Newbie wondering what TIG welder to buy

admin

Hey all. Im a novice welder and have welded with MIG enough to be able to join 2 pieces of steel together (how well it looks is another story). I love fabrication and I know that welding is probably the most important skill when it comes to fabrication. My main hobby is automotive performance, ive been able to get by with building performance cars/projects using my dad's MIG welder. But now I would like to move further and be able to fabricate parts more precisely and fashionably, and to build my ability into a skilled welder.So ive decided to buy a TIG welder. After looking around I am pretty lost as to what I should get, there are so many different terms and options that are thrown around. I want to buy something good though, I plan on using whatever I buy for years to come so I think I should get something that I wont be held back by. I was looking at the Miller Syncrowave 250DX, its a bit pricey and im wondering if this might be a bigger welder than I will really need for my type of use (automotive). So I was hoping I could get some insight from you guys as to what I should buy. ThanksLast edited by CSXRT4; 11-10-2009 at 12:00 AM.
Reply:Originally Posted by CSXRT4Hey all. Im a novice welder and have welded with MIG enough to be able to join 2 pieces of steel together (how well it looks is another story). I love fabrication and I know that welding is probably the most important skill when it comes to fabrication. My main hobby is automotive performance, ive been able to get by with building performance cars/projects using my dad's MIG welder. But now I want to move further and be able to fabricate parts more precisely and fashionably build my ability and become a skilled welder.So ive decided to buy a TIG welder. After looking around I am pretty lost as to what I should get, there are so many different terms and options that are thrown around. I want to buy something good though, I plan on using whatever I buy for years to come so I think I should get something that I wont be held back by. I was looking at the Miller Syncrowave 250DX, its a bit pricey and im wondering if this might be a bigger welder than I will really need for my type of use (automotive). So I was hoping I could get some insight from you guys as to what I should buy. Thanks
Reply:I'm into automotive stuff too and ive found that my 200amp machine is a little underpowered for some of the stuff i do.Had it for about 2 years and will probably get a new one in the next 6 months or so.Sometimes i pre heat thicker sections of AL with a heat gun and then weld to help it out a little.Spend money on a good machine and probably better to get something with a little more power than might be needed now.  You will use that power in the future.Good luck.
Reply:Do you have the use the water cooling if you get a water cooled welder like the syncrowave 250dx??? I was thinking of just buying the power unit and a torch and ground for now. Then I could buy the water system later on. A 250dx runner setup goes for like $4000, and the power source alone is $2600
Reply:i have a lincoln square wave 175. its plenty for all things automotive. cause thats the only welding i do. repairing body panels, making turbo manifolds, aluminum intake manifolds, ect...works great. the only thing you might want to do is upgrade the torch. the cables are stiff and heavy. other than that, its great. i got it used from a guy on craigslist for 1000 including the cart, huge argin tank, all the leads, lines, torches, regulator, ect, ect... everything i would need. and it was damn near new. some things were still in platics wrap! lol... and i have seen a few more good deals like that on craigslist. but i was searching for about a month all over. find that good deal and jump on it fast!Lincoln Square Wave 175 TIGLincoln 110v flux core welder (my 1st)Clarke 180EN MIG
Reply:Originally Posted by sen2twoi have a lincoln square wave 175. its plenty for all things automotive. cause thats the only welding i do. repairing body panels, making turbo manifolds, aluminum intake manifolds, ect...works great. the only thing you might want to do is upgrade the torch. the cables are stiff and heavy. other than that, its great. i got it used from a guy on craigslist for 1000 including the cart, huge argin tank, all the leads, lines, torches, regulator, ect, ect... everything i would need. and it was damn near new. some things were still in platics wrap! lol... and i have seen a few more good deals like that on craigslist. but i was searching for about a month all over. find that good deal and jump on it fast!
Reply:Originally Posted by CSXRT4Do you have the use the water cooling if you get a water cooled welder like the syncrowave 250dx??? I was thinking of just buying the power unit and a torch and ground for now. Then I could buy the water system later on. A 250dx runner setup goes for like $4000, and the power source alone is $2600
Reply:aluminum needs more amps than steel.  i dont do aluminum, and my TA185 ia very very nice for stick and tig. DavidR uses the TA 185 and says it will do 1/4" aluminum. It will do all the steel in the world..to get a sense of tig, if you have access to oa welding, it has a lot in common.the torch makes the puddle and the other hand feeds filler rod into the puddle..i agree dont get a cheap small machine,.
Reply:when refering to automotive uses, the aluminum that will need to be welded will be thin most of the time. along the lines of 1/16" thick. such as a2.5" od tubing for intakes, and intercooler piping. wich is normally welded at around 60-70 amps. wich even the smallest of AC/DC tigs can handle...just make sure you get one that can be ran off of 220v and NOT 3 phase. and having an AC option is a must for welding aluminum.Lincoln Square Wave 175 TIGLincoln 110v flux core welder (my 1st)Clarke 180EN MIG
Reply:Originally Posted by CSXRT4Hey all. Im a novice welder and have welded with MIG enough to be able to join 2 pieces of steel together (how well it looks is another story). I love fabrication and I know that welding is probably the most important skill when it comes to fabrication. My main hobby is automotive performance, ive been able to get by with building performance cars/projects using my dad's MIG welder. But now I would like to move further and be able to fabricate parts more precisely and fashionably, and to build my ability into a skilled welder.So ive decided to buy a TIG welder. After looking around I am pretty lost as to what I should get, there are so many different terms and options that are thrown around. I want to buy something good though, I plan on using whatever I buy for years to come so I think I should get something that I wont be held back by. I was looking at the Miller Syncrowave 250DX, its a bit pricey and im wondering if this might be a bigger welder than I will really need for my type of use (automotive). So I was hoping I could get some insight from you guys as to what I should buy. Thanks
Reply:^^^ yeah i definitely dont have the funds for that kind of machine lolI think im pretty set on the syncrowave 250dx, im just going to buy the power unit and an air cooled torch kit. My main concern is aluminum, as you said sen2two most aluminum in automotive use is relatively thin but I have come across some thicker material here and there and I want to make sure my machine can handle it. I dont plan on buying another welder for a very long long time. Thank you everybody for your input, I appreciate it