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I am considering buying one in the future. Have Lincoln ac/dc stick and Pro-core 100 mig welders now. PLan to do some ss to ss, Cu to ss, Cu to Cu and of course mild steel.I've read about the diff parameters some machines have. Like:Squarewave outputPulsedInvertor based power sourceDownslope/Upslope control( Assume thats volts-amps curve)and was wondering which of those pararmeters I shld make sure i get in the machine. I've looked at the Millers and the Lincolns online only.ThanksBR
Reply:BR, in my opinon the breakdown comes to this...needs and cost. Nothing else really matters. So what are your needs? well first youve said what your needs are so lets first analyze those. You say you wantto do SS, copper and mild steel. Well those all take 2% thoriated tungsten with 100% argon. DC current. Very good set up. Your exact heat settings, well that depends on how thick, .001" in thickness for 1 ampere. Thats the general rule. I usually recommond nothing less than 200 amps. but less than can be suitable for certain applications. The other thing you want, yes you want this is amptrol. OR remote amp control. AKA foot pedal. Yes there are hand amptrols, but most folks identify with foot pedal and prolly you will prefer it unless you have a need for handcontrol. This is all you need. NOw lets take a step back,lets say you dint tell us what you want to use, or you said what if I want to have the option of that occasional aluminum. Well now were talking about "needing" AC, and this is when the squarewave is important, or should I say it mattes only with AC. Now, all the other bells and whistles arent really needed for the hobby user. Even i dont need the stuff, though i mostly use it for asthetics, sometimes for thin stuff my stick wont handle.. if youve got more questions ill be hereIF it Catches...Let it Burn
Reply:Your right, I May want to do al in the future. Maybe a even a boat. So what then?Thanks for the input & Happy New Year ifn your in Tex. ITs still 2005 here.
Reply:thanks for the happy new year.....If you want aluminum, you need AC and thats when you want squarewave. Basically squarewave means that the alternating current wavelength is actually formed out in a square pattern. Its much more ideal than traditional ac arc. Lincoln and Miller both have similar types of this, as do most of the major welding companies on their tig mchines. You need High frequency to run AC as well. This usually means you cant get inverter. I say usually, I think this should change if it hasnt already...but last I knew it was more a rule inverters were dc only. You can weld aluminum with argon and the 2% thoriated tungsten. However, 100% tungsten will be prefered, as is helium, I beleieve there is a helium mix with argon that works. However, as I said, you can weld with straight argon,...and you dont need special equipment. You will just rent a bottle set for the gas you need...reg will work with the various tig gases. Basically, if you get a machine like, syncrowave 180 or 250 youd be doing well. I do like the 180. Its a lil small I guess, Id prolly have it on the panel at max output, but for most I do, except for the initial start of the arc id be no where near full amperage. The 250 has extra amperage. Ok, I just checked millerwelds.com and they also have the dynasty series. They are ac/dc inverters. Snazzy, but they are also much more costly. For a 200 amp you get a lil machine for about 3 thousand dollars. They are light weight and they are good machines. Do carbon steel, stainless, copper, alum...they will do all metals basically. Same with the syncrowaves. The 180 syncrowave though is right at 2000 dollars. Now these numbers are msrp. Your welding dist will usually offer you a much more reasonable price. Youll need to shop around. The 250 syncrowave is just under 3 thousand. The two syncrowaves are big and heavy and need some sort of running gear if you want to move them around. You can buy this running gear, or make your own. They are rather heavy though either way you do this. Anyway, my personal opinion is the syncrowave is a great machine. The inverters are handy, but there is a cost associated. Its dependant on what youre wanting to do wiht it. I dont see the need if your wanting to do things in your garage. For the cost, the syncrowave, is the way to go. Which one depends on you. I know I could get by just fine with the 180 myself. And if you had trouble wiht the heat on a specific job, rent a bottle of helium. It burns hotter so you can do more with less amps. Just more expsenive to operate helium than argon. I hope Ive given you the tools, or atleast a direction to make an informed decision. If not Ill be glad to help you more. Again Happy new yearIF it Catches...Let it Burn
Reply:TR,Yeah that helps a lot. I now see where you need the ac and the dc..best to get both just in case. I heard that Miller was making a Syncrowave 200 at the 1st of the yr. More bells and whistles annd some ergonomic improvemnts also.I also heard that getting a large machine means it will do the thin sheet welding better than a smaller machine..Wonder if the Lincoln TIG is prefered by the Pros more than the Miller? Think i've heard one say and on some forums the MIller was. Whats your opinion?Take care and thanks again.
