I've been reading this forum, as well as other fab forums, for years now...I love the idea of learning to tig weld and doing fabrication for myself and others eventually.

Taking classes at a comm. college is out of the question, and I don't really know anyone first hand that will let me play with their tig welder.

Should I bite the bullet, try to find a used Miller or Lincoln, and start practicing? Due to the electrical situation in the garage, I'll need to buy an inverter machine, which ups the investment.

It's just one of those skills that I believe will pay off eventually....Very few people do it well, and there's always more than enough people looking to have this or that fabbed up/welded(Especially here in Chicago)...So I'm kind of thinking it can become a hobby of mine that will not only allow me to do awesome stuff to my own vehicles, but eventually bring in some side cash some day.

 

PMed Considering selling my 200 to get the 350

 

Replied.

What do used inverter machines like the Dynasty 200 typically go for? Or even a TA 185, etc.

 

Dynasty hold there value really really well.. Check ebay or craigslist.. Mine still has over a year of millers warranty.. My machine is in absolute brand new physical and mechanical condition. Not sure exactly how many hours but not a lot.

 

I was in the same situation as you when I started. I had no clue on how to weld but I bit the bullet and bought a syncrowave 200. That was about 4yrs ago and I have never looked back. As long as there's the fab forum on Honda tech you'll be alright

 

Well I got a price from a local place today. $2600 out the door for the Sync 200 with the runner package. He'll throw in a 140 cu. ft. tank full of argon as well.(As in, new tank that I own, not a leased tank)

Cyberweld is 2,3xx for the runner package, but I think it would be better to buy locally in case I ever need to warranty something. Seems like a pretty good deal.

 

Go for it, it will eventually pay itself off if you are deciding to do some side work and all. Great investment if you have a niche for it.

 

You'll wish you had bought a Dynasty, hands down. That Sync takes to much damn power to run and it doesn't have half the features the Dynasty does..

 

I'd rather buy something new from a local distributor, have a warranty, have a place that'll hook me up on consumables and gas, etc.

If I do well and can justify the expense down the road, I'll upgrade to a Dynasty.

You don't go out and buy a new Cadillac for your first car, do you?

 

Yes you sure do.. Why waste money and not spend it properly to begin with? I'm not saying the sync isn't a good welder but 9 out of 10 people end up upgrading later.. You end up wasting more money in the long run.

 

Just a heads up. The one thing I have found about TIG welding. It's stinkin' expensive!

I don't mean just start up either. I'm beginning to find that the little projects that are for practice cost a lot of money too. And then there are the other tools that you didn't think you had to buy, like how bad I now want a band saw and a cold saw lol. Argon feels like it lasts me 5 hours of welding time before I gotta fork out another $75. Not to mention sucking costs me money in tungsten and filler rod, which I need more of... again.

Yet with all of my complaining, best thing I ever bought was my TIG.

 

Millers hold their value pretty well.

If upgrade down the line, it'll be because I'm welding often and making money doing that....At that point, the hit I take in depreciation will be far less than what the welder has earned me.

I think the bigger waste of money would be going out, spending top dollar for a machine I don't know how to use, and then losing interest or not doing enough for-hire work to make up for the big investment.



I'm sure you telling me to go with a Dynasty over a Sync has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that you're trying to sell a Dynasty to me.

 

no I can care less whether you buy my Dynasty or not... I won't have any issues selling it when I decide to list it.. Do as you please and I'll be the one to say I told you so. If this welder will be used at your home then thats even more of a reason to get an inverter based machine.. Anyway, good luck...

EDIT: OH I see it will be used in your garage.. If you have an electrical issue why the hell are you even considering the sync?

 

I bought my TIG back in the day without the first clue how to use it....well, I had a clue, but that's about it.

Bought it, practiced, asked questions on the forums, took pictures, asked more questions, got a gas lense, asked more questions, practiced and did small projects...you'll get there. Nothing that is good is ever easy though...

 

a sync 200 would be a good starting welder, but you need to have a DEDICATED 60 amp breaker for it with the appropriate wire size

 

True.
It cost me under $100 to own and use for over 1 year. Got to have the power though.
DO NOT take any aluminum jobs over 1/4".
DC welding you will never run out, aluminum, will be another story. Be honest with your intentions, and go out and get it.

 

Should also look at the Thermal ARC 185TSW ~$2600 range new. Supposedly comperable to the DYN 200DX. Very popular machine on the hobart welding forums.

Note: Holy crap did miller raise all their prices??? They want $10k for a 350 runner these days -- I paid just over 6.5k two years ago for each of our 350 welders!! And it looks like the 200s are now 4k??? Damn!

 

Haha I got my Sync200 with runner for for 2500 Cdn and I had to spend and extra 1500 to get another 100amps into the garage. In hindsight I should have looked further into an inverter machine.

 

the syncrowave 200 is one BIG HEAVY machine. even with the runner package there isent going to be bunch portability. i know, i have owned 2 and never got to use either because of wiring/electricity issues. do your self a favor and get the inverter.

this time i am going to try out one of the everlast tig welders. there a new cheapie tig. i am looking at the 250ex with is around $1600. it will be nice to practice on. and later on down the road if i am making money ill upgrade to a $3500 machine.

 

Well, I'm still looking into it and I think I'm going to go with a Diversion 180. I like the 110/220 option, it's inverter based, and the price is right.

I figure I can learn on something like this(and use it for hobby related fab on my cars) and then upgrade to a Dynasty down the road if I can justify the cost some day.

 

Can the diversion do AC though? I didn't think it did.

As a side note, even though they don't get much love on this forum, I've had my Miller Econotig for about 4 years now. I got it barely used, it's still in great shape, I use it all the time and it does everything I ask it to. I would like something with a bit more punch for aluminum, but other than that for a hobbyist it's been great.

 

Yes it does AC...Except it has almost no adjustability as far as I know.

I think the most aluminum I would be doing is IC piping anyways...So I don't know if I'll necessarily need the power and adjustability for a while.

 

The 180 will do AC. Adjustability wise all you get is a button for ac/dc and a **** to adjust the amps.

 

do yourself a favor & get the dynasty to start with. trust me you will thank us later. hate to see you spend all that money for a diversion or sync & not be happy!

 

I am doing the same thing. I have been hearing and reading great things about that machine and it is affordable.


Has some really good controls available.


What do you guys think of this welder as a starter welder?? After watching some videos people have posted on Youtube, I am sold. This series of videos is posted by WeldingTipsandTricks on Youtube. He is a great welder and recommends the PowerTig 250

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u4Efn1twUo

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXa1Pxcr_Ww

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3vBH59VF0s

Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geasK5nD4T0

See the reason I want to purchase this is because I can buy this Tig Welder right now and start becoming a master. If I wanted to wait and purchase a dynasty, I am looking at around 6-8 months more before I can purchase and I think I can spend those 6-8 months practicing and getting better. I have some small production work lined up so I need to do this sooner rather than later... Anyone on here using this machine??? Any opinions??? I do not want opinions from people who have never used this machine and are assuming it is just Chinese junk....

Let me know guys!!

thanks,
Joshua