Another FNG here-

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Been lurking around for a while now, finally ready to ask a question or many.  I will be picking up a new TIG set up in a matter of months.  I have zero experience in welding but have done a considerable amount of research and tend to pick things up well with a good manual and a healthy dose of trial and error.  I've made the decision to go with TIG based on the quality/aesthetically pleasing welds capable.  The majority of welding I'll be doing will be SS for hobby food/beverage applications (yup, homebrew stuff)  Plus I figure once you master TIG learning to MIG should be a snap.  Emphasis on the "should"...    What I can't decide on is going with AC/DC or DC only.  For economy reasons I'm leaning towards the DC only since the majority of my welding will be SS or mild steel and by the time I would really "need" to do aluminum I could buy a decent MIG machine to cover, but I have no experience to know if I'm following flawed logic or not. The other issue is size.  I've heard lots of old timers say they would never buy a machine under 200 amps.  That coupled with the often repeated advice on here is to choose the biggest machine you can afford and then buy the next bigger model...  All of this makes perfect sense to me, but there is obviously a common sense limit on the size a hobbyist like myself would ever EVER need.  With that being said, I don't think a 200 amp machine is any where near that limit and I would prefer to have that size, it's just my budget that causes me to question whether or not a MAXSTAR 150 STH/L would be more practical.  Coupled with the fact that I am Active Duty, I have space limitations that play a fairly significant role in my decisions as well.  I figure I can always make room but my wife would argue otherwise.  She also has some choice words concerning her opinion on what a great deal "in the long run" I'm getting.  I've looked at the Lincoln all for one pak which looks like one hell of a deal, but the price range is about $1400 beyond what I'll likely be able to spend.  At the same time is it smarter to just bite the bullet and get the Dynasty 200DX and check all the boxes at once?  All of that to say that I'm leaning towards the maxstar 150 stl in order to have everything I need (Gas/mask/apparel/consumables/etc...)  for $2k.  (right???)I'm going crazy here.  Can someone talk some sense into me.
Reply:Probably the best deal. AC adds $$$120v or 240v so you will be able to use it in a lot of locations.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:personally, i wouldnt worry so much as what to get as far as learning how to weld. it would suck to get a bada$$ machine and burn it up learning on it. first i would go to the local welding store and see if you can rent some oxy-acetyle tanks, something small to practice fusion welding. once you master the coordination and movement patterns (small circles, feeder rod angle etc.) then id move to tig. its alot easier to practice on cheap mild steel and use gas instead of burn up your electrodes and possibly become quite frustrated. (there is a slight learning curve, but become very easy with practice)at school all the kids wanna learn tig but dont have the patience to learn how to oxy-acetylene fusion weld so i never show anybody. the movement and coordination for oxy-acetylene fusion welding is dam close to tig, only you change the angles up abit. there is also a great deal of difficulty for people who are learning with contamination in the electrode, and how to properly sharpen and shape the electrode, as well as having the correct grinding wheel to sharpen the different electrodes for different metals. with tig your also throwing in a ria-stat, whether it be a pedal or a dial on the torch with makes for 3 variables at the same time.as far as tig welders, if your going to be doing a wide range of welding in the future with it, i would buy looking to the future. also i highly suggest high-frequency welders.I break things for a living...
Reply:I think you will be fine with a sub-200A machine, a miller sync 200 or the older 180SD would be a good choice.  Both AC/DC and right at the 200A range mark, plus if you ever come across the need to weld something heavy that you cant TIG then all you need to do is put a stinger on and stick weld it.As far as whether or not to get an AC/DC or DC only machine, I think if your going to do it, its not much more expensive to get one that can do both, and then you always have that option.  Plus with shops closing up now it really shouldnt be hard to find a cheap used one.  Also, I wouldnt count on the MIG for any aluminum needs, yes its an option but many times TIG is a better solution.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:I'll likely need an O/A set up in the future any how so, I think that is sound advice.  If I could effectively weld thin SS with one I would do it in a heartbeat considering the price difference between the rigs.  Only thing is I'm sure base housing would frown on my torch in the garage...  For what it's worth I've been going through the motions with my soldering iron.  As far as practicing feeding and tiny circles. I know, it's pretty much playing make believe and I'm a little ashamed to even say it, but anyway.  I know that controlling the puddle will probably be the biggest challenge, but I can't really practice that.  Seems like no one has anything bad to say about the maxstar 150, but what will I gain if I go with the 200 instead?
