what do you think of these???

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http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...link:middle:usor other low buck TIGS???im looking to use it for smaller jobs like piping, and intake manifolds. nothing major. and is the stick welder part of this for aluminum only? or can i use steel rods for it too?
Reply:that thing wont do aluminum at all really...I like to party!
Reply:Any tig machine will stick weld also.  That machine is a DC only machine, and will not do aluminum, and at 90 amps stick, and 130 amps tigs it won't do alot in the way of steel.  I personally would not give $50 for it.  Save your money, and stay away from the cheap foreign made machines.  I don't know of anyone who has one that was satisfied with what they got, and if they were they weren't after using a quality machine.  Not only is it not as well built, but you won't have any support if it does break down.  Save your money, and get a good used machine from Lincoln, Miller, Esab, Hobart, or even HTP.  You will be glad you did in the long term.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:thanks...where could i get a good made TIG. i wount be needing anything crazy. its more of just a hobby of mine. i enjoy making things for my car mainly. so dont need anything over whelming.what should i be looking to spend?i found a ESAB Miniarc 150 Tig and Stick welder for $800. but i dont really want to spend over $500. im not sure if i can find a TIG for that much though.
Reply:Gee, you can go right over to your friendly chicom store (Harbor Freight) and get it for the sale price of $199 and no freight. In a week or two after you discovered that it is a toy, you can even return it at no cost. Such a deal!!It isn't the deal you got, but the one you thought you got!!Still trying to get all the big boy toys.
Reply:You remember the old saying "You get what you pay for"? It is never truer than buying welding equipment. I've done this for a living for along time and have used a lot of machines. My earnest opinion is cheap won't get it, ever! Be patient, save your money and buy good quality equipment from the major companies. Lincoln, Miller, Hobart, even ESAB, they work, and for a long time. If you want to move up in your equipment selection the name brand stuff has a good resale, the cheap stuff doesn't. I have found that equipment is a lot like shops and barns and closets, and a number of other things. Figure out what you need and then buy twice as much because down the road you will be glad you did. Case in point, twenty-five years ago I built a 25' X 40' metal building because it was twice as big as I needed. For the last 10 years I've wished it was 30' X 60'.
Reply:Originally Posted by OldtimerYou remember the old saying "You get what you pay for"? It is never truer than buying welding equipment. I've done this for a living for along time and have used a lot of machines. My earnest opinion is cheap won't get it, ever! Be patient, save your money and buy good quality equipment from the major companies. Lincoln, Miller, Hobart, even ESAB, they work, and for a long time. If you want to move up in your equipment selection the name brand stuff has a good resale, the cheap stuff doesn't. I have found that equipment is a lot like shops and barns and closets, and a number of other things. Figure out what you need and then buy twice as much because down the road you will be glad you did. Case in point, twenty-five years ago I built a 25' X 40' metal building because it was twice as big as I needed. For the last 10 years I've wished it was 30' X 60'.
Reply:I think that machine SUCKS.If you only have $500 to spend, you need to look at another process besides TIG.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by SundownIIII think that machine SUCKS.If you only have $500 to spend, you need to look at another process besides TIG.
Reply:Look around for an old Dialarc HF or Idealarc or other Airco, Linde, or ESAB tig/stick machine.   The old machines can be had for very little money and will serve you well for years without problems cause they are built like tanks (and weigh as much too).  Of course, this is only provided you have enough juice to run one of these monsters.  If you got an extra 100 amps of 240v power available, you can have a descent ac/dc/hf tig welder for within your price range.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Powcons seem to be the sweet spot; I picked up a 200sm for 300 bucks and just got a pd l feeder for about 300 converted to /024 wire and a new liner for the gun. The whole works with a 150cf bottle of ar/co for around 700 bucks. It is flawless and will do many different processes.Airco 300 squarewaveMig welding center...Powcon sm300/LN 25Powcon sm200/PD lHypertherm PM 1100Miller AEAD 200LE W/LN25 FCand now another sm200 pd l combo.
Reply:If it's a lincoln, miller or hobart tig you can get consumables for it at most any welding supply or online easily. If it's Chinese your LWS is gonna laugh at you. Good used equipment can be had reasonably.Used equipment I have purchased in the last year: Miller XMT304 - $1800, Ranger 305G - $1800 (1591 hours - looks brand new), Lincoln Procut 55 - $1100 (I can't tell it was ever used), Miller XR 15 push/pull feeder $500, Thermal Arc Hefty - $400, Lincoln LN25 wire feeder - $50 (not the best deal as it cost 700 to get it fixed), all but the hefty and ln25 came with one year warranties. In 40 years of welding I have only used maybe 3 brand new machines. I have used a bunch that were 10 to 20 years old. One Lincoln that was built during the depression, and a 400 amp Miller tig that was so old all of the letters and numbers had worn off. They all had one thing in common - they would weld all day long and sometimes all night too.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.