looking to get a tig asap

[new welder guy]

im looking at gettigna tig welder so i can weld my intercooler pipes and make a alum exhuast for my rx7 also have some other alum parts i wanna weld on my other race car like vavle covers and stuff.. im looking to spend less then 1600-1800. i have a mig welder so i dont need it to weld super thick stuff mostly just for alum and mild steel for turbo kits.. i have kinda been looking at the hobart ez tig 165 or the miller diversion 165 out of those two witch one do you guys think is the better buy for my needs? thanks

[canoecruiser]

Either are decent machines but unless portability is very important, a used Synchrowave 180 with accessories can be found in your price range. It is capable of welding thicker stock than the EZ-Tig or Diversion and also is a good stick welder. The inverters you mention are TIG only. The Synchrowave is an industrial-class machine which the lighter inverters are not and will outlast any of us.

I know, I know, everyone says this, but unless you have some TIG-on-aluminum time under your belt, having someone who has lots of helmet time tigging aluminum get you up the learning curve is extremely helpful. For me mild steel was easy while aluminum was a whole 'nuther animal. Plan on a cylinder or two of argon and a handful of tungstens before tackling the real deal, and that's with some training assistance. Without it many never get there.....

[new welder guy]

find anything used is out of the ? and the Synchrowave are out of my price range even on ebay they are 2000+ and then shipping and hoping its good yea i think ill pass on something used and there aint **** on cl so its pertty much new or nothing

[new welder guy]

for the cost and easier to find i may go with a http://www.ebay.com/itm/Miller-Syncr...item336a2f70f7

[canoecruiser]

I'm an electronics engineer by trade and colleague at work has a Synchrowave (yes some of us slide-rule types get arc-burn) and his aluminum welds are fine art. I think inverters are great and very versatile, but the old-school welding machines will outlast 'em all. George Jetson will fix his Skycar with your Synchrowave after all of us are long-forgotten.......

[brucer]

check out a Thermal arc 185 or 200, nice reliable inverter machine, light on power usage..

[Rbeckett]

I have bought a couple of machines fro. Indiana Oxygen Co. and got super fast free shipping as well as whatever the current in box special was and a killer price to boot. I never had any issues with them on machine, consumables or tech assistance. Boht of my welders were drop shipped from Millers wharehouse south of Atlanta and arrived in two days. Thats like a sore peter, cant beat that....
Bob

[usmcpop]

find anything used is out of the ? and the Synchrowave are out of my price range even on ebay they are 2000+ and then shipping and hoping its good yea i think ill pass on something used and there aint **** on cl so its pertty much new or nothing

We got a very nice Syncro 250 for about $850, on Craigslist. By the time we got it kitted up with a like-new Coolmate 4 cooler and all the attachments and a cylinder it was $1,300. or thereabouts. It'll go on for years. You pay the price.