Looking for a new TIG machine

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I grew up on a Lincoln 225 AC welder since about 1972. Did everything with that little welder. Welded without concern about duty cycle. Really tested it at times with heavy stuff. Moved up to a Century 250 Mig about 15 years ago. Now I want to add a TIG machine. I don't want a Diversion because I think the duty cycle is too low. Been trying to decide between a Miller Syncrowave 200 and a Lincoln Precision tig 225. There are a thousand comparisons out there. My conclusion was they are both good welders but Miller has better customer service. Even so I am leaning towards the Lincoln because of the simplicity of the control panel and higher amps. Regardless I embarked on a mission to find the best price.Called Airgas in New Hampshire as they have no sales tax. Got someone on the phone who seemed clueless. The person wrote everything down and took my number. Said he'd call back in a few minutes. That was two weeks ago. Sent Airgas an email describing my experience. No reply.Called Praxair as they advertise welders on the internet. Website says call for a price. I called and got someone who couldn't give me a price. When I asked why not he said he needed to research how much the welders cost them first. I was floored.Found a site called www.tig-welder.com. Looks like a discount ordering place. Says call for a price. Did a little research and found the site was owned by www.weldingmart.com where they list the prices. When I called tig-welder.com they answered the phone welding mart. Got the same price as welding mart which wasn't all that good.Went down to my local brick and mortar store and the guy didn't seem like he ever looked up a price before. They only had ONE welder on the floor and it was a little Lincoln MIG. I don't feel I should pay more at my local brick and mortar if they don't have anything in stock and act like an online retailer.I am so tired of the pricing games I am just ready to pull the trigger on ebay and let it ride.The price is $2103 with free shipping and no sales tax.Is it just me or has customer service in this country gone down the tubes this much?
Reply:hi, if you didn't buy it yet call these guys. This is the site of my local welding supplier. Great prices and people. If what you want is not shown CALL! They will save you money. I bought my CST 280 from them in store . A member on another site wanted a ELLIS 1600 saw so I emailed this to them . Their price with shipping was still $350.00 less than anybody around. Hope their prices are still reasonable. I know they are the cheapest for a MILLER 211. I am planning to add that to my collection next. GOOD LUCK!  http://www.weldersupply.com/
Reply:Fab54 Price sounds about right for a new Syncrowave 200. Cyberweld lists the unit without wheels for a few dollars more, and B&R lists the unit right around the same price.http://store.cyberweld.com/miactigwesys.htmlhttp://www.brweldingsupplies.com/sho...der-907308.cfmNote that it's not all that hard right now to find lightly used Syncrowave 180's and Syncrowave 200's for $900-$1400. Add your location to your User CP and we might be able to help you locate one. If I was looking to get a nice used Syncrowave 200, I'd probably start with a CL aggregator like Crazedlist or Searchtempest and plug in Syncrowave to start and set the distance high and see what pops up. Second choice would be to plug in "welder" and search the list manually to see what you can find. I'll bet in the last 6 months at least a dozen guys here have managed to pick up sweet deals on Syncrowaves well within your budget if you are patient..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 DSWFab54 Price sounds about right for a new Syncrowave 200. Cyberweld lists the unit without wheels for a few dollars more, and B&R lists the unit right around the same price.http://store.cyberweld.com/miactigwesys.htmlhttp://www.brweldingsupplies.com/sho...der-907308.cfmNote that it's not all that hard right now to find lightly used Syncrowave 180's and Syncrowave 200's for $900-$1400. Add your location to your User CP and we might be able to help you locate one. If I was looking to get a nice used Syncrowave 200, I'd probably start with a CL aggregator like Crazedlist or Searchtempest and plug in Syncrowave to start and set the distance high and see what pops up. Second choice would be to plug in "welder" and search the list manually to see what you can find. I'll bet in the last 6 months at least a dozen guys here have managed to pick up sweet deals on Syncrowaves well within your budget if you are patient.
Reply:I tried Searchtempest over the last month but couldn't find anything in the $900-$1400 range. The used ones all seem to go for top dollar. I search CT, RI, MA, PA, eastern NY, northern NJ.Millermatic 211Lincoln Precision TIG 225Century 250 MIGLincoln 225 AC Box (sold)I support my local welding store (Amazon, McMasterCarr, Cyberweld, EBay).
