Got some money, what to buy--Tig welder, etc.

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I weld for the pure joy of it and to fix and make things most people can't.  I spent a year at post high school vocational training in welding--granted, nearly 30 years ago.  I don't work in the industry.I've come into some funds and need additional welding therapy.  Friends don't understand why I want to do this versus golf or something.  Funny thing is that female friends don't understand welding but are more supportive of getting something you'll enjoy.  I am sole authority to make the purchase.My dream machine is a Miller 200DX tig runner package.  $5100 w/150 cuft Ar bottle at the local Airgas.  It's expensive and I'm likely not to be making money with it.  So there's the budget.For about the same price I can get:HTP Invertig 201 w/water cooler and some consumablesUsed compressor to run a DA sander and whateverand a Plasma cutter.I could also go with a TA185 or 200 with a second hand or homebuilt cooler and have both an aircooled and water cooled torch along with the compressor and plasma.Why do so many of the members here have a TA 185 and not a 200?   Price?  Not much to be gained with the extra 15 amps?  Future projects include:  rock sliders and bumpers for my FJ62 Land Cruiser, a copper water pipe arbor for the garden (welding will allow more free design versus standard fittings and sweating) and other artsy stuff for indoors or out.  I hope 200 amps is enough for the  copper.  It will be plenty for anything else I intend to do.I guess I'm torn between the HTP and the TA and how to do the water cooled torch.Any suggestions?  Things I'm not considering?  Better ideas?Thanks, Galen
Reply:Well it sounds like your going to be a hobby welder and not doing this for a fulltime job so I would say go for the deal that you said gives the most for you bucks. That way you'll have all the equipment you need instead of just one expensive underworked piece of equipment.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:you can get the tig runner on line for $4385.00 no tax or shipping
Reply:I'm far from an expert. I have an honest question for you all. With that budget and mission in life why not get something like the Miller Diversion 165 and a set of bad *** support tools?Lincoln PowerMig 180cVictor O/ABandaids and aspirinI don't know what I don't know!?
Reply:the 165 is a good welder and only $1275.00
Reply:I'm just concerned that the Diversion might not have enough power for the copper or 1/4" aluminum. A water cooled torch might be overkill, but I don't think I'd regret it, either.Plus, no stick welding with the Diversion.I wish someone local dealt with Thermal Arc.I was dreaming up something else to make if I can find a couple scrap light poles or something.  I wonder how much concrete it would take to anchor a 15 or 20 foot two-dimensional metal "tree" that I'd grow a climing vine to cover it.  Potentially large wind load I would think.
Reply:Where are you located? I have an older miller syncrowave 250 with a coolmate 3 and profax 250 amp watercooled torch that I would let go for $2,600...let me know.AWS CWI/CWEASNT NDT Level 2 PT/MTAWS Certified Welder(aerospace)
Reply:redcoupe,If you've got an "older" Sync 250 with a cooler and torch that you're prepared to "let go" for $2,600, I also hope you're prepared to kiss the buyer anywhere he chooses.Have you looked at prices on e-bay?I just sold a 1996 Sync 250, Coolmate 3, and torch for $1,500 and felt I got a good deal.  Replaced it with another Sync which has the digital readouts and pulser.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by GalenI'm just concerned that the Diversion might not have enough power for the copper or 1/4" aluminum. A water cooled torch might be overkill, but I don't think I'd regret it, either.Plus, no stick welding with the Diversion.I wish someone local dealt with Thermal Arc.I was dreaming up something else to make if I can find a couple scrap light poles or something.  I wonder how much concrete it would take to anchor a 15 or 20 foot two-dimensional metal "tree" that I'd grow a climing vine to cover it.  Potentially large wind load I would think.
Reply:Originally Posted by skywestHave you considered MIG. Way cheaper and much faster. Some of your projects are fairly large (bumper, tree) and you could get old with TIG on those kinds of items. Just food for thought.
