which tig machine? Hummmm......

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I have been looking at different tig machines trying to see the differences.I am considering something like the lincoln square wave ( what I learned on)or the Lincoln precision tig (never tried this one)  or the miller syncrowave 200(tried this one once).   Never gotten to try one of the new inverter types.  I dontsee any small shops using inverters so far.  I am thinking people are worried there is too much stuff in there to fail compared to a transformer machine.So what would be the feature differences between the two lincolns and the miller ?the prices for all three seem to be in the 2K range (used) for all three.   I am looking todo aerospace projects in steel and aluminum.  An aircraft factory I toured was usinga big miller of some kind ( big ... maybe 350 amp ? )What do yall think ????  PS.  I really like water cooling !
Reply:I have a miller Syncro 200. I would have loved to have gotten a Dynasty 200dx but the cost was just more than I could justify. I haven't any exp with the Lincolns other than playing with one or two at the LWS when the lincoln rep was there, so I can't help much with than.Many of the small shops I know are using inverters. Almost all are using XMT's for mig, stick and DC tig in the shop. A couple still have one of the larger old transformer machines dedicated to stick or tig in the shop. A lot have the small inverters (dynasty 200 or maxstar's) as they will run 110v/220v for service calls. They are some what limited in max power, but you can't take a large high amp machine into some jobs..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWI have a miller Syncro 200. I would have loved to have gotten a Dynasty 200dx but the cost was just more than I could justify. I haven't any exp with the Lincolns other than playing with one or two at the LWS when the lincoln rep was there, so I can't help much with than.Many of the small shops I know are using inverters. Almost all are using XMT's for mig, stick and DC tig in the shop. A couple still have one of the larger old transformer machines dedicated to stick or tig in the shop. A lot have the small inverters (dynasty 200 or maxstar's) as they will run 110v/220v for service calls. They are some what limited in max power, but you can't take a large high amp machine into some jobs.
Reply:I believe I have read here that miller has great cust svc and lincoln is harder to deal with in that way.that would be a point in millers favor.
Reply:Miller in my opinion has the best customer service, but Lincoln will also help you out. I have called them numerous times for part #'s, technical questions and just general questions about their equipment and never had any issues with Lincoln.I have a Square wave 275 Lincoln I bought used and like it. I would stick with a transformer machine if you are on a tight budget, working only in a shop/garage and have the power available to run a high amp draw machine.If I were to buy a brand new one I would compare Lincoln to Miller's features and prices and buy which one I thought would better suit me. I was going to buy the Lincoln 225 precision Tig til I realized I would outgrow it too quickly doing thicker aluminum. You may want to go the used route or save more money to get into the 250- 275 machine class if you are going to be doing much aluminum.
Reply:i have the 200 dx its a great tig welderi found my self useing it for stick weldingon the road just grab the welder cablesrods hammer and ex cord plugs in any wherethe best stick welder ive ever used
Reply:I have a Thermal Arc 185 ACDC inverter tig and it's been great for me. I also use my XMT 304 CC/CV for dc tig on the truck and it welds fine, just doesn't have a gas valve or hf start.  If I were to buy a new ac/dc tig, it would be either a Dynasty 350 if I could afford it, or a Thermal Arc 300 ACDC if I couldn't afford the Dynasty.   If I were buying a dc-only tig, it would be a Maxstar, the 200SD if I could afford it, or the 150STH if I couldn't afford the 200SD.  I don't have any need for a dc tig as big as the Maxstar 350.Alot of older shops are still running old Syncrowaves cause they work very well and last forever.  As long as the old machines are still working fine, no reason to spend money on new ones.  MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:having spent time with dynasties (200 & 300 amp versions) and plenty on a syncrowave and dabbled with the Lincoln you mentioned i liked the red one the best for low amp work. seemed like it was much more stable at <50 amps than any of the miller machines. not that i have any grips about the dynasty i use day to day but if i were to buy a new machine it would be that precision tig 185, it's way cheaper than the inventor machine, better low amp, has one of the widest amperage ranges when hooked up to  220 power
Reply:Originally Posted by jethroI believe I have read here that miller has great cust svc and lincoln is harder to deal with in that way.that would be a point in millers favor.
Reply:I got my Sync 200 for around $2k new.My name's not Jim....
Reply:First off , thanks for all the personal first hand feedback from specific machines.  I think I would be happy with most of the red or blue machines.  I have just notied that some have more bell/whistlefeatures than others... like current pulse, ac frequency control, adjustable independednt biasing of the pos/neg wave dwell time (cleaning)  and some of the top ends are massively programmable for everything.  I only experimented with the pulser on the squarewave 350 just to see what it did.never had it explained to me what it was doing.  the controls on the face of the square wave 350seemed really easy to look at and understand.  The big syncrowave seemed more cluttered but Ionly used it one day whan the lincoln was down.  It allmost seemed like the high freq. on the millerwas somehow making a more stable arc --- maybe.....  or maybe it sounded more stable.  I wishI had gotten to use it more !Is there a place to try out welders ?      Do the stores have traveling reps from red and blue comeround a couple times a year and bring demo machines to try out in the store ??????Thanks , TimPS  my service is 220 single phase.  My breaker pops when I get to 1/4 inch stick rods with myancient stick welder.  Don't know what current that would be....  I can usualy weld all day with3/32 if it is not 100 degrees out.  one day I should put the ampprobe on it ........
Reply:Both Miller and Lincoln have 'road show' trucks that go around and set up mobile demonstrations.  They bring lots of popular machine models and little portable welding booths and you can try them out.  I've been to a few of the Miller demos and one Lincoln demo.   Most local shops will let you try out a machine, if they have a demo unit in stock.  Most shops are rather lean on their stock lately though with the slow economy, so not as likely to find one with the machine you want in stock.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:when I experimented with the pulser, i had it down at 1/2  or 1 hertz.   I would start the arc , wait for the pulse and make a puddle with the first 3/4 of the pulse and deposit the filler durring the remaining1/4 of the pulse.  when the pulse ended and it went to the low current segment I just let it cool downuntill the the next pulse.  I could only do this at or near the lowest pulse frequency.  any faster and I couldn't keep up.  I noticed that this tecnique worked well when welding .025 stainless where it was hard to not get  ugly melting on the backside when using regular (nonpulsed) current.I sensed that this was not how it was intended to be used because the higher frequencys wouldn't have made any sense using my method.  It doesn't look like running it fast ( 10 or 20 hz)  would do anythingto lower the average heat input to the work becaause you would be welding durring both the high pulse and the low pulse and you would have to just raise the high pulse up so the average current ( and the heat in the puddle) were enough to get proper weld.    So what is it intended to do when it is pulsingfaster than I can dip durring the high cycle only ( anything faster than 1 hz I guess....)   ?????Tim
Reply:thanks DR.... I'll call our store here this week and ask if and when they get a visit. I may be able to hear the laughter in the background though ......  Thanks !Tim
Reply:I have a Miller Syncrowave 200 with a coolmate 3 and a crafter series water cooled tortch......Lincoln of Miller are both very good choices.  I guess it all depends on your brand preference.  I like Miller and have a Miller Migmatic 250.  both are great machines. I don't make my living with mine either.