TIG welder question...

[davydoo]

Hi, I've been looking at TIG welders. I plan on doing very thin wall steel bicycle frame tubing. Somewhere in the neighborhood of .6 to .8mm. I build bicycle frames full-time, but, as I said in another post, use lugs or fillet braze the frames. So far, everyone in the bike industry has told me to stay away from Italian-made machines. Just why is this? I used an Italian made MIG welder many years ago, and I don't see that much difference in the Lincoln I have now. I don't use the MIG for frames, but I was trained as a blacksmith and still like to heat up iron once in a while.

Anyway, does anyone have any opinions on Italian-made TIG machines? Of course, I'd like to get a Miller Dynasty, but don't think I want to lay out that kind of money right now. Any other recommendations for other TIG welders that are suited for thin walled steel and maybe some titanium?

Thanks.

[iceman32]

generally the biggest problem with italian or any other non "major three" brand machines is parts availability. three years down the road something breaks and you can't find a part. your stuck with either jerry rigging something or buying another welder. so as a general rule buying a miller, licoln, hobart is the better option because your only going to have to buy one welder and you'll be able to get parts

[sstorkel]

If you just want to weld steel and titanium, look for a DC-only machine; it'll cost quite a bit less than an AC/DC machine. You'll give-up the ability to weld aluminum, but you'll also save yourself $1000; maybe more. Check out the Miller Maxstar 150- and 200-series welders. These show up used on eBay pretty regularly; occasionally with very good price. Still kicking myself for not buying the $700 Maxstar 200DX power supply There have also been some older Thermal Arc DC-only inverters showing up over the last month.

[davydoo]

So the biggest problem with Italian-made machines would the availability of parts. What about how the machines perform? On a topic from a recent framebuilding forum discussion, someone obseved that a friend though he was a poor welder, until he switched from a Italian-made machine to a Miller. Is there that much of a difference?

[wello]

Originally Posted by davydoo

So the biggest problem with Italian-made machines would the availability of parts. What about how the machines perform? On a topic from a recent framebuilding forum discussion, someone obseved that a friend though he was a poor welder, until he switched from a Italian-made machine to a Miller. Is there that much of a difference?

that question answer's it self pretty much yes there is that much of a difference you pay for what you get chalk and cheese type thing
we had a well know brand of tig here in Australia then we upgrade to a miller you notice the difference betwen machines we now do things we would of never tryed with the old tig

[papasloan]

Cant say about all italian welders. I have an HTP 160dc which is made by Stel in italy.
I havent used that many tigs but I would put the quality of the arc equal to or better than that of the 250sd Miller I used in school. High frequency start is nicer also.
Just my .02