Reply:Sn0-he is Active Duty- the small weight and foot print of the Maxstar is ideal for him as well as the 120v/240v option.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Sure, I was just throwing out a suggestion.And no, you cant "effectively" do thin SS with a torch, it will look terrible and be very distorted.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:I certainly appreciate the advice.  Now I just need to go into fund raising hyper drive.  Probably going to sell one of my pistols to subsidize the purchase to speed things along.  Did I read some where here that the Maxstar 150 STH model was shocking people or am I crazy?  That seems very odd to me that any company would release a product that is potentially unsafe especially to someone with existing health risks to begin with or a pace maker or something.  I would really prefer the STH, but if I get my bolz lit up every time I use it I'll learn to perfect the scratch start...
Reply:Originally Posted by sn0border88Sure, I was just throwing out a suggestion.And no, you cant "effectively" do thin SS with a torch, it will look terrible and be very distorted.
Reply:Originally Posted by ShaunI certainly appreciate the advice.  Now I just need to go into fund raising hyper drive.  Probably going to sell one of my pistols to subsidize the purchase to speed things along.  Did I read some where here that the Maxstar 150 STH model was shocking people or am I crazy?  .
Reply:Notice I didnt say it couldnt be done, I know it can. (And I have done it)  I said for most applications its not effective, meaning there are better ways to do it.Notice how badly warped those coupons are?  Thats what I was getting at.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:smokin dodge is steerin you right. oa will serve you well and give you the basics of tig. if you are not into alumnum, 150 amps of welder should do what you are talking about and more. and you can stick weld with the tig machine.
Reply:I'll toss out one other idea for what it's worth. Have you looked at what resources are available on base?It always surprised me how few knew our base had a fully equipped wood shop that was open to any military personnel or their dependents. Heck some who didn't know lived right across the street from the place for almost 3 years before they found out. The next base over had a fully equipped auto hobby shop for use. Look into what sorts of "rec" facilities might be available to you. Hell we had a fully equipped 50yd action pistol range tucked away in a back corner of the base that almost no one knew about except the base Marines who used it to qualify. Open to any as long as they stooped at the security office, pulled the key and checked that it was not scheduled for training that day.Most installations have some sort of welding facilities on base. Motor pool, Ships maintenance, aircraft repair etc. Even if its not in your area, if you get to know the right people you would be amazed at what can open up for you. Our base had 2 piers. One was "public" and one was "restriced" for lack of better terms. You could not fish from the restricted pier. However you could fish from the boats tied up to the pier no problem. All you had to do was get a buddy who's boat was tied up there to bring you on as a "visitor" and you could sit on the deck in plain site and fish all day. Find out where the weld shop/s is on base and then go talk shop with who's ever there some time. Often guys are happy to make suggestions, give tips, BS in general and after a bit you just might be surprised that they hand you a torch and say "Here let me show you what you are doing wrong." or "Come back after 1600 and bring your stuff and I'll help you get it done." Talk to the grunts mostly, the guys who "git 'er done" versus the "authorities", everyone knows who does the real work.If you've got rank, all the better. You tell some officer or NCO that no he can't use that machine if it's not being used after hours and he's asking YOU for a favor. "Yes sir, we'll be done at 1600 hrs, Sir. Go right ahead, Sir."Last edited by DSW; 07-09-2009 at 02:30 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by sn0border88Notice I didnt say it couldnt be done, I know it can. (And I have done it)  I said for most applications its not effective, meaning there are better ways to do it.Notice how badly warped those coupons are?  Thats what I was getting at.
Reply:Originally Posted by ShaunI've looked at the Lincoln all for one pak which looks like one hell of a deal, but the price range is about $1400 beyond what I'll likely be able to spend.  At the same time is it smarter to just bite the bullet and get the Dynasty 200DX and check all the boxes at once?
Reply:Originally Posted by makoman1860The coupons arent bad, the picture just makes it look worse. So are the welds you have done the terrible looking ones? Maybe you just need some help with it?