Just Got a Lincoln Squarewave 175.... Pretty Excited!

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Well I finally found an AC/DC tig machine in my price range and pulled the trigger.  After witnessing the reliability of my old mans and his old mans tombstones, I feel good about buying this transformer machine.   I installed a 60 amp breaker and had this thing running about 45 mins after I brought it home....Now, I have yet to grab an argon tank, so this thread may be somewhat of a let-down, but I promise to post my first tig welds hopefully next weekend.  Does it seem odd that the machine came with only a #9 torch with a couple of 3/32 electrodes?  From my reading on the site here, that seems like an uncommon combination.  I do plan on picking up a #17 with an assortment of collets at the same time I get my gas, but I am happy to have a small little torch like this.I found the stick mode to be pretty nice, although a more precise and accurate amperage adjustment would be favoured.  I only had some 3/32 electrodes on hand, so I didn't really get to test the power of the machine.   This is some Lincoln 7018 AC that I actually tried on AC, and it burned pretty good at ~90-100 amps on .125" steel.    Then I tried some Lincoln Jet-Weld 7018 on DC+.  Again, no complaints.  DC seems very smooth just like on my inverter and my TA engine-drive.  BTW, feel free to critique my stick welds, although these really aren't my best specimens!  Does anyone have any experience or comments on this machine they would like to share?
Reply:Good looking welds! The 175 is a great machine ive never used one to stick weld but i have tigged with the machine. Good affordable tig machine, runs smooth on both ac and dc tig
Reply:Nice looking machine ! Looks gently used. I was just using mine to weld up a file handle clamp. It needed 4 very small welds, and did it nicely. My 175 is the standard rather than the "Pro" model. I wonder what the difference is ? I guess yours is better than mine !  Enjoy.
Reply:Originally Posted by BradTNMy 175 is the standard rather than the "Pro" model. I wonder what the difference is ? I guess yours is better than mine !  Enjoy.
Reply:You have good stick welding skills. Very nice beads. Smooth, consistent and no undercut.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Nice rig. Show us some aluminum welds when you get it going.
Reply:I use mine every day for work. Love it. I use 3/32" 2% lanthanated tungsten for just about everything with my CK flex lock 130, which uses 9 style consumables. The majority of my work is on DC at less than 80 amps, but I just did a bunch of aluminum at closer to 160 amps and respected the duty cycle. Performed great. You'll enjoy it.
Reply:Originally Posted by BradTN My 175 is the standard rather than the "Pro" model. I wonder what the difference is ? I guess yours is better than mine !  Enjoy.
Reply:Nice machine.  Look on eBay for a #17 torch set up.  usaweld (HTP) has a good deal on CK torches in all sizes and hose lengths.
Reply:Sweet!  I've not the non-pro model, and I really like it.-AaronJet 17.5" Drill Press1942 South Bend 16x84 Lathe1980s Miller 320A / BP --- 2013 Power Mig 2562012 Jet 7x12 Horizontal BandsawVictor O/A Setup
Reply:Just out of curiosity, do the 175s have Lincoln's AC "Auto-balance" or are they fixed balance machines?
Reply:I've wondered the same. There is no mention of balance at all in my manual, but mine is from 2000.
Reply:That is a really clean Lincoln you have. I did a demo between that machine and the Miller Econotig. Sadly the Miller emitted the magic smoke, whereas the 175 kept on chugging. Was sad to give it back. I ended up putting one of these in the high school down the street and the kids gave it a good flogging day after day.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:Congrats!  I think you'll  enjoy it. I bought one for our shop several months ago and it's used daily, both for tig and stick. Welds as smooth as the top of my head!
Reply:Probably the only thing you'll be missing is balance. However, if you've never messed with it you won't know the difference.  And, despite all that, there's nothing that says you can't turn out beautiful aluminum welds with no balance control, there are plenty of people doing just that.
Reply:Since the SW175 is my first machine, I fall into the never-messed-with-balance (or AC frequency) camp. I can see how being able to adjust both would be pretty helpful with dialing in the etching zone, getting down into corners, and improving tungsten life. This was new 6061 tubing (1" x 3" x 0.125") and sheet (0.125") and you can see the etching zone is pretty wide. But like Zmechanic said, I don't really know the difference since this is all I know. I like learning on a machine that doesn't have too many knobs. I'm mostly still just running beads on sheet to practice and learn aluminum, but I wanted to do a little project as a gift for my two bro-in-laws.2% lanthanated electrode by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on FlickrThis is what the 3/32" 2% lanthanated tungsten looked like before (this was another similarly sharpened electrode) and after about 200 inches of weld. 2% lanthanated electrode by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr2% lanthanated electrode by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on FlickrThe picture of the balled tungsten isn't very good. It was shiny and uniform and ready for more.