buying my first tig need some info

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I've been looking at the Miller 180 but also the Thermal Arc 186. I've seen some of the reviews on here and leaning to the Thermal Arc. I've been welding mig for a long time but this is my first tig. With being said, I will be welding stainless mild steel and aluminum.  Most of the stainless stuff will be building headers and exhaust stuff then mild steel will be roll cage or 120 wall and down. Aluminum will be 1/8 pipe and some 1/4 but not as much. I have a max of about $2000 to spend. I read that the Thermal Arc has a problem with the pedal but I'm hoping someone can tell me it's fixed on the new welders or is it just getting a new better petal? Also can someone post the part number to the better torch so I can order it if I get the thermal arc.
Reply:I would pass on the small units. They are very limited on duty cycle when you start getting into the bigger stuff. I spent $1500 and got a Miller Dialarc 250HF with water cooler, 25' stick, ground, pedal and 250 amp water cooled torch leads along with the gas regulator etc. completely plug and play. Got it wired in this week and been running the sh!t out of it. Love this machine. Also it has a 40% duty cycle at max output of 310 amps. Just food for thought.Not long ago I was in this exact same boat. Take a look in the classified ads for a thread called 'Why is it so difficult'. There was a ton of useful info and everyone here helped me zero in on my purchase.1973 Lincoln SA 200, Already replaced shunt coils, Idle board (SOLD)1984 Miller Dialarc 250HF, Miller water cooler, 250 AMP water cooled torch, you know the worx.
Reply:The pedal is not much of an issue: http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...6-pedal-issues"USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:I kind of agree with the previous post, buy the biggest welder( the most amps ) you can afford. Bigger is always better when it comes to welders in my humble experience.
Reply:If you do order a TA186, email [email protected] and he can set you up with a full water-cooled setup with a 20-series torch for that machine.  With this you will never look back.  You can even customize the torch and get a flex head or even better a flex-loc which is a 360° rotating head---when working on automotive stuff it will come in handy.  He could probably even sell you a customized hand amperage control for when you are lying down upside-down in a car and can't get to a footpedal as easy. 1st on WeldingWeb to have a scrolling sig! HTP Invertig 400HTP Invertig 221HTP ProPulse 300HTP ProPulse 200 x2HTP ProPulse 220MTSHTP Inverarc 200TLP HTP Microcut 875SC
Reply:I've been looking local and can't find a nice used tig. I've looked for a few months and nothing is coming up. That's why I was going to buy new, I can get the thermal arc for around $1500 here with my discount.
Reply:Originally Posted by OscarIf you do order a TA186, email [email protected] and he can set you up with a full water-cooled setup with a 20-series torch for that machine.  With this you will never look back.  You can even customize the torch and get a flex head or even better a flex-loc which is a 360° rotating head---when working on automotive stuff it will come in handy.  He could probably even sell you a customized hand amperage control for when you are lying down upside-down in a car and can't get to a footpedal as easy.
Reply:Originally Posted by stroker52I will email him and see what he can do for me.. you any pix of this torch or a link to his stuff on here.. would like to take a look at it..
Reply:Oscar, I concur on the folks at HTP, and Paul Portuese.  He is an exceptionally good guy. Helped me out a lot. Stroker, if you can afford it, the HTP Invertig 221 seems to be an awesome good deal.  I know its a stretch to your budget...  220v input WITH water cooler less than $3k.  $2500 for air cooled.  (Add $500 if you need dual voltage input, 110v/220v).
Reply:Originally Posted by zipzitOscar, I concur on the folks at HTP, and Paul Portuese.  He is an exceptionally good guy. Helped me out a lot. Stroker, if you can afford it, the HTP Invertig 221 seems to be an awesome good deal.  I know its a stretch to your budget...  220v input WITH water cooler less than $3k.  $2500 for air cooled.  (Add $500 if you need dual voltage input, 110v/220v).
Reply:My Thermal Arc 186 has been great thus far but as a hobbiest it doesn't get used daily and put through the ringer like someone making their living with it would do.Miller 211 MIGThermal ARC 186 TIGHypertherm Powermax 30 Plasma
Reply:I don't think the web site has been updated.  I think they have the welders in stock now.  Pls. Call to verify.
Reply:Is this the torch your talking about?http://www.usaweld.com/Swivel-Head-T...swivelhead.htm
Reply:Originally Posted by stroker52Is this the torch your talking about?http://www.usaweld.com/Swivel-Head-T...swivelhead.htm
Reply:Ok so what I'm getting from yall is the thermal arc 186 is a real good tig for what all I'm wanting to do. Just upgrade the tig torch to the flex head torch and I should be good to go? I was looking at the see though cup also or is it not worth getting?
Reply:Why the see through cup? You need to look at the puddle not inside the cup.
