Ok... after reading for 2 days

[mildew]

Its looks like I need to get the Ta 185. Would love to have the dynasty 700 but I would need ya'all to chip in and buy it for me. My wife has already complained about the possibility of me buying a tigmate just to fix a $150.00 boat project. I have some other projects in mind, but I'll cross that bridge when a get a decent welder. It looks like the Ta 185 is what works the best for me. Could it handle a 3 hours of continuous welding on 1/8" aluminum. Or would I need to bite the bullet and buy a 200 dx.

[whateg0]

I don't know much about the TA185, but you can see what the duty cycle is at the desired amperage. If it's 100%, you're good to go. Even if it isn't, you won't weld for 3 hours straight. You'll need to reposition, move, flip stuff, etc.

Dave

[mildew]

Yea, I exaggerated about the 3 hour deal. I'm just looking for a good welder for the money. The only problem the price goes up as the welders get better. I have to set a limit. I'm not going higher than $2,000 I seen a post somewhere that some paid $1750 delivered to the door. that would be great if I can get it for that.

[hankj]

The Thermal Arc 185 is not made any longer. It was replaced by a model called ArcMaster 185, but that is virtually identical to the old unit.

Mine has run flawlessly, and it is a full featured power source for that price.

Hank

[CarmenElectrode]

I think if you fabricate a nice magazine rack or cool table your wife might just forgive you the expense for a $150 project! :-)

[mildew]

Thanks for the info. I didn't know the ta wasn't made anymore. I recon I'll have to build my wife something, but I think it will take TIME for her to get over it.

[out in the shop]

ive realized long ago, buy what you want,not what you can afford, in the end you will afford it, to buy something and deal with its shortcoming or outgrowing something THEN buying what you wanted in the first place isnt too cost effective either. get what you want, you CANT AFFORD NOT TO. todd

[whateg0]

That's not necessarily practical. If I'd waited until I could buy a bigger welder, instead of buying the CH Farmhand I had, I'd have had to wait another year or more to start welding. Even with a lesser product, there are plenty of things you can learn, like joint prep, that will apply to the better product when you have the money to buy it.

Dave

[out in the shop]

this guys weighing his options against a $1400 welder and an $1800 welder,he has asked for opinions. and recieved some. hes not looking for a $199 ac buzzbox. he wants a tig to weld aluminum with. will a farmhand do that? an addition 400 bucks over the life of a welding machine is pennies.
i stand by my statement,GET WHAT YOU WANT,happiness will cost less in the long run, if tools make you happy, be happy todd

[cpurvis]

Yea, I exaggerated about the 3 hour deal. I'm just looking for a good welder for the money. The only problem the price goes up as the welders get better. I have to set a limit. I'm not going higher than $2,000 I seen a post somewhere that some paid $1750 delivered to the door. that would be great if I can get it for that.

It's too bad I can't sell you the Synchrowave 250 I just bought last summer. We had to replace it with a Dynasty 350 and the dealer only offered $1800 trade in for a machine that has *maybe* 60 hours on it. We kept it for that kind of money.

I see higher grade Tig machines on craig's list all the time.

[tailshaft56]

The Arcmaster is a TA with some upgrade features. Most notable is the memory presets. You will love tha Thermal. It's a great machine.

[scotte]

i would do a search in your local craigslist for "welder"

[Pumpkinhead]

one thing to keep in mind with the TA and a few 'other' brand GTAW units is the max amperage in AC mode is at 50% balance & 60Hz, any deviation from these parameters reduces max AC output. so if you need a bunch o' power for thicker Al, preheat, buy up, or buy Blue.

[out in the shop]

i paid 1200 bucks for a mint lincoln squarewave 255 AND a bernard ss cooler with crafter torch. the cooler alone is 800 new, good geals are out there. its much bigger and power hungry than an inverter, but with a max of 315 amps, i have never even benn close to tripping out on overheat(duty cycle).
to buy a 300 amp inverter i think you may be in the 5-7 grand range. todd