can cut down on the REPETITIVE "I'm new and need a welder" questions!

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Ironically this thread is not helping the cause...TIG noob here and scouring my local classifieds I found these beastly welders... Im wondering If I should mess with it? I was originally looking into a cheapo harbor freight TIG welder then talked myself into looking at the Everlast brand... and now im convinced for the same money I can get an older used American made unit and be much happier... anyways Im new to TIG welding. Here are some of the things I will be doing:welding trunnions into stamped metal receivers (firearms)welding up rolled receiver flatswelding weldments to receiverswelding baja type tube and pipe bumpers and rock railswelding aluminum for roof rackswelding steel and chromoly tubingThese are some of the local cheaper TIG welding power unitsfor sale. Both will require me to spend more money on a bottle for argon, a torch, and a foot pedal...AC/DC GAS TUNGSTEN-ARC WELDING MACHINE, works great! Comes with leads only. 400.00
Reply:Ha Ha!Good one!Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:The maxstars are DC only. Good units though, I love my STH
Reply:That 330 ABP, I think, at the top is an excellent power supply. Hugh transformer and a very smooth AC arc. Draw 100 Amps at the wall max. and when you turn it on and saturate that transformer it might dim the lights.  It will do what you want it to do.  If it runs 400 with torch and leads is OK.  The operative word is if it runs and you need to try it with stick and tig and make sure it has a foot control.  If you are going newer stay away from that nobody has heard of or has in history with that you can check on here in the forum.  If I had the service to power it and it ran I would buy it.  By the way you can still get parts from Miller.
Reply:Ha! You don't even have the ability to test these under power before you buy these used machines. These looked like they were ridden hard and put away wet. Most times these beaters are put up for sale for a reason, they degraded in performance. The contactors, relays and transformers age and result in very poor performance. There are honest people on this board that put up used tigs for sale quite often. Those I would trust.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:there appears to be quite a few libertarians on this board! ha
Reply:Originally Posted by petrochemprosthere appears to be quite a few libertarians on this board! ha
Reply:Libertarian++miller syncrowave 250hobart handler 140home made 400 amp engine driven in progress...
Reply:Ok bros iy appears my budget nneds to grow. I will be on the lookout for a miller shopmaster. Or a syncrowave 250
Reply:Originally Posted by petrochemprosthere appears to be quite a few libertarians on this board! ha
Reply:Quick comment.Since you mentioned welding aluminum, I would advise you step up to a newer square wave machine.  While its possible to weld aluminum with a sine wave machine, it is difficult to get the arc control you need on thinner material.  Step hard on the pedal and you get the arc to go where you want, but you burn through, step light, and it seems to dance around.  I didn't spend too much time trying different things - perhaps smaller tungsten would have been better/ideal.  Squarewave makes it easier, and high frequency squarewave makes it child's play.  A Dynasty makes it stupid easy (thankfully).That being said, machine like these were used for years before squarewave machines became available.  So it is a skill thing for sure.As for reliability - there is not much to go wrong on these machines.   Maybe.... just maybe clean the contacts and replace a relay.On older machines, its not uncommon to spend a  quite a few hours cleaning them up.  If you a small business, 10 hrs labor for 'free' is probably better spent on customers - buy a cleaner machine up front.  You might even want to enquire if a leasing company will front you the money (leases are tax deductible - talk to a accountant if it make sense for you) - of course if its a lease and you don't own it in the end (then its not a lease it's a loan), they will almost always insist you buy new (and have things like insurance on your shop).Con Fuse!Miller Dynasty 350Millermatic 350P-Spoolmatic 30AMiller Multimatic 200Hypertherm PowerMax 1000G3Miller Maxstar 200DX
Reply:thanks guys, I will be on the lookout for a shopmaster or syncrowave as well