I am shopping for a budget DC TIG welder ($1200 or less) no need for the AC ones that will weld aluminum... I have narrowed it down to one of these two.. I have 110 and 220 drops in my garage so that is not an issue. I don't need one with a high duty cycle cause i would only use it every now and then.. Basically i use my MIG welder about once a month fixing friends exhaust and stuff... I have been wanting to build a set of step headers from scratch and i would really like to use a TIG to help control the heat and be more precise... Anyways which would you choose?

Lincoln Invertec V155
http://cgi.ebay.com/Lincoln-Electric...item29feb1acfd

or

Miller Maxstar 150
http://cgi.ebay.com/MILLER-MAXSTAR-1...item53dd812c49

I am kinda leaning towards the Lincoln cause it is somewhat cheaper... I have a lincoln 220v Mig welder now and it has been great for the last 4 years no issues with it.

 

Don't think you can go wrong with either one..

 

I agree w/. John, but I'm partial to the Miller. Heck, I haven't even used my Miller MIG in a long, long time. As a matter a fact, I actually bought a spool gun that would enable TIG use by changin out a few items.
Lookin back, maybe I'll prolly get a dedicated TIG gun. I do like the fact that both these lil babies come in under 15# & are portable. My spool gun by itself weighs that.

When I bought my setup, it was a long time ago, IIRC, I was told that Miller has better customer service should need arise. Perhaps Lincoln has improved that.

But, like many things, it often comes down to $. Plus, frequency of use may tie into that as well.

 

i'd say go with the miller. we've got a couple of trailblazers that we've had for a very long time that are used for several hours a day with no problems whatsoever.

 

Well if it was me doing the purchasing i would go more with the Lincoln just cause thats what the rest of the welders in my garage are and sounds like its the same in your place... you know as much as the rest of us you need to have a matching set

 

I prefer Miller, my dad prefers lincoln, i have a miller, he has a lincoln i think its all about preference.

I wish i would have waited and save the extra 500 and got a tig instead of my 140 autoset.

 

ive never used a TIG but ive used several different Lincoln and Miller MIGs and i cant complain about any of them.

my brother has a Ranger10000 on his work truck and we have a Ranger 8000 at the house. they have tons of hours on them with no problems..

I want a TIG bad, but i dont know where to start to look.. ill go borrow sombodys and figure out how to use it first

 

Well i got my last one off of Ebay, it was brand new in the box and full waranty and it was cheaper than anywhere else if looked. That is where i am looking now for a Tig...


Those rangers are gas powered right? That would be a little over kill for what i am needing..

 

I just bought a Miller Diversion 165 and I LOVE it! Right about in your price range and AC/DC with stop/start and voltage controls on the torch. It's bigger the the MaxStar 150's but it's still only 50 lbs. Plus it's not a lift start like the MaxStar and the Lincon you linked to. My dad has a MaxStar 150, and I like this welder better, only down side to it, is there is no way to use it as a stick welder. It's TIG only. I got it cuz I wanted to be able to do Aluminum also. I think it's about the best bang for the buck TIG on the market right now. I also got the foot voltage controller for $135, just cuz that's what I've always used and am used to.

 

KB, I was hoping you would see this threadn cause I knew you just bought one not to long ago, thanks I will look into that one