Looking at getting a used TIG

admin

Greetings.I apologize in advance for putting up another "which one" thread but I would like input from experienced welders.I am trying to get into an evening TIG class but there is nothing available until spring. In the mean time I am looking to purchase a TIG welder to play with and have found the following in my price range ($1200 or less):Used:Lincoln SW 175Synchrowave 300 (no pulser)Airco branded 330 APBAirco Dialarc HFMiller Dialarc HFMiller 330a BP (self starting)New:Miller Diversion 165All used machines (save for the SW175) come with cooling units and are in good working condition.My goal will be to weld aluminum up to at least 3/16" and eventually 1/4".So of those machines is there one that stands out?  Any that I should stay away from?  The Diversion and SW175 are a bit on the light side for 3/16" but if they are better to learn on then I can either re-sell or keep it for a mobile unit and get a bigger machine later.Thanks for the input.Mark
Reply:I've got the Airco Heliwelder (Built my Miller -320abp) Paid 450 with everything - tungstens, a big pile of filler rods, a spare miller foot pedal and they loaded it. Heavy and a bit oversized. It's older than me, and will probably last longer than I will. The welders who worked for me on the last job came over and gave it a workout. No complaints from them or me. Craigslist... hit or miss as you may know. Test it in place no matter what.I can remember in the 7th grade my mom said "people will offer you drugs" by the 10th grade I was like, "where the hell are these people?"
Reply:IMO take it for what its worth haha i have a 1955 Gold star , freebie , welds great . I also have a 1976 miller 360 a/bp , i paid 100 bucks for it on craigslist . Having said that ive been welding daily for about 15 years and i tell ya what the two machines are quite a bit older then i am and are still running strong , granted the miller 360 pulls 250 amps at the wall on 230 volt single phase when maxed out i dont run it maxed out ive never needed to kick it into second gear hardly as it maxes out at 800 amps with 600 amp 100% duty cycle . so what im trying to say is ....... save your money learn to use a machine that u can afford dont go out and buy the diversion or the dynasty or the shiniest thing u can find !!! my choice would be the airco or the miller 330 ... reason why ..... there easy to fix not much can go wrong with them and u can do alot with them there big and ugly just like meconsumables can get expensive and if u spend that 1200 on the welder it dont leave much for toys to use with a new aquired machine !I forgot how to change this.
Reply:oh ya u wanna see a pic of the miller i have check it out on my website lolI forgot how to change this.
Reply:I wish I could find deals like you guys in my area.  Even the old stuff is going for $1000 here in the NW.
Reply:You should be able to find a Synchrowave 180 for under $1200 if you are patient.  Simple controls, AC and DC, High Frequency, runs happily on a 50 amp 230V circuit.   A more or less modern machine, I sure liked mine.  Not very big, 200 pounds.  You can weld pretty much any material with it, up to 1/8 thick or 3/16 thick.Don't discount stick welding (Diversion does not have it), very useful for heavier steel.RichardSculptures in copper and other metalshttp://www.fergusonsculpture.comSyncrowave 200 Millermatic 211Readywelder spoolgunHypertherm 600 plasma cutterThermal Arc GMS300 Victor OA torchHomemade Blacksmith propane forge
Reply:i saw a sa 200 on craigslist for 700 today i emailed twice said i had cash still no response lol , be patient something will popI forgot how to change this.
Reply:I also bought a Tig welder because I wanted to learn to Tig. I stumbled into a deal on a Tig but missed it, then I found another deal on the exact same model and grabbed it. I had very little info on how to tig or what I needed to know, but I jumped in anyway. I wound up with a used Lincoln Square Wave Tig 175 complete with a small bottle for about $700. It's in great shape and welds far better than I do. I upgraded the torch and then bought a WP-17 as another upgrade. It's a decent machine for learning to tig, though I wish I had more power at times (overkill is just right). If you can find a deal on one, it's a reasonably capable machine (within the limits of a 175 amp tig) and you can learn plenty while using it. It will stick weld and weighs about 200 lbs. My friends who Tig for a living have laid down some outstanding beads with it (my work is getting close to being "passable" these days) so I know the machine really does weld. It's a basic machine (no balance control, etc) but it also saves some confusion. Just plug it in, set it up and start practicing. I am finding that I might like to try pulsed Tig, but I'm still pretty far behind the curve on Tig in general so I have plenty of work to do before it ever becomes an issue.KevinHobart Handler 210Tweco Fabricator 181iLincoln Squarewave Tig 175
Reply:I have a syncrowave 300. I got it about 8 years ago on fleabay and it has been very reliable, they only prob I have ever had was the main power switch wore out. It's got tons of power (400 amps at WFO). A few draw backs: no fan-on-demand so the big fan runs all the time, the pulser doesn't really work great when using a remote control (it seems more designed for a mechanized purpose), needs 70 amp circuit for full power (I only have a 50 amp circuit but only rarely do I pop the breaker). I would not consider getting anything less than 250 amps, one without a water cooler, or one without a balance control.Ian TannerKawasaki KX450 and many other fine tools