General welding questions that dont fit in TIG, MIG, Stick, or Certification etc.
Post Reply
John Chamorro
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Mar 19, 2015 9:44 am
  • Location:
    San Antonio Valley Peoples Republic of Californy

I need another welder like a hole in the head but,,,, I do general mig,tig, stick more as a hobby side/line than a professiion.
I need to condense but I'm not sure where to head. I have a Lincoln SP 200 and a SP175. The 200 welds perfectly and the 175 is near new. I also have a Miller Econo Tig and an Esab 500 pcm plasma. Adding to all that a Lincoln Ranger 9 and a couple wire feeds. The only one that's lacking is the Miller TIG. It doesn't have the snot for what I want or the duty range cycle at 20%. I'm going to start looking for another TIG but thought I might look for a machine that is more of an all in one. Any suggestions?
I don't know it all but I'm working on it.
Poland308
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Sep 10, 2015 8:45 pm
  • Location:
    Iowa

What kind of power incoming do you have available?
I have more questions than answers

Josh
User avatar

Miller, Lincoln and Everlast have multiprocess machines, others may also. I don't have any experience with them so hopefully someone can add more to the discussion.

Everlast
Miller
Lincoln
Richard
Website
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Jan 06, 2011 11:40 pm
  • Location:
    Near New Orleans

Jody just put up a video using a Lincoln MP machine. (No, it's not a plasma cutter, I think combining that with welding processes is a path to problems.)

It's the top post on this topic:
http://forum.weldingtipsandtricks.com/v ... =23&t=9266

Steve S
John Chamorro
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Mar 19, 2015 9:44 am
  • Location:
    San Antonio Valley Peoples Republic of Californy

Poland308 wrote:What kind of power incoming do you have available?
220 single phase
I don't know it all but I'm working on it.
John Chamorro
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Mar 19, 2015 9:44 am
  • Location:
    San Antonio Valley Peoples Republic of Californy

Otto Nobedder wrote:Jody just put up a video using a Lincoln MP machine. (No, it's not a plasma cutter, I think combining that with welding processes is a path to problems.)

It's the top post on this topic:
http://forum.weldingtipsandtricks.com/v ... =23&t=9266

Steve S
Mp has no AC
I don't know it all but I'm working on it.
Poland308
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Sep 10, 2015 8:45 pm
  • Location:
    Iowa

At home I'm limited by 220 as well as I only have a 50 amp breaker for my garage. I bought a thermal arc 186 first for the ac and DC tig. Plus it welds real nice for stick. Then I bought the Lincoln 210 mp for mig and it can run on 115 if needed. I opted for the Chinese plasma that I use only lightly.
I have more questions than answers

Josh
John Chamorro
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Mar 19, 2015 9:44 am
  • Location:
    San Antonio Valley Peoples Republic of Californy

I think I'm going to sell the Miller Econo-TIG. It's near new and I got it for a VERY good deal new/used from a guy who never even plugged it in. I'll also sell the SP 175. It's had less than 50# of wire through it. I'll hang on to my trusty old SP 200 and buy a new Lincoln Square Wave 200. Seems like the most reasonable way to go right now.
I don't know it all but I'm working on it.
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Wed Oct 23, 2013 3:30 pm
  • Location:
    Palmer AK

There are no machines on the market that will do AC tig and Wire fed process's.
Just a couple welders and a couple of big hammers and torches.

Men in dirty jeans built this country, while men in clean suits have destroyed it.
Trump/Carson 2016-2024
John Chamorro
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Mar 19, 2015 9:44 am
  • Location:
    San Antonio Valley Peoples Republic of Californy

AKweldshop wrote:There are no machines on the market that will do AC tig and Wire fed process's.
Actually,,,, your Ranger 8 should and my Ranger 9 does,,,,,,,plasma is a game all on its own.
I don't know it all but I'm working on it.
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Wed Oct 23, 2013 3:30 pm
  • Location:
    Palmer AK

John Chamorro wrote:
AKweldshop wrote:There are no machines on the market that will do AC tig and Wire fed process's.
Actually,,,, your Ranger 8 should and my Ranger 9 does,,,,,,,plasma is a game all on its own.

I thought you were looking for a shop electric machine.
My bad.
Just a couple welders and a couple of big hammers and torches.

