Budget TIG

[4Eyedturd]

Been happy with my Alpha tig machine, done plenty of mild steel and some aluminum with it.

 

[DocRamsay]

I have an AHP 203 and a cooler. Going to the watercooled torch really really helped, I was burning the **** outta myself and eventually trashed the air cooled torch.

If I did it over again, I'd buy the primeweld or everlast, but I don't really have any issues with the AHP.

 

[tac1]

My Everlast 325ext is 3 years old, probably run 20-30 hours a week on average, decent amount of aluminum with the machine maxed out to start. No issues with the welder, I've been happy with it, I've run quite a few miller machines daily, no complaints on the arc quality of the everlast versus the millers. Only negative I'd mention on the everlast is the torch, pedal, and regulator it came with were really cheap.

 

[Ummduh]

Been happy with my Alpha tig machine, done plenty of mild steel and some aluminum with it.

Looks like alpha has a VERY similar machine to the 225x primeweld... But lower cost currently

NEW 2026 AHP AlphaTIG 225Xi

Description: Now with HV Start (Electronic, solid state simulated HF, no point gap to manage and maintain), and updated internal software, components and controls. NOVA 2.0 torches with new Silicone Ultra Flexible Lines are included as well. The AlphaTIG 225Xi is a modern AC/DC TIG/Stick...

ahpwelds.com

Edit: the primeweld definitely has better/more features though, very slightly better duty cycle ratings as well. But you can get the ahp with a wireless pedal for the cost of the primeweld

 

[CarterKraft]

I'm looking at picking up a budget TIG machine.

I'd prefer to find a multi process that does MIG as well, my mig is only a 110v machine.

Anyways, I need a/c tig, I really want to get into welding AL.

I think the best price/performance unit I've found is the primeweld tig 225X.

TIG225X AC/DC TIG Welder With Pulse

Meet the powerful and versatile TIG225X AC/DC TIG Welder—PrimeWeld's top-selling model! Equipped with everything you need to start welding, it caters to both hobbyists and professionals. Order yours online today at PrimeWeld! How to Choose Your Torch: CK17 - 12.5ft - 150 amps - Air Cooled CK17 -...

primeweld.com

Obviously a tig only machine...

My realistic budget is $1k for the machine and accessories excluding gas setups. 1k isn't a hard number, but I'd have to work pretty hard to justify going beyond that. This is purely farting around in the garage equipment.

Finding a mig/tig combo machine that does ac tig jacks the price up really fast from what I've found..

Tig/plasma would be slightly cool, but the plasma is less useful to me right now than a tig/mig.

Open for suggestions. I'd rather stay away from the chinesiest of Chinese equipment, but ones with decent established reps I'm down for.

I have recommended that machine to several people, they have all had great reviews of it.
I am tempted monthly to sell my Syncrowave and buy one.

 

[tac1]

I have recommended that machine to several people, they have all had great reviews of it.
I am tempted monthly to sell my Syncrowave and buy one.

As someone that gave a positive review, don't sell a working syncrowave for any of these China machines. Get one in addition to it for portable use.

From someone that has 3 inherited tombstone buzz boxes around

 

[rattle_snake]

I dunno, the old machines are huge beasts that take up a lot of floor space. I had an Lincoln Ideal Arc 300. Huge, heavy, sent that ****er down the road.

If you have unlimited shop space, then I agree, never sell a welder just buy more.

 

[CarterKraft]

Yeah that's the thing, Syncro has zero portability, zero features, no pulse, phase adjustment no bells or whistles.
If you don't need the production type output if the SW I don't see the draw for a home gamer.
My shop is a disaster and the welder isn't the problem but from what I can tell it won't do anything better than the PRimeWeld and it would take up 1/100 of the space.

 

[tac1]

Yeah that's the thing, Syncro has zero portability, zero features, no pulse, phase adjustment no bells or whistles.
If you don't need the production type output if the SW I don't see the draw for a home gamer.
My shop is a disaster and the welder isn't the problem but from what I can tell it won't do anything better than the PRimeWeld and it would take up 1/100 of the space.

Not saying you are wrong, I may just have a hoarding problem and like syncrowaves. I also keep and maintain an 80s engine drive miller I use maybe 5 times a year.

 

[Arickvan]

I picked up the Eastwood 200 amp ac/dc tig about 2 years ago and I've been happy with it, looks like they discontinued it and have a newer better version

I got it to learn/play/see if it's something I even want to spend time on so I went pretty cheap, $6-700 at the time I think, granted I only use it once a year and I have no reference as to what a good tig welder feels like

Now look at my pooptig welds!

 

[CarterKraft]

Not saying you are wrong, I may just have a hoarding problem and like syncrowaves. I also keep and maintain an 80s engine drive miller I use maybe 5 times a year.

Theres no right or wrong luckily.
I had plans to acquire a Bobcat, Ranger etc. welder but on a whim I tried a $85 220v IGBT stick welder running off my 11kw WEN generator does everything I need for portable welding.

