Miller Maxstar with lift arc for tig beginner?

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My buddy has a Maxstar with lift arc, a foot pedal & cylinders. He is moving and I asked him if he wanted to sell the stuff. He said to come look at it all on Saturday, I know he got a good deal when he bought it and I know he will give me a good deal.My question is, would this be a good choice for someone learning to tig? I also like the idea of the stick function in a small portable machine.Miller Challenger 172Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC 225/150Miller Maxstar 150 STLVictor 100CVictor JourneymanOxweld OAHarris O/ASmith O/A little torchNo, that's not my car.
Reply:Originally Posted by bigbMy buddy has a Maxstar with lift arc, a foot pedal & cylinders. He is moving and I asked him if he wanted to sell the stuff. He said to come look at it all on Saturday, I know he got a good deal when he bought it and I know he will give me a good deal.My question is, would this be a good choice for someone learning to tig? I also like the idea of the stick function in a small portable machine.
Reply:Yep like Shovelon said, they are nice tig machines to learn on. All you can adjust (assuming 150STL) is amperage and the welding type. (tig lift with remote/without. Stick)  Nice stable tig arc for welding steel and burns 7018 really well also.Airco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:Excellent machine all around, I've never tripped a breaker on mine even with standard 110v outlets and the torch gets too hot to hold even with stick gloves.I had the Invertig V160 which has hf and pulse in a slightly larger case.  I sold it because it needed a 20 amp outlet and while hf is nice, I never missed it on the Maxstar.
Reply:Until this job (using thermal arc crap boxes now) I've exclusively used the 150STL welders outside of the shop. From welding gate hinges on at a gas station to high purity sanitary pipe welding and everything in between. Those little machines are with their weight in gold. Lift arc is a very nice way to start the weld, but braking the arc without leaving a pinhole takes some practice. Buy it and love it
Reply:imo, no wide-range welding truck or small shop/garage is complete without one. my personal is held together with zip-ties and has been through god knows what to get there, and the company one I have personally seen dropped, soaked, stepped on, kicked. . . .they both work great but I have seen the gas valves go out on a good number of them. no biggy for me as I prefer a manual gas valve anywaybosses stuff:trailblazer 325maxstar 200my stuff:sa 200fronius transpocket 180100 amp Lincoln w/f97 f350 DITKevin
Reply:I love mine.  Great with a pedal for tig, though I hate the finger control.Great little stick machine.  Can't beat it.
Reply:Thanks everyone, sounds like this machine is a winner. I went and got it today. I knew I would get a good deal but I didn't expect the smoking deal I got. He gave me the Maxstar in the case with pedal, argon cyl with a regulator, a pile of consumables, a small OA setup with Smith regs and a Smith AW-1 aircraft torch, a Strong Hand corner vise, a Veritas 40" aluminum straight edge, A tubing bender (see my other post tonight) and a Miller Performance series auto darkening hood, all for $850. He just wanted to get rid of everything at once. Not sure what I'll do with the small OA cylinders as I already have two bigger sets. The Maxstar is an early model and does not have the interchangeable cord caps so I will be making up a pigtail tomorrow. Apparently it was never used on 230, my buddy used it mainly to build bicycles.Soon I will be posting up TIG questions.Last edited by bigb; 08-16-2014 at 11:19 PM.Miller Challenger 172Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC 225/150Miller Maxstar 150 STLVictor 100CVictor JourneymanOxweld OAHarris O/ASmith O/A little torchNo, that's not my car.
Reply:awesome! enjoy!and for the record, a 20amp 110 circuit will power you through all you would want, even 15 amps at 110 is pretty good if you don't go over 105 or so.my experience anywaybosses stuff:trailblazer 325maxstar 200my stuff:sa 200fronius transpocket 180100 amp Lincoln w/f97 f350 DITKevin
Reply:All for $850??  That puts you dangerously close to a "you suck" award Good luck with your new toys Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveAll for $850??  That puts you dangerously close to a "you suck" award Good luck with your new toys
Reply:Originally Posted by 92dlxmanawesome! enjoy!and for the record, a 20amp 110 circuit will power you through all you would want, even 15 amps at 110 is pretty good if you don't go over 105 or so.my experience anyway
Reply:You weren't hold a gun to his head when getting this deal ???Once you get used to lift start you will like it  ...I like it better than scratch start...it doesn't blow holes in your thin workBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:850? watch out for the cops cause you stole it!i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:awesome deal.... I use a newer 150STH daily and like mentioned worth its wait in gold.AWS 17.1, D1.1 and ASME IX (GTAW)Miller Syncrowave 350LX, Maxstar 150sth, Maxstar 200DX and  Millermatic 252 w/ Spoolmatic 30aMiller buzz box with Lincolin TombstoneThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38
Reply:You suck!!!!!!!!!!Killer deal!!!!!!!!!Puts me to shame!!!!