Experienced tig welders please chime in!
Experienced tig welders please chime in! So im about to buy a welder. The miller Diversion 165: http://www.millerwelds.com/products/tig/diversion_165/
I have a laundry list and a half of projects to use it for, so i want to make sure it can handle atleast the first task. Now i know its thick but i figured it should be ok.
I will be welding a 1/4" plate to a 1" carb spacer. I just need a nice clean airtight bead. Will be welding a bead on the inside and outside.
What do you guys think? Will this welder get the job done? Thanks in advance!
I have a laundry list and a half of projects to use it for, so i want to make sure it can handle atleast the first task. Now i know its thick but i figured it should be ok.
I will be welding a 1/4" plate to a 1" carb spacer. I just need a nice clean airtight bead. Will be welding a bead on the inside and outside.
What do you guys think? Will this welder get the job done? Thanks in advance!
Aluminum I assume? I have this welder and it does a great job, it will do fine for small fab stuff. 3/16 is the max but on a non structual piece like a carb spacer I wouldnt worry. If you will be doing thick stuff all the time get something bigger.
I would shoot for the biggest welder you can afford, even if it's a few years old.. I've used 15y/o Miller Synchrowave 250's that work GREAT.. Duty cycle is very important in a TIG, and you wont know that you dont have enough power until it's too late. Just my 2 cents.
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Thanks alot guys. I have a mig for thicker steel. I don't think i'll be doing much aluminum, other than custom intake type stuff. Nothing structural. For steel i plan to mostly use it for extra structural support on my body, I need to get into some awkward places that mig slag might ruin something, and i can't get a welding blanket to cover everything in some of those places. The thickest will be about .120 thick steel.
Also will be using it for roll cages and such. Something a nice clean bead adds to the coolness factor!
Also as of now i don't need to spend the extra 500 for the 180 vs 165. They both have the same output currents. The only real difference is the ability for 115v input. I have 220v outlet in my carport, and can easily add one to my basement for the winter to practice. I will almost never need to take it with me to use it anywhere but home, but for $500 I can simply buy 2 extensions cords, then plug it into 2 different outlets[separate breakers] and make my own 220v.
The next size up is in the Syncrowave 200. I would love to skip up to that, but the 1100 more is what is holding me back. I can only afford the Diversion 165 because im splitting the cost with my brother. We have some crazy plans for his Miata, but thats another story. Otherwise i would be looking for a very old used tig for alot cheaper.
My next question is for those that have used it, how is that scroll wheel???
Also will be using it for roll cages and such. Something a nice clean bead adds to the coolness factor!
Also as of now i don't need to spend the extra 500 for the 180 vs 165. They both have the same output currents. The only real difference is the ability for 115v input. I have 220v outlet in my carport, and can easily add one to my basement for the winter to practice. I will almost never need to take it with me to use it anywhere but home, but for $500 I can simply buy 2 extensions cords, then plug it into 2 different outlets[separate breakers] and make my own 220v.
The next size up is in the Syncrowave 200. I would love to skip up to that, but the 1100 more is what is holding me back. I can only afford the Diversion 165 because im splitting the cost with my brother. We have some crazy plans for his Miata, but thats another story. Otherwise i would be looking for a very old used tig for alot cheaper.
My next question is for those that have used it, how is that scroll wheel???
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The thumb wheel is okay until you get to the end of the weld and you don't have a good option for tapering off the heat. In my opinion you can get by with it, but if you can get a good deal on a pedal when you buy the welder, it's worth it.
TIG will use up shielding gas rather quickl - I recommend getting a big tank so you aren't going to the gas supplier all the time.
TIG will use up shielding gas rather quickl - I recommend getting a big tank so you aren't going to the gas supplier all the time.
Well I went on YouTube to watch reviews and realize they output different currents as well. Is the extra 15amps plus the footpedal worth 500? The pedal is 150$, so the main question would be is the extra 15 amps plus the digital display/finer current adjustment, and 115v option really worth 350??? I want a footpedal regardless. And the 180 I was looking at includes it.
Yep.. Well I went on YouTube to watch reviews and realize they output different currents as well. Is the extra 15amps plus the footpedal worth 500? The pedal is 150$, so the main question would be is the extra 15 amps plus the digital display/finer current adjustment, and 115v option really worth 350??? I want a footpedal regardless. And the 180 I was looking at includes it.
Also:
"I can simply buy 2 extensions cords, then plug it into 2 different outlets[separate breakers] and make my own 220v."....Nope!
After reading a few reviews, it seems the foot pedal isn't as great as other miller pedals. Im think im still leaning towards the 165
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,608
Likes: 0
From: Webb City, MO...out in the garage
i picked up my Dynasty 200DX on craigslist for $2900....not too bad considering it came with a 20 cu/ft argon bottle, brand new 25' water-cooled lead, and the contractor kit with foot pedal...and only had 3 hours on it....maybe that's more than you're wanting to spend, maybe it's more machine than you need, but my point is there are some great deals out there to be found if you look and are maybe willing to travel a bit to get them.
FWIW the Diversion is a great machine, well worth the money and very useful. i wouldn't hesitate to buy one.
FWIW the Diversion is a great machine, well worth the money and very useful. i wouldn't hesitate to buy one.
LS1NOVA: Thanks for the advice, i will attempt the hand held controls, but think i would really learn quicker with the traditional pedal setup.
2000 ss: That sounds like a great deal, i would have jumped on something like that if it was in my price-range. I drove 10hrs to pick up my car, only made 3 stops. Then drove back the next day w/2 stops. I don't mind traveling, my thing about buying a used tig, is that i have never used one, so i couldn't confirm its working properly before i buy it.
2000 ss: That sounds like a great deal, i would have jumped on something like that if it was in my price-range. I drove 10hrs to pick up my car, only made 3 stops. Then drove back the next day w/2 stops. I don't mind traveling, my thing about buying a used tig, is that i have never used one, so i couldn't confirm its working properly before i buy it.
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 46
Likes: 1
The thumb wheel is okay until you get to the end of the weld and you don't have a good option for tapering off the heat. In my opinion you can get by with it, but if you can get a good deal on a pedal when you buy the welder, it's worth it.
TIG will use up shielding gas rather quickl - I recommend getting a big tank so you aren't going to the gas supplier all the time.
TIG will use up shielding gas rather quickl - I recommend getting a big tank so you aren't going to the gas supplier all the time.
Just like the other dude said, get the big bottles so you can run your back purges and it doesn't come with a duel regulator setup so add the bottle rent and a decent regulator setup in the budget
Sorry for the ignorance, but what are back purges? Also i've never had to buy gases, my mig has the flux core option as well as gas, and never used gas. So do you guys rent a bottle with gas, or do you buy a bottle and have it refilled when needed?
TECH Regular
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 482
Likes: 0
From: Whitehall,PA
Dude you gotta try MIG with the gas! You'll never use flux core again. I bought my bottle of MIG gas from AIRGAS and paid like $400 for it full that time, now I just swap bottles when empty. I think it was like $59. I'm watching this thread because I am looking to buy a TIG also,good luck.
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,608
Likes: 0
From: Webb City, MO...out in the garage
if you find a good deal on a used one, get someone who DOES know something to go with you. buy them lunch or something to make them want to go along for the ride. it could save you some money and/or set you up with a better machine. of course, that depends completely on a deal being available at the time....