Cheap TIG that works well??

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Hi,  I'm starting to get the urge to purchase a TIG welder for light duty stuff such as 14 gauge or less mild steel, some Stainless, and later some Aluminum. After looking and looking there are very few used ones that are priced low enough to even think about, I think why pay $600 or more for a used one when I could buy a new one ~ $1200 to $1600.  So my question is; I found a link in the Lincoln section to this site http://tigdepot.com/products/p35TD-BBTF.htm . Basically with one of these and a Lincoln AC/DC I might be able to put a TIG together for less than $600. Does anyone have any experience with such a hodge podge contraption? I cannot tell if this convertor has a arc starter or not, I guess if not I would use a piece of copper to start the arc?  Any Ideas would help.
Reply:Originally Posted by o.c.d.Hi,  I'm starting to get the urge to purchase a TIG welder for light duty stuff such as 14 gauge or less mild steel, some Stainless, and later some Aluminum. After looking and looking there are very few used ones that are priced low enough to even think about, I think why pay $600 or more for a used one when I could buy a new one ~ $1200 to $1600.  So my question is; I found a link in the Lincoln section to this site http://tigdepot.com/products/p35TD-BBTF.htm . Basically with one of these and a Lincoln AC/DC I might be able to put a TIG together for less than $600. Does anyone have any experience with such a hodge podge contraption? I cannot tell if this convertor has a arc starter or not, I guess if not I would use a piece of copper to start the arc?  Any Ideas would help.
Reply:Hey there OCD -Maybe try the Harbor Freight 130ADC Inverter TIG/Stick.Lanmanb4 and blacksmithman own the Harbor Freight machine and post descriptions of the lift-arc starting feature. Also pictures of a .250 steel lap weld and welds on 1.500 sq tubing.  It seems there are at least a few issues.  Some people don't know how to work the machine.  Some people have imported issues.  Some have domestic issues.Here are the thread links:http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=2590http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=2337http://www.weldingweb.com/showpost.p...1&postcount=13 - Jim
Reply:Thanks for the information. I'll have to think about if for a while, I'm afraid if I buy a cheap one I'll regret wasting the money, so better safe than sorry.