TIG Welders
 

Re: TIG Welders
 

What is the intended use? Do you want/need both HF AC and DC?

Re: TIG Welders
 

Zeke, there's been a lot of discussions like this over on the HAMB. Seems like everyone gravitates to the name brands of Miller and Lincoln. I have a blue one and I love it, but I never had one before, so I have nothing to compare it to.

Re: TIG Welders
 

If one buys a TIG unit requardless of the make The DC // AC high freq. would be my choice. A foot pedal control is best for better control on light metals, infact all metals. DC is used mostly on steel and SS. AC HF on aluminum. Miller was the most experianced in TIG machines. I don't know much about Lincoln machines over the past years. If the Eastwood is a lot less in cost and used on a limited basis and they have a return policy you may want to look at it. They are located about 35 miles N.W. of Phila. If you are in that area stop in and try one out. G.M.

Re: TIG Welders
 

It should boil down to how much are you wanting to spend. Not how much the machine costs.You get what you pay for. Sure the eastwood one welds but it will be no comparison to "blue" "red" or "orange" machine.Low duty cycle not capable of low amps.But when it comes to trouble shooting and repair parts availability Eastwood can't help you much.In fact if it a Chinese machine (and it will be)you are pretty much an orphan.An entry level good setup will be about $1800.00 ++in miller for a/c d/c with pedal and torch (3 years plus warranty). You get what you pay for.I'm on my third tig machine now in 25 years and they have all been Miller. Never had any problems with them (Touch wood)

I was told once you could teach a monkey to weld,not true they quit after they are burned once. My2¢

Ronnie

Re: TIG Welders
 

contact some good welding shops and see if anyone has a good used "blue" "red" welder, maybe they have upgraded to a larger unit and have one around they are willing to sell.??

Re: TIG Welders
 

More experience w/ Lincoln than Miller, though each one is nice. If you are just getting into GTAW, check your local community college for a course in TIG, and
they usually have both blue and red machines. Ronnie is right on the mark, having used lesser MIG machines, you cannot wait to get back to old blue - Miller. Same applies to TIG. HTP machines were made in Germany, that was about 8 years ago,
not sure about today.

Re: TIG Welders
 

When American Airlines took over TWA, they replaced all the old Miller Gold Star 350 amp tig welders with new modern ones so keep an eye out for one of these. The welders don't bring much because they weigh 850 lbs and are big but there is only one moving part the cooling fan and they work great. These big units are industrial aviation grade. good luck

Re: TIG Welders
 

Well, there is one thing most writers said that is accurate----you get what you pay for. If you intend to weld ferrous material only, a scratch start inverter is the least expensive, lightest weight, most convenient machine. If you need the HF AC the machine will be much bigger and more expensive. The machines with the best maitenence history and loaded with the better features will be those made by Lincoln. I have both Miller and Lincoln TIG machines in my shop and they are both good quality products. I got the newer Miller at a bargain price or else I would have 2 Lincolns. Wish I would have spent the extra few dollars for a Lincoln.

A word to the wise---having the best equipment is only a small part of becoming a proficient TIG welder. There are many "welders" who think they are "good" with MIG or stick but never finish a training class for TIG welding because of the frustration associated to learning the basics. Rock solid nerves, eye/hand coordination, excellent vision, and good heat resistance are a few of the attributes which can help..

Re: TIG Welders
 

"When American Airlines took over TWA, they replaced all the old Miller Gold Star 350 amp tig welders with new modern ones so keep an eye out for one of these. The welders don't bring much because they weigh 850 lbs and are big but there is only one moving part the cooling fan and they work great. These big units are industrial aviation grade. good luck."

You bet. I had a 350, a great machine. One caution about any TIG is the power requirements. The good, bigger units need big power. The old 350 could run on various power combinations ... could get it down to 220V/100A per leg.

"Rock solid nerves, eye/hand coordination, excellent vision, and good heat resistance are a few of the attributes which can help." Maybe, but it was the easiest welding to learn and produce good work that I've found. Of course, "rock solid nerves, eye/hand coordination, excellent vision, and good heat resistance" ... that'd be me.

Re: TIG Welders
 

A larger machine that has a high input amp draw rateing is the max amp draw at high output welding on heavy metals. At low welding currents the draw on the fuse box will be close to a smaller machine except the fan motor is a larger and draws a few more amps. The main thing on all welding machines expecially ones with cooling fans is to unplug the power plug, take an air hose and blow the inside out REAL good. Blow off all switches, PC boards, relays and the diode heat sinks. In a shop the welding machine is left running at idle all most all day. Grinding and painting is conducted in the area of the welding machine and all this crud is sucked into the machine. It is metal powder. Take a small magnet and run it around the inside and it will look like a porqepine. I had some come back from a bar joyce manufacture that looked like they were mounted like a vent fan. They had over a 3/16" thick coat of red primer covering the aluminum diode heat sinks. The heat sinks got hot and a thermal protection device shut the machines down. Kept clean an OLD welding machine will last over 50 years. The old machines consisted of iron, wire, a couple switches, diodes and a fan. Machines over 50 years had selanium rectifires that were unreliable and I doubt many of the are still running. Modern machine have a lot of electronic devices and although they work good I doubt many will be around 50 years from now, Just like the new cars. G.M.