Upgrade from Econotig

[buffumjr]

Not ready for it just now. I'm just painfully learning stick, and more productively learning TIG.

What machine would be a good upgrade from the Econotig? I see lots of Syncrowaves on Craigslist, but they're monsters. 450 lbs. Twice the volume of my Econotig.

I would need a machine that lets you configure the pre-flow, the post-flow, and the wave form of TIG. Stick would be nice to have 200A plus.

Savin' my nickels and savin' my dimes.

[H80N]

Not ready for it just now. I'm just painfully learning stick, and more productively learning TIG.

What machine would be a good upgrade from the Econotig? I see lots of Syncrowaves on Craigslist, but they're monsters. 450 lbs. Twice the volume of my Econotig.

I would need a machine that lets you configure the pre-flow, the post-flow, and the wave form of TIG. Stick would be nice to have 200A plus.

Savin' my nickels and savin' my dimes.

Dynasty 200DX or the new 210DX would be my vote...

[buffumjr]

Gonna hafta doo a lotta savin'.

https://www.millerwelds.com/equipment/welders/tig-gtaw/dynasty-210-and-210-dx-tig-welders#!/?product-options-title=dynasty-210-dx-120-480-v-cps-907686002

Almost $4K.
Wow.
Does it make gourmet coffee?

Haven't seen the Dynasty on CL. Guess once they buy 'em, they keep 'em.

[H80N]

Does it make gourmet coffee?
.

NOPE... but you sure can make money with it... once you Master the fine points...
Lots of adjustability....to perfect your bead...this aint no Econotig...

[buffumjr]

I'm not planning to go into business. If I were, I'd be there, already. Hobby stuff. No hurry to upgrade. Can sleep late if I want.

I had a look at Big Red's TIG offerings. Not quite as proud of their stuff as Blue. $1,300 to $2,600. Far cry from $4K.

Then there's the Chinese. They're getting better, but also pricier. Their stuff offers a LOT of control of TIG, but only DC stick. German innards. Still, $700 (AHP) to $1,500 (Everlast) gets you 200A or better TIG and all the control you could want. The only real issue is support. Really pushes your repair skill and courage to the limit.

A few hours a week of use isn't going to wear out any of these.

Today's project was to convert an old Jackson fixed tint welding helmet to Chinese auto darkening. Success. The auto darkening unit came from Amazon.com. The adapter plate was from a chunk of car plastic found on the road. I cut and shaped with a box knife. I glued the unit to the adapter plate with some high tech glue bought at the 2016 Cabin Fever Expo. I fabricated a clip with 1/16 welding rod. Works. Has a knob for adjusting the opacity on the fly. Now, I have two helmets, so my wife can watch. Hobby stuff.

Tomorrow, I fabricate some sheet steel gear covers for an 1885 lathe I have. Hobby stuff.

Contemplating making a scale model Rumeley Model E. Fully functional. Haven't decided on the scale. Think exposed gears, a hit and miss engine, and steel wheels with steel lugs. Hobby stuff. 1/2 scale, and I can ride it. 1/10 scale, and I can load it in my car.

[H80N]

Oh Well...You get what you pay for....

Neverlast..?? Really..?? save your money & keep the Econotig...

BTW...Know a guy that has (had?) one of those "oil pull" Rumelys restored

[ryanjones2150]

Service is not the only real issue with those offshore machines.<br />
<br />
My neighbor got one, he burns about a half a rod every quarter on it and it still took a dump on him. I warned him. Three year warrantee they told him when he bought it. Then they told him he misused it when he tried to get it fixed a year later. <br />
<br />
Awesome eh?

[buffumjr]

I've heard a lot of those stories. Reminds me of the poem, "When she was good, she was very, very good. When she was bad, she was horrid."*

I'll keep an eye out for Red or Blue, and maybe Hobart, Airco, or ESAB. Lots of time.

It looks like Lincoln may be taking the lead in this. Old Aircos have had these controls for a long time, but they're bulky and heavy, and I wonder if there's still parts support..

* "There was a Little Girl", Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

[H80N]

Old Aircos have had these controls for a long time, but they're bulky and heavy, and I wonder if there's still parts support..
.

What controls are those...??

Airco never made an advanced inverter.... think we may be comparing apples to oranges here as far as arc control goes

BTW... most Airco machines were just Millers with an orange paint job

Maybe you are thinking about squarewave transformer/chopper machines like the earlier gen Syncrowaves

[H80N]

Guess we need a better understanding of what your expectations and budget are for the welding machine you want as an upgrade over the Econotig..

looking at your sig line... you appreciate quality equipment... and don't mind if it is older...