Men in dirty jeans built this country, while men in clean suits have destroyed it.
Trump/Carson 2016-2024
soutthpaw
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Sep 18, 2014 12:14 pm
  • Location:
    Sparks, NV

All in one is available for AC DC power sources, if you consider a suitcase or other feeder as part of the setup.
If AC TIG is what you are needing, consider the AHP TIG 200x as an affordable option.
John Chamorro
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Mar 19, 2015 9:44 am
  • Location:
    San Antonio Valley Peoples Republic of Californy

soutthpaw wrote:All in one is available for AC DC power sources, if you consider a suitcase or other feeder as part of the setup.
If AC TIG is what you are needing, consider the AHP TIG 200x as an affordable option.
Interesting machine and attractive price. When something is that much price difference than another comparable machine, I have to wonder why.
I don't know it all but I'm working on it.
User avatar

Probably because it's made in China rather than Appleton Wisconsin or Cleveland Ohio. However, regardless of where it's made -- mine works just fine. I don't think you can beat it for the money. In all honesty, it might not be the machine I eventually settle on, but for this point in my TIG experience it's doing the job well.
Miller Bobcat 225
Tweco Fabricator 211i
AHP AlphaTIG 200x
Lincoln SP-135+
Hypertherm Powermax 30 Air
ProStar O/A torch
John Chamorro
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Mar 19, 2015 9:44 am
  • Location:
    San Antonio Valley Peoples Republic of Californy

This is killing me. I wish there was only one choice. I'm leaning real hard on the Lincoln. Almost everything I have is red. The one blue machine I have, I'm not happy with. I'm afraid if I introduce yet another color all my red machines may revolt. :lol:
I don't know it all but I'm working on it.
Coldman
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Mon Dec 15, 2014 2:16 am
  • Location:
    Oz

If you're a red machine guy, stay with red. They are very good machines and you know what your'e going to get. All you need to do is get the one that suits your needs and cough.
Flat out like a lizard drinkin'
soutthpaw
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Sep 18, 2014 12:14 pm
  • Location:
    Sparks, NV

John Chamorro wrote:
soutthpaw wrote:All in one is available for AC DC power sources, if you consider a suitcase or other feeder as part of the setup.
If AC TIG is what you are needing, consider the AHP TIG 200x as an affordable option.
Interesting machine and attractive price. When something is that much price difference than another comparable machine, I have to wonder why.
You can read my full review here http://forum.weldingtipsandtricks.com/v ... php?t=7325

Sent from mobile. Not responsible for Typos
John Chamorro
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Mar 19, 2015 9:44 am
  • Location:
    San Antonio Valley Peoples Republic of Californy

soutthpaw wrote:
John Chamorro wrote:
soutthpaw wrote:All in one is available for AC DC power sources, if you consider a suitcase or other feeder as part of the setup.
If AC TIG is what you are needing, consider the AHP TIG 200x as an affordable option.
Interesting machine and attractive price. When something is that much price difference than another comparable machine, I have to wonder why.
You can read my full review here http://forum.weldingtipsandtricks.com/v ... php?t=7325

Sent from mobile. Not responsible for Typos
Excellent and thorough review based on my knowledge. That's the problem , my knowledge. Here's where I'm at, I've been welding for close to 50 years. Better than some, worse than some. I've done welding as a hobby, necessity and also as an occupation. Mainly out of necessity on crap that either I break or others have brought to me. I've welded on ships, towers, and about most everything that anybody cared to destroy. All except TIG.
I enrolled at the local college and enjoy the distinction of getting a student discount as well as a senior discount. I've had the Miller econo TIG for a couple years and fiddled with it but was only successful in heat treating scrap metal. So, I start my classes to find that one of the instructors is arguably one of the best weldors in the country. He's a guy I've known off and on for 20 years or so. Also they have a nice array of Miller Dynasty 700's. I'm well through the basics enough to weld what I want maybe not cosmetically beautiful but functional. Now I practice at the shop and find my Econo-Tig ain't gonna cut it. I've never been one to buy the best of the best but never the bottom of the pile either. I am pretty much sold on the Lincoln but the AHP is putting some serious doubts to that. Does the AHP accept 'standard' cups , nozzles, collets etc.? Are the accessories interchangeable with more commonly available parts? If I accidentally trash the pedal for instance, is a replacement available at the neighborhood supply or does everything have to come through AHP? This selection of a new machine is more trouble than I thought it would be.
I don't know it all but I'm working on it.
soutthpaw
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Sep 18, 2014 12:14 pm
  • Location:
    Sparks, NV

All the connections are standard like the Dinse 50 cable connectors. Standard model 17 torch. So all the standard consumables for it. You won't find the pedal at the local welding supply, but SSC makes a pedal for the AHP. Ck and others make torches for it.
Post Reply