Which TIG Welder To Buy

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I've got a question for the brain trust of this site. I am a retired farmer, so to speak. I have owned and used Oxy-Acetylene and stick welders since my youth. I am becoming familiar with a cheap Chinese MIG welder, Modified with a capacitor as per instructions on this site. I may use welding equipment everyday for a month and then not use it at all for 3 months. I want to move into TIG Welding, mainly to weld 1/4" and less aluminum and 1/8" +/- stainless. I am willing to sacrifice duty cycle and longevity for versatility and a cheaper price. I am not only buying the welder, but the components that go with it. Here are the questions;1.) If you had to buy a Chinese made machine, what brand would you buy?2.) What would you look for on Craig's List?3.) What is the lowest cost non Chinese welder that would meet my needs? 4.) Which welders would you recommend for me?5.) What should I stay away from?
Reply:What's your budget?Craftsman 90 amp Arc welder
Reply:Depends on budget (see above), space and power supply available.  If you have the space and power, an old transformer with High Frequency and AC/DC capability is all you need.  They're power hungry, so expect 100 amps of 220 to them.  They'll do anything you need for a LONG time and the cost will be OK.  Super durable, period.  Some people here are still using 40 year old machines daily.  The models I'd personally look at would be Miller Dialarc HF, 330 A/BP and Syncrowave 250 (older circa 1990 and earlier-less circuit boards). The Chinese welders have served some very well here, but they're a cat in the bag.  Even worse for you since you weld alot intermittently.  The warranty will expire before you really use the machine a lot.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:Originally Posted by kelloggor. I want to move into TIG Welding, mainly to weld 1/4" and less aluminum and 1/8" +/- stainless. I am willing to sacrifice duty cycle and longevity for versatility and a cheaper price. I am not only buying the welder, but the components that go with it. Here are the questions;1.) If you had to buy a Chinese made machine, what brand would you buy?2.) What would you look for on Craig's List?3.) What is the lowest cost non Chinese welder that would meet my needs? 4.) Which welders would you recommend for me?5.) What should I stay away from?
Reply:What make is your old stick machine ??? Lincoln, Miller, Hobart ?  How long has it lasted ? That sure be your answer. As for a import, if you use it on Monday and it's dead on friday, you still have the old stick to fall back on. It doesn't cost too much to go first class.
Reply:Cry once bud and buy quality is my opinion. Just think of farm equipment. Would you buy your impliments at Tractor Supply, or would you buy quality equipment that's built to last, and even they can give you problems sometimes. If your not hip to gadgetry I would stick to a transformer type machine and stay away from the inverters. Inverters are nice, and I own one, but they can twist your brain inside out unless you buy a simple one like the syncrowave 210 from miller. I love the machine, but I know it has a limited life span to it just from looking inside of it. So it's a toss up. Where are you storing the machine, if in a old damp barn then definitely a nono with a inverter. Do you need it portable is another question, and also what kind of power supply do you have?I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Ah, the ol' I-wanna-TIG-1/4"-aluminum-on-the-cheap trick!  We won't fall for this!!     You need 300A+ (assuming you can control the AC balance to get as much penetration as possible), more so if you can't control the AC balance to provide extra penetration that 50/50 EP/EN leaves behind.  Takes a lot of amps.  Get ready to shell out some cash. 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 Drf255Depends on budget (see above), space and power supply available.  If you have the space and power, an old transformer with High Frequency and AC/DC capability is all you need.  They're power hungry, so expect 100 amps of 220 to them.  They'll do anything you need for a LONG time and the cost will be OK.  Super durable, period.  Some people here are still using 40 year old machines daily.  The models I'd personally look at would be Miller Dialarc HF, 330 A/BP and Syncrowave 250 (older circa 1990 and earlier-less circuit boards). The Chinese welders have served some very well here, but they're a cat in the bag.  Even worse for you since you weld alot intermittently.  The warranty will expire before you really use the machine a lot.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWYour requirement for 1/4" alum pushes you beyond "inexpensive". Alum takes a lot of power so for 1/4" you are looking at 250amp or larger class tigs, not the lower end units. For example to weld 1/8" steel, you need 125 amps roughly. To do 1/8" alum, you need at least 150 amps and 180-200 amps would be better. You need that extra power right away to overcome alums heat sink ability. You blast it full tilt to get the puddle to form instantly, then back off once the puddle starts and move very fast.1: Thermal Arc /Tweeco is a decent brand made over seas. I'd have no issue with one of those.2: As mentioned earlier a Miller Dialarc HF, 330 A/BP and Syncrowave 250 would all be good choices and would be capable of 1/4" alum. If you dropped the alum down to say 1/8", you can get away with a smaller machine like Syncrowave 180 or Syncrowave 200, or a Thermal Arc TA185/186.3: New or used? New you won't like the price range of machines in that class. Syncrowave 250 or Dynasty 280 would be my top choices new, but you'd better have a fat wallet. Used, see above.4: any of the machines mentioned would be a good choice. Least expensive I've usually seen are the old 330 AB/P's and their Airco counterparts. I've seen the Airco branded 330's going for as low as $250 and the Miller ones usually start at about $400ish and go to say $900. That would be the most bang for you buck. Downside is they are big and heavy (900 lbs or so) and want at least 100 amps of power to do what you want to do. 2nd choice would be a nice used Syncrowave 250. Add $1000 to the price range.5: You couldn't give me one of the cheap imports. While I'll admit it sounds like the machine quality has improved since they 1st started selling them, I still semi regularly hear horror stories about major issues. The big sales stopper has been the way these companies treat their customers when there are issues. They tend to not return calls and emails about issues in a timely manner ( though they seem to get right back to you before the sale for some reason...), give excuses why things failed, want you to pay to send it back on your dime to fix their problem, and use bullying and blackmail style tactics as well as attempt to hide and bury comments and threads on machine issues by editing or deleting threads on the subject so a search won't show any problems. They've also been known to pay people to post up good reviews of their products or have company employees pose as customers and write up glowing posts. If you choose to go this route, use due diligence and do your homework 1st. Don't just buy the dog and pony show that gets put on. If you do get one, understand it's most likely a "disposable" machine. Don't bet on getting it fixed if it blows up out of warranty. Most places won't touch them because there's no readily available tech support, manuals or parts available for them to fix those machines. Most of the importers simply swap machines, not repair them under warranty.