Reply:he has apoint the passport + you could mig alum. and use 230 or 115
Reply:Originally Posted by ed mache has apoint the passport + you could mig alum. and use 230 or 115
Reply:Passport Plus is pretty expensive for a hobby welder.   If I wasn't using it in business I probly wouldn't have it.   I'd us my Millermatic 175  instead (which was my mobile mig before the Passport), or maybe the new Millermatic 211, which has dual voltage 110/220 and should be priced alot less than the Passport.I got the TA185 instead of the TA 200 cause the extra 15 amps weren't worth another $500 to me.   The only other advantage to the 200 is it can run on 3-phase, but I don't have 3-phase service and the 185 can run full-tilt on my single phase service so that feature of the 200 was of no importance to me.  If I had to do it over again, I would have saved up some more money and bought the TA 300 instead.  When I finally do upgrade to a 300+ amp tig, the TA 185 is going on the truck as my mobile tig unit.  It's small enough that, with an air cooled torch, it's reasonably portable.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:If the light weight of an inverter machine is important never mind. But I'm kinda just went through the same thing. I ended up getting a new lincoln precision tig 225 for $1800 plus free shipping on the web. comes with every thing but the gas bottle. The miller syncowave 200 is in the ballpark also. Don't get the optional cart, lincoln wanted $400 for theres, I build one for less that $70 using square tube and it also holds my 110vac mig.
Reply:u can gt a ta185 for $2000... ihave one and never needed a cooler--sweet machine..uses much less electric thasn a transfrmer style and easy to carry...
Reply:i would argue against mig for a hobbyist. seems to me migs only advantage is speed and a hobbyist dont need speed...if hes doing something that tigs too slow, hell , burn some 7018 ....
Reply:Originally Posted by weldbeadi would argue against mig for a hobbyist. seems to me migs only advantage is speed and a hobbyist dont need speed...if hes doing something that tigs too slow, hell , burn some 7018 ....
Reply:Originally Posted by Craig in DenverWeldbead:That's a pretty good point and what the pro I talked to before I bought my Syncro, told me. TIG is far more versatile. It welds any weldable metal with the simple switch of filler rod. I'd get real tired of changing mig reels. I weld 6" of steel, 4" of alum, 9" of steel, 1" of alum.......................................etc. Mig is for building trailers, TIG is for building brackets, widgets, gizmos and aluminum thingies.
Reply:Thanks to all who have responded.  I prefer the inverters because of power input.  If I can get by with the dryer outlet in the garage initially, that's a bonus.  Not to mention, my garage is a packed disaster at the moment.  A big transformer unit would be hard to park and feed.Special thanks to DesertRider33 for reasons to choose between the TA185 and 200.I didn't mention that I already have a HH140.  Mig is okay, but not versatile.  I want more control.  I've done Tig and it's just more fun.  I may even experiment with bicycle frames and I suspect, depending on how serious I get, that a Diversion won't have enough adjustability to handle the thin walled high dollar tubing.  So, my ship came in yesterday and it looks like a TA185 is in my near future.  (I just missed one in Sonora on Craigslist, less than 10hrs on it for $1500 with bottle and cart... Oh, well.)  Unless HTP can make me an offer I can't refuse.  I'll hold off on the cooler until a smoking hot torch convinces me otherwise.Thanks again, I've got to get some projects done and start posting.  My welder cart is waiting for the Tig unit for finishing touches.  Then, a paint job.
Reply:With the inverter hooking into the dryer outlet should be fine. Best thing to do there is wire the male end of your inverter plasma cutter or welder with a plug that fits your dryers outlet. Reason for that is so when you plan to use the equipment you unplug the dryer and plug in the equipment. That avoids the likelyhood of  the dryer and equipment being used at same time on that one circuit.Good luck on your welding cart and its paint job. Be sure to post some pictures of the completed cart as there are always folks here interested in cart designs.TomCo-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:miller has a new mm 211, 110 or 220 v and can use the 100 spool gunits 74lbs and around a grand