buying a welder for titanium work

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hi guys.  i've got a bunch of work in front of me welding titanium pipe. small, 1" pipe about 2mm thick - that sort of thing.i've mostly just done MIG welding, so i'm looking at getting a TIG, and my budget is pretty flexible on this, but i don't want to buy something that's overkill.i'm thinking a miller dynasty 280 DX would be a good fit. i'm looking for something relatively simple because i'm not a pro, and i like simple things. i'm just going to be focused on titanium and i hope to get okay at it, but i don't plan on becoming an expert at all sorts of different things, so the simpler the better as long as it can do the titanium work.anyway, is the 280 dx overkill for this? can i get away with something smaller/cheaper for titanium pipe work?
Reply:How about the 210
Reply:Yes it's overkill. **** you can use a harbor freight tig at $600 for what you need. Figure out what you really want in a welder. Is pulse important? Do you NEED to spend $5k to weld something only 2mm thick? Do you plan on doing aluminum?If it were me I'd get a small dc only tig like an everlast 160sth and a nice foot pedal and be well under $1k. But that's just me.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:If you've never TIG'd, you're setting yourself up for a steep learning curve due to Ti's very low thermal conductivity.  How are you going to attempt to control the severe oxidation/brittleness that will result when superheated titanium loses argon shielding coverage?  Can you afford to scrap the parts if you get severe oxidation/scaling? 1st on WeldingWeb to have a scrolling sig! HTP Invertig 400HTP Invertig 221HTP ProPulse 300HTP ProPulse 200 x2HTP ProPulse 220MTSHTP Inverarc 200TLP HTP Microcut 875SC
Reply:Originally Posted by OscarIf you've never TIG'd, you're setting yourself up for a steep learning curve due to Ti's very low thermal conductivity.  How are you going to attempt to control the severe oxidation/brittleness that will result when superheated titanium loses argon shielding coverage?  Can you afford to scrap the parts if you get severe oxidation/scaling?
Reply:AHP200x works nice on the little little bit of titanium I tried.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:Originally Posted by prefetchyep, i'm aware of the challenges of welding titanium.  i've read up quite a bit on it, and i'm sure i'll end up throwing away a lot of nice titanium while i'm learning.so i guess i should elaborate more on what i'm thinking - i want the option of working w/ aluminum (so need AC) and i also like the idea of a arc weld option as well to do simple 2x2 steel tubing welds w/o having to switch to a mig.but it sounds like for the type of welds i'm doing (relatively thin gauge) i should be fine a simple, relatively low power TIG machine - but if i want to add aluminum and/or steel, then i guess i'd just go into the general "shopping for a welder" mode.
Reply:If you can afford the dynasty 280 I would say go for that.   In the long run it will be cheaper when you want to upgrade from a cheaper machine  which will inevitably happen.
Reply:I agree with the dynasty 280 DX ....i have always subscribed to the school of "if you have more than you need, you will never be left waiting".  This applies to amps, consumables, features on welders. I have never looked around and multiple options and said "there are too many good way to do this" .... but i have definitely needed more amps / pulse features / options.Do the 280DX ... and if you dont like it, just send it to me.AWS CWI xxxx21711968 SA200  Originally Posted by WelderMike  I hate being bipolar, It's awesome.
Reply:yeah, maybe doing the 280 makes sense.  looking into more, i actually think i probably just the "regular" 280 and not the DX features.  save some money that way, and it's a simpler interface.
Reply:You say that you've researched the welding of titanium. Make sure that you do a lot more research. As many here have eluded to, there are a host of details that will determine the success or failure of your endeavor. Having pre-flow and post-flow abilities can be a very good thing with Ti, considering back-purging and trailing shields for your welding is another important area. Everything has to be clean, clean, clean, and before you lose/remove the shielding on what you are welding the temperature of the material has to be below the critical temperature of oxidation, that's why a proper titanium weld is absolutely silver without any color in or around the welded area. Gas lens are a must and bigger is better. Material identification and filler match can be very critical as well since a number of titanium types don't play well together. Well anyhow I believe that you get the picture. Good luck and best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:If you can afford it, I'd go with the 280dx.  I did.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...ere&highlight=My name's not Jim....
Reply:Originally Posted by prefetchyeah, maybe doing the 280 makes sense.  looking into more, i actually think i probably just the "regular" 280 and not the DX features.  save some money that way, and it's a simpler interface.
Reply:Originally Posted by soutthpawAHP200x works nice on the little little bit of titanium I tried.
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonHaving demoed the Dynasty280 I would definately go for the DX. It will take a little extra learning curve but what you learn will astound you with the flexibility and capabilities of the DX version, I did not like the CPS water cooled version and the drama that goes with thier CPS cooler and interface and added money, but that is me.
Reply:Originally Posted by prefetchso, here's the difference between DX and non-DX.  i put a red circle on them below.doesn't seem like that big of a deal to me - am i missing something?
Reply:Take a look at the faceplate of the standard version and then take a look at the faceplate of the DX. The standard version only gives you synergic funtion of the default programing that the DX just starts at. Not to say you can't do a lot with the standard, just that you are locked in to a box. Zank on this forum turned the programming upside down with his "Krazy" settings of which we have stored in our Dynasty 350s and 700. I was using it today. You can't program this way with the standard, and boy does the "Krazy" program work.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Cheaper to go with the dx now rather than later.My name's not Jim....
Reply:hm.  yeah, looking it over, the 280 DX isn't much more money, and even though the interface is a little more busy, after staring at it for a while, i guess it's not too bad.  i think i'm gonna go with the 280 DX.
Reply:I totally agree. If you are going with a 280, go for the DX. The interface is a snap, and the added adjustability is worth the additional cost. As others have said though, you don't need anything fancy for a power source to weld Ti. As long as the post flow is long enough and you have high freq start, you are fine with a basic machine. It's everything else that makes welding Ti interesting. The machine is almost the least consequential item on the list. Prep is number 1. Prep is number 2. Prep is number 3. Then you have gas coverage. Cleanliness is Godliness. General housekeeping is critical. Things you can get away with on other materials will get you into a heap of trouble with Ti. The "stickiness" of the filler can make learning on it frustrating (not to mention ridiculously expensive). Get your chops on steel, aluminum, and stainless. Practice your gas coverage on steel or stainless. If you can make steel nearly silver, you will be on a good path for titanium. And post your questions as you go! Good luck and have fun.Mike ZanconatoZanconato Custom Cycles @mzank on Instagram
Reply:I really done use or even like a lot of the extra stuff that u circled in red besides the peak and background amps. That alone make the dx worth it. Hell ac with a frequency above 85 or so is just plain annoying to me (the sound)Dynasty 200DX   (2014)Millermatic 211 (2015)Optrel 864   (2014)Smith Medium duty MBA 30510 (Xmas 2014)Tennsmith 16ga 4ft finger brake (2015)Trailblazer 325 EFI and excel Thermal dynamics Cutmaster 82Miller maxtron 450
Reply:When working with aluminum, those available AC settings together with the amplitude expansion available make a HUGE difference, as has been documented already. 1st on WeldingWeb to have a scrolling sig! HTP Invertig 400HTP Invertig 221HTP ProPulse 300HTP ProPulse 200 x2HTP ProPulse 220MTSHTP Inverarc 200TLP HTP Microcut 875SC