Which tig welder would you recommend?

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Hi,I just registered with the forum today, but I have been searching these forums and reading lots of posts for a few months now.I need to purchase a new tig welder, and money is definitely a factor, but not as big a factor as reliability and support.After a week of research I decided that I was going to buy the Lincoln Invertec 160-T. I wanted a pulse tig, as I do a lot of work on stainless steel. I never had an AC/DC tig machine so I never got into tig welding aluminum (not that I wouldn't want to).Today, I saw the Thermal Arc 186 AC/DC. It has pulse, square wave ac, an extra forty amps, and all of the other bells and whistles and I can buy it for the same price as the invertec. While I could not find out for certain, it looks like this machine is chinese manufactured.Is there any difference in arc quality between the two?Whatever I buy, I am really looking for it to be reliable most of all, as I will use it daily.Your thoughts are greatly appreciatedLast edited by MetalBiker; 11-04-2012 at 06:38 PM.
Reply:The Thermal Arc does have those extra amps. My ThermalArc400 was made in Japan, and has served me well, so I believe TA designs very well.Not that the Italian made inverter tigs are bad, I would give the not to the ThermalArc.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:TA makes a pretty solid unit. The ability to do aluminum puts it very far ahead of the Invertec 160. I have a 205 Invertec, and it is a great machine. But the little one, while nice, is missing that one thing the TA has.......And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:Thanks, guys, I appreciate the comments. Knowing now, that they aren't like the throwaway Chinese made ones, made the decision easier. Then I found an authorized repair center in my town for them so  I decided to pull the trigger on it this morning. My lws (great guy, very helpful) calls me this afternoon to tell me Thermal Arc can't get the machine to him for about three months. He's digging deeper into it and is going to call me back in the morning.
Reply:Try one of the big online companies.   Weldingsupply, cyberweld, etc.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:My LWS went up the chain with Thermal Arc and they should have the welder in next week. Thank you all for the replies
Reply:I've had a ta185 arc master for over 6 yrs, the ta186 is its replacement..  If the ta186 is anything like the ta185 it will be one of the best ac/dc tig units you can get, especially at that price..tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:I had a 185 and now a 300.   Great machines.  Man, I wish I could use mine.  On day 12 of no power here on LI!!!TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:Originally Posted by Drf255I had a 185 and now a 300.   Great machines.  Man, I wish I could use mine.  On day 12 of no power here on LI!!!
Reply:it is made in china, but is a big step up from lonjevity and ev3rlast. take a look at htp's machines if you want something more to look at.Dynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:WOW.  The 186 is $1505 w free shipping at Cyberweld.Say goodbye Diversion at that price.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:The duty cycle on the TA 186 seems a bit low."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Today, the lws called and said the welder came in so I picked it up.  Everything was packaged nicely. Machine seems to be built really sturdy. All the accessories that came with it are quality made like tweco stinger and ground clamp, a sweet victor regulator, and a tig torch ( looks like a parweld 26, but is thermal arc branded) with three switch inserts, which you can change out. One has a push button switch, one has a rotary switch and pot for amperage control, and the other has a push button switch with a rotary pot. All the pots are east to west.Its a 220 machine, and when you power it on the sound of the fan will scare the sh!t out of you. I thought a seven-freakin-forty-seven jet was throttling up in the garage. Seriously, it makes almost as much noise as the fan on my Miller DialArc. I checked the manual and its not a fan-on-demand machine. I tested the machine out on some scraps,about .190" thick, then setup the machine's parameters for pulse, pre flow, post flow, etc. ( The interface is actually easier to use than it looks. Its pretty intuitive. ) I was impressed with the machine to say the least. I thought that it had a really smooth arc. and welded beautifully. I used the tig torch's integrated push button switch. I thought that the torch was a little heavy and, well, just big, but I got used to it a little and then I ran out of argon...I tried to take pics of the beads that I welded with my iPhone 4, but none of them come out. I used the flash, I turned off the flash, I put it on auto flash, auto focus, you name it.All in all, I am really happy with the welder and don't regret buying the Thermal Arc at all.
Reply:Can you post a pic of what you get in the box? I'm also looking to get this unit, but it will be available only in 2 week here, if you can make a little review when you'll get more metal melting with it, i'll appreciate it! Thanks!Lincoln Ac-225, Mig Pak 180 and alot of Massey Ferguson!
