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Ok so I am in the market for a TIG Machine, After searching Craigslist I found a Miller Syncrowave 351 for 1700, it includes some rods, water cooled Torch, water cooler and bottle "with no papers" all nicey nice on a Cart. The owner is selling it because he now has a Pacemaker and cant run the machine, this machine also has other history apparently the owner before him collapsed an died in his mothers backyard. The other option is to go with a New Lincoln precision TIG 225 for 2300.00. The Precision 225 should handle most if not all of my projects. Well what are you all thinking ?????
Reply:Price seems pretty good. Cooler and cylinder ( assuming you can swap it out) adds a fair amount of value to the unit. That's a pretty decent size add on to the Lincoln Precision TIG 225 to keep things about even.With the cylinder, I'd see whose name is on the tag and open up an account there, even if it's a cash account or COD. With an account, chances are you'll have no issues swapping the cylinder. I've often swapped out cylinders I borrow from a friend of mine when I'm in a jam for gas. Since he uses the same company I do, I just take his cylinder in and exchange it and return it to him full. I've only once been asked about the fact I don't have that cylinder listed on my account. I have one of their cylinders, I'm one of their customers, and they swap one for one no questions asked..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Im really new to the TIG end of things, in your opinion is the Syncrowave 351 a decent machine?
Reply:Syncrowaves are very nice machines. It's an older unit and pretty large. You'll need a fair amount of input power to run one, but on what the Lincoln would need to run, you should be able to get about the same amount of output. Up side is things like duty cycle won't be an issue and you'll have more output then you'll most likely ever need. I'm also betting that if you wanted to sell it in a few years for whatever reason, you can most likely get at least 80% of your money back no problem if not all of it.I've never run a Syncrowave 351 myself, but I've used plenty of the smaller Syncrowaves from the 180's and 200's ( I own a Syncrowave 200 myself) up to a bunch of Syncrowave 250 of various ages. All are good solid rugged machines.If you took a minute and added your location to your profile so we knew about where you were, perhaps someone might be able to make some other suggestions of machines you might want to look at. Lots of guys here browse CL daily and might pass on a good deal if they knew you were close by. One member here has a really nice like new Syncrowave 250 compliments of another member here who posted up the CL add. I saw it and knew he was looking for a unit and it wasn't all that far from where he lived so I let him know about the unit..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:The 351 is great in my experience, If you have the amps to feed it.
Reply:Funny, I'm sorta looking at the same sort of deal. A new Lincoln Precision TIG 225 or a used Syncro 250 Tig runner DX. There are a few things i don't understand. Is it even possible to run a Precision TIG pushbutton style (4T or 2T) if you had to ? (I'm thinking if I had to tack weld a new muffler together while under the car, very occasional use only.) I see on the Lincoln site that the accessories for the Precision Tig include a "Hand Amptrol" as well as an "Arc Start Switch" Its not clear how the hand amptrol start switch works, the image just looks like a variable rheostat. The owners manuals online at Lincoln don't say a word on the topic (or am I reading the manual wrong?) I'm interested in doing thin wall chrome-moly so the microstart stuff on the Lincoln looks pretty good. Its also not clear if I can run both machines reliably on my 240v 1ph 50amp circuit. I think the Lincoln is solid there, not sure about the Miller Syncro.Any of you 225 guys know about hand controls on that machine? I've not fully researched the Miller yet, but I suspect its pretty flexible, including (2T/4T?)Any comments or guidance? thanks, Zip
Reply:I would go with the miller.
