I browse this board daily in search of quality fab work. I figured I would start a thread where everyone can post their work. I am gettting a tig soon and have about $1,500 saved so far.

Any ideas on what I should get?

Look forward to seeing some awesome fab work in this thread.

thanks,
Joshua

 

im pretty sure thats what this entire forum is for.

 

iF you just want to look at some pics you can try hfrfab.com we have a decent amount of pics on there

 

Don't give in to the Miller hype unless you truly want a Miller for good reason.

 

^x2 My lincoln is a perfectly good machine.

They're both good, its like the pepsi/coke debate. Same difference.

 

Miller customer service and longevity > Lincoln customers service and longevity


For the normal hobbiest user yes they are going to appear more equal.

Some of us just beat the ever living **** out of our blue boxes day in and day out and we love them

 

I agree that in some cases people have had a harder time getting lincoln service. I'll concede that. I'm fortunate enough to have a place across town I can take my machine to if I ever need anything. If you live in the boonies you'll have trouble getting service for anything. But my machine has never had a problem from day one. I have a couple hundred hours on it without incident. I have a harder time finding parts for my lexus than my oldsmobile, doesn't mean its a bad car. (don't read anything into that analogy)

http://www.corsaperformance.com/autohome.htm

My lincoln never let me down when I was there. It was usually the freaking tubing bender slowing down everyone's day
I woludn't say that the longevity of lincoln machines is any less. Miller/Hobart and Lincoln machines both last a long time and hold their value well. I feel like if either company made vastly superior machines, the other would be out of business.

Anyway, to the OP do your absolute best to actually try out a machine before you buy, and be honest with yourself about how you're going to use it. If you're a fab shop, get a big machine, else don't be afraid to buy a quality well taken care of used machine. I bought my lincoln because I do alot of "hobby" work with cars and other things, and the Lincoln, in my very humble opinion, is more stable at low amperage.

I'm still thinking about upgrading to a PT275 or a dynasty 300 or sync 300 at some point, but I'd have to get a little more serious and try before I buy.

I4Sillypwr: I remodel/flip houses, I'd be really interested in seeing some pics of your work if you have anything. Also I still think your sig is awesome.

 

I previously had the Lincoln Squarewave TIG 175 and had to end up selling it for $800 after only using it a few hours and paying $1500+ for it a few weeks prior. That was a huge loss. Did not want to sell but crashed my car and needed to sell to get any kind of car to get me back and forth to work.

I have $1,500 saved but plan on saving a little more before I make my purchase.

I have the Lincoln SP135 Mig currently and have been thinking about adding a Lincoln Precision Tig 185. I have found the 185 w/ cart for around $1,750 delivered. I plan on in the future making manifolds, exhaust systems, etc. in the future once I have mastered the craft.

I was getting very good with the 175 so I really cant wait to get going again and this time with the pulse control option.

Should I hold off on getting a Water Cooler kit or should I get one right off the bat?

What tools if any do you also recommend I get when I start making manifolds, exhausts, intercoolers, piping, etc. I already have a bead roller for intercooler piping, die grinder for porting manifolds, and basic tools.

I do plan on getting a bandsaw, Lincoln Pro Cut 55 Plasma Cutter and a few other metal fab tools.

Where can I get the piping to make log manifolds, the L's and T's????? What are the McMaster's part numbers?

thanks for the input guys!

 

I was in the same price range as you last year when I bought my TIG. My choices came down to the Miller 180 and the Lincoln 185. The way I saw it was.....

1. The Miller was about $100 more...no biggie if that 100 bucks gets you something

2. The Lincoln 185 came with the pulser...can't adjust amperage on the pulse just duration, but for an affordable AC/DC machine it's still useable.

3. 5 more amps out of the Lincoln...not really a big deal, but you never know when those extra 5 might come in handy.

4. Lincoln is just as reputable a machine used by NASCAR teams, professional fab shops..you name it. I just didn't see the Miller advantage in that price range and level of machine, plain and simple. Therefore I bought my 185 and used that 100 bucks towards my argon bottle.

I learned to TIG on the machine...the pulser helps alot. I have since welded everything from aluminum intercooler end tanks on thick bar and plate cores, to stainless exhaust manifolds and exhaust systems, to razor blades and pepsi cans. Granted I have never welded with a Miller machine, but my Lincoln sure hasn't disappointed me in the least yet.

If the day comes to buy a larger machine, I will once again balance what funds I have to spend against what Miller or Lincoln can offer me. I want the best product available for my hard earned cash.

FYI: I hate red cars...and blue is one of my long time favorite colors.....the Lincoln was just a better machine for the money period.

 

Pic of one of my most recent manifolds....





Also, i use both Miller and an older Lincoln, and i like them both. I do like my Lincoln a bit better though than the Miller i use... and the Lincoln is old enough to be one of the first machines they built with SquareWave... lol. Its so old, it isn't even red. haha!

 

^The 6 cylinder manifold looks great.

 

heres 2 diff. 6 cylinders I recently did...one 6 into 1 and one split pulse setup.

 

both of those 6 cyl windup manifolds are lookin crafty.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ComposiMo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Pic of one of my most recent manifolds....
Also, i use both Miller and an older Lincoln, and i like them both. I do like my Lincoln a bit better though than the Miller i use... and the Lincoln is old enough to be one of the first machines they built with SquareWave... lol. Its so old, it isn't even red. haha!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Where can you get those collecter tabs besides burnsstainless.com?

 

We got them (and the collectors and such) from Burns Stainless... i don't know where else you can get them, but they aren't that expensive through Burns... i mean, sure, they are $9 each, but you don't use that many on a manifold... Call up Kasey

 

if i had to buy one rigth now, i would get a ta185... small powereful, and loaded with deatures.

 

here is a set of Hilborn MFI s from a Cosworth. That I cut the Cosworth flange off and welded it to an H22 flange. And converted them to EFI. The Cosworth has the same bore centers as an H22

 

Doh ! I thought you'd post something on your mufflers !

 

awesome work guys!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by k20 jon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">



</TD></TR></TABLE>

I would love to have something like this for my VR. nice work

 

PM'd

 

I just sold my Miller Sync 200 and I am buying a Thermal Arc 185 shortly

for Inverters

 

why are you getting the thermal 185 over the syncro 200?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dfoxengr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">why are you getting the thermal 185 over the syncro 200?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Why would one pick an 02 Honda Accord over an 83 Ford LTD??

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dfoxengr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">why are you getting the thermal 185 over the syncro 200?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Because I want something more portable

Dont get me wrong Millers are great this was the second Sync I have owned but I move around with my welder alot and need something more portable. Plus its the cheapest full feature Inverter on the market that I know of