Mig/Tig

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I am looking for a mig welder that can be used for tig welding as well. Something that can weld up to .25" steel and around $1500-$1800. Any suggestions? (wired for 110v and 220v)
Reply:Well, at least you aren't picky!   Hmm, I'm going to have to do some thinking; nothing comes to mind right off the bat that meets all those requirements.Can you rank those requirements, in case we can't meet them ALL?
Reply:AC/DC Tig machine with a spool gunor look for two machines  since you wont  be using both at the same time  i like red whats your color
Reply:Esab Multimaster 160Everything you want except no 110V.Link to Esab website: http://products.esabna.com/index.htm...ategory_id/121John.
Reply:Originally Posted by jptbayEsab Multimaster 160Everything you want except no 110V...
Reply:The problem with trying to do MIG and TIG in the same machine is you need DC constant voltage for MIG and DC constant current for TIG (and AC to TIG aluminum).   Most machines are either constant-current or constant-voltage, few have both and the ones that do have both aren't usually inexpensive.   You also need a machine that has remote contactor/amp control capability so you have a way to turn the gas on and off and start and stop the arc and the wire (and vary the current for TIG).There are machines that will do MIG, TIG and stick from one powersource with all the right add-ons and even some that can do it all in one box...  However, I dont think you're going to find anything that will do both MIG and TIG and come complete ready to weld with the wire feeder and mig torch as well as the tig torch and amp control, in your stated Price Range, at least not new anyways, except possibly the HTP MTS160 or the ESAB machine mentioned above.  I dont see a connector for remote amp control to hook up a TIG foot pedal on either of those machines from the pictures. You may be able to find a DC or possibly AC/DC power source alone in that price range that will do both constant current and constant voltage with a connection for remote contactor/amp control, that you could later hook up a seperate wire feeder and torch to (or or a spool gun) for MIG, and an HF box, TIG torch and pedal to for TIG.   Or you can touch start the TIG and do without the HF box.   Seperate feeders and torches (or spool guns) are not all that cheap though and neither are high frequency boxes.    For used equipment, an old PowCon 300SMT or 400SMT is a good DC/CV/CC inverter powersource that runs on multiple voltages and phases (but not on 110v) that can do MIG with a seperate feeder and torch (or spool gun) and can also be used for DC TIG and stick.   They show up on EBay often.   I have a 300SM I use with an MK Cobramatic feeder and torch for MIG welding aluminum.   Supposedly it can be used for TIG too but I've never tried it.  It's more constant voltage than constant current but actually it's neither, it's a hybrid.  The SM machines' circuitry mimics constant voltage.   According to what the PowCon tech told me, the SMT machines' circuitry mimics both constant voltage or constant current, depending on which mode it's switched to. Here are some new power sources that can to it all (at significant cost)-Lincoln Powermig 350MP (DC/CC/CV, 200-575v, 1/3 phase, comes complete as MIG welder)Lincoln Invertec V350 Pro  (DC/CC/CV, 200-575v, 1/3 phase, power source only)Lincoln Power Wave 355M (DC/CC/CV, 200-575v, 1/3 phase, power source only)Miller XMT 304 and XMT 350 (DC/CC/CV, 208-575v, 1/3 phase, power source only)HTP MTS 160 (DC/CC/CV, 220v, single phase, comes complete as MIG welder)Thermal Arc ArcMaster 300 AC/DC (AC/DC/CC/CV, 200-460v, 1/3 phase, power source only).The HTP is probably the only one of the above that comes at all close meeting the price criteria.   See it at www.htpweld.com/products/mts/index.htmlThe Miller AC/DC Bobcat and Trailblazer series engine-drive machines as well as the Lincoln Ranger and Vantage series engine-drives can do both MIG and TIG too with the right additional equipment (and some $$)...My recommendation is to start out with a descent MIG welder that can weld most of the things you intend to weld and then later on get a seperate TIG welder after you've been welding for awhile and have a better idea of what things you want to be welding with a TIG machine.Last edited by DesertRider33; 11-05-2006 at 04:22 PM.
Reply:Thanks for the input guys! Maybe I'll hang with the stick welder for now and just get a tig machine.
Reply:DR33, good post.Now you see why I asked for a priority list for those "needs."  I didn't feel like typing out all those possibilities/sacrifices!JD, if you have a Stick welder, you have a TIG welder, too, already, just add a TIG torch with a gas valve and a bottle of argon and go to town.  Of course this will be scratch-start and not very good for aluminum, but you can do something if you want.
Reply:Someone on another topic said the sale price on the HTP machine I mentioned above is around $1200.   Sounds like a great price to me!  I dont know if that price includes the MIG and TIG torches or not, but it's worth checking into.. .
Reply:I know this topic is old but for someone searching for info this might be of help. The Miller Shopmaster (not inproduction anymore) is the only "do-all" machine that i could find. They can be found on e-bay for $1200-$1700 or more. I bought one for my shop used with a 22-a wire feeder for $1700. I was looking for the "plug in version" of my diesel Trailblazer 350 Pro. All of my accsorries are interchangable (12rc mig, 251-d high freq box, Al spool- gun w/ control box, etc.) A great machine AC/DC, CC/CV, SMAW,TIG MIG,CAC. everything. and a guy can still pick one up very reasonable and add on as he wants to. I see why Miller quit making them!! lol one machine that does it all. The new one with a similer name (Shop-something) is NOT A/C.
Reply:I agree with you Root Pass. My Shop Master is 20 yrs. old now and has been great. I am set up just like you with almost exactly the same equipment. Anything I can do on the Shopmaster 300A I can do on the Trailblaser.
Reply:There is always the chi-com units, but I wont recommend it, but they will be you best bet for the price.If it were me I would but two quality used units for the same amount.Me!