine the other day. I was like a kid on Christmas.


P.S.
Thermal Arc 185 TSW = Honda-tech welding and fabrication forums new band wagon...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by beepy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yes. I even made a paper pattern to cut to collector pieces using SolidWorks.</TD></TR></TABLE>
damn thats crazy, i always though manifold builders eyeballed to figure out what pieces to cut
how hard is solid works to pick up.. im kinda familiar with 3d since ive been working with 3dmax for a while

 

I learned Pro-E and I was able to use Solid Works better then Pro-E within about a day.

Solidworks seems to be much more user friendly for common shapes. I haven't messed with any kind of surfaces or parts that required mathamatical relationships to define features though.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 99_GS-T &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I learned Pro-E and I was able to use Solid Works better then Pro-E within about a day.

Solidworks seems to be much more user friendly for common shapes. I haven't messed with any kind of surfaces or parts that required mathamatical relationships to define features though.</TD></TR></TABLE>
cool . im going to "buy" a copy (solidworks 2006) right now

 

For all you Canadians out there thinking of the 185TSW...I called my local dealer today to see if they had the 185TSW in stock... and apparantly they aren't CSA approved yet, so they can't get them. I called TA but the 'guy who could answer that question' had already gone home for the day ??? ...and therefore, weekend. Damn. Hopefully they'll be approved soon.

Matt