Looking to purchase a new tig

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Hello everyone.I have a old 175 squarewave tig and want to upgrade to a newer style tig for better aluminum welding.What is the best bang for the buck.Is Miller better than Lincon as the technology goes.Tony
Reply:I went through the same thought process deciding which rig to get and came upon a inverter Thermal Arc185 for a decent price $1700.00 floor model, everything but the pedal.Dont let the size fool you.I have to say, it is awsome. 5 presets for different welding parameters.Small in size but I say good bang for the buck.Saves on electrity too.I welded with big mamouth miller syncrowave 350 machine that takes up alot of space and electricity. This lil machine has better features. You can set it to do all kinds of processes. I did look up Japan manufacturers web sites and found the TA185. It is really rated at 200amps and I also believe that Thermal Arc pretty much just puts there logos on the machine or gets the factories to do it. Made in Japan on the back of my machine.I had a cicuit board go out on the miller sync 350, so I can't say nothing about other machines as for as dependability, it just depends.Knowing that this TA185 is computerized and have small circuit boards, I vacuume out the grills after welding with itand keep grinding sparks and fine metal dust from the machine as much as I can.I welded my first beer can just to prove I can do it plus hand eye dexterity practice.I did buy a cheap Lotus 5ohm foot pedal for $69.Total of $100.00 after all shipping and parts for plug. Works great, just had to put a different plug.Good luck with what ever you decide.Last edited by cmartman46; 08-24-2009 at 10:03 PM.Reason: add to.THE OLDER I GET! THE  SMARTER MY DAD WAS!Thermal Arc 185 inverter Tig welderABITIG 26  tig torchLotus foot pedalLincoln 225 stick welderClark 185SG Mig spoolgunwelderVictor torch/regulatorsHF36" shear,bender,roller.
Reply:As for as new technology, look up "made in china.com" and see where Lincoln and Miller are made. some are built in Maylasia,China,Pakistan,Japan ect.It's all about computers technology now a days.Hopefully the prices will start coming down one day.THE OLDER I GET! THE  SMARTER MY DAD WAS!Thermal Arc 185 inverter Tig welderABITIG 26  tig torchLotus foot pedalLincoln 225 stick welderClark 185SG Mig spoolgunwelderVictor torch/regulatorsHF36" shear,bender,roller.
Reply:I had a SW175 for a while, nice machine.When I decided to upgrade I searched the used market. I found a SW255 that had been doing light manufacturing duty for a very reasonable price. You need to determine what you want as far as features, and then compare what's available.The Red vs. Blue noise is like Ford vs. Chevy. The one that suits your needs is the right color. If I get to where I want/need another machine, I'm going to look closely at inverter units, but for now, my transformer unit gets the job done.Rex
Reply:Originally Posted by rode2rouenThe Red vs. Blue noise is like Ford vs. Chevy. The one that suits your needs is the right color. Rex
Reply:For mw it came down to price. When I bought my tig last December the Miller Syncrwave 200 was 2650.00 and the Lincoln PT225 was 2150.00. This is Canadian pricing and neither price included tax which was 14% at the time. I love the Lincoln but if the price were the same when I bought, I would have had the Miller. Both are very equal machine but the Miller does have a little better duty cycle and a couple other options.Just my 2 cents here.  Good luckMiller DVI2Lincoln Precision Tig 225Thermodynamics Cutmaster 38Everything else needed.
Reply:Thank you everyone inputs.I have been eyeing the miller econotig.Seems it has plenty of power.I will be using the new tig mostly on aluminum.Need somthing that can weld 5/16 aluminum without melting the torch.Tony
Reply:Originally Posted by cmartman46I went through the same thought process deciding which rig to get and came upon a inverter Thermal Arc185 for a decent price $1700.00 floor model, everything but the pedal.Dont let the size fool you.I have to say, it is awsome. 5 presets for different welding parameters.Small in size but I say good bang for the buck.Saves on electrity too.I welded with big mamouth miller syncrowave 350 machine that takes up alot of space and electricity. This lil machine has better features. You can set it to do all kinds of processes. I did look up Japan manufacturers web sites and found the TA185. It is really rated at 200amps and I also believe that Thermal Arc pretty much just puts there logos on the machine or gets the factories to do it. Made in Japan on the back of my machine.I had a cicuit board go out on the miller sync 350, so I can't say nothing about other machines as for as dependability, it just depends.Knowing that this TA185 is computerized and have small circuit boards, I vacuume out the grills after welding with itand keep grinding sparks and fine metal dust from the machine as much as I can.I welded my first beer can just to prove I can do it plus hand eye dexterity practice.I did buy a cheap Lotus 5ohm foot pedal for $69.Total of $100.00 after all shipping and parts for plug. Works great, just had to put a different plug.Good luck with what ever you decide.
Reply:If you want to weld alot of 5/16" aluminum and not melt the torch and heat up your hand, definately go with a water cooled torch, minimum 250 amp class.The EconoTIG is not going to be enough machine for 5/16 aluminum.   You need a Syncrowave 250 if you want a Miller transformer tig sized for thicker aluminum.  The 350 would be better.   If you want an inverter, then a Thermal Arc 300 or Dynasty 300 (older) or 350 (newer) will do the job nicely.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I agree with DesertRider33. An EconoTig isn't going to do the job. A 250 amp machine would be great but the Syncrowave 200 or Lincoln PT225 will get the job done as well. You just need to watch the duty cycle a little if doing a lot.Miller DVI2Lincoln Precision Tig 225Thermodynamics Cutmaster 38Everything else needed.
Reply:Not meaning to be unpatriotic, but "made in Japan" used to something to avoid. But now days, it CAN mean quality. And yes, Chinese products seem to be the old Japanese as far as quality goes.I avoid third world countries stuff if at all possible.I pee blue.Oz
Reply:Dangest post I've seen lately.OP states that he's currently using a 175A squarewave machine for tig welding, but wants something to do a better job of welding 5/16" aluminum.Then says he thinks the Econotig seems to be the right machine???????Makes one wonder if he ever even downloaded the specs for an Econotig (150A @ 30% DC---not even rated for 3/16" aluminum)DR33 came the closest with a reply.  OP needs a 250+ Amp machine to do what he desires.Then along comes cmartman with a BS recommendation for the TA185 (BTW, the TA 185 IS a 185A machine, not a 200A).  This also is not enough machine for the OP's needs.  Then cmartman throws out a bunch of BS (totally untrue) about Miller and Lincoln machines being made in China (shows how uninformed some of our posters are).Overall, I'd say the OP has done little or no homework on his own, and the advice/guidance he's gotten here has been just about useless.  DR33 did come the closest.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:I agree, the op needs to sit on the internet a while and do some reaserch, Cant agree on the decisions he has made so far, but whatever, it is his money and we cant tell him what to do with it.I would suggest as well, getting a dynasty 300 or 350 for an inverter, or looking at the syncs and precision tigs 250A and above for transformers.Miller Dynasty 300dxSpeedglas 9002XMiller Spectrum 375 XtremeLincoln PowerMig 255xtLincoln PowerMig 140cMilwuakee Portaband