Reply:Everlast PowerTig 255EXT. Everything you asked for at $2600.00 newHave one and use the crap out of it...  No troubles.....From the desk of Kevin CaronTrying to be the best me I can!www.kevincaron.comAHP Alpha Tig 200x MillerMatic 251Miller Syncrowave 200
Reply:Originally Posted by kevinacaronEverlast PowerTig 255EXT. Everything you asked for at $2600.00 newHave one and use the crap out of it...  No troubles.....
Reply:Originally Posted by fdcmiamihalf inch al plate.  everlast 250EX  app 1500 dollars.   most of the respondents don't weld aluminum.  one of them was on here not long ago askinghow to tack two pieces of al together. this al came right out of the scrap bin,  it's been on here before.you absolutely do not need 300 amps to weld 1/4 al.   that statement tells me all I need to know.the only guy missing so far is the one that studied Japanese haiku poetry on his benihana's luncheon menu.  lolif there is a repair issue, and it can be resolved with online/phone tech the  machine will have to be shipped. if you think miller has no repair issues,  go to their page and read the posts going back 20 pages.   you're on a budget, retired, go cheap.   PS who the hell would buy a 23 year old welder when you can buy new and get a warranty.
Reply:Originally Posted by M J DThis should get posted in the everlast or longevity forum where someone who might believe it can see it.
Reply:The Miller or Airco version of the 330abp is the best choice budget wise and an amazing machine.   I'm sure you have ample power if you are still on the farm.   Bought a few and never paid over $500 for one.   If you want to see what kinda of welds they can do in skilled hands, look at any of Zapster's threads.   All done with a 330.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 soutthpawThe Miller or Airco version of the 330abp is the best choice budget wise and an amazing machine.   I'm sure you have ample power if you are still on the farm.   Bought a few and never paid over $500 for one.   If you want to see what kinda of welds they can do in skilled hands, look at any of Zapster's threads.   All done with a 330.
Reply:Originally Posted by soutthpawThe Miller or Airco version of the 330abp is the best choice budget wise and an amazing machine.   I'm sure you have ample power if you are still on the farm.   Bought a few and never paid over $500 for one.   If you want to see what kinda of welds they can do in skilled hands, look at any of Zapster's threads.   All done with a 330.
Reply:I watched Craigslist for about 2 years waiting on a bargain priced 330 A/BP. Looked one day and there was one the next county over for $300. I immediately asked my son to go get it since I was at work. It is an awesome machine and I am glad I was patient on getting one. I have a POS everlast Plasma, and I am glad I don't have one of their Tig machines too.Safety 3rdGump
Reply:I can't reply to all your questions, but I'm a satisfied owner of an AHP Alphatig 200X.   It is currently listed at $750 new on Amazon.    I've had it for a few months now and have had no problems with it.  I've only been able to compare it to a Lincoln Precision TIG 275 at a workshop i attended, and I found it was fundamentally equal to the Lincoln in most areas.  The Lincoln will put out 75 more amps but will draw about twice the power ( 100 amps at 230V)  from the power line to do it.  The Lincoln also weighs about 10 times as much, so moving it to the work will require some sort of lift.It's tempting to look at a 20 year old transformer based stick welder and use that to base your opinion when buying new.   Unfortunately, that's like deciding if you want to purchase a  Chevy Volt because the 1955 Belair was dependable.   The state of the art has changed a LOT in 20 years.   The company has changed. I did a writeup on the Alphatig at http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/thr...-Alphatig-200x.DanP.S.  Not affiliated with the company.  I'm not a skilled weldor.  I am learning as I get time.  I'd buy US made if it was available with the same features and a price that is not over 50% more.
Reply:Originally Posted by kelloggorWould you buy a 1993 Syncrowave 250?
Reply:Well, It's all over now. For a while anyway. I was 2nd in line on a Miller 330 HF A/BP and the 1st guy didn't show so it's mine. I'll get it this weekend. Comes with everything accept the bottle. Has the water cooler, torch, lines, foot pedal. I am thrilled to get it! ($750) I doubt if I ever sell it. I did a nationwide search on Craig's list. There really weren't that many Airco or Miller 330's. They ranged from $750 to Over $2000. One was asking $400 in North Carolina. Shipping would be about $1100. Researching this welder question has allowed me to see; "the hand writing on the wall." The foreign made machines, especially Chinese, are becoming higher quality all the time. That Everlast 255 EXT is a fine machine with a 5 year warrantee for $2600. It is comparable to American made machines that cost $6000. Somehow, North American manufactures have to find a way to lower their manufacturing costs to remain competitive in the World Market. My next welder will probably be foreign made.Thanks to everyone who has posted on this thread. It has helped me a lot.