Just starting out Would you spend$$on a tig?

[DEA]

Thanks in advance and sorry to keep asking
I've been in the great welder hunt.The longer it takes the more confusing it gets
Inverter or not?
Would oy spend that much on a Dynasty200 dx being a beginer(I tend to over think things a lot)
I was really considering the T/A185 but none of the dealers in my surrounding area don't seem real supportive of the Thermal Arc which is $1000.00 less than the Dynasty They all had to call the T/A foctory to get information.Lack of local reps compared to miller
Also consider the syncro 180 a used 250$1400.00
and a used Esab 300 $900.00
I'm sure these will generate a larger eletric bill that the inverters
So please help me decide.
Do you really see Miller putting together a smilar package to the Thermal arc price wise?
Thanks again
Doug
There is something about the Dynasty though.If it just didn't cost so much!

[tigman]

Hi DEA,I think spending that kind of money for the dynasty and being a beginner or not having enough work to justify it,might be a little excessive,(but if you really want it why not).I used a dynasty at my last place of employment It was alright.The machine I normally used was a Shopmaster with a HF box worked just as well and would cost a whole lot less to repair when it breaks down.Had to replace a circuit board in the dynasty,big bucks.I personally could not justify that kind of money for a homeshop welder unless it was going to make me money.
just my 2 cents. Scott

[Sberry]

What are you going to be doing with it to start with? Maintance, repair and light fab work I would get a MM210. Its a steel world out there and I could get by without tig. Then the choices get more difficult, either go the yards to get a stick tig machine or something to run basic sticks on like a stickmate or thunderbolt.

[Mike W]

I have mig, tig, o/a, and arc. 97% of the time I use the mig. 2% with the o/a, and 1% with the tig.

[bigolguy]

DEA

I would spend top dollar on a higher end tig unit.Once you learn tig more you are going to wish you never would of bought the first cheapy.

I never had a problem with this because I learned tig with my friends welder and did tig'n with a company for a while and then bought a higher end tig for myself and was pleased ever since but it weighs alot.Most tig welders don't weigh as much as they used to but most higher end tigs still do weigh around the 300-500 lb range.Tig for me makes my world go around and I find it useful everyday and on most light stuff I couldn't get by without tig welding and gas welding,brazing,and soldering.I don't own a pacutter but I just use torch for heavier material and a heavy duty shear to cut through sheet and i never had to make irregular odd looking shapes on sheet so just my luck! I recommend learning tig through a few classes and get the hang of it and try gas welding first because that's probaly what most schools would make you learn.Gas when mastered will make you a great tig weldor.Tig welding is the cleanest and the most precise method welding and will make the most beautiful looking welds.Good Luck My Friend

another thing!....why does repair always have to be talked about first when buying a new welding machine???When I bought my first unit I didn't have to repair it for years.Keep on the safe side and don't abuse it and you won't usually have to worry about repairing but when time comes to that day then it's time to go run it by the repair shop but other than that a new machine will run forever before it usually needs repairs.Now if you don't go beat it with a sledge hammer and overheat it then it won't be in the repair shop.Treat a machine good and it will work out better for the both of you I say.

[DEA]

I'm into motorcycles. a lot of friends are into car racing dirt and drag.I'll be doing aluminum,moly tubing( when confident),etc.I also thought about stainless for the resturant business.Is ther any call for that .Thats where the inverter would come in handy.
I belive if I were going to purchase a new Syncro 180.Then I'd just spend the extra couple hundred for the Thermal arc 185!
Thanks
Doug

[bigolguy]

Whatever suits you.Let us know what you chose and why?...I always like to know? The t/a is plenty for what you need but if you wanted the most control and features I would of said go with a higher end tig but that's as far as you will get with the t/a 185.

Money takes you the farthest especially in this case you won't believe what you can do with a welder for 6000 bucks once you tried your welder and think you have seen the best.but hey! who can afford one of those bad puppies!

Just my two cents

Be Happy and that's what counts.

See you on the flip side!

[kid]

DEA, I bought a used tig (Lincoln 250/250) about 9 years ago, with very little torch time under my belt, been very happy ever since. I would miss the amps this machine has if I had a smaller one. A good used bigger machine to me is better than a smaller new one. Just my 2 cents....

[bigolguy]

Buying Used equipment is always a cheap alternative but it's risky and i mean risky business especially when the person lives in another state so when you buy it from that specific person you can't always go argue with him in person to take it back *chuckles*.I on the other hand just prefer everything new and prefer to break it in on my own use.

Just my two cents

[DrIQ]

For your first welder I would go for the mig. Wire welding is the easiest of the arc processes to learn. Oxy Fuel however is the best to learn reading the weld puddle and control with because its slow. I would only go with tig as my first welder if I was planning on welding a lot of Stainless and Aluminum, the tig welder is constant current and will give you stick welding capability for heavier steel welding that you will not have with the smaller 115V mig units which are constant voltage and will not stick weld.

[echo8287]

Tig Mig ?

I'd go with the Mig for general stuff. I've got a 251 and a Dynasty 200dx. I agree with SBerry get a 210 or 251. If all you're going to do is tubing(steel,aluminum, and ss) for motorcycles and such then get a tig. It will take some time to learn how to use it. The mig can be used right away. The cheapest tig to buy for the money is the 185,guys around here like it. I bought the Miller because of their impecible service to the customer and this board. David

[INTP]

Take a class first. I bought a MIG as my first welder, and it's certainly easy to start welding with. But when I took the class and started using O/A, I realized that I had no idea what I was doing up till that point.

If I could have only one welding setup, it would be a TIG. But I don't think it's as conducive to self-teaching. Learning O/A is definintely worth it, in my opinion.

[aircraft]

you need a reason to buy a TIG machine. If it's not obvious I would guess that you don't need to spend the money. I don't have one at home only at work (when I need one I just bring the Dynasty home) even though 95% of my welding is TIG. Almost all my home welding is stick, but I did it for YEARS. Stick is just so easy for me with any power supply.

[Mike W]

Most of the stuff I seem to always be welding is 1" angle iron and square tubing. If I had to use my tig instead of my mig, I would probably be backlogged by 5 years.