[TheForge] tig setup - buy vs build

[Howell Steve]

What I did for a new tig unit:

Cleaned up the 25 year old Miller 250 amp Dial-Arc, torches, hose, water
cooler, etc., 
Ran an ad in the paper for 1200$
Took down payment from sale (yes, I got $1200) to welding supplier.
Bought new Miller Maxstar 200 amp SD model for 1600$, 2300$ with gauges,
hose, fittings, regulator, etc. etc.

Make money!

I did compromise by losing the AC option and water cooling capacity but
rarely miss it. I don't do uber-production~.
Air cooled torches are rated at ~150 amps max but you can push it for longer
than you think.
The bottom line is the old rig weighed 650lbs and the new one 37. The site
work that the new set-up has allowed has raised the bar on the kind of work
one can do in the field, which seems to be where you can charge the mo$T.
Stick welding runs beautifully and the Tig is divine. I just started fartin'
around with bike frames and was welding super thin-wall chromoly tubes and
the arc stability is what you're used to on that big ol' Synchrowave.
Another thing: The auto-sensing from 460 three phase to 110 single phase
without changing anyting other than the plug is amazing (I have several
pigtails to convert to any situation arrived at in the field).

I'm not trying plug only Miller. Lincoln & Thermal-Arc are all good mfg's.
Thermal-Arc broke the whole inverter thing open but around here I had heard
stories of their circuit boards getting fried from sea-duty on the fishing
boats. Apparently the Miller's electronics are more well-potted. 
my .02$

steve
Seattle



 


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