Reply:Give Longevity welder a look see.  They start at $650.  I am running three of their machines and am very happy with them.  The great thing about Longevity is you can "Make they a reasonable offer"!Look on the website and you will find the button.  If you want to move up to a bigger machine you can make a great deal with them. I am using a TigWeld 250 AC/DC and it just puts my old Miller 200 syncowave to shame.  Much more versatile and just gives me a better weld IMHO.  My Miller is from 2006 I think.   The price on the TigWeld is $1500.That's how I got mine and No I am not getting paid for typing this.Last edited by kevinacaron; 01-31-2012 at 09:50 AM.From the desk of Kevin CaronTrying to be the best me I can!www.kevincaron.comAHP Alpha Tig 200x MillerMatic 251Miller Syncrowave 200
Reply:You might look at this one.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=79261The TA185 is a nice machine. If I didn't already have a Syncrowave 200, I'd be tempted. A bit more than what you are looking to spend, but it's probably in very good shape from his description..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:Indiana Oxygen Company on ebay has those http://www.ebay.com/itm/LINCOLN-PREC...item20b6cdbc6e now that I look at your price you already know. I bought my GXT from them, drop shipped from Lincoln, great customer service. Called him a week later to order a cover, was shipped out right away, 7 months later, I said I was doing my taxes and asked for an invoice, had it the next day. One just went on ebay yesterday used for 1500, I am also in the market for one.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
Reply:Originally Posted by TheJackalIndiana Oxygen Company on ebay has those http://www.ebay.com/itm/LINCOLN-PREC...item20b6cdbc6e now that I look at your price you already know. I bought my GXT from them, drop shipped from Lincoln, great customer service. Called him a week later to order a cover, was shipped out right away, 7 months later, I said I was doing my taxes and asked for an invoice, had it the next day. One just went on ebay yesterday used for 1500, I am also in the market for one.
Reply:Can anyone here who works in a welding supply dealer clue us in on how much they pay on their invoice cost for the Lincoln machines that get drop shipped?Millermatic 211Everlast 200DX Thermal Arc 181iKlutch ST80i lunchbox stick welderLincoln Weld-Pak 100Century Stick welderPowermax 30 plasma cutterHenrob 2000 torchLogan 200 lathe (60 years old)Clausing 6339 Lathe (for sale)
Reply:probably setup like gun dealers,  where they sell units for a certain amount set by the manufacturer...tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:Originally Posted by Fab54I just emailed IOC tried to get a better deal. Don't understand how they can sell on ebay with final value fees and paypal fees for $2103 when their regular internet price is $2102. They wouldn't budge one iota. I would love to know how much they make on these deals since they don't stock anything they just process the order right through to Lincoln.  Lincoln ships it for free....
Reply:Look at eBay as well.  There's a seller in Staten Island who sells welders all the time.  You could take a ride and save on shipping.  There's a synchro on there right now.  An inverter will give you alot more flexibility than a transformer machine.  It will also require less amp input.  I saved a few hundred when I changed to an inverter, just by not needing to upgrade my electric service.  Most 250A inverters will run off a 50A service, my Synchro would blow the breaker frequently- but I had a 250.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:How about a group buy? I see other sites organize these on occasion. A supplier comes in and says ok If I sell 10 (or 20 or whatever number) the price will be discounted at XXXX.XX. On a certain day or days, the deal applies (if they meet the minimum number of sales) to everyone who signs up. Anyone know of any suppliers that might like ten welder orders in one day?Millermatic 211Lincoln Precision TIG 225Century 250 MIGLincoln 225 AC Box (sold)I support my local welding store (Amazon, McMasterCarr, Cyberweld, EBay).
Reply:The problem with those type of deals is that it's hard to get everyone to commit.  You go thru all the trouble to line everything up and then one person backs out at the last minute or drags his feet coming up with the money. The seller is pissed that he went thru all the trouble to work up a deal and he's not getting the sale, The other guys are mad that they now will have to spend more...It's hard enough when everyone is face to face, let alone try to do it with guys over the internet.I seriously doubt you would interest most retailers in a deal like this. Too much work and too much hassle. I doubt there's enough profit in the individual units for them to give you "great" savings purchased the way they normally do. I know the tech school got a decent deal when they redid the shop, but with that Miller probably gave the LWS a school discount because of the order size and the "free" advertising they get from students learning on the machines..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:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=170773879896Anyone live in the panhandle of Florida? This looks like a great deal - local pickup only... UGGG.Millermatic 211Lincoln Precision TIG 225Century 250 MIGLincoln 225 AC Box (sold)I support my local welding store (Amazon, McMasterCarr, Cyberweld, EBay).
Reply:Originally Posted by Fab54How about a group buy? I see other sites organize these on occasion. A supplier comes in and says ok If I sell 10 (or 20 or whatever number) the price will be discounted at XXXX.XX. On a certain day or days, the deal applies (if they meet the minimum number of sales) to everyone who signs up. Anyone know of any suppliers that might like ten welder orders in one day?
Reply:It's a done deal. Lincoln Precision TIG 225. Harris Welding Supply through Ebay $2105. Prices aren't going down and if they mess around with an internet sales tax, and wife's friend was just diagnosed with breast cancer. You only live once and I am getting old. Just pulled the trigger.... Oh yeah forgot to mention that my best friend at work is getting a knee replacement tomorrow morning. Not to make this a sob story but it sucks to get old. You young guys make sure you make the most of your life while your body is still in great shape.Last edited by Fab54; 02-06-2012 at 07:38 PM.Millermatic 211Lincoln Precision TIG 225Century 250 MIGLincoln 225 AC Box (sold)I support my local welding store (Amazon, McMasterCarr, Cyberweld, EBay).