Lots of good stuff here, and I disagree with some.
Also consider the amount of incoming power requirements you will need to make it run.
If you just plan to weld thin material, and don't have anything bigger than 30-40amp service the Diversion may be your best bet if you are sticking with Miller products.
The Syncrowave is big unit and requires a lot of power for thicker materials over 1/4".
The Dynasty series is the newest layout using inverter technology which in turn gives you a much lighter portable package that also gives the big output power for thick material without the large incoming service requirements like the Syncrowave.
Yes and Dynastys are so sweet! But $$$$$$$$$
For most stuff around the house/hobby/workshop, you would be hard pressed to beat the Diversion. Go with the 180, you get more machine/accy. for your money.
I have used a bunch of different tigs, all the way from the small portable suitcase rigs, up to the huge Dynasty 7's. and Synchrowave 350's. They do the same thing, just depends on what the job requires.
We have 40 of the Synchro 350's at work, and they are a nice machine.... but $$$$ at about $8K a peice.
You wont be disapointed with the Diversion, especially if you are new to the TIG process.
~ Stump
I don't know about the Diversions at all, but a 350 is a great machine. The 700s are WAY more than you will need now. I would stay away from Lincoln TIGs, the ones we had couldn't weld aluminum without spitting tungsten.
I have a Miller EconoTIG which is the predecessor to the Diversion. Nice machine, if simple. It's done everything I want so far. The air cooled torch (hand cooled, really) only rarely causes a problem. It's so rare to sit down and weld that much for that long that... meh. I can live without it.
On the other hand, if you have the money, a small Syncrowave would be nice.
Don't be afraid of the knobs and buttons, just leave them all to "off" until you know what you're doing.
More buttons mean more control of things that won't help you for a while. I agree for hobby use air cooled should be fine.
I take it you don't already have an SMAW welder.
In any case you'll also need a dedicated grinder. You
never want to grind anything else on the wheel you use to sharpen your tungsten. Since it's doing light duty work something like this would be plenty good enough.
http://www.harborfreight.com/5-inch-bench-grinder-94186.html
Yes.
I'll chime in here about a thing or two.
I was never much of a weldor, but spent quite a few years in the QC department of a mechanical contractor who erected and repaired a huge variety of boilers. I have met and worked with many very talented pipefitter and boilermaker weldeors over the years.
1) I have never actually seen a water cooled tig torch in use. Even our weldors had enough down time that the torch cooled. Water cooled torches are used mostly by those who weld and assemble such things as sinks, commercial kitchens, bicycles and the roots of huge shop assembled pressure vessels. As a DIY'er, I don't think you will need the added duty cycle and encumbrance a water cooled torch adds
2) I agree in theory that your tungsten should be sharpened by a dedicated tool that never touches another type of metal. In the reality of the field, this never happens, and I have never seen a deleterious effect of this.
3) I believe that you would be most happy with a regular constant current DC machine. You will need to scratch start your torch, but you will save a ton of money
1) They are only one more tube on your stinger. You can melt one pretty quick if the water stops flowing. It is very nice to have, one more thing to worry about though.
2) Never? Our shop had 5. But it does depend on your weld requirements. We has a separate ones for AL and steel.
3) Probably true, but your get more control and better welds with a foot or thumb control.
As far sharpening your tungstens I prefer a belt sander with a fine grit belt that has some wear to it and allows me to sharpen in the proper direction so that the grain is parallel to the tungsten length. A fine stone wheel works well but so few wheel grinders have the correct stone, so I usually have to order one even finer then that which comes with the grinder.
Belt sander :clapsmile
My thoughts:
TIG is like an art to me. I was ok and passed several certs but not nearly as good as some of the guys in our shop. I loved watching some of them and truly admired their skills. Find lots of scrap and practice your butt off. It is a great skill to have and I think a ton of fun.
And if you do go water cooled I have an extra 25' water cooled torch for sale. PM for details.
I mostly used one of these though:
