Analogue or digital for a inverter AC/DC TIG Welder?

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G'day from Australia.I am looking to get an AC/DC Tig welder.I've considered EVERLAST, TokenTools, and Unimig/Unitig, which are all around the same price as the features that I am after (AC/DC, pulse, 2T/4T). However there is a big sale coming up at a tool store near me and the unimig/unitig welders will be significantly cheaper.So I am  leaning towards the unimig/unitigs even though they have a shorter warranty (3 years standard compared to the 5 years of the others).. The distributor is 40 minutes from me so that's also a plus. However I am torn between which of the two AC/DC tig welders I want. (Analogue, or digital). With the sale, the digital is around $200 more expensive. The digital is also significantly less heavy and smaller - 10kgs (22lbs) compared to the 30kg (66lbs) with the analogue. I prefer the  analogue for ease of use (all dials are there, and I dont have to go through a menu to adjust the thing I want).However.. the digital one supposedly has auto protection so it'll shut down if it detects voltage fluctuation, overheating, etc. It'll supposedly last longer and be more reliable.. but I'm not really convinced.. I mean the more electronics, isn't it the case the more it can go wrong?The Analogue one (from the specs) has a better power factor (0.93 v 0.7 for the digital).The Analgoue one has a better insulation class (F compared to B). (I'm not sure if this is because the digital one produces less heat so is able to get by with less insulation?)The Analogue has pulse from 0.5-300hz compared to the Digital which is 0.2hz-200hz.. so the analogue has a wider pulse frequency) The Analogue has a lower duty rating (20% at 200A compared to the digital 25% at 200A).. But I mean I'd be using fewer amps than many (mostly trying to weld thin aluminium and stainless steel)What are your thoughts?Which one would most likely last longer outside of the warranty period? Without the sale, the digital one would be more expensive by $300-400. Full specs: This is the analogue machinehttp://www.unimig.com.au/userfiles/f...CDC-Manual.pdfTechnical DataPower Supply / Phases (V-Ph) 240V - 1 ±15%Rated Input Power (KVA) 5.8ieff (Amps) 14.6 (TIG)Rated Input Current (A) 24Rated Output 20-170A/26.8V MMA10-200A/17.4V TIGNo-Load Voltage (V) 56Duty Cycle @ 40ºC as per AS/NZ60974 20%@170Amps MMA20%@200Amps TIGEfficiency (%) 85Power Factor 0.93Protection Class IP21SInsulation Class FSize (mm) 510x330x360Weight (kg) 30KgWarranty 3 years on power sourceOverviewUTJRTROLLEYTrolley OptionWelds: Aluminium, Zinc Alloy,Carbon Steels, Alloy Steels, Stainless, Cast Iron, Bronze, CopperTIG 200Amp AC/DC Welding MachineSquare Wave, Pulse, Remote ControlAnd this is the digitalhttp://www.unimig.com.au/userfiles/f...CDC%20INFO.pdfTechnical DataPower Supply / Phases (V-Ph) 240V - 1 ±15%Rated Input Power (KVA) 6.0ieff (Amps) 15iMax (Amps) 29Rated Output 10-160A/26.4V MMA10-200A/18.0V TIGNo-Load Voltage (V) 68Duty Cycle @ 40ºC as per AS/NZ60974 30%@160Amps MMA25%@200Amps TIGEffciency (%) 85Power Factor 0.70Protection Class IP21SInsulation Class BSize (mm) 426x162x326Weight (kg) 10KgWarranty 3 years machine onlyCertification Approval AS/NZ60974.1
Reply:Had both unimigs and currently have 2 of the digital Razorwelds.Not bad machines but you get what you pay for. Also have a Miller Dynasty 200 which kills the unimigs but was 5 times the price. That's at my factory. At home I have the everlast 210ext which is wayyyy better than the unimig. Infact I can't tell a lot of difference between it and the Miller. The everlast was nearly double the unimigs price but less than half the Miller. I'm an Aussie too! Just about everyone sells unimig so the support is good. One of ours has been replaced 3 times but under full warranty so no cost other than inconvenience.
