TA 211i Tig welding

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Am trying to decide between the Miller 211 and a Thermal Arc 211i.  I can lay an OK MIG bead, but know very little about TIG.  When would you use an AC TIG unit over MIG?  Most of the TIG welds I've see have been aluminum, which the TA can't do.
Reply:AC TIG would be used for Aluminum and Magnesium.
Reply:Sorry, went back and looked at the specs.  It's DC TIG, not AC.
Reply:You would probably be happier in the long run getting a dedicated TIG like the TA 186. It has AC, Pulse and HF start. The 211 is lift start DC only. Of course the 186 won't do MIG. If you already have a MIG machine I wouldn't even bother looking at multi-process units.
Reply:I sold my SP-140T to fund the purchase of a 220v MIG.  Was planning on buying a Miller 211, then started reading up on the TA boxes.  They seem well regarded, but I know nothing about TIG welding, so am trying to figure out whether the DC TIG feature would be useful.  I don't know the functional difference between lift start and high frequency start.  My understanding is that the TA units won't effectively TIG aluminum, and MIG seems the best way to join mild steel, so, to me that only leaves stainless that you'd DC TIG.  Is that right?
Reply:Ah, from the thread title and all I didn't realize you were asking about just having the extra ability with the MIG. DC TIG can be very useful. Not just with stainless but there are situations with mild that TIG will be far better than MIG. I just did a repair where I had to join .035 wall tube to a 1" thick end cap. The ability to control heat and filler separately made it far easier than it would have been with a MIG. Hell just the .035 wall tube would be pretty hellish with MIG.
Reply:OK, so just to repeat back and make sure I've got it right, MIG is great for 90% of what I'm going to do (bodywork and fabricating parts for my '71 Bronco), but TIG will be better for delicate work like the stainless exhaust I'm currently fascinated with.
Reply:With lift start you have to touch the tungsten to the metal and lift off to start the arc. With HF you just have to get close and hit the button and the HF will kick start the arc (No touching). HF is also one hell of a joy buzzer if you forget to hook up the ground clamp. Done that a few times.Another thing to consider is that you will have to have another gas bottle for the TIG unless for some reason you're using pure Ar for the MIG. TIG won't tolerate any CO2.
Reply:Well TIG has it's advantages with body work as well. MIG beads tend to be a bit harder and will expand and contract at different rates. Say you run a MIG bead in the middle of a door panel. When the finished panel, all painted up, is out in the sun on a hot day, you will see a faint weld line appear under the paint. TIG welds being a bit softer won't have this effect. MIG however has a much faster travel rate and is a big advantage in keeping the heat down. Every process has it's place. You just have to weigh the advantages with the disadvantages and choose the right process for the specific application.
Reply:Hmmm, sounds like the TA unit may be worth the extra money then.  From what I've read the arc performance is suppose to be at least as good as the Miller 211.  I'm trying to figure out what the down side would be, other than the extra $100.
Reply:Originally Posted by mortimersnerdI'm trying to figure out what the down side would be, other than the extra $100.
Reply:I had been doing some reading on that.  Looks like another $3-400 for the TIG torch and foot pedal, plus some more for the additional bottle and flow meters.  I'm not as worried about making a long term investment, more concerned with the current initial outlay.  Still dreaming of fabbing my own stainless headers...
Reply:I've looked at the specs and manual for the TA. I didn't see anything about post flow. Maybe someone that owns one can chime in but it would be pretty important for SS. If the unit doesn't have any post flow you can work around it by getting a torch with a valve and manually controlling the gas.EDIT: Manual says you need the torch valveLast edited by Snuffy; 11-25-2012 at 03:26 AM.
Reply:I borrowed a TA 211i from my LWS for a small job where the only power available was 110v. Used the MIG and stick functions welded very nice for everything i had to do. I don't really like the mig gun that comes with it. After using for about two weeks on the job I am going to purchase it. Will have to see about adapting a Benard Q gun to it. Have not tried the tig function yet, just didn't need it on the job it got used on. One big problem with the TA 211i is that it looks funny sitting next to all the blue machines. i looked at a Miller multimatic 200, but its duty cycle is not very good. I think this is only the second welder I have owned that is not blue.
Reply:The Miller Multimatic 200 is 200 amp in mig only. In stick and dc tig mode it is de rated to 150 amps max output. The Thermal Arc i series 3 in one machines are not de rated in stick or tig mode. They are the same max output in all 3 modes. Mig, tig and stick.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720