Reply:Hi Blue, FWIW, I recently got an HTP Invertig 201, and it is a nice machine for the money - $2100 - $2500 range. I weld a lot of alum. and it works fine - plenty of power. It does DC tig and stick welds nicely too - you should consider it in your evaluation. I traded up from an ESAB 161 which worked OK too, but I didn't like the way it started on stick - it seemed the electronics were a bit slow causing the rod to stick a lot. The HTP is much better. Happy holidays!- "If ya can't be handsome, ya may as well be handy!" HTP Invertig 201Lincoln Power Mig 255CLincoln SP125+Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38
Reply:Thanks G Ill look at that one also.Happy New Year
Reply:Hey TxR,I've heard and been told that the Thermal Arc machine might be the way to go for power vs money. And the commenst Ive read form many users praise it to hi heaven.Any comments?WRH
Reply:If they offer 200 would be nice. Most shops Ive worked in blue was used. Ive used red and find them comparable. I would say find out who your distributors are and which you like more. dont fuss so much with intro prices. Prices of service and consumbles is more important. Your dist will usually be either definately pro red or pro blue...or lean more one way then the other and may still have both. Like my dist does both, but they prefer blue. So I chose blue. ITs got more to do with service than anything. ive used one thermal arc once. it worked well, but dint spend anytime with it. Thing i worry about is parts and service. so far i havent heard good or bad. guess no news is good news still, I think the best place for service is sometimes the dist. Your dist, if you fiind a good one, will be real honest with you. He will tell you what machines are good, bad and have troubles. You will nedd to talk to these guys, some give good vibes others dont. Ive heard guys say their dist gave them heads up on sales rep's arrival when they had troubles. The rep give them over an hour, replace parts, teach how to setup machine problem, plus a handlefull of consumbles for free. just food for thoughtIF it Catches...Let it Burn
Reply:My dist. is pro yellow. Owner of Welding Wiki,The free wiki based resource for weldor's around the world.http://www.weldingwiki.comWe have cookies!
Reply:Tx,Well there are Air liquide , Air Gas and another Weld Air.Ill chk with them all and see who gives the best consumablers and the best service.thanksHappy New YeaR
Reply:thanks you too...and dont be fooled by fancy names or uniforms..lookin for indiviudual personality sometiumes more important than anything. Consumables are important too, but the service I think rates most important to me.Happy new year to you tooIF it Catches...Let it Burn
Reply:The Miller Synchrowave 200 is actually out. I'm pretty sure it is a replacement for the 180SD and it has the pulser already built in. I think it goes for about $2K.Miller doesn't seem to have it on its site but you can buy it from a couple of on-line places. My local guy had the brochure on it before Christmas but can't get the unit till sometime late January.Funny thing was I knew it was out, mentioned it to my dealer, he hadn't heard of it yet. He then pulls out his advance notices and, surprise, surprise, it was on page 2. Seems he usually doesn't look past page 1 when he gets them. I just got the thermal arc TA185 for Christmas. Boy do I have a lot to learn being new to TIG. Then again its all home hobby kinds of things for me.Hobbiest hack
Reply:Hey Dave,Why didnt you get it rather then the TA. Sounds like you have a local dealerand tho the TA's get raves the pros still give the Millers raves too. Plus the 200 wld have more juice right?does the TA do things the Miller 200 wont? BR
Reply:Well i heard the 200 wld have ac and dc and have the squarewave ac and the pulse. Is that so?I really like my Lincoln red buzz box. I was wondering if, after i learn Tig, can i do multiple passes on aluminium like I can with the stick machine. IOW, if i was welding a thinkcer material than the machine can handle, can i just dow 2 or beads to make it stronger?BR
Reply:Hey DAve,Id be intersted in knowing how your learning curve goes. I'm gonna hire a pro to come over and get me started in the right direction..I fig $100-$200 lessons(tax free) wld save me time and frustration. BR
Reply:Blue,the multi pass idea is definatle on track...except much cleaner between passes. I still use a wire brush, but most guys dont. They just run one ontop of the other.IF it Catches...Let it Burn
Reply:yes multi pass is better than one big beedChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:I just recently purchased the 180 tig runnner package and it is a great machine in my opinion. Welds like butter. I am having a bit of a hard time with aluminum but it is the first time i have ever welded that stuff. The digital amperage and volt read outs are great and the pedal adjusts the power great. Have been working with steel and stainless and the welds are coming out great. I am a beginner and this machine is very friendly. I went with this machine because I wont be doing anything that is too big. If I had the extra money I would of gone with the 250just to have the extra power if I needed it. All in all I am very satisfied with the unit and would recommend it.
Reply:Aluminum is hard to weld anyway. Practice, practice, practice.
Reply:Alum must be ultra ultra clean too...many novices have trouble understanding quite how clean. Stainless steel..not carbon steel, wire brush and brush it real good even just before welding to clean it up good. Alum produces an oxide. Umm like copper does. This oxide has a much higher melting point then the alum. If yoiu dont clean it real good before you have to burn this stuff off fist, then once you do the alum underbeath is way hot. Also, the bead profile will look differnt cause its alum and run on ac. Always a much wider weld. Someone asked that hte other day. good luckIF it Catches...Let it Burn
Reply:I was underestimating the importance of having the aluminum very, very clean. I had much better results the last time I sat down because I took more time to clean it up real nice with a stainless brush. Aluminum is some tough stuff to melt together to say the least.
Reply:so using a wire brush on it is enough? I grind the steel manytimes..
Reply:SMiti, also try preheating the aluminum with a torch a bit. You may already notice that towards the end of your beads that the weld looks much better? Thats because more heat is in the base material the farther you go on. That works especially well when mig'n aluminum too.
Reply:Using a stainless steel wire brush is enough, given that there isn't any oil, residue, or such on the aluminum.yeppity yup orphans right on dat oneIF it Catches...Let it Burn |
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发表于 2021-9-1 00:18:14