want to buy a tig welder, which one

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I am interested in buying a tig machine but not sure which brand or machine. I am a hobby welder but like to buy quality tools.  I want something that is vasitile and user friendly.  I would like a machine that will give me a range from thin to thick 1/4'' or 3/8''and although I have never welded aluminum i would like to try.  what other pieces do i need to get started so i can figure all the cost including bottles and torches ect. I would like to hear what you pros have to say, I currently have a hobart handler 210 and love it, next to my table saw it is my favorite tool. thanks and I am glad I found this site
Reply:Lots of good tig machines out on the market now days the way the economy is. If you want to do alum, you will need a machine that is AC/DC capable, vs the less expensive DC only tigs. If you want to do 1/4" you will be looking at at least a 250 amp capable machine, 3/8" and you'll be starting to close in on the 350 amp tigs. Be sure to be sitting down if you price these new. If you can live with only needing to tig 3/16" you can get by with a 200 amp class tig, and for 1/8" alum you'll want at least a 150-180 amp machine.Quite a few guys here recently have managed to pick up some great deals on used Miller Syncrowave 180's and 200's. They are a great starter machine that most won't out grow. If you find a nice deal on a Syncro 250 it's even better. Used the Syncrowave 180's I've seen average $900-1300 and the Syncrowave 200's run $1000-1500 depending on what comes with the machines. Much more and you start getting close to the price of a new Syncrowave 200 without the wheel kit at about $2100 or so plus your cylinder. If you go with the unit without the wheel kit, you save about $200 over the "tig runner" package. Both come pretty much ready to go plus a cylinder of 100% argon. I'm not as familiar with Lincoln's machines, but they make excellent machines also. Thermal arc TA 185's have a very good reputation as well, but I'm not all that familiar with their newer offerings they just brought out. Miller Dynasty 200's are the top of the line, but very expensive. Watch out for scams on these. If the deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.You can also find deals on older tigs like Miller 330AB/P's. These machines are older transformer machines and want a lot of power ( 100-125 amps 230v) to run, and a big and heavy, but you end up with a 300+ amp AC DC tig for pennies. I see them regularly for as little as $500-800. Older Lincoln, Hobart and Essab's also fall in this category. With a used machine figure you may have to add $150-250 to buy a cylinder. Again if you can find them used on CL you will save. If you don't use a CL aggregator like Crazedlist or Searchtempest, I'd highly recommend one if you want to go the used route. It will help you search a wider area. I usually use "welder" as my search parameter and sort the list manually, if I'm not looking for a particular item. I still usually fall back on that search as well, because you often find deals that are poorly worded that way.I'd strongly recommend you do your research if you think about the less expensive import tigs. Quite a few guys in the past have reported major issues with these units and very poor customer service from the sellers after the fact when there are issues. Machines that arrive DOA, or die within only a few hours of use, poor quality control, poor customer response from the sellers over these issues, threats and intimidation tactics from the sellers when the customers try and get satisfaction with public posts of their issues, and so on. Unfortunately you will not find many bad reports on most of these issues any longer. Several of these manufacturers have bought their own forums here and part of the deal is that threads pertaining to their products get moved there. Once there these companies have total control over what gets edited and deleted, and "problem" threads quickly get deleted or edited and you really can't get a good picture from what you find. Also these companies have a past history of having company employees posting up glowing reviews of their products as if they were customers and also a reputation of paying off people to make posts about how great the machines are. Take anything you read about these machines with a grain of salt. Don't say you were not warned. I'd also avoid the low end machines like Millers Diversion and Hobarts EZtig. While they are AC/Dc tigs, they are a bit underpowered for 1/8" and you give up the ability to stick weld and all the advanced options of better machines. A nice used syncrowave would cost you about the same or less, and you'll get a lot more machine in the bargain.Good luck..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