Have a TIG Welder? What are you using?

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Miller Diversion 180.
Good up to 3/8” aluminum and 1/2” steel and stainless.
 
Never mind. You said TIG......Hobart Handler 190. I recently bought it. Operates well, I'm pleased. Would have liked a new or used Miller but, I couldn't find one.
 
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Miller 320 AB/P with an external water cooler and a foot pedal, it's a 1972.

Works great, I've had it about 10 years now. All analog, weighs a ton with real copper windings (ok, not a ton but probably over 500 lbs). 60% duty cycle at 200 amps, 100% duty cycle at 150 amps. So 1/8" steel all day long without stopping, 3/16" depends on the weld type but anywhere from continuous to about 60%. Can put out about 250 amps at full power. It uses older wave technology and isn't quite as easy to set up for different materials as the new stuff, but once you learn the settings it's pretty easy.

Came with all the accessories, a few extra regulators, some stick welding electrodes and an old PowCon plasma cutter for $500.
 
I got the Lincoln version of what NuBlu has LOL We have big transformer Millers at work (they build steel power wheelchairs and I build the electronics/ electrics)

I was going to "teach myself" and life got in the way. Guess it depends on what you have room for. I have a GIGANTIC old transformer Lincoln tig-stick, with pretty much none of the fancy modern features. I bought it with stick leads, no tig torch and no tank from an estates sale for ? 5-600 ? bucks I forget. It is HUGE and weighs about 4-500 lbs. Lincoln 250, something 250 This is photo I stole off the internet, same unit

original.jpg
 
72bluNblu said:
Miller 320 AB/P with an external water cooler and a foot pedal, it's a 1972.

Works great, I've had it about 10 years now. All analog, weighs a ton with real copper windings (ok, not a ton but probably over 500 lbs). 60% duty cycle at 200 amps, 100% duty cycle at 150 amps. So 1/8" steel all day long without stopping, 3/16" depends on the weld type but anywhere from continuous to about 60%. Can put out about 250 amps at full power. It uses older wave technology and isn't quite as easy to set up for different materials as the new stuff, but once you learn the settings it's pretty easy.

Came with all the accessories, a few extra regulators, some stick welding electrodes and an old PowCon plasma cutter for $500.
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I have a Miller but I think it’s the next step up. I look tomorrow and take a picture.

I think I can do 300 amps...but I could be wrong. Used it at the last shop I worked at, and then bought it for a song and dance. External water cooled torch too.
 
I just bought one from Eastwood that is perfect for home use. Came with a foot pedal and trigger as well as the regulator and hose. You can either use it in a standard 120 volt plug (power will be lower) or 220 volt for full power. Happy with it so far, Eastwood Company TIG 200
 
I have almost the same machine as 67Dart273, was my go to machine for years, now delegated to only stick welding as I have a Thermal Arc 185 for TIG welding. Hopefully in the next couple of months where I teach welding, they are going to be getting new Miller Dynasty 400's and will be selling the Dynasty 350's, if so I'm going to try and pick one up. So with that being said I'll be selling of a couple of my welders. I think I have 6 welders at this time and as a 1 man shop can only use 1 at a time lol
Dell what year is your Lincoln? Mine is 1979 and still runs great just power hungry. Needs to be on a 100 amp breaker as full load amps are 94 or 96 amps if I recall.
Kevin
Here is my old Lincoln
57334633238__9312D3A1-9820-424C-933E-7615B7A80C6C.JPG
 
Geez I don't remember. I think I estimated "somewhere in the 80's" Even though I have not pursued this (I did spend part of one winter and got some steel beads laid down) I have not been unhappy about spending that money. These ARE big and heavy and "not very portable." But they last forever and rarely fail

But you are right about the breaker. Mine is on a 50A and it does trip once in awhile because of the surge into the contactor I have thought about investigating a "zero crossover" solid state relay device. These are a solid state switch that switches at the zero crossover of the power sine wave, to reduce inlet surge. It "might be expensive" to do that LOL
 
I have a P&H 300A with a water-cooled tig torch that I’ve owned for over 35 years. No picture, because we are at our summer cabin. Everything on it is BIG. I got it from a local boat company that went through bankruptcy. I loaned it to a buddy and it was 20 years before I got it back. He used to use it to weld up rails for pontoon boats and a lot of other stuff. It worked well when I put it in storage. No inverter, AC only. I’d like to find a good home for it one of these days. It’s very heavy. I think it needs a 100A or 75A feed to develop full power.
 
No mention of the AHP 201XD? I have heard very good things about them other than the source. I plan on getting one. Hard to beat for $700
 
Thank you for all the input.
I should have said it's for hobby work, not production at all.
I will do some looking at the models mentioned.
Thanks Cuda416!
 
I'm happy with my PrimeWeld 225. Comes with a CK WorldWide torch and a nice foot peddle for $700. I just ordered an array of Furick cups for it so we'll see how a big gas lens set up help keep things shiny and color free stainless.
 
Cuda416 said:
No mention of the AHP 201XD? I have heard very good things about them other than the source. I plan on getting one. Hard to beat for $700
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I was between the AHP and PrimeWeld 225. I went with PrimeWeld since it had a nice foot peddle and a real name brand torch.
 
If you can tolerate an overseas machine, the Everlast welders get pretty good reviews and they have a 5year warranty. I'm looking hard at the 210EXT. Trying to decide if I can live without the pulse feature. May take a look at the Vulcan ProTig 205 too. I just cant justify Miller money for what I'm going to do with it. I did have a Dialarc HF but that thing was HUGE.
 
"No mention of the AHP 201XD? I have heard very good things about them other than the source. I plan on getting one. Hard to beat for $700"
I had a student bring one into a class I was teaching. Surprisingly it welded pretty nice. Biggest complaints were the physical size of the machine, not very heavy just big and boxy. Also not a true amp reading on output amps as in, lets say you set the machine at 140 amps my best guess is in reality you had maybe 120 amps. I did not put a meter on the machine to verify but I've been welding long enough to know amp output. If I didn't have a welder and was only going to be using it as a hobby welder (not production) then it should be fine. Its a good introduction type welder with little investment, but you'll probably out grow it quickly if you plan on doing a lot of welding.
Just my thoughts
Kevin
 
gzig5 said:
If you can tolerate an overseas machine, the Everlast welders get pretty good reviews and they have a 5year warranty. I'm looking hard at the 210EXT. Trying to decide if I can live without the pulse feature. May take a look at the Vulcan ProTig 205 too. I just cant justify Miller money for what I'm going to do with it. I did have a Dialarc HF but that thing was HUGE.
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Take a look at the PrimeWeld 225 man.... low and high frequency pulse on both DC AND AC
 
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