Miller Maxstar vs... the others.

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I'm looking for a small, DC TIG. I need something that runs off of 110. I don't weld heavy gauge steel, and I will not be welding aluminum (ever). I'm pretty hellbent on a Maxstar, mainly because it's blue (I know), it's proven, etc. I learned on a Miller, every job I've ever had to TIG has been on a Miller. But it looks as if I could save a ton of money if I decided to look into those other machines. Anyone else have a problem choosing to buy an Everlast, Eastwood, China this, China that over a red or blue machine?Big F**king HammerJumper cables & 2 marine batteriesJaws of life
Reply:Tweco makes some nice machines that are tig/mig/stick.  I'll also add ESAB 161 to the list (although no foot control).I've owned both the Maxstar 150s and ESAB 161 at the same time - stick welded identical (no tig on that miller model)..Last edited by MinnesotaDave; 04-17-2016 at 03:32 PM.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:I've sold quite a few units to people not only looking at Maxstars, but also to people replacing maxstars.  Sold another 200ST to a person this week that way.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:maxstars are good tig, but my maxstars arcstart on stick isn't anything to brag about, even when new, and it gets worse/wears out after use.      just pud out in stick welding the older/more use they get, cant fight off molten slag in puddle, poor arc start that worsens w/ use.Last edited by 123weld; 04-17-2016 at 08:33 PM.
Reply:I have a Maxstar 150S at home. Use it for quite a few gate jobs for family, friends and friends of friends. It's a 2015 model and it works perfectly. Trying not to blow smoke up anyone's @$$ but the 2015 model I have does 6010 very well. In earlier threads this has been a dead beaten horse but, the 2015 model seems to run it very well. 90 OCV is probably new. I don't know the OCV of earlier models.Woops I went off topic. The Maxstar 140STL we have at work has been in service for quite some time. TIG on 110 is just as good as it it on 220 as long as you're within the amp range for the input. Welded countless HVAC ducts 1/8" and under with that little sucker. I don't have hands on experience with the other brands but I remember subcontractors bringing in the same size equivalent Thermal Arcs to assist on the duct welding and I heard no complaints from them when working. TBH something as simple as DC TIG is very hard for any manufacturer to mess up. I think whatever you buy as long as it's a respected company, American or Chinese you should not have any problems with something as bare bone as DC TIG. Just read some reviews and do some research first.Last edited by Jase90; 04-17-2016 at 10:26 PM.
Reply:My Maxstar 150STL has been great, it will plug in and work in any outlet that can also run a blender.  The amp draw is lower than any other specs I have seen.  I've run it flat out using full length 1/8" filler rods, only pausing to grab a new 36" rod and not run it past the duty cycle.  Same for welding together 1/4" thick angle iron for fixtures and I need to stop to let the torch cool so I can hold it even with stick gloves.  A few years ago I needed it for a job that required about three hours of solid welding a day for a month straight.  I forget how much argon I used because I borrowed an extra tank and kept swapping them out but I went through 35lbs of filler and the Maxstar not only never missed a beat but didn't flip a breaker once at the location's questionable service.  I got mine used for about half the new price but wouldn't hesitate to replace it with the same model if anything happened to it.   If you only plan on welding steel, I think it's one of the best deals out there.  You get used to the lift start after a while too, I just wish you could kill the arc by backing off the pedal all the way, to break the arc and still keep the shielding gas on the puddle you need to do a quick flick of the wrist and almost put the torch parallel to the work for a moment before letting the post flow do its job at a normal torch angle again.  I also wish the threads for the remote amptrol were better, it's easy to yank the control wire out if you're moving the pedal around quickly, say to do opposite corners on something your welding.  I'm also careful about tightening the argon connection to the case because it could be more solid feeling.
Reply:Basically I'll be using it for furniture fabrication. No stick welding, no tubing over 14 gauge. I have a few designs that I would rather use TIG on than MIG. Appreciate all the advice.Big F**king HammerJumper cables & 2 marine batteriesJaws of life
Reply:For light work I highly recommend the 150 STL. I love mine. It fits behind the seat of my regular cab truck in the case. Runs on very little power. 6010,6011,7018,7014 rods are what I run. Mostly used 6010 and 6011, 7014s are butter smooth and the 7018 is my favorite for angles..the lift start tig works well also. I use my maxstar 150 STL more than I do the maxstar 210. Just easy to move and works almost anywhereBlue stock- shopmaster, a/bp330, maxstar 150stl, maxstar 210, hf251, Tbolt ac/dc, mm 135Red stock-ranger 8, weldanpower 150, idealarc 250 ac/dcEsab plasma, Victor OA set, Air products ac/dc 400 ampIt's me flipped in snow..doughnut fail
Reply:Again thanks for the help. After doing more research, I'm going for the Maxstar. Horror stories of having to pay hundreds of dollars and waiting 3 months for servicing, crappy regulators, etc has made me realize it's better to stick to blue.Big F**king HammerJumper cables & 2 marine batteriesJaws of life
Reply:Used Maxstars in the past as well as many other brands dc only. The big draw from what I remember is the fantastic range in the foot control like that of the Miller Dynasty and Syncrowave series. Thermalarc and Lincoln I was  not so impressed with. Esab the worst. To be honest I have never tried the chinese dc machines, but don't don't have high hopes for pedal performance.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:We use Miller Maxstar 200's at work....hundreds of them (mostly for TIG).Do they ever need to be repaired? Yes. But....they are used all day, every day, and sometimes in harsh environments.For what we put them through, I think that they are very good machines.Rich
Reply:I started with a used Maxstar 150 STL, used it for a couple months and upgraded to the 150 STH,  and then decided to jump up to the Maxstar 210 with a water cooler.  I hadnt stick welded since jr high and all these maxstars work really well.  The little 150's are super portable.  I have been very happy with mine but its all Ive run recently.