Which TIG welder

[98Camarod]

I've convinced the wifey to allow me to spend more on a welder than expected. I'm going to get a TIG so I can weld up my aluminum charge pipe and weld a cage in my car. Those are my immediate goals. I'm sure it will be used for more than that later down the road. I'll probably build another turbo kit for a t6 build. I've found a ESAB Heliarc 161 which looks like it meets the immediate goals. I can't seem to find any reviews on their equipment though.

If anyone could lend some advice that would be appreciated.

[79bluebird]

get a miller. i have a sincrowave 180 at work and it been good.

[DolSVT00]

Can't go wrong with a syncrowave. Get one with the capability to do DC+ DC- AC with High frequency, CC/CV And with the right add ons you can do any type of welding you want. Dont let them sell you the water cooler unless you plan to use it for 10 hours continuoius at a time. Get a spool gun attachment so you can Mig Or FC, get a stinger so you can stick, and get a field rig and some 2% and Pure tungenstone and your coverd ffrom sheetmetal, aluminum from 1/16 to 1" thick plate..........

[Ron Burgandy]

get a miller dynasty it has all the bells n whistles if u know how to use them

[DolSVT00]

get a miller dynasty it has all the bells n whistles if u know how to use them

Thats a good machine as well but its more bare bones, and you have to buy alot more "add ons" in order to do it all...

[98Camarod]

I'm limiting myself to 1500. I'm trying to find a good used unit, but no one seems to be selling any. That Miller Dynasty is way out of my price range

[BAD BOB]

i got a miller syncrowave 200 a few years back and it would work great for anything you want to weld. it is 220 though but thats what the most of them are.

P.S. you still need that cylinder?

[Harry]

Can't go wrong with a syncrowave. Get one with the capability to do DC+ DC- AC with High frequency, CC/CV And with the right add ons you can do any type of welding you want. Dont let them sell you the water cooler unless you plan to use it for 10 hours continuoius at a time. Get a spool gun attachment so you can Mig Or FC, get a stinger so you can stick, and get a field rig and some 2% and Pure tungenstone and your coverd ffrom sheetmetal, aluminum from 1/16 to 1" thick plate..........

Sounds Expensive.

[98Camarod]

i got a miller syncrowave 200 a few years back and it would work great for anything you want to weld. it is 220 though but thats what the most of them are.

P.S. you still need that cylinder?


I'm going to get a 220 unit and make an extension cord to use the dryer plug in. So that way I don't limit myself to a machine that can't do much.

I went to Praxair and they said they sell them filled for less than 200. That sounds really reasonable to me.

[BAD BOB]

yeah that aint bad. i can sell you this one for like 65 and it dont cost that much to fill i think somewhere around 45-60

[98Camarod]

yeah that aint bad. i can sell you this one for like 65 and it dont cost that much to fill i think somewhere around 45-60

As long as they will fill it, that will work. Still need to find a welder to use it with :hysterical:

[DolSVT00]

I'm limiting myself to 1500. I'm trying to find a good used unit, but no one seems to be selling any. That Miller Dynasty is way out of my price range

Really need to know what you plan to weld.

Example:

A syncrowave has a pulser, if setup properly even a novice could weld thin material's togather with ease, alumimum,stainless , carbon ... no problem. I was at an AWS Fabtech show and saw it used to put two needles togather with GTAW (tig)

A dynasty doesn't have a pulser, its a fine welder capable of multiprocess uses but doesn't have all the fine tuning that a syncrowave does.

Now theres also miller's XMT 100 200 300 or maxstar series with switching power supplies (you can run them off of 110 or 220) but they also dont have extremely fine controls and require add ons to weld alumimum but they'll weld stainless and carbon fine.

[98Camarod]

Really need to know what you plan to weld.

Example:

A syncrowave has a pulser, if setup properly even a novice could weld thin material's togather with ease, alumimum,stainless , carbon ... no problem. I was at an AWS Fabtech show and saw it used to put two needles togather with GTAW (tig)

A dynasty doesn't have a pulser, its a fine welder capable of multiprocess uses but doesn't have all the fine tuning that a syncrowave does.

Now theres also miller's XMT 100 200 300 or maxstar series with switching power supplies (you can run them off of 110 or 220) but they also dont have extremely fine controls and require add ons to weld alumimum but they'll weld stainless and carbon fine.


The syncrowave looks to be the best option, I just can't find one in my price range

From the first post :bigthumb:

I'm going to get a TIG so I can weld up my aluminum charge pipe and weld a cage in my car. Those are my immediate goals. I'm sure it will be used for more than that later down the road. I'll probably build another turbo kit for a t6 build. I've found a ESAB Heliarc 161 which looks like it meets the immediate goals. I can't seem to find any reviews on their equipment though.

