For those who fab chrome moly cages and aluminum panels etc. What brand of welder and what model? Do you like it or is there one you wished you got instead?
JW, Im looking at a used one but I dont want to blow a bunch of cash on a POS.

 

First question would be how much $$$ do you want to spend? TIG units can get expensive fast!

 

BUMP FOR THIS!!!!!!!!

I am in the Market for a TIG also. I want either a Miller Synchrowave 250 or bigger. You can get used 300s for cheap but they are older. The New 250 costs about $3200. Which is WAY out of my price range, so im lookin for a USED unit for around $1000-2000. Any info would be great...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1fastVX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">First question would be how much $$$ do you want to spend? TIG units can get expensive fast!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah I know. Just wondering what everyone was using and thier likes/dislikes.

I found a used one that is pretty old but well maintained and has been checked out. It looks like agreat starter unit for $500 Its a Miller dialarc 250 amp with high frequency starter.

 

I give a big thumbs up for the Miller Econotig my wife got me for Christmas. It's about as cheap as you can get a TIG with high frequency, and it works great. I've had no problems making intercooler end tanks and water jackets for AWICs, and it'll weld 1/4" steel, so I'm covered for any steel related projects as well. It also has the significant advantage of being small and self contained - very important if your garage is as small as mine is.

-Chris

 

I started with a lincoln square wave 175 and now use a miller syncrowave 250. The miller welds aluminum much better, but they are pretty close on steel. Titanium welds really nice with the miller, but never tried with the lincoln. I'd buy another miller 250 if i had to.

 

I already have a Lincoln wire feed mig, Its a damn good little welder. I have assebled many steel parts with it and am very happy. It is only a 40 amp welder but it does 1/4 steel without a problem and leaves nice clean beads. it will blow the breaker when I use it in the house from time to tiem though, jk.

 

If you are looking for excellent welding info go to the link below. The board is a Hobart board, but Miller and Hobart are owned by the same company so Miller is discussed on the board to. You can ask question about anything there...from used welders to the best technique...they are a bunch of greast people there and they dont mind newb's

http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/

 

FULLTHROTTLE...what model Lincoln are you using?? You know with 40 amps you should not be welding 1/4 inch metal....with my SP-135T you can do 1/8 with a fluxcore wire and get good penetration...anything above that thickness is risky...you wont get enough penetration....especially if it is an important weld...be carefull!!

 

Its a snap-on wleder made by Lincoln. It is rated at 40 amps and can weld 1/4 inch thick steel on butt joints only. Spot is 1/8 th inch max thickness. I made side steps for my trailer in 1/4 inch and they are holding up very well. I would not weld roll cage plates or motor mount brackets with this welder. I do not trust it for that stuff.

 

I have an Aerowave and a custom syncrowave they custom built for me
yea props to MILLER WELDERS

there our bigest sponsor.

 

look into the Thermal arc 185....probably one of the better machines out there right now...One big plus is that it does what the miller synchrowave 180SD does at half teh power consumption. Gotta love the inverter technology.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Paul_Vang &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">look into the Thermal arc 185....probably one of the better machines out there right now...One big plus is that it does what the miller synchrowave 180SD does at half teh power consumption. Gotta love the inverter technology. </TD></TR></TABLE>





I'm digin my thermal arc, started my chromoly "roll bar" last night.

 

I have used both the miller and lincoln brand tig welders, while they both work great I choose to go with the lincoln because I got a killer deal at that time. My advice is that if you are seriously thinking about doing some heavy fabrication do not skimp, buy the best machine you can possibly afford and stay away from air cooled machines esspecially if you plan on doing alot of aluminum welding.

 

I drool over the thought of getting a syncrowave 250 but I think my next welder will be teh millermatic 210. For right now I'm using the 175T and a buzz box lincoln stick welder at work and they're alright but I'm diffinitely in the position right now where I have to step up a little bit.

 

I definatly dont want to hav eto buy another welder in the future. I think Ill save my pennies a little longer and buy one that I wont outgrow in the near future.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FULLTHROTTLE &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I definatly dont want to hav eto buy another welder in the future. I think Ill save my pennies a little longer and buy one that I wont outgrow in the near future. </TD></TR></TABLE>

same boat im in, i dont wanna get somthing and then have to get another a year later.

 

When I bought my machine I was definately asking myself if it was too much machine for my needs, I didnt want to buy a $4000 dollar machine and not use all of its capabilities but in the end Iam glad that I spent the money on the more expensive machine because I would be kicking myself in the *** rite now if I had choosen to save the money on a lesser machine. Save your pennys !!!

 

miller

 

man clean up that mess. jk, nice setup.