Reply:I'm not sure about the Lincoln as far as 2T/4T, but most US machines generally don't function like that as far as I know. The hand amptrol works just like the pedal on the machine, and you can vary your amps while welding. This is as opposed to the way the European style machines will ramp up or down the power to preset levels. The Arc Start Switch is simply an on/off switch. It's useful for doing things like bump welding alum or if you have a need to simply start and stop the arc at a fixed output which can be useful doing something like steel or stainless where you don't need to change your amps while welding much.50 amps 230v is going to be borderline on the Syncrowave 351. It would really like more power. It would also depend on if your unit had the PFC caps installed. If the PFCs are in the machine, it will run at higher output using a lower breaker, but will draw more power at idle, so a 50 amp breaker most likely won't cut it. The unit will draw at least 60 amps while idling with the PFC's installed, Without the PFC's the machine requires more power to run at rated output, however it idles at a much lower draw. 60 amps would be my suggested minimum breaker, but on light stuff, say under 150 amps, 50 might get you by. I think Steve (7A749) commented on mimimum input power on a Syncrowave 351 recently to someone else in another thread about 50 amps not really being enough power. That's really not the end of the world though if you have to run a circuit to the machine anyways. 60 amps vs 50 amps won't really change much as far as overall power use unless your system is already maxed out as it is. You'd be talking about a bit more for wire and breaker.The extra input power requirement isn't a huge surprise since we are talking about a machine that can max out at 430 amps, or close to maybe twice what that Lincoln can put out..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by ZIPZITFunny, I'm sorta looking at the same sort of deal. A new Lincoln Precision TIG 225 or a used Syncro 250 Tig runner DX
Reply:50amps is doable at the lower end with a Syncrowave 250, but the same general comments apply. If it has the PFC's it will use less to max out, but draw more at idle. Amps at rated output are also a bit lower. The manual you can opull up off Millers site will tell you rated amps, but guys have run the 250's off 50 amp breakers. 60 would be even better..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Many thanks. At 230v, 60hz input, the manual is pushing #'s like 77amps input @ 200Amp output, 96 amps input @ 250 amps output. Folks are telling me that 50amps is just fine, but the numbers don't say that (and hence my original question...) My guess is I'd be fine welding <150amps output current, but above that questionable. As much as I'd like to have water cooling right off the bat, I'm thinking the Lincoln makes more sense for me. (The choice is $3000 offer for the 2002 vintage Syncrowave, 100 miles from here, and I have to rent a van, or <$2600 for the Lincoln new delivered with 3 yr warranty.) And here's a stupid question.. how offended will my local welding supply shop be if I ask them to match the online prices? So offended that its not worth asking in the first place? I don't want to piss them off, I have to come back for argon, etc...Opinions? thanks, Zip.
Reply:Depends a lot on the guy there and how you ask.When I bought my Syncrowave 200 I asked the counter guy about prices on line. He got real irked at me when I mentioned what I could pay else where. I told him I'd rather buy local, but couldn't understand why his price was so much higher. Turns out his price was for the unit with the wheel kit, and the online price was without the wheels, so we weren't comparing the same things. When he pulled up the numbers for ordering the unit with no wheels, he was less than $50 from online, and I just went and ordered it from him..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by zipzitOops. I did say "sorta". I'm trying to compare the Syncro 250 (not the 350). Will that cut it on a 50 Amp breaker? Many thanks. Apologies if I got off the original thread topic too far. (What's a 100 amps among friends?)Many thanks, Zip.
Reply:I recently bought a Syncro 351 loaded for bear, but I don't know much about it except that I like it so far. I originally tried to start playing with it on a 60A circuit, and it would pop that breaker even on lower settings. I made some changes and wired it to a 100A circuit and life is good.
Reply:I had (still own, havent been paid for it) a Syncrowave 351. Have had it for about 10 years now and it is a great machine. It will run on a 60 amp breaker but will occasionally pop the breaker when you first turn it on. Its suppose to be on a 100 amp circuit. The only problem with the machine is the optional panels it originally had available for it. I forget what all 3 of them are but the main one you would probably be interested in is the pulser board which has been discontinued for a long time. Not sure on the availability of the other 2 panels. But, all in all it is an excellent machine.
Reply:So I found out the Miller 351 I was checking out had a bad PC-1 board, the guy selling it is still delusional to the fact. I started a stick weld and the machine sputtered and then lost its Arch. Wouldn't restart until I shut it down and restarted it. The welder is in Havertown Pa. The guy apparently has someone on the hook now for 2800.00. I think for that price plus the 950.00 pc1 board I could have a new 250 DX.
