Upgrading

[Dan]

Someone must be buying potato chips, because the Plant Manager just approved the purchase of a new TIG welder. We're looking to add either a Syncrowave 200 or Precision TIG 225. I don't get to test drive either before purchasing. So, I'm going to have depend on feedback , and info provided by the manufacture to make the choice of which unit to get.

At this point I am favoring the 200.

We really only need the DC side.

SS sheet metal repair will be a very common usage, so important features to me are the soft arc start and pulser on both units.

Any chance someone has ran both of these units?

[B_C]

I have a Lincoln so I'm kinda partial to the precision tig, but both machine are good

[SundownIII]

Dan,

Sorry, can't address either unit directly since I haven't run them.

I will say that Miller has come a long way in the last 10 or so years in the refinement of the Syncrowave series.

I recently upgraded my Sync 250 (purchased new in 1996) to a Syncrowave 250 DX Tigrunner (2005 model w/8 arc hours). The newer machine is definitely a "different" machine than it's predecessor. The solid state controls seem to make the machine more "precise", if that makes any sense. Response to the pedal is much better.

I added the pulser feature after I received the unit. Awesome on steel. Really don't use it that much on aluminum.

Arc starts are never a problem with the Sync series. Drop the pedal or tap the button and it's there. I've used friend's Dynasty 200's and 300's and don't feel that the arc starts are as "positive" as those on the Syncs.

Dan. Bottom line. I think both of the machines you're looking at are fine pieces of equipment and would do the job for you. Personally, Miller's service and parts availability would be the deciding factor. I have nothing but good things to say about how Miller stands behind their product.

To cite a specific example I'll give you my experience (chance to give Miller a big thumbs up). Soon after I got my new Sync (new to me), I decided that I'd change out the coolant, even though there was little time on the machine. My particular Tigrunner was the one with the integrated cooler (built into the power supply cabinet). In taking the covers off I determined that they had not included provisions for a drain. OK. Next time I was in my LWS I asked my buddy (who owns the store), how he drained the coolant on my model machine. Said he wasn't sure. Let's call his service guy. Service guy says to just hook up a hose to the discharge fitting and pump out the old coolant. Easy. While we're on the phone, he (service guy) mentions that Miller had had a recall/update on the cooler on my particular model. Said if I'd get him the serial number, he'd check it out.

Even though my unit was about six months out of warranty, Miller sent him a new coolmate 3, new running gear, and the new lo profile bottle rack as well as a new side panel for my unit. This is what I'm talking about regarding standing behind their product. Miller did this, not because they were "bound by a warranty" but because they felt it "was the right thing to do". Couldn't ask for more. A lot of companies could learn from their example.

Red or blue, that's got to be your call. For me "BLUE REIGNS".

[Dan]

The fact that Lincoln is comparing the 225 against the Diversion 165 instead of the Syncro 200 seems a little strange.

[crawler]

Arc starts are never a problem with the Sync series. Drop the pedal or tap the button and it's there. I've used friend's Dynasty 200's and 300's and don't feel that the arc starts are as "positive" as those on the Syncs.

Any chance this is due to the fact that Dynasty tig welders don't output as much
HF as the Syncrowaves?

[enlpck]

The fact that Lincoln is comparing the 225 against the Diversion 165 instead of the Syncro 200 seems a little strange.

If you were a manufacturer, wouldn't you compare to the best machine you beat on all aspects, rather than one you only beat on about half?

[Zrexxer]

Haven't run the Linc to compare, but I've had a chance to run a Sync 200 several times lately, and all I can say is I wish I'd waited on buying my 180SD. The 200 came out shortly after I got mine and it's a superior machine, notably with the addition of the built-in pulser.

I haven't found anything I don't like about it, other than I don't really care for the control layout Sometimes it's kind of a pain navigating through setup and parameters, but that's not a dealbreaker.

Arcwise I'm perfectly happy with the Sync, although I'm not much of a TIG guy. It's an awesome stick machine too, for that matter... beats out Dialarcs that I've used, for sure.

Obviously it hasn't got all the bells and whistles of their inverter offerings, but it's a very competent machine for what it is.

[Brand X]

I ran both machines and the arc starts are very good on both. I used them very little on DC, only to see how the arc starts were. (Syncro had a owner operated problem.) The syncro has two settings for arc starts and the Lincoln has the Micro 2. I would favor the Lincoln on thicker stuff and probably go the Miller for thinner type of Aluminum welding. You won't confuse either one with the Thermal or Miller dc inverters you run. You won't complain about the arc starting on either one though. My 1.5 cents.

[Dan]

Turned in a recommendation of the Syncrowave 200 to my boss. My main reason for recommending the 200 being that you have control over more of the pulser variables with it. I have to admit I am a little concerned that 200 pulser may be a little too complicated for some of the guys to set up. Oh well, as long as I don't tell them that the PT 225 pulser is much simpler to operate they won't know any better.

My boss stated if he got a price quote on the 200 that was around the $2050 he received on the PT 225, he'd go ahead and order a 200.

[Tux_Rules]

Turned in a recommendation of the Syncrowave 200 to my boss. My main reason for recommending the 200 being that you have control over more of the pulser variables with it. I have to admit I am a little concerned that 200 pulser may be a little too complicated for some of the guys to set up. Oh well, as long as I don't tell them that the PT 225 pulser is much simpler to operate they won't know any better.

My boss stated if he got a price quote on the 200 that was around the $2050 he received on the PT 225, he'd go ahead and order a 200.

Looks like the 200 is the better and easier machine to operate:

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/tig/comparisons/syncrowave_200.html

[Pumpkinhead]

My boss stated if he got a price quote on the 200 that was around the $2050 he received on the PT 225, he'd go ahead and order a 200.

Tell him Cyberweld.com has the 200's for $1936 delivered.

[knucklehead]

Someone must be buying potato chips, because the Plant Manager just approved the purchase of a new TIG welder. We're looking to add either a Syncrowave 200 or Precision TIG 225. I don't get to test drive either before purchasing. So, I'm going to have depend on feedback , and info provided by the manufacture to make the choice of which unit to get.

At this point I am favoring the 200.

We really only need the DC side.

SS sheet metal repair will be a very common usage, so important features to me are the soft arc start and pulser on both units.

Any chance someone has ran both of these units?

Has anyone looked into the Arcmaster 185ACDC? Those will weld circles around any of the Syncrowaves or Precision Tigs...

https://www.mythermadyne.com/thc/en/US/adirect/thc?cmd=catDisplayStyle

[Zrexxer]

Has anyone looked into the Arcmaster 185ACDC? Those will weld circles around any of the Syncrowaves or Precision Tigs...

Weld circles around any of the Syncrowaves or Precison Tigs? Really? ANY of them? Have you pitted that little inverter against a Sync 350? PT 375?

[SundownIII]

Zrexxer,

LMAO.

You can sorta tell when a "home hobbiest" make a "profound" statement can't you.

My Sync 250 does fine bump welding aluminum at about 200A. Wonder how that little Arcmaster would hold up?

What. Oh, I forgot. Doesn't have those amps available. How the heck is it going to "weld circles around any of the syncs....".