Looking to get an starter TIG...thoughts?

[Sieg]

Originally Posted by lhkustoms

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

Luke - Thanks!

Originally Posted by Jay Hilliard

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.

Jay - I spent a couple hours reading info at Miller's Resources page last night, here's some TIG specific chapters: http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/TIGhandbook/

[Jay Hilliard]

Originally Posted by Sieg

Jay - I spent a couple hours reading info at Miller's Resources page last night, here's some TIG specific chapters: http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/TIGhandbook/

Thanks for posting the info Sieg. Alot of useful reading.

[bdahlg68]

man, you guys are going to make me buy a tig which will put my project 2 grand behind!!!!

That Miller Diversion looks perfect for me as I currently don't have 230 going into my garage (not that tough to run, just don't want to spend the money on it). Is this going to be good out of the box, or could it also benefit from a better torch?

[Sieg]

Originally Posted by lhkustoms

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

Just returned from the local welding shop and was talking with the repair tech. They sell Miller, Lincoln, and Thermal TIG's. He said for a small TIG that will produce good welds with aluminum the Thermal Arc 185 is the machine. He noted the next best value performer would be a $3,200 Miller.

[lhkustoms]

Welding aluminum with my Thermal Arc is awesome. I have used alot of different machines and I like the Thermal arc the best for welding aluminum.

[Blueflamespl]

Does anyone have any experiance with the Lincoln Square Wave 175? I found a new unused one locally at a good price. This will be for hobby use... bodywork and roll bars.

[coolwelder62]

I use to have a lincoln 175 that I would plug into my portable welder when I would weld at the sprint car race's.It was an awesome tig machine for anything 1/4" and thinner.

[74ls1nova]

I bought a diversion 180 a couple weeks ago. Having only used a tig once or twice before. I have practiced a little and have made so ok looking welds. After building my own headers and having to have someone else weld them i had to have one.

[out2kayak]

I have the Precision TIG 225 (http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us...roduct=K2535-1) that I've used mostly for steel variants that I've been happy with thus far.

Can't say that I'm the worlds best welder (by day I'm a software architect), but I can do a decent bit of welding with it.

[Scott Hightower]

You can't go wrong with Miller but if you are looking for another option check out the Thermal Arc 160 S.

Scott
Fab Manager
Welders360.com