Reply:Yea after I spoke to a miller tech out in Wi he recommended I look into the old analog style "S"wave 250s he said they are bomb proof. I found one that is a tig runner 2900. Comes with all the leads and a cooler. Its online though I wonder if anyone in here is selling one? I'm in NJ
Reply:No the 250 TIG runner I saw online was a 2001 analog machine, it's in Atlanta on EBay. I think it's some miller tech down there selling Equiptment he tests and repairs. He's asking 2900. For the machine, cooler, torch, ground lead, stick stinger. And it's all on a cart.
Reply:Found a Miller Syncrowave 250 "Analog Machine" with cooler in my local for 1600.00. The owner has no way to test the unit because he has no torch or leads but says it is a low hour machine and believes it works fine. Hmm should I pull the trigger on this deal?
Reply:To me the price is too high for a machine you can't test. He'd have to come way down for me to think about it at that price. If you can locate a set of leads and a torch to test it, maybe. You'd still have to drop a couple hundred into it for torch and leads to use it though, so I'd want to see the price go down. More so if he doesn't have a pedal with it. figure about $150-200 to get a complete 20 series torch and parts, $125 for a stick lead, and maybe $75-100 for your ground rig depending on cable length..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Never trust a man who wont look you in the eye when he's answering your question.Just a couple welders, big hammers, grinders, and torches.Work will free you.Men in dirty jeans built this country, while men in clean suits have destroyed it. Trump/Carson 2016-2024
Reply:[QUOTE=Ron083;3982881]Same one I have in my barn. I've run the hell out of it on both TIG and stick and it had quite a life before I bought it so I know they can handle whatever you throw at them. Extremely durable, smooth and stable arc, all the bells and whistles I need. Borrow a set of stick leads and make sure it can strike an arc. It won't test the HF but at least you'll know its not fried.As Steve said, its a good price. You won't be sorry.EricAWS D1.1 Certified SMAW 3G Unlimited, Open Root FCAW-G 3G Unlimited, w/BackerCellular Tower Reinforcement Welding on the frozen tundra of the greater Mid-West
Reply:Do you ever have to worry about replacing caps in older unit with the caps drying out not holding full capacity ?Miller 350PMiller 30AHobart trekHTP Invertig 221
Reply:I have a 351 and love it. It does everything I want it to. The major problem with the 351's is the pain pc board. The first machines came out with board assembly number 154919 and there is a problem with them. They go out is all I know. Take a slot screwdriver and loosen the top center front cover. Screw wont come out but front cover will open and the board in question is top left . The new boards are assembly 186768 and the last of the 351's had this board and problem solved. I sent mine to authorized service center and they replaced my main board, new tungsten spark gaps, capacitor board and certified the welder for $500, The tec told me the board was free of charge. I have looked into this to see if there is a recall or something but can't get a straight answer from miller. My experience, I can weld 2 beer cans together and gouge at 418 amps. It does it all, at least all I want to do. BTY I am looking for a pulser upgrade for this machine if anyone knows where one is. Lincoln MK 250, Syncrowayve 351, Cutmaster 151, SA 250D, bobcat 225 and want more.4 Daughters, 6 cats, 1 dog, 1 wife and don't want anymore.So if these boards go bad, miller will replace them?
Reply:So the welder I am looking at is a 1994, It comes with all the leads a water cooled torch and cooler. He is firm at $2,150.So what do you all think?
Reply:The syncrowave 250 is the machine that's 6 hours from me, the guy said he would meet me half way but he then said the price would be 200 more, just seems like a lot of money for something I'm not sure works. The 351 I found works it's 20 miles away and is a 1994 machine, which comes with torch, stick leads, miller cooler.
Reply:Well after much careful consideration, I decided to go with a 1998 Miller Syncrowave 250 that was used in a chemist lab as a power source for making Buckministerflurene or C-60. I'm told the machine was never used as a welder and might be lucky to have a complete hours time on it. 1600 is what she cost me but I will need to purchase a torch and foot pedal. If any of you have any to sell let me know. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Is there a certain model number or style I need to fit my miller? New to this |
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发表于 2021-8-31 22:30:37