Reply:Sn34ky,Not sure if you saw this video on youTube or not. Its about the Thermal Arc 186I'll try to get some pics up soon
Reply:Here are some pics of what you get...Ground lead, Stinger, and tig torchClose Up of Tig SwitchTig Torch AccessoriesTig TorchFront PanelRegulatorThermodyne Gas HoseFirst beads - Two steel rings offset, wasn't used to the size of the tig torch, and I had to grip it differently than I normally do, because of the location of the switch.
Reply:ugh the pics don't look like they are working.EDIT - if you right click on where the image should be and select open in a new tab, the pics show up
Reply:So my friend... How do you like your TA186 ?? Did you have some time to play with it? Thanks for sharing!!Lincoln Ac-225, Mig Pak 180 and alot of Massey Ferguson!
Reply:If you right click and select view image in new tab you can see photos.You are going to have to write a review.
Reply:I am somewhat in the market for an inverter-type TIG unit myself, so I've been following this thread with interest. I also checked out the specs on the Thermal Arc 186 unit. I am certainly no expert, but it appears as though the duty cycle on this machine is somewhat low (20% at 200A). Is this pretty normal for the inverter machines like this?TB
Reply:Originally Posted by tcbetkaI am somewhat in the market for an inverter-type TIG unit myself, so I've been following this thread with interest. I also checked out the specs on the Thermal Arc 186 unit. I am certainly no expert, but it appears as though the duty cycle on this machine is somewhat low (20% at 200A). Is this pretty normal for the inverter machines like this?TB
Reply:Originally Posted by Drf255Yes, it's pretty common.   IIRC, it's the same on a Dynasty 200.
Reply:Originally Posted by KelvinWow, a Sync250 is 60% at 200A. Even at 300A, it's still above 25%. I didn't realize there was that much difference!
Reply:I'm a newbie.  Like green green green.  Zero experience but recently bought a Lincoln 140 Mig Pak and a regular stick welder for under $1000.00.  This TIG you're talking about has pick my interest and definitely on the buy list soon.  Project:  to build a water well drilling rig. One poster posted an URL where u can copy a schematic for a DIY water well drilling rig but the website had been bought out by a drilling company and advertising its own goods (their prices starts at $8000.00 and up).  I will research further but I need help.  If anyone is knowledgeable on DIY water well drilling rig please help.  Thank you a million in advance.
Reply:Originally Posted by Sn34kySo my friend... How do you like your TA186 ?? Did you have some time to play with it? Thanks for sharing!!Thanks man!! I think i'll pull the trig with this unit!! I hesitated between the 201ts, the Everlast 200DX and this one, but I think the AC/DC capability will be a good investment on the long run, and the thing with everlast is services... I have my dealer  2miles from home and nearest everlast dealer is 700miles away... I think that feature is well worth the extra 500$!!  I will eat it in shipping if something go wrong with the green. I don't have any thing bad with them, they aswered me for all my questions and been really helpfull... but when they get a bunker in Quebec, I might give them a chance! Would you have bought the foot package at first if you do it again?Lincoln Ac-225, Mig Pak 180 and alot of Massey Ferguson!
Reply:Originally Posted by Sn34kyWould you have bought the foot package at first if you do it again?
Reply:Originally Posted by MetalBikerI really like it a lot. I've got no regrets about not buying the Lincoln at all. I've done a lot of stainless and mild steel with it. No problems whatsoever. It welds really nice. Smooth arc. Tons of features, the pulse really does come in handy on thin stainless. I want to get some razor blades and see how welding them together goes. The only thing that I really don't like about the machine is that it has a really loud fan that runs constantly. Also when welding aluminum the AC High Freq. is really loud. That might be normal. I haven't worked with aluminum before. I just thought that it would sound the same as the DC high freq. arc start. The first pic is of a bead from 1/8" wall mild steel box tubing welded to 16 ga mild steel sheet metal. I had some scrap left from a project and I started making a torch holder with a receptacle ( I don't know what to call it) to throw the short pieces of filler metal into so they don't end up all over the table and floor. The black spot at the top of the bead looks like a pin hole in the pic, but its not. That's where I stopped welding, and I got a small raised black dot there. It was from having the down slope set too long. ( I don't have a pedal yet. I tried Tig welding aluminum tonight for the first time. ever.  All I had was some really dirty scraps of .025" aluminum of an unknown alloy.  I cleaned up two small pieces and lap welded them. or well attempted to anyway. I used 4043 filler rod, and 30 amps. The pic is posted below. I think that the joint might be cold because you can't tell that it was welded on the back of the joint. I'm gonna cut the joint in half later to see what it looks like.
Reply:Ok so I tried some razor blades with the machine. I posted the pic below.Have a great night. Attached Images