Looking to buy my first TIG welder.

admin

Hi everyone. I'm just learning how to weld and already looking to buy my first TIG welder. I'm looking to for a welder that I will be able to make a turbo header, intercooler piping to building large aviaries for my parrots. I found a Miller Maxstar 200 DX TIG welder that also comes with a Coolmate 3, foot control and torch for about $1400. Would this set up be good enough for my goals?Thanks,Robert
Reply:As long as you don't want/need to weld aluminum, that will work nicely.  Frankly, the water cooled torch is a little overkill for the low amperage work that you just described (again, since you can't do Aluminum with that.)  You could sell the cooler to someone like me who NEEDs it, and offset the cost of your rig even more!Good luck with your purchase, I'm getting a Dynasty 200 DX, and looking forward to it.BK
Reply:So does the Dynasty 200 DX do Aluminum? Originally Posted by jetenginedoctorAs long as you don't want/need to weld aluminum, that will work nicely.  Frankly, the water cooled torch is a little overkill for the low amperage work that you just described (again, since you can't do Aluminum with that.)  You could sell the cooler to someone like me who NEEDs it, and offset the cost of your rig even more!Good luck with your purchase, I'm getting a Dynasty 200 DX, and looking forward to it.BK
Reply:Originally Posted by romspacenutSo does the Dynasty 200 DX do Aluminum?
Reply:Thanks BK. I've done some thinking and I'm going pass on the deal and save for a Miller Syncrowave 200. This should be a good place to start right and be good enough for my goals? Originally Posted by RojodiabloYes, it is ac/dc tig, dc stick. It's about another 2K over the $1400 you have there. IMO, grab that combo, it's a steal! The guy probably has the air cooled torch still, and you can use the water cooled setup, save a few more bucks, get an ac/dc machine in a year or so, now you will have a water cooler and torch for the new machine. Sell the 200 with the air cooled torch, and be a happy guy!!
Reply:Originally Posted by romspacenutThanks BK. I've done some thinking and I'm going pass on the deal and save for a Miller Syncrowave 200. This should be a good place to start right and be good enough for my goals?
Reply:I'd take the Sync 200 over the econotig.  All the advice above is good stuff.  ALL the Maxstar series are all DC only machines.  Although aluminum can be welded on DC, it really isn't best for most aluminum weldments.  It's best for thicker aluminum, and you need pure helium, or a high percentage of it.
Reply:Inscrutable's chief notional tar Hunt Emmert coh influence talked roughly getting the empowerment, noting that the brave would be constructed from the aspect up without any assets from Endless, largely because "there was nix to be had, to be genuine."
Reply:I've talked to some people who warned that you won't like working with the Econotig on Aluminum as it's not a square wave machine.  That's not saying it won't work, but it won't do the job like a better machine would do.I'll share a little info I've found about buying used welders once I've finished buying my toys.  I think you'd be shocked at how easy it is to get a good deal on a nice used machine if you're willing to take the time to look a little bit.BK
Reply:Originally Posted by jetenginedoctorI've talked to some people who warned that you won't like working with the Econotig on Aluminum as it's not a square wave machine.
Reply:When I bought my welder it was for essentially the same reason (cars not parrots) and I had the same thought process going.  Ended up buying a new HTP Invertig 201.  My total was around 2600 delivered.  The Dynasty was just too far out of my range pricewise.  The new Miller Diversion 165 would probably be the best choice for what you have in mind. I understand that they can be bought for around 1400 new.  They use a finger control, but that's really not bad, just a little different and sometimes better.  The extra amps in the 201 makes a difference only because I have used it on aluminum and taken it to full power, but the torch really gets hot.  If you go with the Maxstar, you'll probably eventually find a reason to upgrade to an ac machine for aluminum like wanting aluminum intercooler pipes.  A big advantage of the inverters aside from the things that can only be done by power electronics vs transformers, is that the power service requirements are much greater for transformer based machines.  You'll need a 70 amp service for that syncrowave 200.  The inverter machines in the same power range only draw around 30 amps (dryer circuit).  That power circuit mods to your shop/house have to be weighed in when determining what the machine really costs.  Good luck with you decision, Check out the diversion:http://millerwelds.com/diversion165/...FQZqswodnQ8TfgReneLast edited by zerepener; 09-21-2008 at 01:31 PM.