Looking to buy a Welder for exhaust sys. and manifold work.
01-24-09 | 05:48 AM
#26
im looking at picking up a miller dynasty 200dx come taxes time for me. i know this is more machine than i need at the moment but i figure i will grow into it. mind you im just going to be starting tig. but iv beeen doing mig over 7 yrs . and i currently have a litttle lincoln 175 if i remember right that does all my mild and stainless just fine for cheap. if your just starting id recommend a cheap little mig you can pick up at home depot for a couple hundred w/ gas setup. i find the flux core setups arnt really worth it unless you absolutly have too, always get a gas setup. but im hoping it wont take too ling for me to master the aluminum tig on the miller.
z
z
01-24-09 | 11:34 AM
#27
Engine, Not Motor
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From: London, Ontario, Canada
I picked up my EconoTIG used a few years ago for $1100, I think. It's a great starter machine, I've done tons of aluminum, mild, and stainless work with it with pretty good results.
However, after you have been doing it for a while and have used higher end machines, you really start wishing you had the additional features like AC balance, pre/postflow adjustment, WATERCOOLING, pulse, and others.
However, after you have been doing it for a while and have used higher end machines, you really start wishing you had the additional features like AC balance, pre/postflow adjustment, WATERCOOLING, pulse, and others.
I'm setting up a water cooled torch for my Econotig. All it takes is a torch, adapter, reservoir (weld one out of aluminum
) and pump.Definitely get an AC/DC TIG if at all possible; you can weld ANYTHING with it.[/QUOTE]
im looking at picking up a miller dynasty 200dx come taxes time for me. i know this is more machine than i need at the moment but i figure i will grow into it. mind you im just going to be starting tig. but iv beeen doing mig over 7 yrs . and i currently have a litttle lincoln 175 if i remember right that does all my mild and stainless just fine for cheap. if your just starting id recommend a cheap little mig you can pick up at home depot for a couple hundred w/ gas setup. i find the flux core setups arnt really worth it unless you absolutly have too, always get a gas setup. but im hoping it wont take too ling for me to master the aluminum tig on the miller.
z
z
The Dynasty kicks ***.
01-24-09 | 11:35 AM
#28
I briefly skimmed the thread, I pretty much weld for a living and I am always building stuff at home, so I have ran a number of machines, new state of the art, middle aged and stuff twice my age, but to answer your original question you need to ask yourself the following:
-What are your plans long and short term, I know you mentioned building exhaust and manifolds, but is this for yourself or are you looking to sell?
-What kind of power do you have available? DO I need a transformer (more amps) or inverter (less amps) welder?
-What are you willing to spend? This is porbably the most important, the more you spend the better welder you will get, but will you make use of it? Kinda goes back to the above (your plans). If starting from scratch you need everything: hood, jacket, gloves, welder, consumables (gas, filler wire, etc), non-consumables (tungsten, cups, nozzles etc depending on tig/mig) Along with that any fabrication you are doing you need to prep the metal, ie grinder, band saw/portaband, cleaning brushes hand/power, jig/fixture parts, vises, weld table and so on.
With that said the next thing comes down to brand wise, it really depends on where you live, both Lincoln and Miller offer comparable welders, that are well built and they both stand behind them. However each of them do have lines that are better than the others. An example is Miller's Dynasty series (or pretty much their whole line of Inverter welders) owns the market. What I would suggest to do is find what is stronger in your area, for service, parts, etc. Then see if they have a welder that fits your needs, if so choose that one, if not get the one you want, they will still have parts and stuff but may take a couple days to get them rather than off the shelf. Thankfully I live in an area that is pretty well split, but I won all Miller anyways. But stay away from the HomeDepot/Lowes Lincoln welders, also stay away from Miller/Hobart Econotig. Another one you could look at is Hobart, same as miller, just marketed differently.
Check out the Millerwelds.com message board, naturally they are mostly Miller owners but they are all straight shooters they buy the best or the best they can afford and will gladly help point you in the right direction wether it be buying or setup/weld tips. I know millerwelds.com has a ton of info that can help you choose the right welder for you needs.
