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I am thinking about getting a TIG welder sometime next year, and am just beggining to do some real research on them. My normal cheap nature would lead me to find a large used one off craigs list or ebay. However, I have also reacently bought a new Lincoln MIG welder and found it welded noticably better than my old Solar wire feed welder. I do everything the same, but the welds are beautiful. This is leading me to wonder if TIG technology is the same. Do the new machines weld a lot better than the old large industrial ones I might find used? If so, is it purly cosmetic, or is it actually a stronger weld? Is it worth the price difference. I am seeing some 300 Amp TIG machines for $650 to $1100 depending on the brand and age. I want to be able to weld stainless steel is why I am looking at a TIG machine. I do blacksmithing, metal sculpture, and some minor tool and jig fabrication. This is just an expensive hobby, so it will not be any kind of production.Any info would be greatly appreciated.FredlyFXhttp://fredlyfx.com
Reply:I don't think you will notice much difference in DC tig unless you want pulse which is only available on the newer machines.YOU WILL notice the electricity being used. Transformer machines are less efficient.  About 25% in MY opinion.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:The technology is no different, but the effeciency of the electricity is very much more cost effective and AC has some advantages as to what you can do with the % of DCEP and DCEN.  Stainless, not much difference.   JohnSMAW,GMAW,FCAW,GTAW,SAW,PAC/PAW/OFCand Shielding Gases.  There all here. :
Reply:Originally Posted by David RI don't think you will notice much difference in DC tig unless you want pulse which is only available on the newer machines.YOU WILL notice the electricity being used. Transformer machines are less efficient.  About 25% in MY opinion.David
Reply:Originally Posted by FredlyFXSo, does the pulse feature just mean that I don't have to oscilate the gun myself as I weld, and I just have to move it in a straight line?  If so, does it make that much of a difference in the quality of the welds? Is it worth the $1000 or more difference in the cost of the new welders vs the used ones? I'm not too concerned about the amount of electricity used for the small amount of welding I will be doing. FredlyFXhttp://fredlyfx.com
Reply:No you always move the torch in a straight line unless you're doing a weave, what the pulse feature does is vary the power without the use of a foot-pedal, makes it so that a perfect bead is less dependent on you having good rythim. The AC ballance alternated the amount of time the arc spends at DC- or DC+ which gived you controll over the amount of cleaning and penetration your arc will have.If your really aren't doing much welding an older machine is great, but with how power-hungry they are I couldn't justify the instant cost savings compared to my long-term energy bill, so I bought an inverter machine. We have an older Miller 300 amp machine at the race shop and it's a great machine, but it has to be hooked up to a 200 amp breaker, our newer 250amp machine doesn't blow the 100 amp breaker, not exactly an even comparison, but you get the picture.