[DolSVT00]

I'll never recomend a lincon for an electric welder, I've had some bad experiences with their electric products in the past, but then again I'm involved in alot of welding that requires x-rays and ultrasounds.

you wolnt find a better gas or diesel welder than a lincon their far superior when it comes to arc stability than a miller diesel or gas machine.

[DolSVT00]

esab is a lincon with a sticker on it. if alumimum is your plan you need high frequency and a pulser would make it easier to make astheticly pleasing welds

[98Camarod]

esab is a lincon with a sticker on it. if alumimum is your plan you need high frequency and a pulser would make it easier to make astheticly pleasing welds

I was wondering where you were going with that lincoln talk. I thought ESAB was an entirely different company.

I guess the next question is where would you go to buy from? I'd like to find a used one if at all possible. Is there a welder repair facility that may have some used or refurbished units?

[DolSVT00]

I have a contact with praxair, I do alot of buisness with him so i may be able to help you out... Lemme look into it monday.

I also have some buddies in Appleton WI at miller's reasearch facility. I've gotten a refurb xmt 304 sent to me for right at 300$.

You can look it up on their site.

[98Camarod]

I have a contact with praxair, I do alot of buisness with him so i may be able to help you out... Lemme look into it monday.

I also have some buddies in Appleton WI at miller's reasearch facility. I've gotten a refurb xmt 304 sent to me for right at 300$.

You can look it up on their site.

That would be awesome.

That xmt 304, isn't that a DC unit so it wouldn't be able to do Aluminum?

[DolSVT00]

That would be awesome.

That xmt 304, isn't that a DC unit so it wouldn't be able to do Aluminum?

Not without the add on, you can buy a high freq box with a converter that will let you do it but thats more $$

[98Camarod]

Not without the add on, you can buy a high freq box with a converter that will let you do it but thats more $$

I'm not looking to necessarily cheap out here. I'd like to get a quality unit for what I spend. If I can save money, then sure that would be nice, but if I have to spend all the money I have set aside, then so be it.

[DolSVT00]

I'm not looking to necessarily cheap out here. I'd like to get a quality unit for what I spend. If I can save money, then sure that would be nice, but if I have to spend all the money I have set aside, then so be it.

Ya I understand, some of those machine's mentioned are upwards of 5 Grand like the syncrowave.

In my honest opinion, one of those maxstar's with the hi freq and AC add on would fit in your budget if I could get some kind of discount. That would be new too not refurb or used.

[98Camarod]

Ya I understand, some of those machine's mentioned are upwards of 5 Grand like the syncrowave.

In my honest opinion, one of those maxstar's with the hi freq and AC add on would fit in your budget if I could get some kind of discount. That would be new too not refurb or used.

I've read that the Maxstar units weren't that great. Everyone praises the syncrowave 200, but 1900 for a new one is out of my price range. I would think a used or refurbished one shouldn't be too far from the budget

[98Camarod]

If you don't mind, could you give me a call tomorrow when you find something out

757-971-0902 and my name is Rodney by the way

[DolSVT00]

I've read that the Maxstar units weren't that great.
Thats because their a castrated xmt, with so so adjustability, most try and run them on 110 and their duty cycle is low on 110.

Everyone praises the syncrowave 200, but 1900 for a new one is out of my price range. I would think a used or refurbished one shouldn't be too far from the budget
The syncrowave is the Mercedes of welding machines, if you turn the knobs right a 2 year old could lay down a pretty bead with it.

[DolSVT00]

If you don't mind, could you give me a call tomorrow when you find something out

757-971-0902 and my name is Rodney by the way

will do

[98Camarod]

The HF units from miller say that it's for welders with an engine. So what HF box and converter are you referring to

[DolSVT00]

The HF units from miller say that it's for welders with an engine. So what HF box and converter are you referring to

I haven't tried searching their site for it, Its reletively small and comes with a thumb style reistat. I'll look tomorow when I get to work, we use them for field repairs on aluminum applicai armor and repairs on stainless turret rings where the thin rings for the roller's of the gun mounts sit using maxstar machines.

We tend to have to run them off of 110 generators and mini bottles at forward operating bases in remote locations of IRAQ and Afganistan. Its a multiprocess welder in a suitcase basicly.

[DolSVT00]

I guess my explanation is hard to imagine, but think of it like this: Our trucks we build have 110 power on them (we make them that way, you can plug an extension cord in them and grind/cut/drill with common hand tools.) The suitcase with the welder and bottles you can throw into a blackhawk and take to any location to make repairs those maxstars were our solution. Kinda hard to do that with a gas/diesel machine lol.

