Suggestions for a Tig Machine

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Looking for suggestions on TIg machine, I have read a bunch of threads but still could use some help. I am NEW to Tig and have a local person who will teach (he did production work for years but always used what the companies had, high end stuff). Currently have two Migs and a plasma cutter.Would like to have the ability to do aluminum.Mainly light weight less than 1/4 steel, automotive stuff.House has 200 Amp service, 50 amp largest breaker. 110 or 220 is fine.Simpler, easier to use the betterThinking no harbor freight suff, question and Longevity Weld-ALL 60PI (have heard the I may want to reconsider this approach).  Any thing realistic for $1000-2000 from a GOOD company like Miller, Lincoln, Hobart? Suggestions?
Reply:If you want to do alum, you want to look at a machine capable of at least 180-200 amps that can do AC tig. This for all practical purposes means you will need a 220v unit. You want that extra top end power so you have a  decent duty cycle at 150 amps. Miller's Diversion 180 to me is underpowered for alum because of it's very low duty cycle at the top end, and you give up too many options like the ability to adjust your balance and be able to stick weld as well. The syncrowave 180's or 200's are a better choice. At $2K you are just under what one of those would run you new. $2300 is a safer number most likely new. Used you can pick these up for $1100-1500 no problem if you keep your eyes open.Hobarts EZtig is basically the same as Millers Diversion 165 and has the same disadvantages as Millers Diversion 185 except with less power and you can not use it on 110v power.Note for alum you really need at least 150 amps to do 1/8" and none of the 110v capable machines can give you this on a 20 amp 110v line. Millers Dynasty 200 the best out there, will do it on a 30 amp 110v line, but if you are running a dedicated 30 amp line, you might as well run it in 220v and have all the power available rather than just some. A new Dynasty will set you back $4k unfortunately as well. Used they run about $2600 and up.If you drop the need to do alum, then Millers Maxstar 150  would give you a great machine in your price range new. It will do  say 1/8" steel on 110v power, and more on 220v and is a nice little stick machine with 7018. Used these run less than $1K and the Maxstar 200's, an even nicer unit, can sell for less than $2K used.Older larger machines like the 330's will really want more than a 50 amp breaker, but you can run them on the lower end on a 50 most times if they don't have the PFC's installed. Used they run $500-800 frequently. They are big and heavy, but a nice machine. Do a search and you'll find any number of guys here who have gotten one in the last year or so.The older TA 185's were a very popular machine with guys here. I haven't heard enough feed back on the newer TA units yet to form an opinion on them, but they are machines I'd at least look at in your price range. New the TA 185's were about $2K same as the Syncrowave 200's at the time. I'd guess the TA's in the same catagory would be at the top of your price range from that. If I'd known more about the TA 185 when I bought my Syncro 200, I would have looked real hard at it as well. It would have been a toss up which I'd have gotten, though I'd lean slightly towards the Syncro simply because thats whats easily available locally.Lincolns have never been a big seller in my area for some reason. Most likely brand loyalty, and what most places here stock. I can't comment on models here, but I'd have no problems with a Lincoln model with the same options as my Syncro 200 for what you want to do..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I can recommend the Thermal Arc 185 or 200. i'm 100% satisfied with my thermal arc 185, couldnt be any happier with it...Mine is an older one like dsw stated. I think the only differences in the old ones and new ones are the newer ones have a job save or save settings features.. so you can save settings for say 1/8"steel, 3/16 aluminum, 3/16 stainless and so on..  i think you can save like 5 setups, my older ta185 doesnt have this feature.. i wouldnt be scared of a lincoln precision tig 225 either..tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:As you are not using it for business an Everlast or Longevity might be an option.. I would also say go for a 250amp machine if you want to do any amount of 1/4" Al.  Just watch CL etc.   you can find a nice used Lincoln, miller esab etc. in your price range.  make sure you can test "All" the functions before buying.  AKA take your neighbor with you if the seller is not able to demonstrate "all the functions"  be prepared  to pay a bit more for a fully testable machine than one where the seller says "it worked last time I used it" but have no way to test or demo it for you...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:Get one of these.http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/tls/2669164155.htmlCity of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:I have the miller diversion 180, but have only tried it out on 1/8 aluminum. With a cold piece of 1/8" flatbar, I initially had the machine on 110A, 110V incoming power. Took a few seconds to puddle up, but once i got to rolling and got my piece got hot, it really was too hot on the machine. Backed it down to 75 and it did well. then I tried a T-joint joining the same thicknesses as above, one piece already hot. Had to turn the machine up to 115A to get the AL hot enough to weld. I welded as fast as I could on some scrap aluminum on 110V and never thermally loaded the machine or the circuit (20 amp breaker) to my knowledge. I have however took the factory torch and the "anaconda" for a power cable and remote off and replaced with a 25' weld craft 17, and a switch so that I start, stop/bring out mounted on the 17 torch. Lost the reostat but I can still plug my foot pedal in.These new inverter machines are getting nicer and nicer. Also with this machine on aluminum, it doesn't ball the tungsten?Miller Bobcat 225Miller Diversion 180 - sold searching for a DynastyHobart TigmateMillermatic Challenger 172
Reply:Originally Posted by gcnettlI have the miller diversion 180, but have only tried it out on 1/8 aluminum. With a cold piece of 1/8" flatbar, I initially had the machine on 110A, 110V incoming power. Took a few seconds to puddle up, but once i got to rolling and got my piece got hot, it really was too hot on the machine. Backed it down to 75 and it did well. then I tried a T-joint joining the same thicknesses as above, one piece already hot. Had to turn the machine up to 115A to get the AL hot enough to weld. I welded as fast as I could on some scrap aluminum on 110V and never thermally loaded the machine or the circuit (20 amp breaker) to my knowledge. Also with this machine on aluminum, it doesn't ball the tungsten?
