Anyone using one of these? Im in need of a new machine and the price tag of a Dynasty makes me vomit. I like the features of this guy and the price tag isnt bad either.
http://plasmatigandmig.com/html/tig200hf_ac_dc.html

 

I was looking at one of these machines in a nothern magazine the other day. Im in for more info also

 

looks like a rebadged ebay special from china. how does $2614-$2800 for a new shipped dynasty 200 sd/dx makes you vomit.. the dynasty is a top of line machine made in the USA with second to none customer service, do you know of all the different features the machine has?

If your Dynasty needs to repaired you can take it to your local authorized Miller service center no matter where or who you bought if from.

replacement parts like torches, amperage controls for your dynasty can all be purchased at you local welding supply stores.

that little gem you found cost $1850 + S/H has none of the above and you also have to question whether that "company" will still be around before your warranty expires.

for around the price of that thing you can get a new miller diversion or thermal arc am185.

if you are willing to buy used and keep an eye out on ebay craigslist you can get a really good deal on a name brand inverter tig.

 

well Im just a hobbist so I dont need top of the line, I have been looking at the thermal arc and the diversion. I was just curious of any other options. Thanks though, I definetly dont want chinese garbage. And the only ones I can find local want more than they cost brand new from IOC, just because they made a bad purchase, they expect me to do the same

 

my post was directed at the OP who thinks the Miller machine is overpriced but I'm not saying that everyone who want to tig weld need a expensive machine i just think that $1900 is a lot for a POS machine.

 

I have to agree that Miller's customer service is among the best, they've got me as a lifetime customer. I've had a couple problems with my machine, which is a 1979 model and I'm clearly not the original owner. I usually talk to the same guy over there and he seems to be very familiar with my dinosaur, and is very patient walking me through what to test. I have a decent background in electronics and I have no problem troubleshooting my machine and he didn't treat me like an idiot, I acquired an oscilloscope and went through the wiring with Miller on the phone and located the problem. We probably spent 3 hours total on the phone the last time, and in addition to fixing my welder I have a great understanding of how the machine works now. I'd say the extra cost is worth the technical support alone, never mind that you can get Miller (and Lincoln of course) parts from any local welding place in the US.

 

I have a thermal arc 185 forsale

 

pm'd

 

I am the proprieter of Plasma Tig and Mig, in response to the comments made by this member:

Invertiweld machines are imported by me directly from the ONLY manufacturer, with features and specifications that I request.

Repairs under warranty DO require return to me, or can be performed by your local weld repair, with parts supplied by us. This is the same situation as would be the case for miller, as independent repair shops simply function as authorized service centers.

Torch parts are standard issue CKW weldcraft style available at ANY local weld supply

The amperage control is manufactured in the USA by the same company that builds them for Lincoln and ESAB.

This "little item" is a 60% duty cycle IGBT inverter with TWICE the duty cycle of the dynasty, and a much better high frequency start.

Before you recommend someone purchase a "top of the line dynasty" I suggest you use one for a while and then tell me if you think that "THING" is worth 3 grand-overpriced and poor performing-period- I work with one 3 days a week and hate it.

I have been in business for 5 years, and while I have no crystal ball, I hope to be in business, 5 years from now.

I suggest before you give advice, you first get your facts straight, before resorting to canned knee jerk condemnation of something "new", and god forbid "foriegn".

This machine will weld circles around a dynasty

I have one kind of customer, happy and completely satisfied with their purchase

A mind only works well when it's open, don't bash something based on preconceived prejudice, rather compare it fairly and let it show it's merits.
Everyone, and everything had it's beginning somewhere and sometime.

I will gladly discuss my product with any one interesed, thanks for reading

 

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/tig/diversion_165/

These bad boys can be had for under $1300 brand new, and the pedal attachment is around $150. I use one all day long, and love it. I also have a dynasty at my disposal, and I can lay down the same quality welds with both machines

 

glad to see Jim post in here. I really like the features of his machine and yes I have used a Dynasty and was not too impressed.... not for 3k.

Rotary- yes Miller has a great service system.. and yes I have a local Miller service center within 2 miles from my shop but the unfortunate part is like all other American made items....its a fortune to fix a machine once it falls out of warranty (as I just paid to fix my "USA blue machine")
As far as recommending the Diversion, you are comparing a basic tig machine that has limited capabilities to something that is on par with a Dynasty (Invertiweld).. apples to oranges my friend.

Im getting my machine repaired as I do like it.. I really want an Invertiweld machine so Jim if you wanna cut me some HUGE price break I may just bite


Boost- no offense but the Diversion is a POS at best.. its was a porr replacement for the Econotig which wasnt a bad machine at all..

 

LOL a Dynasty is overpriced and poor performing?

 

Exactly the same way every other importer orders and supplies these generic machines.

Would you care to name that company as any blanket claims can be made but there's no proof forthcoming that is indeed the case.
Are you using the same generic controller that is not click adjustable like the high end machines where one click is one amp. One of my major bugbears with all these generics is that you shift the dial a fraction and the amperage changes markedly.
Also does the display show the function you are adjusting or is it simply amperage. All the generics I've tried are simply showing amps and no more.

I have to agree you with there. The Dynasty range has by far the worst the H/freq start I've ever experienced in any machine.
We jokingly call our Dynasty 350 the "worlds most expensive scratch start Tig" but in every other regard it is brilliant.


I would doubt that, we use lots of different Tigs (Miller, Kemppi, Esab, Fronius, Generics etc.) as we get given them to test for the local LWS. From a professional viewpoint as we Tig weld all day every day I find them (generic imports) annoying in the way they are laid out and the imprecise way the dials work.
These machines are fine for the home handyman but for those who use the high end machines and explore all their features these cheaper imports don't measure up.
Regards Andrew from Oz.

 

Hence, my recommendation.

Area- What exactly is wrong with the dynasty? It's not set up to be a super machine that's oozing at the seams with features. Like I said, I've been laying down great quality beads with mine for awhile now, and it does the job it needs to do flawlessly

 

Do people on here tend to prefer a Thermal Arc over a similarly priced Miller inverter?

Actually, I'm not sure that such a comparison really exists. . . Seems like the Millers might be priced above and below the TA185, but I'm not really familiar with them, so I could easily be wrong about that.