[98Camarod]

It says the xmt 304 has to use a spool gun since it's a DC only machine. So I'm assuming that would be the same with the Maxstar units

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/communities/mboard/showthread.php?t=15375&highlight=hf251d-1

[BAD BOB]

i got my syncrowave 200 for 2grand with everything for tig and arc minus a bottle

[98Camarod]

i got my syncrowave 200 for 2grand with everything for tig and arc minus a bottle

Do you want to sell it to me with a bottle for 1500 :hysterical:

What's the other welding supply place besides Praxair or a repair place that sells used/refurbished units?

[BAD BOB]

there is national welder (or airgas) and tri-tech on rivers. dont know much about them always delt with praxair. i dont think tha anyone has any used or refurb ones. most, if they spent that kind of money on a tig they will keep it. mine is basically brand new so i couldnt get rid of it for cheap

[DolSVT00]

It says the xmt 304 has to use a spool gun since it's a DC only machine. So I'm assuming that would be the same with the Maxstar units

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/communities/mboard/showthread.php?t=15375&highlight=hf251d-1

Yes the spool gun is for Aluminum mig, you can do that with DC and helium.

Theres also an AC accesory that uses the transformer trust me. I know what your wanting to do, I wouldn't recomend you something if it was not capable of doing what you want. Hell I could bring one home and let you use it if I had argon here. I'll get a price too.


Edit: I can't find the setup on their site anywhere I don't even see the maxstar machine we buy listed. I'll get a picture of the entire setup and post it on here tomorrow. Its literally a suitcase, no BS you wouldn't believe it.

[Ron Burgandy]

dynasty is the only miller with an inverter that allows u 2 adj hertz from 20-400 this will help u shape ur arc cone every real aulminum welder knows this also has the most adj square wave and miller only offers tig machines with cc not cv mr know it all also top of line dynasty only tig that miller says can handle inch thick

[DolSVT00]

dynasty is the only miller with an inverter that allows u 2 adj hertz from 20-400 this will help u shape ur arc cone every real aulminum welder knows this also has the most adj square wave and miller only offers tig machines with cc not cv mr know it all also top of line dynasty only tig that miller says can handle inch thick

Uhhh Look at this http://www.millerwelds.com/products/tig/syncrowave_350_lx/

Compare the dynasty to it...... You cant beat the standard, and the syncrowave is the standard.

The dynasty is more portable, and and digital but not better.

Oh and BTW...... CC/CV is for multiprocess usage and exactly what I said and since your so smart...... Here's a small CC/CV machine that miller offer's that will tig just fine, read it, its listed.............. http://www.millerwelds.com/products/multiprocess/xmt_304_cc_cv/

And uh while were at it..... You can mig or stick or tig with the dynasty or the syncrowave with the right add ons...............

[Ron Burgandy]

xmt is a multiprocess without ac tig n syncrowave aint got cv bud

[Ron Burgandy]

also top of line syncrowave rated 1/2 "

[BAD BOB]

Honestly the syncrowave will work fine for the guys needs so thanks EVERYONE!

[DolSVT00]

xmt is a multiprocess without ac tig n syncrowave aint got cv bud

If you read what I said, you'll find I said get one with CC/CV and you can do multiprocess.

also top of line syncrowave rated 1/2 "

In tig aluminum? So what, who's gonna weld thicker than that with tig? Sure they offer the dynasty 700 that will weld 1" but who's gonna tig weld 1" material? Thats why you would use a multiprocess welder as I suggested.

Your telling me you can't take a syncrowave or a dynasty and hook a suitcase to it and Mig? I hope not, because then everyday I'm performing miricles.

Get one with the capability to do DC+ DC- AC with High frequency, CC/CV And with the right add ons you can do any type of welding you want. Dont let them sell you the water cooler unless you plan to use it for 10 hours continuoius at a time. Get a spool gun attachment so you can Mig Or FC, get a stinger so you can stick, and get a field rig and some 2% and Pure tungenstone and your coverd ffrom sheetmetal, aluminum from 1/16 to 1" thick plate..........

After searching for a minuite and trying to figure out WTF you are talking about I came up with the only statement where I mentioned 1" and any 200+ amp multiprocess welder will weld as many inches thick as you want as long as you don't run out of filler its called a multipass weld. Where did he or I say he was welding 1" thick alumium in a single pass?

[98Camarod]

I found a miller syncrowave 180 for a pretty decent price. How does that compare?

[DolSVT00]

I found a miller syncrowave 180 for a pretty decent price. How does that compare?

Other than Balence control its virtually the same as the 200 on miller's site (the 200 replaces the 180) . Is it the SD version?

[98Camarod]

Other than Balence control its virtually the same as the 200 on miller's site (the 200 replaces the 180) . Is it the SD version?

Yes it's the SD