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Hey guys-I'm new here, so feel free to shoot the spitballs my way.I'm looking at adding a TIG welder to the toy collection, and have heard great things about the Thermal Arc machines. The pain about buying one when you live in Canada is that you have to drive 1.5hours to the U.S. to pick them up.I have a Miller 172 MIG I've been very happy with, but the Miller TIG pricing seems to be out to lunch, really.I'm wondering if there are any other welding machines I should be looking at? I do like the 185's small size and weight -- I could add a shelf below my MIG on the cart to save on space. I've seen the TA units for $2,050 shipped which is (a bit over) my max budget for a unit.I have 240V 50AMP service in the garage. I think I need an AC/DC machine as I'll be doing Stainless and Aluminum. Mostly light gauge stuff (0.040-0.125 material). Very rarely I might need to weld 3/8". Never had to do it yet, but you never know....From what I understand square wave and high frequency features will allow me to make super-pretty Aluminum welds.....is this true?Thanks in advance for any help you can offer...- Brian
Reply:The TA is a good unit, it you can swing it I would get it.Me!
Reply:I have one and love it. It does all it sez and more. Its about a year old now and I have used it A LOT. It will weld up to 1/4" aluminum. More with preheat or common sense. The AC features are plentiful. The most it draws is 30 amps. I have never gone into thermal overload even though It should have. The fan speeds up when it gets warm and it just keeps going. MINE will put out 200 amps (measured) on DC tig." a little over budget" Then its right on target. You won't regret it.DavidReal world weldin. When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:i'm with them fellas. it is a snap to use.
Reply:Never used a Thermal Arc 185, but own a PT185 Lincoln which has similar specs, very happy with that machine and would recommend it to anyone.A good guess is better than a bad measurement
Reply:You can get a PT225 for around $1750 shipped to your door. Nice machine and well worth it.Build a Barstool Racer at BarFlyRacers.com!
Reply:Love my TA185, the first one I recieved was DOA, Thermal Arc's customer service was great, Indiana Oxygen's customer service was a little lacking, but once TA took charge and got me a replacement machine it's been working flawlessly ever since. The low amperage draw was the deciding factor for me instead of buying a Lincoln Precision tig 225, I have allready saved the difference in cost on my electric bill, and have not needed more than 150amps, so at 185 it has kept me plenty happy. The rated duty cycle is incorrect, at 150amps it's suposed to be something like 40%, I've gone for almost 45 minutes straight only stopping for 10-15 seconds to grab a new filler, like David said the fans just speed up, I suspect that the fans are the reason the machine works as well as it does, those things are like a freaking hurricane although the air comming out never does seem to get warm so who knows what's going on in there.
Reply:No regrets on my purchase of 1. The Lincoln PT mentioned is a good machine but the inverters have a much smoother arc. The great looking welds are more of a function of the person doing the welding but the extra features are nice and do serve a good purpose. If you get a TA I bet it will be a cold day in hades before wished you had bought the Lincoln just to save a couple of hundred bucks.DennisThermal Arc 185-TSWMillermatic Challenger 172VictorO/AAtlas Craftsman 12 by 24 LatheEsab PCM-875Wholesalem Tool Mill-Drill
Reply:Originally Posted by Tailshaft56If you get a TA I bet it will be a cold day in hades before wished you had bought the Lincoln just to save a couple of hundred bucks.
Reply:bought mine from indianna oxygen around xmas for under $2k delivered, complete ready to stick or tig
Reply:i'm with the other guys, strech your budget and go for the TA-185. you will be glad you did. great unit, fantastic on aluminum. Attached Images summer is here, plant a tree for mother earth. if you dont have time or space, sponcer some one else to plant one for you.feel free to shoot me a PM or e-mail me at [email][email protected] i got lots of time.
Reply:I've had my TA185 for a couple weeks now, although I've only used it for 3 or 4 hours. I'm very new to TIG but I've stick welded for at least 20 years and I tried that function out tonight. It did fabulously.I'm horrible at TIG so far but I'm very happy with the machine. It's owner needs a LOT of practice.Hobart Stickmate LX AC/DC, Millermatic 252 & 30A spoolgun, Thermal Arc 185 TIG, Miller BWESmith Oxy-AcBridgeport 2J , South Bend 42" 9AHusky 7.5 HP 22.3 CFM 80 gal compressor |
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发表于 2021-9-1 00:01:59