Reply:I was in the same boat a few years ago.  I ended up with a LE Precision Tig 225.  Good for 0-230 amps, has a TIG pulser, AC auto balance for cleaning vs penetration. Not telling you to "buy what I bought". But, it was very easy to learn on and make adjustments. Some machines have so many adjustable parameters that it is easy to get way off track and into trouble for a novice.  I have had zero trouble and am very happy with what I got.But, keep checking around and, if possible, try several out. Everyone is different and one may be the easiest for you.  Good luck on your search.
Reply:When I was looking for my tig I looked at both the Lincoln Precision185 and the Miller 180SD. I ended up getting the Lincoln over the Miller due to the pulser. I have been very happy with it and I have had no issues so far. I did add a smaller torch which I use when doing tubing and thinner material (rated to 125 amps) but that is more of a comfort issue than anything wrong with the torch it came with. Sticking with the quality brand is always best I think. Good luck in your search.
Reply:Thanks for all the info. I have been looking on craigslist. For what they seem to be asking, I may be better off going new. Then I still need to find a tank.
Reply:Any feedback on this machine, found locally. Thermal Arc 300gms dc invertor.
Reply:I don't think that does AC so no aluminum tig welding unless you are only doing thick Al and plan on using helium on DCTiger 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:Ya know i bought a everlast power pro 256 and have been running it fairly hard especially the plasma function. I gotta say its a great machine really I'm using a their flex head air cooled torch and I dont have any complaints all the tig functions work awesome in fact i just did some pulsed tig work on some 1/4 inch mild steel edges today worked sweet.
Reply:I ended up finding a Miller Syncrowave 180 SD and bought it tonight. It is used and looks almost like new. May have paid a little more than average but I thought the guy was real decent. He included tips, rods, cart and argon bottle. He even helped me load and strap it down. Thanks to all the great advice, now its time to practice.
Reply:Syncrowave 180's are nice machines and a very good choice for someone who wants to learn tig. The cylinder adds to the value, so your price might not be as above average as you might think, depending on size and what you paid. I think you will be very happy with it..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Craigslist is the way to go.  I bought my Sync 250 off of there and love it.  The 180 should work well for you.  DSW is right, cylinders and a fill add to the value of what you paid.
Reply:Originally Posted by kazlxCraigslist is the way to go.  I bought my Sync 250 off of there and love it.  The 180 should work well for you.  DSW is right, cylinders and a fill add to the value of what you paid.
Reply:I guess it depends on where you are.  I had a praxair cylinder that I was given that was out of date.  I called over and the guy there told me to just bring it in and they would swap it out cash and carry.  They didn't care that I didn't have an account.  I have had other bottles filled at other places and they don't even check.  They will either swap it for me or fill it if I want to wait.
Reply:i just swapped out a 170 cf bottle i picked up at an auction. the last hydro was done in the 70's. cost me $22.50 for a no name bottle and no charge for a hydro. the auction bottle had a name on the neck from a company Air Gas bought out 15 yrs ago. but i did call the Air Gas manager and asked if there would be a problem before i bid on the set. he told me, "not for you jim".225NT bobcatAEAD200LEScott 125mm175, mm252 w 30A, PT225mm211, TA 181iHyper Therm 380, cut master 529100X & XX, Digital Elite6 Victor setssmith little torch, meco midget kalamazoo band sawsteel max saw evoulution circular saw