Tig First time post

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Signed on here because I'd like to buy my first TIG machine for home / hobby use. been lurking here, but half the time I dont understand the "lingo" you guys are usingBackground: been OA gas welding most of my life, & purchased a 140C Lincoln 3 or 4 yrs back. doing pretty well with it auto body sheet metal & structural steel to the limit of the welderI love the capability of tig & hope to soon purchase a rigQuestion: Is there a good publication that is tig specific?something for me to get the basics.I hate to wast all your time here asking basicsBTW Jodys vids is what really peaked my interest
Reply:Welcome, I'm an amateur, hobbyist TIG welder myself. Mainly for auto body work. I haven't done much other than practicing but I'm already getting much better results than I have with my MIG that I've been using for several years.JoeLast edited by herbet99; 01-14-2013 at 11:59 AM.
Reply:Welcome. Seems we have had a lot of new comers lately with the same question. For starters, fill in your location so that anyone in the same area can recommend something they may run across on craigslist.Second: budget. Probably the biggest thing that will lead to you or from a machine is how much do you want to spend? Third: Power. What are your power requirements. Do you have a 220v or do you only have 110v? Or do you want a machine that can do both?Fourth: Aluminum. Do you plan on doing aluminum?Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Originally Posted by outsider347Signed on here because I'd like to buy my first TIG machine for home / hobby use. been lurking here, but half the time I dont understand the "lingo" you guys are usingQuestion: Is there a good publication that is tig specific?something for me to get the basics.I hate to wast all your time here asking basics
Reply:If you don't understand the lingo, just ask. There are no embarrassing questions. At one point in every weldor's life, they knew nothing about welding.__________________
Reply:This is pretty good, download each chapter pdf and rename them if you want:http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/TIGhandbook/I am taking the local Votec course again (starting Feb 13!) for exactly the same reason: having an experienced Tig weldor help me get better, and for the cheap shop time that has "real' tig machines.12 week 3 hour sessions = 36hours for $340. Worth every penny. IMO.Lincoln AC/DC 225/125 and WP17. 75A AC is for pipe thawing!HH 140 - new addtion 9/2012.I didn't agree, but hoped for Hope and Change.I got change for myself and my family: for the worse.This is the reality of: Barackalypse Now. Again.
Reply:Thanks for the quick feedback here Located in Western NYS- Orchard Park NYI  have 60a/220v to my shopSeems, the most bang for the buck...  I'd like to buy a used machine in the 1000.-1500 price range...  This is where the "Not sure what to buy" startsNothing much in the adult ed systems around here. but I should really look a bit harder I supposeI want to be able to weld alloys,AluminumStainless& steel for sureThanks again gents
Reply:by far the best recommendation is to read Millers TIG Handbook.  All chapters.  Whatever it is that you want to weld, you simply need to look up welder manufacturer websites, and LOOK at the descriptions of the TIG welders.  There is a 99.999% chance that in each description it will describe the kinds of metals that are weldable with that machine, along with metal thickness capacity (although this can vary depending on the procedure used to actually weld).  They will also list power requirements, duty cycles, machine features, etc.So, we know you have a computer, and a working internet connection.  Supposing that you know what google is, I'd start using it if I were in your place.  For every minute that you wait for someone to reply you could have already learned a great deal by looking at manufacturers' websites.
Reply:I think it would be helpful if someone could recommend the options that a new TIG owner should consider. Like, a foot pedal, or high frequency start capability, or water instead of air cooled torch. I know when I was looking that I had no idea what I should have been looking for.Yes, you can look at the manufacture's sites for list of features but, at least in my case, I had trouble determining what the advantages of the features were and whether they applied to what I kind of welding I was going to be doing.Last edited by herbet99; 01-14-2013 at 03:54 PM.
Reply:Price range and alum says used Miller Syncrowave 180, 200 or 250. I've seen the Syncro 180's as low as $850-1200, Syncro 200's in the $100-1400 and an occasional Syncro 250 down as low as $1300 on rare occasions. Obviously the bigger numbered machines have more output.There are also any number of older tigs that can be had for less money. Miller 330 AB/P 's pop up in teh $500-900 range regularly. They are nice basic machines and on 60 amps will probably do anything a hobbyist needs done. Quite a few members here have them. Older Dialarc HF's are also a inexpensive bacic AC -DC tig.Lincoln has a number of good machines also, but I'm not as familiar with the models from them..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 miller diversion 165, diversion 180, hobart 165 are all great starter machines. However a little on the pricer side of things and have no options.Thermalarc 186 seems to be a big purchase lately for most seeing how you get a lot of options, foot pedal for $1600.You will find a lot of people here love the made in usa (Miller, lincoln) and frown upon others, but some of the china stuff works rather well too. Biggest thing anyone will recommend is to look on CL for a used miller or lincoln. I would have to agree and start there. An older used lincoln or miller would be the best bet I think.The longevity 160sx is a decent machine for cheap. Same with the eastwood machine.Everlast has horrible customer service from what I have read on here.HTP would be an ideal machine if you can afford it and you would probably never out grow it.You really have a lot of options out there, but I would stay CL for a nice used machine is the first place to look. I think a water cooled torch isn't ideal for a beginner, as a beginner you will be doing thin material until you get it down. Air cooled torch should be fine.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:watch each and every single video from weldingtipsandtricks.comI'd be hard pressed to believe that after someone sees ALL OF THEM, they won't know what they need.
Reply:Thanks to all that replied.  I didn't realize that this topic was so beat up here, but I have gained much info from the reply'sThanks for the tip about the Manufacture info booklets..didn't know about themDSW: If you should see a used Miller Syncrowave 180, 200 or 250 in the $800-1200 range, if not a problem, would you please LMK .  You are in the Philley area correct? I have family in the S Jersey areaThanks Again for your time & patienceCheers
Reply:I'll keep my eyes open. DRF255 here also often posts up deals he spots in the Long Island area. He posted up a sweet Syncro 250 I passed along the info to BrendonV here. Keep an eye on the sale section as that's where he usually post those.If you aren't using a CL aggregator like Searchtempest.com, You probably want to try one. I usually put "welder" in as my search topic and set the distance at 100 miles and see what it will pop up for me, then search the lists manually for deals..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:Another what do you think:I found a used  6 month old Miller Diversion 165 for sale on my local CLNO gas bottle or cart, but comes with a foot pedal.I think I can make the deal for 1000.00as mentioned earlier this will be my first TIG that I will be learning onThinking tat should I decide to move to something else this unit will easier to sellThanks for your time
Reply:It's a miller so it will hold it's value for sure. You won't lose much if any for when you decide to sell it in a few years. I suggest you go there with 900 or 1000 and do it quickly before it gets sold if it hasn't sold already.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:You can build a cart. New welders won't come with a bottle either so things are looking the same in that arena.      1000 bux isnt bad considering they msrp for about 1700. Depending on what shape it's in now and what shape it will be in after you use it (if you end up buying it) you probably won't have any trouble selling it yourself when you outgrow it. Is it some thing you think you will outgrow fast though?    Does it come with a torch and a regulator or flowmeter too?Eastwood TIG 200NAPA 83-315 MIG
Reply:Yep comes with everythingThanks for the responses gents
Reply:After reading all of the suggested materials, I think that I have decided on either a Miller Syncro 200 or a Lincoln precision tig 225Hope to maybe find a used one while I save the $$$Thoughts??thanks gents
Reply:We use the lincoln precision tig 185 at school. Love that machine!Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer