Need TIG machine purchase advice

[sixdogs]

How much of a TIG welder would I need and how much would it cost?
I'm a somewhat intermediate MIG hobby welder and almost always work with mild steel for farm fabrication or street rod things. While MIG is nice, I'm thinking of buying a Lincold TIG machine to use for the same things and some aluminum as well. The prettier welds look better on nice cars and it's less mess in a nice shop. It would be more convenient to practice and I want to get into aluminum.

My question involves what I need and that gets me to price. I have been told I must have water cooled and a foot pedal to do aluminum because scratch start fouls the tip. Adult Ed at a tech school is my only experience with TIG and it was water cooled and foot pedal so I don't know any different. I really liked that setup but those features in a Lincold welder is around $5,000. Wow. Is that the way it is or are there alternatives or any directions to point me? I'm not sure what I want to do yet but thinking about it.

 

[Jesse masterson]

Millet makes a nice little welder for ac aluminum called a diversion rins off 110 or 220 for 1700$ only dray back is it's limited to thin materials.I think it's limited to 3/16 aluminum

 

[cowski]

starting out i would look at a miller syncrowave 200 with a w-17 air cooled torch.you also need a bottle of argon.this machine can stick weld also.

 

[Shield Arc]

If you're going to get into aluminum work with Tig. Dust off your wallet! And if you plan on doing any work on thicker aluminum, you may want to take quite a few aspirin because it's really going to hurt!
My 300-amp Tig welder really struggles with 3/8-inch thick aluminum, especially if it's of any size.
Water cooled torches are nice because they are smaller than air cooled. Yes you need a foot pedal or hand control when doing aluminum, you start out with high amps, then start backing off the amps as you continue to weld.

 

[Sockwell]

I bought a Miller Diversion right after the machines were introduced. I bought it to do thin aluminum and SS. The previous reply is correct in that it will only do thin aluminum. I've tried one time to repair a larger aluminum casting. The thermal overloads tripped before a good puddle had formed, let alone start traveling with a bead. Its a good machine, but it is limited. I have an advantage over most folks by having access to a Synchrowave 350 at work. If you are set on doing aluminum, be prepared to pay.

 

[sixdogs]

So all of this, taken together, means it's over $5,500 for a 275 Miller with a foot pedal. The water cooled is nice but it it necessary or at least important for aluminum? That is indeed a difficult price unless I can somehow justify it. Maybe I can look for something used.

 

[LD1]

So all of this, taken together, means it's over $5,500 for a 275 Miller with a foot pedal. The water cooled is nice but it it necessary or at least important for aluminum? That is indeed a difficult price unless I can somehow justify it. Maybe I can look for something used.

I dont think you ever mentioned how thick you are wanting to weld on the aluminum side???

And no, the water cooler is not necessary, just a luxury.

When you say "I want to start getting into aluminum", if by that you mean smaller stuff like under 1/4", you dont need to spend 6k on a 350A welder. Right now at work, our only way to weld aluminum is with a POS spool gun or stick. Our tig is DC only. Its a miller maxstar 200. I have got the boss convinced to get us a dynasty 200 now. Basically the same welder but adds AC capability. He is getting quotes of $3k for just the machine. Which is fine for us because the torch and foot pedal from the maxstar will work. But you will have to spend ~$500-$800 for those. But $3800 is way better than $5500 if you dont plan to go much over 1/4"

 

[Shield Arc]

I have got the boss convinced to get us a dynasty 200 now.

Oh you guys are going to love that machine! :thumbsup:

 

[LD1]

I hope so. Now hes just trying to figure out what to do with the old maxstar. I think he is going to sell it outright on ebay. He was trying to find a place that would take it in on trade, but no one wanted it. It is a **** nice welder thought, just lacking AC I love welding stainless with that machine:thumbsup:

 

[sixdogs]

Shield Arc and LD1----Can you tell me more about this Dynasty 200? Dynasty 300?
My only experience is with a Lincoln 350? or ? water cooled with a foot pedal and I really liked it.
My aluminum thickness would almost always be less than 1/4". Maybe 1/8" or less to the 3/16" range. I would like to do mild steel but some aluminum as well. What steel thickness would work for this machine as there are times I would like to go a little more than 1/4" to 5/16"?