Tig welder help

[jblaine86]

I am new to tig welding and wanted to tig weld my pypes 304 stainless steel exhaust. My question is, what tig wire material would be the best for this?
Thanks,
Jon

[Vince@Meanstreets]

you can use 308 or 316....I use 316 for filler but if I prep right fuse no filler.

[GregWeld]

I am new to tig welding and wanted to tig weld my pypes 304 stainless steel exhaust. My question is, what tig wire material would be the best for this?
Thanks,
Jon



TIG or MIG??? MIG uses wire --- as in a roll of it.... TIG uses fill material

[jblaine86]

Thanks for responses. Yes I was looking for fill material

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Thanks for responses. Yes I was looking for fill material

filler rod :catfight: :lol:

[LS1-IROC]

I would recommend back purging your welds on stainless. I find that using small diameter filler is easier. I have started using .030" mig wire recently and that works great with a 1/16" tungsten.

[jblaine86]

Thanks. I just got some scrap pieces today to practice with this weekend

[raustinss]

I would recommend back purging your welds on stainless. I find that using small diameter filler is easier. I have started using .030" mig wire recently and that works great with a 1/16" tungsten.

Agreed.....btw the cleaner the better for TIG work on stainless steel

[TheJDMan]

While we are on the subject of TIG, I have been looking for a TIG welder and frankly I have only suceeded in confusing myself. What TIG welders do you guys recommend?

[GregWeld]

While we are on the subject of TIG, I have been looking for a TIG welder and frankly I have only suceeded in confusing myself. What TIG welders do you guys recommend?


Like most things these questions are budget dependent.... there are great machines that can do everything and there are budget machines that can "TIG" weld....

I run a Miller Dynasty 200 DX and it does everything.... and has been trouble free. IT can do more than I can do or need to do. But when you buy this stuff - you want to buy the best one you can because they hold their value and you don't know what welding you're going to want to do going forward.

[MoparCar]

I preface this by saying I do not own a TIG but have researched it a lot since I want one. I agree with GW that the Miller Dynasty 200 DX is probably the best for hot rod thicknesses in an AC/DC machine that can do aluminum, SS and steel with all the wiz bang features like pulse, adjustable high frequency, balance and waveform controls. It's also the most expensive. New school tech digital inverter technology. Old school transformer machines are great also but limit you to a set frequency and other options. Miller also has their new inverter synchrowave 210(?), their Diversion 180 and 165 which are sort of a set and forget models and their full line of standard synchrowave transformer machines. Built like a tank but heavy with less features than the inverter machines.

Seems like Miller, Lincoln and HTP seem to get great reviews and are the top tier. I really like the HTP machines. A bit less money than Milller but very strong following. Thermal Arc also gets good notes depending on the model.

All the manufacturers seem to have a value line that may or may not be US made.

The lower tier imports are Everlast, Longevity and Eastwood which I believe is a rebranded Longevity. People seem to love or hate the Everlast although there are some very reputable welders using them. It seems like their reliability and reputation has gained in the last few years quite a bit.

Again, I'm not a TIG guy and just sharing my research. Take a look at the Welding Tips and Tricks site and videos. He covers many many welders and has great how to videos.

Wes

[GregWeld]

For the tiny amount of time our welders are actually used ------ I think someone buying an Everlast or similar machine would be just fine. I looked yesterday on Amazon -- and a machine that claims to do everything my $4,000+ Miller does --- was offered for around $1,400

It might be a little more of a "gamble" that the warranty etc is honored should you have some issue - but you could buy TWO of them and still be less than my one.

With that thought -- I'm "okay" with it if it fits a guys budget and he picks up the hobby.

[Build-It-Break-it]

I have a Thermal Arc 186 and use it a lot and it hasn't given me any problems. I paid $1675 shipped but I see the prices are slowly climbing up.

Most of the local weld supply stores sell and service the Thermal arc/tweco welders so that helps. Consumables are available mostly everywhere for the thermal arc as well

Most red or blue welders your paying for the customer service on top of the welder. Miller actually took "made in the USA " off there welders. Wonder why. ...

[Blake Foster]

Like most things these questions are budget dependent.... there are great machines that can do everything and there are budget machines that can "TIG" weld....

I run a Miller Dynasty 200 DX and it does everything.... and has been trouble free. IT can do more than I can do or need to do. But when you buy this stuff - you want to buy the best one you can because they hold their value and you don't know what welding you're going to want to do going forward.

We have the same unit, Super nice and adjustable, but with all the add on's I think it was about 7000.00 we now only use Miller (like most) cart water cooler. regulator, torch, some consumables, etc too much for a guy at home. we also have a syncrowave 180 that is about 12 years old now and it has not cost us a dime it is MORE than enough machine for a guy at home, but still probably 4000 with a water cooler .
I would buy a miller Diversion 180 #907 627 about 1600.00 can run off 110v

[MoparCar]

The Everlast 210EXT gets good reviews and has nearly all the features of the Miller Dynasty 200DX for $1500-1800. As Greg mentioned it probably would be fine for home shop use/duty cycle. I've considered this strongly. They used to do a 5-year warranty if bought direct from them and not through a reseller. They negotiate pricing if you call them. A lot of the online welding supply houses now carry the conversion fittings and items to easily run any of the major torches etc. like CK and others. Again I don't have a TIG just what I've researched.

