Need Tig Recommendations

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Does anyone have any recommendations for a Tig welder?  I’m looking for one for a home shop for welding on a drag car, like roll cage, structural, suspension parts, sheet metal and thicker aluminum.  I don’t have an unlimited budget and I get a lot of stuff used from industrial auctions etc., so I’m really looking for a used machine.  ThanksMark
Reply:Hi mark460 - if you pin down the thicknesses that you want to weld, this will help determine what kind of machine you should be looking for.  Also, what is your budget?  I have an HTP Invertig 201 that I bought slightly used for $2200 and it will nicely tig 3/8" aluminum.- "If ya can't be handsome, ya may as well be handy!"   HTP Invertig 201Lincoln Power Mig 255CLincoln SP125+Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38
Reply:Howdy!  Go with AT LEAST a 200 amp RATED machine.  Not 200 on the label.  A 200 amp rated machine will usually be a 250 amp max machine or osmething similar.  The rated values are allways alot less then the machines max output.  make sure it has AC capibilities, squarewave would be nice, HF starts would be good (if a transformer machine).  Inverters are way way nice nowadays, as they are the most adjustable, and way more efficient on power use.  In 10 years, an inverter saves as much energy as to pay for itself (if worked a 2000 hrs a year, at a 40% duty cycle).  Basically, they use about 40-60% less energy, for the same output, they also weigh 1/10th an old transformer machine does. Some can be run on nearly any voltage input!  But since your a used/bargain shopper, these will be rare.  Probably find your self a good used Miller syncrowave or other large beast of a tranformer machine.  very reliable. last ya forever.  make sure and get a power factor correction kit for it, and keep in mind what power you have on site.  Alot of the older, larger machines ran on 3 phase only.  Brian Lee  Sparkeee27
Reply:If you had a location listed i could give you the name of used machine supplier in my area but....Millermatic 251Century 180 migSpectrum 625 Syncrowave 250DX
Reply:I wouldn't mind getting a miller 250 syncrowave, but it is a matter of finding a used price I can deal with.  I did find a Miller SRH 333,  which I think could be used as a power source for a Tig, but it doesn’t come with any tig attachments.  It is 3 phase, but it comes with a nice phase converter.   Does anyone know anything about this kind of unit?  I would like the rotory phase converter for some other stuff, but don’t know how much it would cost to get the Tig gun, controller, cooler, etc.  May not  be worth it.  I live in the Houston, Texas area and I wouldn't mind going to the Dallas area if I could find a deal.ThanksMark
Reply:There is a surplus welding supplier in Irving off loop 12. I was gonna get a complete used Sync 300 for $1800. Econotigs for $1000. Applied Equipment Inc Address:   2515 Cartwright St, Dallas, TX 75212  Phone: (214) 630-9353 He will set you up a system, if you don't like it you don't buy it. If you want to get something different in a month or so bring it back and he will give your moneyback for something else. This guy literally has 10+ acres of welders stacked 2 stories high!Millermatic 251Century 180 migSpectrum 625 Syncrowave 250DX
Reply:i got a lincoln V160T and its greatChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:Thanks I'll check out that place in Dallas
Reply:i have purshased a lincon tig 185 pakage. it is great, you can tig s/s and aluminium. it also has stick welding capability.
Reply:Howdy Howdy!  If you don't want to spend the extra $$$ on a cooler, yo ucan just get an air cooled torch for that amp range.  Weldcraft makes one for about 125$ including 25 ft leads and gas hose that is 300 amps rated at 60% duty cycle.  It's awesome, it's the model I have since I didn't want to haul around a water cooler in and out of my living room.  My shop, living room. same thing.  I think it's a 300VS something.  Uses all standard torch parts.  Cheep torches are about 75$, spendy ones around 150$.  Foot pedals are around 125$-175$.  Torch amp controllers (as in they go on the torch) are about 140-160$.  A phase converter and 3 phase machine waste about 60% of the energy you spend in $$$ before getting to the torch.  It simply isn't worth it, unless you have a nuclear power plant or hydro electric dam, or wind farm in your back yard. I haven't seen too many people who would like to TIG with more then 225 amps or so really.  The benefit to the bigger machines, is that you can also use them with SMAW for the really fat sticks.  With tig, your hands are just so close, and you get so much heat... after a certain amperage and thickness, it seems most guys go to the alluminum MIG push/pull setups, or get a spoolgun for there regular industrial mig machine.  Anyway, it's late... Brian Lee  Sparkeee27
Reply:Does anyone have any opinions on the Miller 330A/BP machine?  I can get one at a good deal.Thanksmark
Reply:There among the best of the older pre-squarewave transformer tig machines.  I have recently seen nice older ones go for 12-15 hundred with all the accessories...but they are in really good shape.  I was very surprised, because for not much more, you could get a newer squarewave.  They are very smooth for a single phase machine.  Probably half that for a fair machine would be an ok price.  They weigh about 800 pounds though, so, where ever it goes...there it is.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Mark,Just make sure you have room for the machine, a crane to get it off the back of your truck, and the power in your garage to run it.Jeff NolandDrive a LincolnDrink a MillerWeld with an HTP
Reply:Jeff has a point...actually a few.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:You only live once, so get a Miller Dynasty 300 Tigrunner.You will love it.
Reply:I have had a miller 330 a b/p for over 30 years.  It is a wonderful machine.    when I worked at Boeing in corinth, Texas,  I used a 351 miller syncrowave.  Also a fine machine.  Both weld about the same except you can adjust the wave on the 351 more to the negative side for better penetration on heavier aluminum.  That's on ac of course.  For welding heavier aluminum on my 330 I either preheat the aluminum and weld on ac, or use helium and dc neg. electrode for an instant puddle.