Reply:Originally Posted by stroker52Ok so what I'm getting from yall is the thermal arc 186 is a real good tig for what all I'm wanting to do. Just upgrade the tig torch to the flex head torch and I should be good to go? I was looking at the see though cup also or is it not worth getting?
Reply:I'm going to stick with getting the thermal arc tig just because I can get one local at a good price. If I have a problem with it I can take in and have work done on it and get it back quick. Now I just need to figure out all the add on's I need to get.
Reply:Originally Posted by stroker52I'm going to stick with getting the thermal arc tig just because I can get one local at a good price. If I have a problem with it I can take in and have work done on it and get it back quick. Now I just need to figure out all the add on's I need to get.
Reply:Just got my quote for the thermal arc tig today at $1640 plus $160 for a bottle. Now what all rods do I need to weld aluminum, stainless, mild steel? What Tungsten would I need?
Reply:Originally Posted by stroker52Just got my quote for the thermal arc tig today at $1640 plus $160 for a bottle. Now what all rods do I need to weld aluminum, stainless, mild steel? What Tungsten would I need?
Reply:Originally Posted by stroker52Just got my quote for the thermal arc tig today at $1640 plus $160 for a bottle. Now what all rods do I need to weld aluminum, stainless, mild steel? What Tungsten would I need?
Reply:Originally Posted by Drf255Endless opinions and answers to this question.  I'll give you mine, FWIW.Buy your stuff from WeldingCity or USAWeld on eBay.  Great service and prices. For aluminum, I'd say 1/16 and 3/32 5356 filler rod.  Unless you're anodizing or welding something that will be sustained at a high temp, it's the way to go.  Flows nice and no silicon graininess. Steel, ER70S2.  Stainless, 308 for stainless to stainless and 309 for steel to stainless or SS to SS.I like the small gas lens setup.  Insures better coverage.  You can run a greater stick out length and use less gas.For tungsten, few would argue that 2% lanthanated blue band is the best all around. Good on AC and DC, cheap, holds a good point.  Many have said others are better, but I've never heard anyone complain about blue ever being bad.  For your machine, 1/16 and 3/32.The most important thing is practice.  Don't be fooled into thinking that gadgets and special fillers/tungstens are why your welds suck.  Tig is 90% skill and 10% equipment.  Good luck and post your results.
Reply:You should DEFINITELY get the pedal and yes, you will need it for remote amp control with that torch.  Finger controls suck in general.  They're ok if you're doing steel or stainless and you need to change amps SLOWLY and not that precisely.  You should get a pedal even with the supplied torch.  The torch you picked looks great, but I'd personally hold out for a 20 series watercooled torch as I stated above. Until you use one it's tough to understand.  You want a 25' lead, it helps when doing projects.  You don't think you need one till you're welding on a large project and you gotta start rotating things to get closer to the torch.  I didn't either. Got mine used on eBay (CK Brand) with superflex lines and a bunch of collets, cups and lenses for $125.  Then made up fittings for the garden hose until I found a cooler for $100.  I lucked out and found a real CM3 that miller made for a Jap company.  Chinese letters outside and all Miller inside.
Reply:FWIW, I am somewhat of a newbie to Tig and I love my Thermal Arc 186.If you can get it locally, perfect. Even though I'm still starting out, I'm fair from "easy" on my equipment. I haven't noticed anything at all with the "pedal" issue. Bought mine about 2 months ago from weldersupply.If you're going with a watercooled setup, all the better. If you are not in the market for watercooled right now, at the very least, upgrade the torch. The TA186 comes with the Euro style and I personally could not stand it.After some recommendations I read on here, I bought a WP17 from usaweld and it's awesome with this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-1-2-WP-17...-/140919153454edit: whoops. I see you've already post that you were looking at the same torch! Well then I would definitely recommend it.Last edited by Steve French; 04-24-2014 at 01:51 PM.Ok I haven't got my tig yet still shopping around till the end of the month. But I can get the thermal arc 186 with a bottle for $1800 but I talked to my guy and he said he can give me the Miller 210 tig for $2400 but I still have to get a bottle. I'm sure I can get the 210 with the bottle for under $2500 so my question is what way would yall go? Is the Miller worth the extra money?
Reply:Anyone with helpful information to lead me in the right decision?
Reply:For $2400-range I would have a serious look at the HTP Invertig221.  Very good track history, good customer service, and features that neither of the machines mentioned can touch.  Sure you still need a bottle, but I think it might be worth it.  Of course I am biased seeing as how it is the most advanced TIG welder I have used  1st on WeldingWeb to have a scrolling sig! HTP Invertig 400HTP Invertig 221HTP ProPulse 300HTP ProPulse 200 x2HTP ProPulse 220MTSHTP Inverarc 200TLP HTP Microcut 875SC