Got a friend selling a Lincoln square wave tig-175 for about $800. The price is great and the machine has low hours of use but Im a bit concerned. The unit has no frequency control for dialing in aluminum as far as I can tell. No post or pre gas flow adjustments. Im debating whether this is a good machine for the future. I do a lot of aluminum and would like something that can lay down good welds. Also how is the reputation on these machines...reliability wise? Have had very bad luck with my Lincoln mig so Im a bit scared.

 

I use this machine and it works good but I feel I've out grown it as I'm now seaking more amps and features. I do alot of stainless and alum. welding and it does good get some decent welds out of it. I dont know how thick of material you weld but it is a struggle to weld thicker alum. For $800 I dont think you'll find much more.

 

iv got one.. i like it, but more amps will always be needed, but for doing stainless its great...

 

excellent machine. I upgraded to the 225 because the lack of amps, but lays down very nice aluminium welds. here are some pics.

http://customplenums.com/site/images...3012008450.jpg

http://customplenums.com/site/images...3012008446.jpg

....and no it didnt have the power to do the flange, that was done with a different welder.

 

Wow not enough power for the flange hummm.... I was going to buy this to build intake manifolds. I have used a Miller 200DX at about 130 amps to weld a flange of similar thickness it kind of weird that the Lincoln 175 cant weld it.

 

you welded 3mm to a 10mm flange with a 130amps? what gas?

 

try sticking the flange in the oven

 

Nice little machine. My shop runs on a 185. It's basically the same machine.

You cannot adjust AC frequency on a transformer-based power source, so you normally only get that on the newer inverter machines. You can still put down nice aluminum welds with 60hz. Intake manifolds might get a bit heavy at the flange, but still, for $800 that's a hell of a machine.