I've been lurking here quite a bit. Trying to learn what I can before I start spending money to get into this.

I don't know if I should buy a tig or mig welder. I'll be doing a good bit of Aluminum and Stainless, all thin stuff for my car. If I do anything thicker it would be farm equipment repairs which would all be steel. A used welder would be great, as it would save me some money. From what i've picked up some of the newer mig's will do Stainless or thin aluminum. A tig may be preferred because I could always use it to stick weld anything on the gf's horse farm. What features or models should I be looking for? I've been trying to look mainly for a Miller or Lincoln. Is there a website where I can review welder models to see what fits me?

 

buy both. I have a hobart 140 mig for all my body work thin material work. or even heavier stuff. I never use it for alum or stainless though. $400 -new is what i paid

and a Miller 180 sychrowave tig - I bought used for 1200$ fantastic machine. ac/dc does everything I need and more. Build manifolds, dp, exhausts, intercooler piping, whatever I need it does it.

 

After thinking about it over the weekend I want to buy a tig first. My boss has a mig, so I could always take that work to him. Of course a mig is much much cheaper. I'd like to stay under $1000.

 

I found 2 synchrowave's locally! Anyone else have input on these machines?

A synchrowave 180 used @ $1200 vs. a diversion 165 new??

 

a syncro is an transformer and a diversion is an inverter. The diversion has lower capacity probably, but will have better AC welding due to it being an inverter. However, the syncrowave probably has more adjustability. Assuming this is for personal hobby use, id say go with the diversion.

 

So the inverters are really that much better then? I knew if it was a synchrowave vs a dynasty that the dynasty is MUCH better, but I wasn't sure about the diversion. Guess I need to save up some more money and just buy a new diversion.

I'm going to keep watching the 'list and lurking here to learn some more, Thanks Guys!

 

If you are new to welding I would get a MIG welder for sure, much more you can do with them

 

I already have access to a mig and most of the stuff I want a welder for would need to be tig anyway.

 

Most of the stuff I need to (or want to) weld would be far easier with TIG. Thin steel, aluminum, stainless, ChroMoly etc.