Back to the exhaust/manifold stuff, TIG will help ensure good penetration, control, and a better look. If you are welding stainless steel you need to purge the welded side and inside (back purge), this adds to the cost of gas (consumable) and either a second bottle/regulator or a dual outlet regulator for one bottle.
I own Miller's Dynasty 200DX and Millermatic Passport Plus, I asked myself the same questions I stated, but for me it came down to what my plans were (needing ac/dc for tig) and power input. I had to choose an Inverter welder like the Dynasty 200DX or Lincoln Invertec V205-T, Miller owns the market share with there Inverter welders, so my choice was obvious. There have been a number of time were I had to pack it and weld on the road, as the Dynasty is 110/220 and light I was able to do so, with a transformer welder its not possible. So about a year later I picked up the Passport, I knew what was out there and again Miller was the only one that offered a product that met my needs, amperage/duty cycle, portabilty and so on.
Hmm well I hope I covered most of the basics, I was just typing off the top of my head. I will fully read the other responses see what else I can add. But to recap decide on:
Price, short/long term goals, power input, product support.
I hope it helps!
-What are your plans long and short term, I know you mentioned building exhaust and manifolds, but is this for yourself or are you looking to sell?
-What kind of power do you have available? DO I need a transformer (more amps) or inverter (less amps) welder?
-What are you willing to spend? This is porbably the most important, the more you spend the better welder you will get, but will you make use of it? Kinda goes back to the above (your plans). If starting from scratch you need everything: hood, jacket, gloves, welder, consumables (gas, filler wire, etc), non-consumables (tungsten, cups, nozzles etc depending on tig/mig) Along with that any fabrication you are doing you need to prep the metal, ie grinder, band saw/portaband, cleaning brushes hand/power, jig/fixture parts, vises, weld table and so on.
With that said the next thing comes down to brand wise, it really depends on where you live, both Lincoln and Miller offer comparable welders, that are well built and they both stand behind them. However each of them do have lines that are better than the others. An example is Miller's Dynasty series (or pretty much their whole line of Inverter welders) owns the market. What I would suggest to do is find what is stronger in your area, for service, parts, etc. Then see if they have a welder that fits your needs, if so choose that one, if not get the one you want, they will still have parts and stuff but may take a couple days to get them rather than off the shelf. Thankfully I live in an area that is pretty well split, but I won all Miller anyways. But stay away from the HomeDepot/Lowes Lincoln welders, also stay away from Miller/Hobart Econotig. Another one you could look at is Hobart, same as miller, just marketed differently.
Check out the Millerwelds.com message board, naturally they are mostly Miller owners but they are all straight shooters they buy the best or the best they can afford and will gladly help point you in the right direction wether it be buying or setup/weld tips. I know millerwelds.com has a ton of info that can help you choose the right welder for you needs.
Back to the exhaust/manifold stuff, TIG will help ensure good penetration, control, and a better look. If you are welding stainless steel you need to purge the welded side and inside (back purge), this adds to the cost of gas (consumable) and either a second bottle/regulator or a dual outlet regulator for one bottle.
I own Miller's Dynasty 200DX and Millermatic Passport Plus, I asked myself the same questions I stated, but for me it came down to what my plans were (needing ac/dc for tig) and power input. I had to choose an Inverter welder like the Dynasty 200DX or Lincoln Invertec V205-T, Miller owns the market share with there Inverter welders, so my choice was obvious. There have been a number of time were I had to pack it and weld on the road, as the Dynasty is 110/220 and light I was able to do so, with a transformer welder its not possible. So about a year later I picked up the Passport, I knew what was out there and again Miller was the only one that offered a product that met my needs, amperage/duty cycle, portabilty and so on.
Hmm well I hope I covered most of the basics, I was just typing off the top of my head. I will fully read the other responses see what else I can add. But to recap decide on:
Price, short/long term goals, power input, product support.
I hope it helps!
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