Tig machine info please

[L110BINDER]

What can you tell me about the miller maxstar 150 stl, or miller diversion 180? Does anybody have either one?
Local dealer says a local plant likes the150 because of how portable it is. Not much difference in advertised price, however, sounds like he may be sharpening his pencil on the150 model.
If i understood correctly, no foot pedal. Control on torch.
150 is supposed to weld up to 3/16.
Thanks for any help/info you can give.

[bill wallace]

The smaller the welder the less work it will do. Also a tig machine without a foot control is not very practical in sheetmetal welding. SO again after its been said so many times here on Metal-Meet buy the highest amp machine you can afford & have a water cooled tourch,foot control, & both a/c &d/c output. Since ive posted this everytime it comes up ill say it once again---A Miller tig will last a lifetime & you will use it all of its life so think about that when you "invest" in a welder.

[weldtoride]

An old rule of thumb for steel is 1 amp per thousandth of material thickness, not an absolute, but pretty good ballpark. The number in welding machine names is also generally the max amp output for the machine. So 3/16 would be the upper limit for that 150. On smaller machines duty cycle considerations enter at max output. Read the specs for the machine.

Personally, I really like foot controls. Not universal, however.

Check around, distributers have to unload old models just before new ones come out, just like cars. Maybe that's why he "sharpened his pencil" on that one machine.

[superleggera]

Check your local Craigslist as well. Cash talks in this economy. Picked up a Miller Dynasty 2000DX w/cooler with only 182minutes on it for $1300 -- guy had to make payments next day and had no choice. Bought a Miller 180Sync last year for $900 with 23minutes on it -- house payment due by 5pm that evening and cash talked.

In this economy things that aren't readily used daily get sold for available cash at times -- welders, tool chests, shops tools, motorcycles, cars/car parts, jetskis, etc. Thus it might not be fun to do it -- but make your cash work for you if that is an option.

[L110BINDER]

Thanks .
Did some more homework last night, and found that the smaller, lightweight model isn't designed for aluminum, so that's out. Still researching, and taking advice.
Had hoped maybe one of the manufacturers would be at oblong this year to get a little "hands on" time before i buy.

[weldtoride]

Had hoped maybe one of the manufacturers would be at oblong this year to get a little "hands on" time before i buy.

That's a good plan. This summer I got to test drive some plasma cutters at the EAA fly-in, both blue and red. Was great to compare different size machines and different manufacturers. But kind of wishful thinking as I am still waiting for the finances to be better.

My local welding distributor had a backroom where he let people test drive some of the machines he had in stock. He sold both red and blue, and you could compare behind the mask the difference on comparable machines.

Miller has a trade show schedule on their website:
http://www.millerwelds.com/about/tradeshows.html

Lincoln must have one too, or call them.

If your local distributer won't let you test machines, Praxair also drags equipment to car shows, they sell red and blue. Call around.

[Overkill]

Miller offers calculators for MIG, TIG and Stick. You just set the gauge and type of material you want to weld, and they'll tell you the settings, tungsten diameter, etc. Worth every penny. Bought them for my buddies as well for Christmas.

[superleggera]

Miller offers calculators for MIG, TIG and Stick. You just set the gauge and type of material you want to weld, and they'll tell you the settings, tungsten diameter, etc. Worth every penny. Bought them for my buddies as well for Christmas.

online as well --> http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/calculators/tig_amperage_calculator.php