Anybody have a Syncrowave 300 ?

[Planewelder]

Looks like I'm the proud owner of a Syncrowave 300 with pulser option and miller radiator 1 cooling system. I have an Econo Tig now and don't have much experience welding aluminum, which is one of my goals with the new welder.
Anybody have any pro's con's about hese machines ? Anything to watch out for in particular ? Thanks Sam :blob3:

[MJDamiani]

I hope that you have the amperage to use it. I used one of these machine and they are great, but the current draw @ 230volts was almost 100 amps this was in excess of my building's capacity considering the lights, compressor and other tools that may be running at the same time.

[weldingman24]

we have alot of syncrowaves at work, 3 250s and 1 300. We welded 1" 6061 aluminum with that machine for a "home project" and it never gave out. never had a problem with the thing other than the pedal wearing out, but they draw alot of amps

[Roy Hodges]

Those are wonderful machines. I wish i had one . My Dial arc 250 hf ain't bad, but you have a jewel. Wire it with a 100 dedicated circuit. .......Enjoy -

[ralphiejantz]

I got one absolutely love it Im running it off of a 100 amp breaker and hardwired into a safety disconnect switch never had a problem with it

[12,000 Doors]

There are a couple of those at the plant I work at. Some of the issues we've run into; If you use the thumb control expect them to burn out every so often. Once in a great while a clog might develop in the handle that you'll have to blow out with air pressure (Does your water cooler have the impeller window? That's really handy for diagnosing clogs). Once in an even greater while you can run into a water pump gone leaky. For the most part these things are trouble free 364 days of the year with those fairly minor issues on the 365th, and that's with heavy duty industrial use. Your gonna like it.

[Planewelder]

Thanks for all the comments, You guys nailed it, the only big issue I see is the amount of current required to run it wide open. I looked hard at the 250 or Idealarc's when I bought my Econo Tig, but at the house I was in then there was no more electricity with out a service upgrade. I guess at 1" of aluminum I better watch out that I don't ring the dial of my electric meter though huh?
I had no idea it would weld that big. Now if I can just get it picked up in Ohio, but I'm about ready for a little (small) cross country trip.

[Planewelder]

Got my welder today..... it's BIGGGGG I couldn't believe how much bigger that a sycrowave 250 it is. Towed it on a trailer from Ohio to Va. that 750 lbs made the truck ride a little smoother on those mountain roads in WVa.

[Engloid]

The 300 syncrowave is a nice machine. Be forewarned that if it goes out, it's likely worth less than a boat anchor...but until then it will work great.
I have a sync 350, but will probably sell it and buy a 350Dynasty from my employer when it runs out of warranty.

[MicroZone]

The 300 syncrowave is a nice machine. Be forewarned that if it goes out, it's likely worth less than a boat anchor...but until then it will work great.
I have a sync 350, but will probably sell it and buy a 350Dynasty from my employer when it runs out of warranty.

Whoa, wait a minute. Weren't you just preaching in the other thread that Miller welders will outlast any other "junk" out there and that they don't need a long warranty because they are a high quality product and rarely fail?

Do I need to quote you directly or will these be considered "implications" by you...again? :laugh:

Glad you can re-iterate my point, barely no warranty, high prices of repair parts and no coverage after warranty expiration. Thanks.

BTW, I do love my Miller welders. :cool2: ;)

[Engloid]

Whoa, wait a minute. Weren't you just preaching in the other thread that Miller welders will outlast any other "junk" out there and that they don't need a long warranty because they are a high quality product and rarely fail?

Do I need to quote you directly or will these be considered "implications" by you...again? :laugh:

Again you are misrepresenting my words. It does not show intelligence, on your part.

Again, you seem to think that a welding machine is a welding machine. If that's what you think, buy the cheapest thing you can, cause they're all the same, right?

Again, we have a case of a company whose welding machines have been around for many years, and you want to compare them to a company that rarely ever has one last for 10 years.

Go buy a good warranty, if that's what you want. I prefer to buy good equipment.

[ZTFab]

I have a 300 with the pulser option and a series 1 water cooler.

I bought it used about 2 years ago and have yet to try the pulser function (can't seem to get it to turn on) but other than that, I love it.

It is a BIG machine and it does draw a lot of amps but it's definitely a workhorse.

- Paul

[Planewelder]

ZTFab.... that's exactly the set up I have. It didn't come with a water cooled TIG torch however, but it had a brand new air cooled torch with a fairly long lead. I know my air cooled torch gets pretty hot running on the high end of my Econo TIG even... guess it's nice to have water cooled on the big stuff. The guy had built a stand about a foot high with wheels for it which made it look even larger, but it really is BIG for a home welder ! They loaded it on my trailer with a backhoe !

[ZTFab]

You will want to get a water cooled torch for this welder. It'll be much nicer and easier to use for thicker materials and longer periods of welding.

The only maintenace I've had to do to mine was adjust the gap for the HF (at the front of the machine behind the cord cover). It took about 2 minutes.

I need to spend some time on mine and figure out why the pulser won't turn on. I don't even know if it's hooked up inside. I'd love to try it but I haven't had the time to open up the panel.

Let us know how you like your's when you fire it up!

- Paul

[ralphiejantz]

You will want to get a water cooled torch for this welder. It'll be much nicer and easier to use for thicker materials and longer periods of welding.

The only maintenace I've had to do to mine was adjust the gap for the HF (at the front of the machine behind the cord cover). It took about 2 minutes.

I need to spend some time on mine and figure out why the pulser won't turn on. I don't even know if it's hooked up inside. I'd love to try it but I haven't had the time to open up the panel.

Let us know how you like your's when you fire it up!

- Paul
Your right I really want to get a water cooler for my sycro 300 as well,
ZT what do you usually set the gap on for the HF
I love my 300

[ZTFab]

ZT what do you usually set the gap on for the HF



The factory recommended setting is .008" :)

[ralphiejantz]

The factory recommended setting is .008" :)
Thanks are you using a miller water cooler or did you make one yourself
Im seriously considering making one up myself

[ZTFab]

I have a miller water cooler that came with the welder when I bought it.

...but I think the pump is going out or the fan is F'ed up because that sumbich is loud!! :laugh:

I need to take it apart and look but it still works and I haven't had the time. :rolleyes:

[Planewelder]

The guy I got the welder from just set the gap before I got the machine. I assume it doesn't need to be set often ? He showed me where it was and he too set it at .008. I have the Miller Radiator 1 cooler.