Squarewave TIG 175 to start with?

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Hi all,My boss heard I'm looking for a welder for use at home and he offered to sell me the shop's old Squarewave TIG 175 since they don't use it at all now that they have an inverter machine.I know the amps are low, but I don't see myself using the TIG on heavy gauge material, likely more for things like custom bicycle frames, and hopefully one day a rollcage for a race car.  There is also likely to be a bit of aluminum welding as well, but not much.It this a good machine to get started with?  We haven't sorted out a price yet, but if it's a fair price, I know the machine has barely been used and has just sat there at work for years.  All the accessories would be included, I'd just need to get me a bottle of argon.Thanks,Jim
Reply:if it works  and you get a fair price sure would be a good starter machineidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:Ok good, so what would be a fair price for one in good shape?
Reply:depends on condition and what all comes with itmaybe 600-900 and how bad they want to sell and how bad you want seen them go for as low as 500 and up to 1200 usedright now one  on flebay is 1099with torch/leads an cartidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:Flash him $500 cash and see if he bites.
Reply:I just scored the same machine off of CL a month or so ago to start out on TIG. It's such a popular machine, Lincoln brought it back to market after being discontinued a few years back.Other folks on here have them and love them. I like mine as well, but it's the only TIG machine I have used.500-800 without a bottle would be a good ball park figure.Mine likes 2% Thoriated tungsten for steel, and 2% Lanthanated holds up nicely on AC for aluminum.Good luck!Lincoln Idealarc 250 (circa 1962)Lincoln Weldpak 155 w/Mig KitLincoln Squarewave TIG 175
Reply:This is one of the nicest stickwelders I have ever used.  For a home shop or beginner it is ideal.  As for Tig it doesn't come with all the advanced settings of the more expensive tigs but it works well for a beginner and lets you concentrate on practicing tig welding rather than adjusting multiple controls all the time.  As for current it is a little light for heavy aluminum welding but is fine for most steel, light aluminum and ss projects you will want to do."The reason we are here is that we are not all there"SA 200Idealarc TM 300 300MM 200MM 25130a SpoolgunPrecision Tig 375Invertec V350 ProSC-32 CS 12 Wire FeederOxweld/Purox O/AArcAirHypertherm Powermax 85LN25
Reply:So, did you buy it???
Reply:yes it will work for high-end bicycle frames...i picked mine up new in 93'ish while i was still painting for a super high end bicycle  manufacturer . I was very good freinds with the machinists, tig welders and everyone ther. I took the SW175 to the shop,  where a welder was  pleasantly satisfied with its capability of  welding $5000+ bicycles.        thermal arc 252i  -  millermatic 350P -   miller XMT, cp300ts, 30a 22a feeders, buttload of other millers, handfull of lincolns, couple of esabs  -   Hypertherm 1250 G3
Reply:I looked for more than a year and didn't see any SW175s for $500-800.  I bought mine earlier this year for $1000, with 2 x 125 cu/ft bottles, consumables, all leads and a cart (that I cut up into other projects with about 6 sq ft of 1/8" plate).  Works great for my needs.
Reply:I'd say you did okay, considering you got two decent sized bottles in the deal. PapaLincoln Idealarc 250 (circa 1962)Lincoln Weldpak 155 w/Mig KitLincoln Squarewave TIG 175
Reply:the ones i've seen have went for $700-$1000, usually on the upper end..they are solid performing machines.tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:I like mine, it's still far better than I am. Buy a WP-17 torch for it, it's a big improvement over the WP-9 that came with the original SW175. I still get it hot enough to burn my hand through the glove and need to go to water cooled for any serious duration welding.KevinHobart Handler 210Tweco Fabricator 181iLincoln Squarewave Tig 175
Reply:Theres a square wave 350 for sale locally.They are asking $475, no accessories.Do y'all think that's a good deal?Thanks,Aaron
Reply:Originally Posted by trackbirdI like mine, it's still far better than I am. Buy a WP-17 torch for it, it's a big improvement over the WP-9 that came with the original SW175. I still get it hot enough to burn my hand through the glove and need to go to water cooled for any serious duration welding.
Reply:I was looking at that same WP20 setup. It sounds like an excellent idea to me. The WP17 seemed like it would be enough torch, but it still gets hot. If it's in the budget, buy the water cooler. Also, you can buy a "ribbed" handle for the WP-9 that seemed to stay much cooler than the non textured handle that came on my torch. It's a cheap upgrade, but it helps cut the heat transfer to your glove down considerably.KevinHobart Handler 210Tweco Fabricator 181iLincoln Squarewave Tig 175
Reply:One advantage of the WP20 would be that it uses the same parts as the WP9 that you already have.
Reply:Originally Posted by welds4dOne advantage of the WP20 would be that it uses the same parts as the WP9 that you already have.
Reply:Jim, I've been learning on a SW175 over the past 5 months. I'm a full time frame builder, but only brazed frames until now. Being new to welding, it's been nice only having the current setting to worry about. I swapped out the torch for a CK130 pretty early on. I found the lighter weight torch and hose were easier to learn with. I also got a gas lens with the new torch. I find the extra tungsten stick-out is helpful to get in some of the tight spots around the frame.Here's a frame I was working on today. Anyway, let me know if I can be of any help.
Reply:@ jimmer & zank , will you guys keep me in mind when you need pro bike paint.....i painted at least 6 super high end hand-crafted bikes for the NAHBS texas bike show this weekend in Austin TX....plz remember me , PM me.  BTW , nice welding zank!!!        thermal arc 252i  -  millermatic 350P -   miller XMT, cp300ts, 30a 22a feeders, buttload of other millers, handfull of lincolns, couple of esabs  -   Hypertherm 1250 G3
Reply:You bet. I'll drop you a PM with contact info.
Reply:A little update here.  The boss apparently spoke to the shop foreman, who said he'd rather not sell the 175, since our other TIG is a DC only machine, and on VERY rare occassions, we do weld aluminum.  But, the icing on the cake was that the boss told me to just take it home when I need it, and as long as I don't need the machine living in my garage 24/7, it's all mine to use when I want.  I just have to get a cylinder of Argon for home, and my own consumables.
Reply:That's a great deal!