Buying another machine

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Im a hobbyist.  My first welder was a 110v mig Italian machine POS that has actually worked OK for years.  I purchased a Lincoln ac/dc 225 from a local welding shop around 5 years ago but never used it until 2 months ago when the need to weld a new bucket on my 1958 Ford 851 tractor arose.  Then i got the bug.Since then, i have purchased a tig torch, a foot pedal, a full size Argon tank and regulator.   I also bought a slightly used Miller HF-251D-1 from eBay.  I have them set up in a fixed position in my garage.  DC tig welds are ok, but the Aluminum ones look more like a stack of turds than dimes.  I do use the continual high frequency for the Aluminum, but im really not so sure where to keep the dial set.   The aluminum welds either have little penetration or blow the piece apart.Being i will only be playing around and doing repairs for myself and friends, im not sure whether to upgrade or not.   I certainly have the "bug" to lay down a stack of dimes on Aluminum.My options are:Stay with my setup and deal with itBuy a new Diversion 165 and keep the Lincoln for stickBuy a Barely used EconotigBuy a Lincoln Square wave 175.  Sorry for the long winded thread.  Im sure that alot of the not so great welds are my fault and not the machines, but its tough to know how much is the machine.  Thanks.
Reply:I would make sure that whatever machine I got was capable of AC/DC and stick.  The Diversions will not stick, the Econo has been discontinued and the Lincoln machines are looking the best price and feature wise sue to that.  Keep the buzzbox and HF 251 and learn to tig mild steel firstm then move into aluminum.  Much easier to learn and once you have it you have it with no going back to relearn something .  Use middle range Mild steel, not thin stuff so you can see the puddle and have a little time to react, then move into all the different positions.  Once you have that mastered, try some thinner and thicker mild, then move into alli again in the mid thickness range and do the same thing you did on mild.  Worked good for me.  I'm not a super welder, but I do manage to get it all together and it stays so I must be doing something right.  Good luck and have fun.BobI'm spending my Kids inheritance, I dont like him that much anyway!!!!!!Enuff tools to do the job, enough sense to use em.Anybody got a spare set of kidneys?  Trade?
Reply:If you want to tig alum, be sure you get enough machine. You'll need at least 150 amps to tig 1/8" alum. The Lincoln 175 is borderline on power for alum in my opinion. That or an older Syncrowave 180 would be the smallest machine I'd suggest. You probably want to get at least a 200 amp capable machine like a Syncrowave 200. That will allow you to tig 3/16" with no issues and do a bit of 1/4" with the right prep. Another good choice is the TA185. Keep your eyes open on CL. I see used Syncrowave 180/200's listed all the time and a few sync 250's here and there. If the buget is tight, don't be afraid of a older industrial machine like Zaps Miller 330 A/BP. They are simple, big, heavy and power hungry, but you will have plenty of amps and I've seen them with a water cooled torch for $500-800 regularly..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:Thanks for the replies.  My ac/dc buzzbox is rated at 225A and 125 dc output.   The HF unit is rated to 250A.  Id love a synchrowave, but it looks like anything over the 200 is gonna require a 100 amp circuit, plus theyre so heavy that the shipping on ebay can be north of $500.  The diversion 165 looks OK, but i cant stick weld with it and the duty cycle is low.  There's a Lincoln squarewave on ebay now with reasonable shipping.  Theres also a Hobart Cybertig 300 for sale for a good price and its local.  It says "3 phase" but all the searches ive done show it can be wired for single phase. I can probably get near $800 for my current setup as its all like new condition.  I get he itch to just sell it, invest in a dynasty and be done.
Reply:Theres also a L-Tec Heliarc 304i Welder for sale within 75 miles from my home.  Also the same issue of being wired for 3 phase.
Reply:most you cannot wire for 1 phase if its a 3 phase machine and if you do you will lose some of the weld rating on it.    I would say go for a 225 amp machine like a lincoln 225 square wave pro  I had the 175 pro and sold it cuz just not enough machine for 1/4 inch stuff.   for thin stuff a newer machine that has an AC balance will help with your current issues on aluminum.   however your issue definitely sounds like the power source you are usingIf its a transformer machine u are going to need lots of amps.   I agree with DSW about getting an old 330abp miller or Airco 300 (same machine) that I have.  they are great machines.  low range is 5 to 45 amps so u get a lot of control for thin stuff.  several folks here have said they run fine on 50 Amp curcuit if you only use low or medium which still takes you up around 250 amps.   they can be bought very cheap,    they do weigh about 950lbs..   one reason they weld nice is due to all that copper in them.Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:as for shipping I had a 1500 lb band saw shipped as well as a Maxtron 450 which is as heavy as most welders your gonna come across for less than $250 and the bandsaw is BIG it will cut 10" X 18".  freightquote.com is how I shipped both of them.  it was easy and pretty cheap considering the Bandsaw came from Arizona to Maryland for under $250.  And you can go to the site enter the info and get instant free quotes,  actually you will get a page of multiple quotes and pick which carrier you want to use and price ya want to pay.  Key is picking the most accurate Lowest "Freight Class Number" you can the lower the number the better the price.  Welders are cheap because they are compact and heavy.  They will verify the freight class though so ya have to get an accurate number.  You can google Freight Class numbers to get a good list and pick the best "lowest" one you can useLast edited by rbmedic75; 07-10-2011 at 09:36 PM.Hypertherm PM 1000 on a CNC TableMiller Maxtron 450 - S52A series feederHobart Handler Lincoln 155 (my sons he's 11)looking to sell or Trade a RFC-23A foot pedalCustom diesel parts fabricator
Reply:hi looking at a L-Tec Heliarc 304i Welder, any one know is this a HF unit, has anyone used these any info app