I see several transformer Sychrowaves or Lincoln Powertigs on Craig's here in Denver area almost weekly. I'll go for a digital unit, but the transformers can be bought very reasonable used and as Blake said, last forever.

Wes

[GregWeld]

We have the same unit, Super nice and adjustable, but with all the add on's I think it was about 7000.00 we now only use Miller (like most) cart water cooler. regulator, torch, some consumables, etc too much for a guy at home. we also have a syncrowave 180 that is about 12 years old now and it has not cost us a dime it is MORE than enough machine for a guy at home, but still probably 4000 with a water cooler .
I would buy a miller Diversion 180 #907 627 about 1600.00 can run off 110v



Good post buddy!


I agree --- mine runs a cooler -- cart -- leather jacketed hoses... multiple torches... multiple fill materials all in TIG fill containers... WIFI foot controller... and half a dozen different auto darkening helments... including the new Miller Goggles.

It' s like buying a milling machine or a lathe... the pain has only just begun... :bang: :lol:

[Blake Foster]

[

It' s like buying a milling machine or a lathe... the pain has only just begun... :bang: :lol:[/QUOTE]

LOL TELL ME ABOUT IT. you end up spending as much on tooling as the machine cost, and I'm looking at buying another one :G-Dub: :G-Dub:

[jblaine86]

I am new to tig welding and bought the Eastwood tig welder 200 amp dc. After using it, I was impressed with it and it's on sale for $500. However this one is for steel only.

[LS1-IROC]

I just bought the Alpha Tig 200 from AHP a couple months ago. Snagged it off Amazon for $720 shipped. It has been fantastic so far. I have used the high dollar Miller Tigs at work, but honestly, this Alpha tig works just the same. It has about all the bells and whistles on it. It gets great reviews online. Highly recommend it for the budget minded guys.

http://www.amazon.com/AHP-AlphaTIG-200-Amp-Stick-Welder/dp/B00EL8UQH4

[GregWeld]

TIG welding - actually ANY welding is like golf -- it ain't the clubs....

[Ketzer]

... including the new Miller Goggles.



Have you used them much GW?
I also have a set, they seem slow to darken regardless of what I set the delay at. It's quick, no doubt, but I'm still getting a flash that I don't seem to get with my Miller or Jackson helmet...

[GregWeld]

Have you used them much GW?
I also have a set, they seem slow to darken regardless of what I set the delay at. It's quick, no doubt, but I'm still getting a flash that I don't seem to get with my Miller or Jackson helmet...



I have not! Just bought them at SEMA and since I need bifocals -- I needed to get glasses for them. Just had my new eye exam this week. So now I have a new prescription.

Getting any kind of flash would bother the heck out of me!

[Ketzer]

I have not! Just bought them at SEMA and since I need bifocals -- I needed to get glasses for them. Just had my new eye exam this week. So now I have a new prescription.

Getting any kind of flash would bother the heck out of me!

Oh sheet. :underchair:

Now you are going to be looking for yours to flash because I said something. Deepest apologies GW !!!

I haven't contacted Miller because I was waiting for some outside feedback from other users (in case it was just me being too critical) but nobody has used theirs yet...

EDIT>>> Just went out and tried to do a short vid of the flash... now they seem to darken just fine. Go figure?!?
Also GW, I only had them put my lower scrip (Im bifocal also) in the whole lens of the cheaters since it is all close work and I didn't want to chase the sweet spot of vision while I was welding.

[Jay Hilliard]

Miller Diversion 180 is a nice home machine, but the HTP Invertig 221 is a lot more welder (its actually on par with Dynasty 200 as far as features, etc) for just a bit more $$ than the diversion and a lot cheaper than the Miller Dynasty.

[GregWeld]

Good post Jay!


I said this a few posts back --- it's not the TIG machine that does the welding - it's the operator. A guy that can weld - will be able to weld with damn near anything.

It's a budget and "use" thing. In actual fact - the TIG, used at home, gets very few actual hours per year. Buy the one you can and learn to use it WELL.... If this is something you love to do and want to improve your machine - then you cross that bridge when you come to it.

Having said all of that.... a machine does have qualities that will help you do a better weld in various situations. Pulse - arc shape - stability of the arc etc. But these are things most likely used by welders that do this stuff for a living. If you weld for a couple hours every 6 weeks... you really aren't ever going to be that good at it. You'll be able to weld "fine" - and you'll be able to stick some metal together... but you're not going to lay perfect stacks of dimes going up and down and around. That's the welders hands not the machine.

[Build-It-Break-it]

If your still looking for a tig welder I'd also look at the Lincoln Squarewave 200. It's priced at $1399 and looks to have a few more features then the miller diversion 180.

[Big-Head]

Greg is correct. It's not the machine, it's the operator. For stainless welding I use 347, .035" filler rod. If you plan on fusing the joint (never fuse on a turbo set up) you have to prep the tube correctly. I'm a big fan of the Miller machines.

[Jimbo1367]

I concidered the HTP unit (dual voltage/watercooled) and it wasn't that much cheaper than the Miller Dynasty 200DX. I just got what I wanted. MILLER