Reply:Wow,That digital UniTig/Razor 200 amp unit would be my pick between only those two. Like you mention, the size and weight is better. $200 is not much more. I like that it come with the hand amptrol, which has the contact switch separate from the amptrol, which is kinda cool, as on an Everlast 210EXT it works as a 4T switch and an amptrol, and when you're not moving the dial you know the amps are perfectly steady. 5 amp arc starts too.Have you ever TIG welded before? I haven't used a Jasic/Razor/Uni unit, but have an Everlast 210EXT, which I like, but it's the only AC TIG unit I've used. I also had an analogue DC TIG unit that I liked too, so, I don't think you'll miss the knobs much. Otherwise, it sounds like the Uni welders would be pretty good if you want to save money, and they apparently have good support on your continent too.But it sounds like Flightrisk has the best firsthand and meaningful experience with these units. So, if you're just getting started in AC/DC TIG, a "significantly" cheaper unit might be smart choice as a start, then later you may know better what would really serve you the best for whatever your welding goals are.Please let us all hear back on what you do get and how well you like it.
Reply:I appreciate the replies guys. I have not tig welded before, although i have been exposed to it somewhat.I was thinking if this machine breaks after the warranty period, I'd probably get a near top of the line TokenTools or an Everlast (whichever is cheaper for the specs).flightrisk, do you prefer the digital or the analogue? Are you better able to control the arc with the digital one or are they pretty similar?
Reply:Hey mate I found the control and actual welding on both the older unimig and the new razor one the same. I hate the control on the torch and only use a pedal. Personal choice. I agree with your earlier comment that on the analogue model you can see the settings from across the room. Does it matter? To me no but helps when learning a bit. To elaborate. I had an analogue unimig at home in my shed for cash jobs and fun. I wanted something slightly better so bought the everlast and love it.At work I have a Miller dynasty which is a ripper but expensive. We bought 2 Razorweld machines as a bit of an experiment to see how they go compared to the high end machines. They work well but we keep cooking them when ever we do a lot of ac welding. Luckily they have a 3 year warranty and they get replaced no questions asked! My opinion:Best value for money: Razorweld (especially if you're just starting out and only using it weekends ect)Better welder but a bit more expensive: everlast.Only choice for a serious business: Miller, Fronios, Kemppi, Lincoln etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by flightriskHey mate I found the control and actual welding on both the older unimig and the new razor one the same. I hate the control on the torch and only use a pedal. Personal choice. I agree with your earlier comment that on the analogue model you can see the settings from across the room. Does it matter? To me no but helps when learning a bit. To elaborate. I had an analogue unimig at home in my shed for cash jobs and fun. I wanted something slightly better so bought the everlast and love it.At work I have a Miller dynasty which is a ripper but expensive. We bought 2 Razorweld machines as a bit of an experiment to see how they go compared to the high end machines. They work well but we keep cooking them when ever we do a lot of ac welding. Luckily they have a 3 year warranty and they get replaced no questions asked! My opinion:Best value for money: Razorweld (especially if you're just starting out and only using it weekends ect)Better welder but a bit more expensive: everlast.Only choice for a serious business: Miller, Fronios, Kemppi, Lincoln etc.
Reply:Those are both Inverter machines, the only difference really is the interface being Analog or digital. many analog machines also are not really analog interface, as there is no potentiometers ect on the other side of the knob. its all digital sensors. depends on the machine of course.I have used both styles.   I like that fact that on analog i can adjust a setting while actually welding.   I can change the current or pulse rate etc with one hand while holding torch with other hand.   When I test the AHP machines before shipping them I do this with the torch in a holder over the metal.   can test most functions that way.    Not doable for most setting on a digital interface.Last edited by soutthpaw; 03-17-2016 at 11:49 AM.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