Thinking about a Multi Purpose Welder ?

I know that there is a large price difference between a blue welder and a HF, like triple the cost. Why would that be?

I have a Miller TIG welder from the mid-1960's. I was doing an aluminum repair one day and my high frequency circuit went out. So I went to the Praxair dealer, told him what I have, and out came the books. He found the schematics, cross-referenced the part numbers to the current versions, and $17 later I had a new rectifier and relay in my welder that is performing good as ever. Try that at Harbor Freight.
 
I have a Cigweld Transmig 175i Multi Process Inverter Welder Itb loks very much like the Miller units of similar size even painted the same blue. It claims to be made in USA but doesn't say who by or where.

i have had it now for about 4 years and very happy with it. Use it mostly for mig on steel. I have done a bit of stick welding with it when I wanted to run a specialised rod, and it worked fine. I have not tried TIg as I have no experience with TIG and didn't bother to get the optional extra TIG gear for it.

So far I have run about 3 x 5 lb rolls of steel wire through it and everything has worked perfectly. I haven't tried it on aluminium or Stainless yet, as I have had no need. It comes with a very comprehensive owners handbook and gives all the setup for both Al and S/S, so I'm sure it works.

When I was looking to buy, I also looked at the Lincoln 180 a very similar machine, I tested them both at dealers and settled on the Cigweld. There was not much in it but that was my choice. and I've been very happy with it. It's very easy to set up and welds really nice, within my limitations.

One of teh things I really like when compared with a number of other machines was the solenoid valve for the gas supply actually does shut off completely, many of the others I Looked at did not and wasted a lot of gas.
 
"""(I don't call it TIG practice, I call it tungsten sharpening practice) """
Ha, I resemble that remark.
It made a big difference when I put the magnifying lenses in my Miller Elite helmet. I couldn't figure out why I had a ball on the end of my newly sharpened tungsten??
Practice and being able to see made all the difference. I have quite a ways to go before I can call myself comfortable with TIG.
 
Janderso said:
"""(I don't call it TIG practice, I call it tungsten sharpening practice) """
Ha, I resemble that remark.
It made a big difference when I put the magnifying lenses in my Miller Elite helmet. I couldn't figure out why I had a ball on the end of my newly sharpened tungsten??
Practice and being able to see made all the difference. I have quite a ways to go before I can call myself comfortable with TIG.
Click to expand...
It's amazing how much the magnifiers help, especially when you didn't know you needed them! Lol And I bought a Tungsten sharpener on E-bay made by a guy in Texas, search Haditools Tungsten Sharpener, it's right up there in my top around $200 tools for time saving & ease of use.
 
38super said:
Everlast 185(tig stick), 110VAC is OK 220vac is much better.
Click to expand...
I keep hearing rumors about the Everlast Lightning MTS-275, do everything better faster, but I think they're just dreams at this point.
 
Janderso said:
"""(I don't call it TIG practice, I call it tungsten sharpening practice) """
Ha, I resemble that remark.
It made a big difference when I put the magnifying lenses in my Miller Elite helmet. I couldn't figure out why I had a ball on the end of my newly sharpened tungsten??
Practice and being able to see made all the difference. I have quite a ways to go before I can call myself comfortable with TIG.
Click to expand...

Wholeheartedly agree! After 3 years I'm not getting quite so much tungsten sharpening practice now.

The most improvement in 'my skills' came when I switched from a cheap Asian helmet to a Lincoln $200+ unit. Wow, I can see! I wear reading glasses with one lens popped out too.
 
I have read that Everlast and AHP share the same building in South San Francisco- maybe the same outfit?
I would look for the longest warranty possible on any inverter welder- maybe even get the additional Amazon coverage
M
 
I have an AHP 200 TIG inverter machine and am happy with it. I also have a Miller 250 amp AC/DC transformer machine and I'm happy with that as well. With so many parts for ALL these machines being made in China today there is a certain "crap shoot" aspect with any new machine purchase. The AHP was $800 from Home Depot and today I HAVE a TIG. A Miller would have been 3 times that and today I would NOT have a TIG.
 
markba633csi said:
I have read that Everlast and AHP share the same building in South San Francisco- maybe the same outfit?
I would look for the longest warranty possible on any inverter welder- maybe even get the additional Amazon coverage
M
Click to expand...

Next door to each other

Under their contact info AHP shows an address of 380 Swift Ave, #11 So SF, CA, Everlast shows 380 Swift Ave, Unit 12, So SF, CA so they are at least neighbors if not connected.
 
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