Miller Econotig for beginner Tig welder

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hey guys im new to the forum and im loving all the fabrication information i am finding on here! i have a Millermatic thunderbolt XL225 and a Lincoln 175 Mig welder. im pretty decent on both for teaching myself. But i am wanting to learn to Tig weld, i have had some instances that ive needed to weld some aluminum. When i was installing my buddy's Front mount intercooler i needed to make a BOV mount and i couldnt weld the aluminum. Also i love the look of a good Tig weld, i know that mine wont look like that right away, but with pratice hopefully. I do alot of Exhaust systems, and im working on a stainless steel Turbo back 3" exhaust on my buddy's talon. i am planning on taking a Tig welding class at the local community college. The machine i am currently bidding on is a 2005 Miller Econotig http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=tab%3DBidding, i am wondering if this is a good machine for me to start on, it will be used for some stainless exhaust, intercooler piping, maybe some bumpers for my jeep etc, nothing over 1/4" steel or aluminum, i know the duty cycle isnt super high, but for the 405$ the bid is at right now i dont know if i can let it pass, plus its a miller so im guessing its a good machine. Thanks guys for all the advice
Reply:Good machine and good price but most likely it will go higher. If you miss out on it, let me know, I have one sitting that's for sale.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:The Econotig is OK at best, and that may be stretching it a bit. It defintely wouldn't be my recommendation.
Reply:Okay at best.   That's why Miller sells so many of them and they've been the leading novice TIG machine with little changes for almost a decade? So, I guess everything I've welded with it, including MS, SS, AL, CR, Ti and many other metals is only held together "ok, at best" ?John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:for what it's worth, i would say to go ahead and try to get it. to me, a novice welder (such as yourself, and myself for that matter) do not do too much SUPER thin stuff (18 ga and smaller) or really thick stuff (over 3/8"). the EconoTIG that you are wanting to get isn't the BEST welder out there, but it's a great starter machine. it can;t do very much below 18 ga due to the minimum amperage of 20A and the max i would try to do would be 1/4". 3/8" can probably be done, but it'd be busting the duty cycle before you could probably finish most of your welds. the way i see it, if you are welding anything other than what this EconoTIG can weld, you aren't really a novice/begineer welder, and can easily justify the cost of a bigger, better machine. as far as welding exhuasts and turbo stuff, i'd stick with an EconoTIG. i have a feeling tho that unless you are doing some show-car pieces, the MIG will work out best for you, especially when you try to weld up the collector tubes.Later,Andy
Reply:Sure, the Econotig is a capable of producing a solid bond between weld metal and basemetal , but when you compare the its performance to a Syncrowave 180, 200, or even the old Lincoln Sq Wave 175 that I run at work, the later three are better.
Reply:Oh, right - I almost forgot that an additional 15 amps (180) or 35 amps (200) is going to mean a WORLD of difference to a beginner or novice. That also justifies the additional $500 to almost $1,000 price difference as well? Oh wait, I forget they have pulse mode...because everyone REALLY needs that!John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:MZ you are right, add more Bells and Whistles for $'s and it will get better.  JohnSMAW,GMAW,FCAW,GTAW,SAW,PAC/PAW/OFCand Shielding Gases.  There all here. :
Reply:Originally Posted by MicroZoneOh, right - I almost forgot that an additional 15 amps (180) or 35 amps (200) is going to mean a WORLD of difference to a beginner or novice. That also justifies the additional $500 to almost $1,000 price difference as well? Oh wait, I forget they have pulse mode...because everyone REALLY needs that!
Reply:I'll have to side with MZ here. Econotig's are great little machines.We have a few year-old synchrowave at work, it doesn't weld any better than my econotig. We also have an Esab 250 and my welds don't look any better from that machine either. It turns out you don't really NEED all those bells and whistles, especially when you learned how to weld without them.Miller EconotigCutmaster 38Yes ma'am, that IS a screwdriver in my pocket!
Reply:Well im hoping that the bidding doesnt get toooo high, but i am looking for a good novice machine and this seems to be, im not making some show car pieces but i am trying to make some really nice exhausts and some other fabricating items. Also Microzone what do you want for your Econotig if this one falls through?thanks for the advice guysJohnLast edited by jeep4banger97; 01-23-2008 at 03:51 PM.
Reply:I agree with MZ. Great machine for the beginner. I use a 300DX and a 200DX. I then wanted to try an Econo TIG on alum and I have to tell you it was a nice smooth arc and started a puddle very easy as well. I was not used to the 60hz buzz though. I usually set the dyn machines higher. Good machine for the price though.  T.J.www.tjsperformance.comDynasty 300 DXHTP 240HTP Microcut 380Hyperthem 85JD2 Hyd Bender and HF Hyd Ring Roller all in one =(Frankenbender)Bpt. Mill/DRO4' x 8' CNC Plasma TableInstagram: tjsperformanceYT: TJS Welding and Fabrication
Reply:I had an EconoTig and it was broken more times than it worked. Others had great success.
Reply:Originally Posted by turboblownI had an EconoTig and it was broken more times than it worked. Others had great success.
Reply:Originally Posted by RaTyBaStArDSo overall the Econo Tig is good for the automotive hobbiest?I found one for $700; is that a good price?