Looking to get an starter TIG...thoughts?

[Jay Hilliard]

I have been wanting to get a TIG welder and have been looking at the Miller Diversion 180. Any opinions/reviews on this welder or another one in that range?

This is for my home and will be used as a hobby machine. No need for a water cooled high end machine.

thanks.

[69x22]

Hey Jay, I bought a Miller EconoTig, I had to upgrade the tip, after doing that I am 100% satisfied with it. It can also weld Aluminum pretty good.

Looks like your wifes 69 is coming along nice!

[Jay Hilliard]

When did you buy the econotig? I didnt see them on Millers site, but I may have missed it. I have a friend who has an econotig for sale, but its a transformer style vs inverter. I have been told inverter technology is better with reduced power consumption, etc.

[ccracin]

Jay,

I am a beginner and just picked up a Lincoln Precision Tig 225. It's a transformer style, but has a pulser, ac/dc, post flow timer, and auto/manual balance adjustment. Plus the price is very nice. Check out the last page or 2 of my thread in the sig line below. There are pics of it. Love it so far!

[pokey64]

This thread made me wonder what we had in our shop at my office. My guys use a Miller Maxstar 150 STL to make up ss fittings. It seems like a nice little unit. But I really have no clue. I played with it today and it's only my second time tig welding...

[GNon18s]

I have a Lincoln precision tig 185 for 5 years now and nothing bad to say about it.

[69x22]

Originally Posted by Jay Hilliard

When did you buy the econotig? I didnt see them on Millers site, but I may have missed it. I have a friend who has an econotig for sale, but its a transformer style vs inverter. I have been told inverter technology is better with reduced power consumption, etc.

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/tig/econotig/ here is the info on it. Depending on how much you are planning on using a tig is what would determine which one to get for me. I have no complaints with the econotig so far but I do not have allot of experience with it.

[GregWeld]

Econtig bit the dust... it's not offered anymore

If you just want CHEAP TIG machine then look at the Maxstar 150

It won't weld much - but if you're only interested in doing thin gauge materials then something like this is small and compact - inverter - with pulsing but no A/C... so you stick to steel and stainless steels. The move up to an A/C D/C machine is a large jump in price - but then you can weld aluminum - and for me - that's the reason you have a TIG for hot rodding. Lots of aluminum parts in my cars - brackets etc.

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/...p?model=M00143

[GregWeld]

I forgot to add that like most things in life it just all depends on how you're going to use it. Not having pulsing is not the end of the world for 95% of what we do in our hobby. It certainly helps on thin material (it does help with heat control).... but lots of times I just weld without it.

Having the Diversion model will allow you to do aluminum. For me - that would be more important than having a machine with pulsing but no A/C = ala the little Maxstar. But if you don't plan to do any aluminum - and just want to do bodywork and sheetmetal etc - then the Maxstar will get er done.

The beauty of these machines - they're all worth something should you decide you don't use it at all - or you want to move up. So either way - it's a decent investment - unlike the wifes vacation that is just money down the tube.

[70 chevelle]

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