Wire-feeder on a tig powersource?

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I'm looking for a new tig machine, and this time I'm going big, right now the front-runners are the Esab Heliarc 252 and the Miller Synchrowave 250, what I really want is a multi process machine that will let me AC and DC weld with the tig, and DC mig, but since that doesn't exist, I have a plan. There are a couple 3-phase powersources with wire-feeders for sale localy, dirt cheap, can I use a wire-feeder and just hook it up to the tig, set it for stick welding and start burning wire? My thinking is that it should work the same as if you hook a wire-feeder up to an engine driven welder which is just a DC stick welder, so why wouldn't it work on a tig? So, will it work, or do I need to just suck it up and find a big shop and move my tools out of the garage.
Reply:just throwing this out there...  we have 3 esab 252's at my school, and they are the worst welders in the shop. We all fight to avoid getting stuck using one of them. the synchrowave 250's we have are great. and we have a wire feeder on 1 of them so its certainly possible to do that.I like to party!
Reply:Captain Willy, could you take a look at the wire feeder on your Sync 250, and tell us what make and model # the wire feeder is? thanks
Reply:Originally Posted by maxyedorwhat I really want is a multi process machine that will let me AC and DC weld with the tig, and DC mig
Reply:You can run a voltage sencing wire feeder on any stick machine. It is not easy for  beginner.  JohnSMAW,GMAW,FCAW,GTAW,SAW,PAC/PAW/OFCand Shielding Gases.  There all here. :
Reply:The Miller XMT unit can stick, tig and mig, but does not have AC ouput for doing aluminum with Tig. As far as I know there is not a name brand (Miller, Lincoln, Hobart, Esab) that has an AC/DC Stick, Tig, Mig unit. Miller used to make the Shopmaster 300, that unit did have the ability to do AC tig if a hi-freq box was added. Miller discontinued that model several years ago due to lack of sales. They now have the Shopmate series, which has stick, tig, mig capability, but again no AC for aluminum tig!! I've had a couple customers want this type of machine as well, and I ended up selling them two units to get what they wanted. One guy bought a Dynasty 200DX and a Millermatic 350P, then another guy bought a Syncrowave 200 and a Millermatic 252, that guy got out the door for less than $4,000.00 and can now do pretty much anything he needs. I agree $4,000.00 is a lot of coin, but if there was a machine on the market that had all of these capabilities, i'd expect it to be in that range or much higher.
Reply:PowCon use to make the 400SMT powersource, which was made for both MIG and TIG.  They haven't been made in years, but can still be found on ebay occasionally.Last edited by DesertRider33; 12-08-2007 at 01:57 PM.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by ss42768...One guy bought a Dynasty 200DX and a Millermatic 350P....
Reply:"what I really want is a multi process machine that will let me AC and DC weld with the tig, and DC mig, but since that doesn't exist," Lincon Multi-Process line up.Miller Multi-Process line up.City 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:Find an old Miller Shopbastard(master) and you will be good to go. We had them in school(1999). AC/DC CC/CV to bad they dont make them anymore.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:Originally Posted by CaptainWillyjust throwing this out there...  we have 3 esab 252's at my school, and they are the worst welders in the shop.
Reply:Originally Posted by maxyedorWhat makes them so bad in your opinion? I've only spent a few miutes using a 252, and I've used an Esab 161 much more extensively and they both seemed to be a very smooth machines.
Reply:This maybe no use to you what so ever, but foronius (Which is a better brand than miller and lincoln by the way) Sell MIG,TIG,STICK all in one unit, we have one at our shop for our robot but it only runs MIG for production reasons.
Reply:Originally Posted by maxyedorI'm looking for a new tig machine, and this time I'm going big, right now the front-runners are the Esab Heliarc 252 and the Miller Synchrowave 250, what I really want is a multi process machine that will let me AC and DC weld with the tig, and DC mig, but since that doesn't exist, I have a plan. There are a couple 3-phase powersources with wire-feeders for sale localy, dirt cheap, can I use a wire-feeder and just hook it up to the tig, set it for stick welding and start burning wire? My thinking is that it should work the same as if you hook a wire-feeder up to an engine driven welder which is just a DC stick welder, so why wouldn't it work on a tig? So, will it work, or do I need to just suck it up and find a big shop and move my tools out of the garage.