Now I have fully portable mig welder (same chicom type deal) and it welds better than my Miller Vintage does.
None of the chicom machines have failed or let me down.

 

[chumly2071]

Read a couple recent reviews on the Bestarc unit I shared, and it appears current release comes with a better pedal and not adjusted on the pedal for pedal amp limit control. I inquired if there was a replacement from them I could order, or if they could recommend a third party 5 pin unit that would work for my machine. I'll add to one of my posts if/when they respond.

ETA:
They are going to send me a current production pedal for free, but are out of stock and will take a month to get me one.

 

[Alexis700]

This thread delivered, I was actually about to post basically this same exact thread the day before this one got posted.

Appreciate all your guys first hand experience with these machines.

 

[CarterKraft]

Primeweld has a real CK torch.

 

[rattle_snake]

Pic to help others spend money on machinery....

 

[mjlogan88]

Buddy has a primeweld and it doesn’t run aluminum as nice as my 30 year old square wave 175

Having run both machines I’d pick up a used sw175 or similar over a new primeweld. The lack of knobs to **** with is a plus in my opinion as a mediocre tig welder

Benefits to the primeweld is it’s more portable and draws less current

 

[Ummduh]

I've read of issues with the everlast machines and warranty support. I got mine here, as a little thanks for all the info he's given out for free over the years. There are pretty frequent sales too. The warranty is also better than the HF 90 day.

New! PrimeWeld TIG225X AC/DC TIG Welder With Pulse *Pre-Order, Shippin

Watch the Gen 1 Video Review down below! How to Choose Your Torch! Note: All these torch package prices Include the necessary Dinse Connector to work with the Primeweld machines. CK17 - 12.5ft - 150 amps - Air Cooled CK17 - 25ft - 150 amps - Air Cooled CK26 - 12.5ft - 200 amps - Air Cooled...

weldmongerstore.com

Just pulled the trigger via that linked site. No taxes charged for some reason, been a long time since I haven't had to pay online.

Now I gotta figure out gas. My local store is only open the same hours I work.

Edit: at the end of the day the promise of spectacular customer support is why I chose this. I'm REALLY getting sick of most companys' idea of support these days.

 

[bdkw1]

Buddy has a primeweld and it doesn’t run aluminum as nice as my 30 year old square wave 175

Having run both machines I’d pick up a used sw175 or similar over a new primeweld. The lack of knobs to **** with is a plus in my opinion as a mediocre tig welder

Benefits to the primeweld is it’s more portable and draws less current

I have yet to run an inverter machine that laid down aluminum as nice as my old Hobart. And I've gotten demos from the blue turd reps on the latest and greatest......

 

[LScout800]

I have had the 225x for a year now. Have a CK series 20 torch and a water cooler to go with it. Good machine I love it. Used it to stick weld the other night and it started up easy and ran really nice. Have used a few millers and it welds just as good.

 

[chumly2071]

Bestarc did send me a replacement pedal. free of charge. It was shipped direct from their supplier in China.

For others searching google:
I confirmed that the Yeswelder pedal does NOT match the pinout of the Bestarc 215P Tig unit. From my best measurement guesses with a meter and my original Bestarc pedal, Pin 3 is the Potentiometer wiper, Pin 5 is Potentiometer max, Pin 1 is Microswitch (Start/Stop trigger), Pin 4 is Potentiometer Minimum/Ground Ref, and Pin 2 is Microswitch (Start/Stop trigger). Also, the resistance values of the Potentiometer are different between the two pedals.

 

[LScout800]

Jody has a sale going, over $100 off the primeweld.

 

[Ummduh]

It's being delivered today or tomorrow and NOW it goes on sale. Wtf man.

 

[chumly2071]

I saw an ad for Arccaptain having a sale for Memorial Day. pages are set up for big, medium, and little machine levels.

 

[Steve300xcw]

It's being delivered today or tomorrow and NOW it goes on sale. Wtf man.

Thanks for that

 

[Ummduh]

Showed up today!

Gotta get everything else going now.

They did refund the sale price difference, didn't even argue about it. So far these guys rock to deal with.

Edit: even just found a bunch of 6ga wire cutoffs so I don't need wire. Garage hoarding ftw.

 

[kbenz]

Showed up today!

Gotta get everything else going now.

They did refund the sale price difference, didn't even argue about it. So far these guys rock to deal with.

Edit: even just found a bunch of 6ga wire cutoffs so I don't need wire. Garage hoarding ftw.

You will be pleased with it

 

[rattle_snake]

discount codes 'welcome25' and 'welcome30' should work also.

 

[Alexis700]

I got the green machine, have to get some tungsten and see if I can figure out how to stick some mild steel together. Hung 2 exterior doors , so that job netted me a tig welder.

Going to get a 80 or 120 cu ft 100% argon tank for it also.

Um, what do all these knobs do

 

[JohnnyJ]

Turn them all to 11