TIG welder recommend. Sanitary SS fabrication.

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I know that this one has been beaten to death.I currently have a MM175 MIG machine which is great for doing mild steel fabrication. However, I want to build some stuff for home brewing out of 304 or 316 stainless tubing. Basically joining some 304 or 316 SS tubing to some ferrules and the like and then potentially move on to making stuff for other brewers. Also, when I ahve something thicker on the '4x4 I'd like the option to run stick.I was thinking maybe setting up the MIG machine w/ 100% argon, and some sort of purge plug might work for sanitary welding?  I've done some searching about doing this but its all become rather muddled. The welder I am looking at is a Longevity 186 TIG machine. It will do AC and DC TIG, pulsed TIG and stick welding. I plan on doing, maybe 3/16 or 1/4" SS at the thickest. Would that Longevity welder be a good choice?If so, is the foot pedal a good thing to have or can I skip that?James AHP 200X TIGMillerMatic 175DaytonaMIG 135Chinese O/A
Reply:I feel most of the forum will suggest the benchmark for portable tig welders, the dynasty 200dx.Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2Miller: 200dx, Bobcat 225, Passport, Powermax 45, Milwaukee: Dry Saw, MagDrill, grinders
Reply:Before you buy a product made in China, watch this first:Lincoln Electric, Power MIG 256Hypertherm Powermax 45 Miller Dynasty 280DXSmith O/A torchGenesis of a welding table
Reply:Originally Posted by GarBefore you buy a product made in China, watch this first:
Reply:I am in a very similar boat.  I have a miller 180 mig and just ordered a miller diversion 180 from cyberweld.  Currently working on a keggle for a friend and have four empty kegs in the waiting at home.  I would have loved to have bought the dynasty but the diversion fits my needs better as a hobbyist with only 110.  Try and buy American if you can.  We need to keep all of the jobs that we can.
Reply:Originally Posted by tigerstripe40I know that this one has been beaten to death.I currently have a MM175 MIG
Reply:Originally Posted by tigerstripe40The welder I am looking at is a Longevity 186 TIG machine. It will do AC and DC TIG, pulsed TIG and stick welding. I plan on doing, maybe 3/16 or 1/4" SS at the thickest. Would that Longevity welder be a good choice?If so, is the foot pedal a good thing to have or can I skip that?
Reply:Just remember one thing..Whatever machine you chose...It's the OPERATOR not the machine....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Best advise I can give is before buying, find a member close to you and see if they would let you burn some rod on their machine. You will learn enough to find out what machine will suit you, as well as the primers in technique.You are welcome to come to my shop and sit down at a machine for some abuse.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:Originally Posted by tigerstripe40Ugh... I know I typed 'Longevity' (twice in my initial post) but I had intended to put in Thermal Arc 186...
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonBest advise I can give is before buying, find a member close to you and see if they would let you burn some rod on their machine. You will learn enough to find out what machine will suit you, as well as the primers in technique.You are welcome to come to my shop and sit down at a machine for some abuse.
Reply:Well you're invited out for Weld-o-Drama on June 2nd. Terry'll be there as will an assortment of machines for you to try. Hector's coming out from Yuma as he did for Weld-o-Rama 1, Miller's supporting this one, I know Wes will be bringing out the Longevities hes testing so you'll have alot of welders to try out and more than that, alot of experience to draw from.
Reply:Originally Posted by GarBefore you buy a product made in China, watch this first:
Reply:Originally Posted by Oscaroh gives us a break!  you mean nothing in your home or automobile is made in china??
Reply:Originally Posted by GarBefore you buy a product made in China, watch this first:
Reply:Because of our technological advancements, mostly transportation, world economic systems now conform to classical entropy. Essentially, we have an unequal distribution of wealth. Because of the lower wealth of other countries, everything will be cheaper. Obeying the natural order of entropy, we will continue to dump wealth on each and every one, until they all equal. Every system in nature behaves this way. EVERY. ONE. Assuming the ability of transfer still exists, or we don't wipe ourselves off the Earth first. If that doesn't sound nice, there are only two options. Go live under a rock, or drop everyone's standard of living to match those of the nations we are trying to avoid dumping wealth into. Annnyway, as for the welding, essentially any welder capable of generating a good arc will work. Reliability, serviceability, etc, can vary, but the bottom line is that it will come down operator skill to pull off the necessary quality to be classified as sanitary.
Reply:Originally Posted by WeldingMachineNot by choice.
Reply:Originally Posted by Oscaroh gives us a break!  you mean nothing in your home or automobile is made in china??
Reply:Originally Posted by GarWhen given a clear choice, buying made in America is always the wise choice.  It puts Americans to work and keeps the money out of the hands of our enemies.  China is NOT America's friend.  We all have a choice.  We can march to the drum beat of, "what difference can one man make," or we can beat our own drum and lead the way, the American way!  In the end, if the American experiment fails, it wont be on account of me.
Reply:Originally Posted by con_fuse9Your going to want high frequency start - and that pretty much dictates using a pedal.
Reply:Sounds like you already have your mind made up on price.Thermalarc186 from your LWS. That way you are supporting a brick and mortor, and wiil be privy to their. Local service center if a problem arises.Your LWS can also recommend a weld shop in the area if they cannot answer a question.Other than that, I am a big fan of the Diversion 180.Good Luck and try to avoid "Mailorder Mayhem".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:Originally Posted by joshuabardwellI'm far from an expert on all the different welding machines out there, but I'm surprised to hear that. I was under the impression that there were a lot of TIG machines out there that would do HF start/auto upslope and auto downslope/postflow with a button press on the torch. Maybe that's not as common as I thought, though.
Reply:Originally Posted by tigerstripe40Most of them, even the best ones, are made in Taiwan, a republic of China...
Reply:Out in the plant I use a Maxstar 150, in the shop we have a Syncrowave 350, and I piped in a whole building off of an old round to Idealarc 250 with a scratch start rig.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."