Budget TIG recommendations? (older used or budget new, details in post)

Welding & Fabrication
1

I’ve been welding for about a year and a half and I’ve consistently increased the amount and frequency with which I weld projects, so don’t hold back if you think I’m being too cheap. I’m really just a DIYer, but I think I’m doing a lot of welding compared to most DIYers (currently I’m on the last couple feet of wire in a 11lb spool I started on in late December on my main machine if it’s any indication). I’ve started to use the scratch TIG functionality a lot on my little multiprocess machine and I’d really like to get something that’s a serious TIG machine for those times I want fine heat control and possibly settings like pre and post flow. I’m doing some aluminum MIG and it’s awesome but I’m not really satisfied with it for every single part.

I haven’t figured out my budget exactly but I’d really like to keep it low. If there was a quality machine on the low end of what a professional shop would be willing to use every day that was under $500 I’d probably order it today. If it’s more like $1,500 I’ll probably have to save up for a couple of months. If it’s more than that it had better be something special but it doesn’t mean it’s out of consideration. I realize the low number I posted would be unrealistically cheap for anything decent, but I want to be honest with y’all about my funds dictating purchase timeline.

I’m not too excited about Miller anything when it comes to new. I like their older machines and wouldn’t mind picking up something like a Dialarc HF (big one with a separate HF start box), but I don’t think I’d spend $8-10k on a new Dynasty even if it was in the budget. On the flip side of the Dialarc, I would prefer a smaller machine if there’s a good option. I’m kind of partial to transformer machines and their simplicity, so don’t shy away from recommending them is all.

Features I’m looking for most:
• dual voltage (willing to make an exception for older machines that need 240v or possibly even 480v, but dual voltage would make the decision easier)
• a foot pedal (I’m really not liking breaking the arc and snapping back to try to keep the weld covered while it cools)
• HF start
• Option for torch control
• SAE units (no metric garbage, machine needs to be labeled with and use imperial as a first-class citizen, I’m definitely willing to pay more for this)
• more physical switches/buttons, not everything buried in some awkward-to-use digital display with like two buttons to navigate through everything
• Ability to water cool the torch (I don’t need it integrated, I just want to make sure I don’t buy a machine that wouldn’t allow me to add this in future)
• AC for aluminum (never done TIG on Aluminum so I don’t know what I don’t know but I want to get something a lower/mid-level professional would trust to use a few times a week and not be annoyed by or feel limited by)
• pulse (I’m serious about increasing my skill level and this seems likely to me to matter in the future, but you guys tell me)

Duty cycle doesn’t matter, or at least it hasn’t seemed to matter. At least, I’ve yet to hit the duty cycle on any of my machines and I do a lot of projects. Please tell me if I’m wrong on this for a TIG machine in particular.

Machines I’ve seen recommended that seem like they fit my criteria and I’m actively looking for feedback on/alternatives to:
• Hynade TIG200GPACDC (https://a.co/d/caTvWjW) currently $550 w/coupon
• PrimeWeld TIG225x, $900
• Everlast something? (Not sure all the models and they seem to have a lot of different machines), between $1,200-2,000
• Vulcan ProTIG 205 (I’ve had pretty great experiences with their Titanium machines and what they lack in features they seem to make up for in other ways), roughly $1,000-1,100, hopefully less with a coupon
• Eastwood Elite 200 AC/DC, roughly $1,000, $600 refurbished and I’d love to hear anyone’s experiences with refurbished

What do you guys think? Does my budget need to go up for the amount I’m welding and my expectations or is there something I missed that you or someone you know personally has had great experiences with?

2

I recently when through the same search, since I dont have an imediate need for i havent pulled the trigger. I have seen decent water cooled TIG machines used for like $500-800 on ocasion. But if I needed to go out and buy a machine today i would go with the vulcan pro tig 205.

1 Like
3

I have a miller Dynasty I bought used 5-6 years ago. If I were to buy new I would go with Everlast. They have come a long way since they first came out.

When you say dual voltage, that normally means 120/240 single phase.
208/480 would be 3ph I don’t think you want that do you?

I have a air cooled torch, I think you only need to switch out the torch and add a cooler. Those two items may run you as much as you want to spend on the welder.

you might want to keep a eye out for a used machine. That way you can kind of test drive and get a feel for what you need and want. Its hard to know what you need as things might change once you start welding with it.

As I am sure you know its a much slower process than mig.

4

I do in fact mean 480v 3 phase is okay if I’m going with something used. If new, I’m priced way out of that market and I’d definitely go 120/240 single phase. I’m willing to give up the ability to run on single phase power if it means getting a higher quality machine that’s built like a tank and will outlive me but otherwise I’d rather have the option to use it places other than my house.

Any particular Everlast machine model?

The ask about water cooled is mainly because I’ve noticed how hot the air cooled torch gets on my scratch start setup and I want to be sure I get a machine that can be water cooled later if I decide to.

5

any machine can be converted to water cooled torch.
with air cooled they have a duty cycle, some as low as 30%
with 30% duty cycle you can weld for 3 minutes then have to wait 7 minutes for torch to cool.
with 60% duty weld for 6min wait 4.
water cooled is 100% duty cycle.
so take that into consideration when selecting the torch

1 Like
6

Could you elaborate a bit on the why? I keep hearing great things about PrimeWeld in YouTube videos but I’m also trying to break through the shilling and get to the truth.

7

Primeweld makes ok machines but they are newer to the market and aggressively marketing through content creators. The equivalent primeweld machine comes in $300 more expensive and you only get small additional features for that extra cost that only a pro tig welder will need. If I wanted all those features and wanted a gaurenty of quality I would buy a miller dynasty machine and bite the bullet. But with the vulcan you can adjust pre and post flow, you get balance adjust, and a pulse funtion. Also the pro tig is on sale this week $999 with a coupon.

1 Like
8

The Vulcan ProTig is a great little machine. I’ve had one for 2 years now, here is what I’ve learned. (I’m by no means a tig snob, far from it.)

AC tig welding aluminum works pretty darn good. My buddy who welds a lot of aluminum test drove the machine and agreed. DC tig is just as good, carbon or stainless. The machine produces a nice stable arc, you can really get low on the amperage and still keep the torch lit for a quick reposition. The foot pedal is very linear, if you’re not smooth with your foot action, the arc will show it.

DC stick welding with this machine works great. Burns 6011 and 7018’s nicely, as any inverter machine usually does. If you’re running a 1/8" rod and have a fair amount of welding to do, the duty cycle will hit you quick. It is great for a pull up to the shop, make a quick stick weld repair, and move on.

Two upgrades for the machine are the leads and the torch consumables.

  1. The factory leads are short, I mean short. I upgraded to longer leads for tig and stick.
  2. I purchased the tig arsenal kit from weldmonger. The kit covers consumables and cups for any tig situation that may arise on a Sunday afternoon. Be sure and buy the correct kit for your torch series. Jody produces great welding videos that has helped me over the years. I’m glad to support him, just as I’m glad to support Fireball.
    Furick Cup Arsenal Kit - All the Best in One Package! | Weldmonger — Weldmonger Store
1 Like