Another alternative. Great guy to deal with.
http://www.htpweld.com/products/tig_welders/tig201.html

As with most things - you get what you pay for.

While the HTP is "okay" --- when you cut thru the BS on this website about how little the machine draws vs output etc -- that's all "selling the features that you have to talk about"

Nothing "wrong" with this... everyone does it. BUT - Huge BUTT...

This machine has a 35% duty cycle below 100 amps.... that means you can weld for 3.5 minutes out of every 10. My Miller Dynasty (admittedly not in the same league) has a 100% duty cycle below 100 amps.

Having said all of that --- I probably never weld for 3.5 minutes at one time - but you do weld for 10 minutes with lots of starting and stoping to reposition etc. But a 35% duty cycle would mean I can only weld for one minute in every 3 and that SUCKS BILGE WATER (an old boater phrase).

For home use - I think the machine would work just fine. But be sure what you're buying and really compare specs -- some of them are very important.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


I mis-read the specs on this machine - so I must eat crow and retract my statement on the duty cycle. It IS 100% on this machine below 100 amps.... Sorry - MY MISTAKE!


I wanted to leave my original post about duty cycle up - rather than just slink off and delete it because the duty cycle is an issue and spec that should be compared. To someone reading this thread - it might be something they wouldn't otherwise think about. And for me - that is what these forums are all about. Helping and learning and sharing.

I bought the Miller Diversion 180 at SEMA. I have not tried it yet but a friend came over that had never tig welded before, read the "Tig Welding for Dummies" book that comes with it and he was making nice looking welds within a hour. Nice piece for home use. And it is nice being able to do 110 or 220 volt by just changing the plug .

This is one of the best bang for the buck in a small tig machine.My son Kevin is also looking at a small tig and this is the one I said he should look at.One thing to think about is getting the machine worked on if something go's wrong.Miller's are made right here in the go old USA.HTP I think are made in Italy.HTP Part's have to came along way.Your local weldsuppy house can fix the miller,HTP will prob.need to get shiped some where.:thumbsup:

Thanks for all the info Greg & Scott. Charlie, let me know how you like the Diversion 180 when you use it. Stick welding is not important to me, but tig welding sheetmetal and aluminum is.

Anyone has experience with Thermal Arc products? They look to have a player.

http://www.thermadyne.com/thermalarc...dID=10-3073A-2

Are you going to take a welding class or just practice?
After looking at some of the fab work on here and some other sites I visit, I want to learn to do this:hail:

I have the Thermal Arc 185 and I love it. I have had it for over 4 years and I use it almost everyday.

I am going to practice. I understand the basics of tig welding. My plan is to practice on scraps of steel & aluminum until I am happy with the look, etc and then use it to build a few shop projects, etc.