[buffumjr]

Found it! Lincoln Invertec V-160T Pulse. Won't be ready for it for a long time, but, it's there. My Miller dealer says to expect the welder to take about 10 weeks for delivery. His story is they don't mass produce these, and build them as needed. (weird story)

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/assets/servicenavigator-public/lincoln3/im738.pdf

American company. Parts support. Warranty. Mainstream product. Recent manufacture. About $1,400. Weighs a little over 24 lbs. Can fit on the welding cart I made for the Econotig. Comes with very little.

• 115V Input cord (10 ft) and Plug (NEMA 5-15P)
• 20 Amp Plug (NEMA 5-20P)
• Twist-Mate™ Torch Adapter for PTA-9 or -17 One-piece Torch
• Fully Adjustable Shoulder Strap
• Work Clamp and Cable

You have to buy the torch, the stinger, the foot pedal, the regulator, the partridge in the pear tree!

Still, $1,400, for an American machine, with a lot of wave shaping capability. Doesn't do plasma, but if the machine breaks, there are repair facilities all over.

Oddly, the 200 and the 225 have less wave, pre and post flow shaping control than the 160. Too bad. I'd lay out the extra bucks for the extra power, with the same controls. Who makes these design decisions?

Who knows? I may never need it. But, at least I found it.

[H80N]

Found it! Lincoln Invertec V-160T Pulse. Won't be ready for it for a long time, but, it's there. My Miller dealer says to expect the welder to take about 10 weeks for delivery. His story is they don't mass produce these, and build them as needed. (weird story)

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/asset...oln3/im738.pdf

American company. Parts support. Warranty. Mainstream product. Recent manufacture. About $1,400. Weighs a little over 24 lbs. Can fit on the welding cart I made for the Econotig. Comes with very little.

• 115V Input cord (10 ft) and Plug (NEMA 5-15P)
• 20 Amp Plug (NEMA 5-20P)
• Twist-Mate™ Torch Adapter for PTA-9 or -17 One-piece Torch
• Fully Adjustable Shoulder Strap
• Work Clamp and Cable

You have to buy the torch, the stinger, the foot pedal, the regulator, the partridge in the pear tree!

Still, $1,400, for an American machine, with a lot of wave shaping capability. Doesn't do plasma, but if the machine breaks, there are repair facilities all over.

Oddly, the 200 and the 225 have less wave, pre and post flow shaping control than the 160. Too bad. I'd lay out the extra bucks for the extra power, with the same controls. Who makes these design decisions?

Who knows? I may never need it. But, at least I found it.

BE CAREFUL.... American company.... but much of their product is now imported

You are aware that this is a DC ONLY TIG.... so NO AC TIG for ALUMINUM....

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us...olnElectric%29

Lincoln small tigs made in Italy and Poland = Crap

In the past I've told potential buyers to look at the serial#, the first letter tells you the buyer where its made "U" for instance is Cleveland, "I" is Italy, "P" is Poland.

[ryanjones2150]

Yup. Just because it's an American company doesn't mean their gear is made here. My little Lincoln wire feed is made in Mexico. <br />
<br />
The reality is that we can't get everything made in America, and not everything from overseas is junk. If you're happy with your purchase then good deal. I hope that machine gives your years of flawless service. <br />
<br />
I have no earthly idea what that machine is you speak of, but glad you found something that fits your needs.

[H80N]

One of my concerns is that this seems to be a step DOWN from the Econotig....

Do you really want to give up the ability to TIG Aluminum..??

Am further concerned that you re getting poor advice at the LWS...... "a lot of wave shaping capability" What wave shaping...??? it is a DC only welder... So......... no WAVESHAPING....

Availability?? "expect the welder to take about 10 weeks for delivery. His story is they don't mass produce these, and build them as needed. (weird story)"

Does sound like a "STORY"....... too many things do not add up to me.... am afraid that some uninformed LWS counter guy is selling you a Burro and calling it a Quarterhorse....

Just asking that you check the facts... It is YOUR money... Would hate to see you mislead...

Unfortunately... a large percentage of LWS counter guys know very little about welding and welding equip... sad but true...

[ryanjones2150]

Well put. <br />
<br />
In addition, I don't think I'd want a machine that is so rarely asked for or used that it's made as its ordered. It's not a piano, it's a welding machine. Good luck getting parts for a welding machine that's in such limited production. <br />
<br />
Usually when stuff breaks, you need the part yesterday, not in ten weeks. I've learned my lesson the hard way, get gear with readily available parts from my local parts house. That goes for all my stuff, not just my welders.