TIG Recomendations

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There seems to be many TIG welders to choose from! The recent thread from John V showed his recent purchase, along with some sample welds. It may be my opinion only, but there may be many people (like myself) that would like some guidance in choosing a TIG setup. Can we get a thread going with people showing what they have purchased or what they are using, pros & cons, maybe some pictures and a recommendation of who to purchase from? Maybe this site could go to a supplier and get a bulk price if we all buy from this source (only a suggestion)? Post your thoughts.hd_74al
Reply:I purchased the HTP Invertig 201 setup. It came with all accessories, flowmeter and 17 series air cooled torch. Since then I have upgraded the torch to a 20 series water cooled torch with a Benard water cooler purchased off eBay. I paid $2200 for the tig setup and about $300 for the water cooled setup. I have used this setup for about a year and can't say enough good things about it. I chose the 201 over the Thermal Arc 185 because of the higher amperage and better duty cycle. I built the cart to hold the whole package to wheel around my shop as necessary. Attached ImagesTiggerAaronHTP Invertig 201w/ CK-20 torch and Bernard ChillerHTP MicroCut 300 plasma cutterLincoln R3S-325 w/ TA 17A Wire FeederVictor Super Range II O/A kitClausing/Colchester 13X40 LatheBridgeport 9X42 Mill
Reply:I absolutely love my TA185.  TiggerAaron, how does the HTP compare to the TA185 feature wise?
Reply:Other than the max amperage and duty cycle, there really isn't much difference between them.TiggerAaronHTP Invertig 201w/ CK-20 torch and Bernard ChillerHTP MicroCut 300 plasma cutterLincoln R3S-325 w/ TA 17A Wire FeederVictor Super Range II O/A kitClausing/Colchester 13X40 LatheBridgeport 9X42 Mill
Reply:I was welding some thicker aluminum and was really glad I bought a 300 amp unit. I also finally got around to getting a cooler also. The torch and cooler are a Binzel. It sure looks like a Miller.The torch is wonderful with the superflex cables. I like this Thermal over the new style controls because it is much faster to adjust on the fly. Attached Images
Reply:Scott:This looks like a nice setup! If you don't mind me asking what kind of $$ are we talking? Supplier? Another question- it would appear that people start off with an air cooled torch and then immediate change to water cooled. What are the main differences between the two?hd_74al
Reply:Air cooled vs. Water cooled is simply due to the ability of the torch to be cooled. If your welding hi amps on an air cooled torch it will start to heat up in your hand. You'll then have to pause and wait for the torch to cool off or grin and bear the heat. Water cooled torches can handle the higher amp loads without heating up your hand because it transfers heat better to the liquid.
Reply:So! it would be much the same as how a brass torch heats up when doing gas welding? hd_74al
Reply:The tungsten last way longer with a water-cooled setup. It has a way less tendency to spit  particles.There is only a few old style gtsw machines left so I think the 300  TSW is about the only option. The problem with the 300 type machines is they cost over double what a 185 package cost for a  machine only.The thing about the Thermal is that it is made in Japan by Sanrex. Thermal used to have Italian stuff but ditched them in favor of this company. That does not mean Italian make bad stuff either because I have a esab Italian inverter that works nice.
Reply:I picked up a used Miller Synrowave 180 back around December to break into TIG (paid about $950 or so).  I've got an aircooled torch and want to look into the watercooled setup.  The aircooled torch gets plenty hot even on steel.  I can't imagine how hot it gets on alum.TOOLandFAB.com See our Articles and Member Writeups and Tool Review Sections
Reply:I just bought a Miller 330 for $315 on eBay. It was from a fabrication company that was downsizing.  Fortunately the company was local to me (SouthEast Michigan) because this unit is 900 pounds!  Made for a really interesting pick up.  I had them put it on a pallet on its side with the bottom facing the tailgate of my F150 pickup.  When I got home, I MIG'ed on some 8" solid rubber wheels. Two stationary wheels on the bottom and two casters on the front.  It's really cool! ....now i can move it around no problem!Getting it out of the truck was done by using a chain fall.On the subject of cooling:  I do not know for sure if this is true for all TIG welders, but I learned in my welding class that water cooling is required to keep the torch wire from burning up.  Some of the welders use a smaller gauge wire in order to gain more flexibility....hence, the wire is not so rigid.  One example is on the Miller Dynasty TIG machines: The cable is so thin that it will burn up in about three seconds if the water pump is not functioning. YIKES!Joe Wino...Homebrewer & Winemaker...Miller 330 TIG, LTech MIG
Reply:sounds like a fun move embedded guy hahaha.....would u say it was a good deal for 315$ because the only ones i have seen for that price are really bad quality and old and jsut heat up so quickly they are not worth buying....
Reply:I picked up a Miller 330 off eBay recently also. You can't afford to ship one so, if it's not local, forget it. Mine is a 1969 edition and was just about clean enough to eat off the inside. It was bare but I've found accessories also. I've got about $500 total with remote, water cooled torch, water cooler, bottle and regulator, and the welder with cart. Pretty good deal for somebody like me that can't justify a couple of grand for a new machine.
Reply:Actually what happens when you run a water cooled torch with the pump off is not that the wire burns up- its that the wire burns a hole thru the rubber or plastic hose, and then, if you turn the pump on, you have a fountain. And a water cooler pump will pump that gallon or two of antifreeze onto the shop floor in a minute, at the most. Then you have to go buy a whole new 3 hose set for 75 bucks. Dont ask me how I know this, or how many times I, and the guys who work for me, have done this.Also, draping your water cooled tig torch hose over a red hot piece of just welded metal is not a good idea- it also can result in a little water fountain action.
Reply:The 330 i purchased works great ...and also put about $250 more into it for wiring, argon tank & regulator.  The only thing left for me now is to get some more stainless material to build a beer brewing stand.  ....but that will be  a whole new thread for posting.Joe Wino...Homebrewer & Winemaker...Miller 330 TIG, LTech MIG
Reply:You might want to think about the amperage draw when purchasing a machine.  An inverter like the HTP Invertig 201 or the Thermal Arc 185 will run on 30 amps.  The Lincoln 185 or Miller 180 will need about 70 amps if you are running wide open.  If you buy one of the old sine wave machines like the 330 Miller, you better have a power company next door!!  They really draw the power.