Is Precision TIG still a squarewave???

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I am plan on buying a PT225 this week and in doing a little last minute shopping I realized it doesnt say that it uses a squarewave. I assumed everyone did since this is old, but good technology. I looked at a Miller Dynasty that allows you to select sino, square, adv square or a few others. I am stuck buying a transformer due to the budget so it seems the Dynasty is out. Lincoln also sells a smaller TIG 175 that is labled "Squarewave" WTH?? Anyone have a Precesion TIG that they would care to share their experiences about? Or atleast know what wave it uses? I am not looking for an opinion based on what color its painted. I own Miller equip as well and love it. Same with Hobart. I just wanna know how well it works, pros and cons. Thanks,RGRG_______________________Hobart 187Northern Tool Plasma 375Harris 85 O/A Rig (Ireland)
Reply:Yes, it is square wave. The Precision TIGs are approximately equivalent to Synchrowaves. They are heavy transformer machines and do not have the advanced features found in inverters like the Dynasty. You will need at least a 60A breaker to run it. I have not used a Precision TIG myself but those that have say that the arc quality is very nice in both TIG and stick.For the best information, download the manual from Lincoln's site, as well as the manual for Miller's closest equivalent from their site. Then you can compare features in detail.JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:I wouldn't buy oneyour better off with a thermal arc 186or something else maybe a syncrowave 200or a used machinehttp://www.forgingtechnology.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by bryce masuki wouldn't buy one
Reply:Originally Posted by Bryce masukI wouldn't buy oneyour better off with a thermal arc 186or something else maybe a syncrowave 200or a used machine
Reply:TA is out! i need ac/dc. What is wrong with the PT225?Thx,RGRG_______________________Hobart 187Northern Tool Plasma 375Harris 85 O/A Rig (Ireland)
Reply:Originally Posted by RottguinnessTA is out! i need ac/dc. What is wrong with the PT225?Thx,RG
Reply:Its more of a personal choice but truthfully the precision tig is a decent machine but I would buy a syncrowave 200 over the 225 precision tigits just a better built machine and it welds nicer comes with better accessory's Its not likely I would invest in a transformer machine brand new anyways, the pulse options are really limitedup to 12 pulses per second or so maybe 20 ppsalso its a heavy machine that isn't portable and isnt likely to hold much value in the future as everything is going to inverterthe thermal arc is ac/dchttp://store.cyberweld.com/tharc186t...FQ9eQgodXUQArwit doesnt need a big breaker and takes up less space,you can take it anywhere and store it in a closet if need bewelds better than the PT 225 and you have more options to set it uphttp://www.forgingtechnology.com/
Reply:I currently have a Miller synch 180 sd. Truth is, I love the machine and built many projects with it. I have on a few occasions needed a few more amps and after taking a welding class that used Millers and Lincolns, all much bigger machines and I thought I would like to move up a bit. I also enjoyed the pulse "although not a deal breaker", but  it was nice. I found that I could pulse with the pedal on what I had it was just more work. After doing 2 large aluminum projects, I thought a few more amps in reserve would be nice. I am having a hard time reading between the lines of the literature. Square wave, sino advanced square and now a micro start??? No one calls an apple an apple! If I can get a 230 amp machine, great I am in. As long as it it what I expect it to be. I am not a big brand loyal guy. My last truck was a Ford, now I drive a GMC. Both great trucks. I am looking for facts! The goods and bads!!! I dont care about the color or what NASCAR is doing. I want a quality machine that is usable for many years. I would like to hear from the owners the pros and cons.Thanks,RGRG_______________________Hobart 187Northern Tool Plasma 375Harris 85 O/A Rig (Ireland)
Reply:You wouldn't regret the pt225. It will deliver the 230 amps, and it welds very nicely in  AC, dc, Tig and stick modes. The accessories are very good quality. I've used and abused mine for yrs without problems, the only thing I've added is a liquid cooled Tig torch.
Reply:Where is Lanse... I have a SW175 and the thing does have a great arc. Since the SW175 is the little brother to the PT225 I would not hesitate to think the PT has a similar arc with just more features and more amps.Check out chuckey2009 on YouTube he bought a used PT225 I am sure he could give you some thoughts.
Reply:It's a square wave and the main lump is the same as the 175 but it has some pulse and balance adjustments along with a micro-start transformer.All the lincoln PT's have a separate small micro start transformer that runs at 2amps so they don't use a hot start circuit to start welding, run at very low amps or for crater fill. If you can hold a tight enough gap the  machine will maintain the arc at low amps without the troubles the SCR fired rectifier machine has. Some people just call it smoother starting as very few ever work below 10 amps.My SW275 goes pretty good till I get down to 6 - 8 then I'm not good enough to keep it running without the HF kicking back in. The neighbors PT 225 runs smoother at low DC currents. With AC welding the HF stays on so it's gonna be a wash compared to any other SCR fired tranny machine.For the longest time I've had trouble with how Lincoln badges some of the machines... I'm old school, meaning I want to know the NEMA 1 numbers, the 100% duty cycle thing. Miller is better about it but not much - in any event I look at the 225 as a 100amp class machine. I agree with the "color Nascar's running" comment above.Anyway I can cut & paste the Lincoln sales & reasoning pitch on the micro-start business given at an AWS convention years back if anyone's interested (kinda long).Good luckMatt
Reply:Matt,If you can please cut and past the sales pitch.Thanks,RGRG_______________________Hobart 187Northern Tool Plasma 375Harris 85 O/A Rig (Ireland)
Reply:Yes, I bought a used PT225 last summer and I love it!! It's a rock solid machine that burns all the common SMAW electrodes well, including 6010, and TIG wise, it out performs the blue machines at my school in ALL aspects except of course maximum output and duty cycle (they're bigger machines).My PT had made many appearances on my channel, ChuckE2009 as mentioned. I think it's a very good welder, although the duty cycle is a little on the low side.Good luck!! [Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:Originally Posted by Lanse...it out performs the blue machines at my school in ALL aspects except of course maximum output and duty cycle (they're bigger machines).Good luck!!
Reply:Originally Posted by b2major9thHaHa, them's fightin' words...LOL  red vs BLUE!Mike
Reply:Good machines, it'll weld anything in it's range as well as any other.  Better than most.On par with a syncro 250.Buy American, or don't whine when you end up on the bread line.
Reply:Originally Posted by RottguinnessMatt,If you can please cut and past the sales pitch.Thanks,RG
Reply:Thanks to all that conributed! I bought the PT 225 last week and love it!!! I think I am gonna  post an objective review of the machine to help others looking.RGRG_______________________Hobart 187Northern Tool Plasma 375Harris 85 O/A Rig (Ireland)
Reply:That's awesome! Glad you like it!! [Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:I have the Lincoln Precision TIG 185, and I'm very pleased with the machine.  I'm looking forward to your review.
Reply:I have one, and no complaints. Runs 6010 and aluminum great, spent about 2 hours with it tonight. Sometimes more knobs and dials are worse. Do you know that much about tig welding to need to control all of those things?14' PowerMig 210 MP13'Burntables 5x10 CNC Table14' SAE300 HE on a 12' Ram 4500 60 CA 4x4. Custom bed/bottles/reels.87' SA250d, 78 SA200,11' Ranger 250 GXT AC/DCThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 8112' Lincoln Precision Tig 22508' LN25