Subject: Re: Tig Welder

From: Kevin Maggard <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 28 Apr 1996 13:33:14 -0400

Jeffrey R. Trites wrote:
> 
> Just wondering if anyone has any comments or experience with the MILLER
> ECONOTIG welder. I have been hobby welding for a couple of years with a
> MILLERMATIC 130 mig welder, and was thinking about adding a tig welder
> to the fun. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.
> 
> Thanks
> 
>    Jeff Trites

	I had a Miller EconoTIG.  I used it for 2 weeks and found that I 
always wanted a setting between the two ranges, low power with good 
resolution at the foot controller but with enough power available when 
needed. It just didn't have enough range at one setting.  Ohterwise it 
is an ideal home TIG machine.  I traded it back into the dealer on a 
Lincoln 255 Square Wave TIG. The Lincoln cost $4000 to set up properly 
where the Miller cost $1300 but I wanted/needed precise current control 
>from  5 amps (20 or 30 is the minimum on the MIller)all the way up to 180 
or so amps (Lincoln goes to 316 amps).  I realize that these machines 
are in a totally different class but I just felt the Miller needed a 
broader current range, a true sqaure wave is nice if welding Al but not 
needed for ferous metals.  If most of your work is in steel then Miller 
is a steal.

Kevin Maggard

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From: "Jeffrey R. Trites" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 27 Apr 1996 01:01:39 -0700

Thanks 

   Jeff Trites

---

From: [email-masked] (ErnieLeim)
Date: 28 Apr 1996 04:39:06 -0400

>"Jeffrey R. Trites" <[email-masked]> wrote: 
> 

>>to the fun. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. 

Well I have owned one for over 2 years and I love it.
It has limitations as far as low end control and high end power, but
portability and size are very important to me. Several people have
mentioned that it lackes guts, but I disagree. It welds 1/4 inch materiel
easily, and handles 1/16" - 3/16" materiel with a geat deal of finesse.
To get more heat and cleaner welds I have a helium tank and argon tank
hooked together to give me an adjustable " live mix" . This gas combo
boosts the heat considerably, and works great on all metals.
I love the fact that I can disconnect all the cables and roll it into my
truck.
 I do a lot of freelance welding at various locations for TV, theatre,
film and display shops, and it makes it possible for me to make money on
the rental as well as the work.
It doesn't make sense for a production shop doing heavy welding, but for a
home hobbiest it is outstanding. 
Sure if you can find a used 300 amp cybertig for $500, you could weld
bigger things with greater control, but do you really want a winebago
sized machine parked in your basement or garage shop. 
For the money, size, and versatility it is a great deal.

Best of luck

@}---------------------------------------------------{@
                    Ernie Leimkuhler                                      

                  Stagesmith Productions                                  
                                          
                 Custom Metal Fabrication                                 
               
*    ABANA   SCA     AWS    USITT   IATSE local 15, 488   *
                        Renton, WA                                        
   
*    "Death is like being on holiday with
          a group of germans" ---- Rimmer ( Red Dwarf )
@}------------------------------------------------------{@

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From: [email-masked] (Jens)
Date: Sat, 27 Apr 1996 06:55:45 -0700

>to the fun. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

I used to think that the EconoTig was something to have in the shop. I
have never owned or used one but after a demo at a local welding
supplies shop I decided that there just isn't enough power in one of
those units. In this demo, one of the employees of the shop was trying
to weld a small aluminum frame together. This was for a motorcycle
baggage rack and was 3/4" square tubular aluminum (don't know the wall
thickness). It was a very minor (in my opinion) job that should have
been done in 10 or 15 minutes. I left after about 15 minutes while the
chap was still working on the first weld (if I recall correctly). I
was totally surprised as to how much heat is needed for even small
jobs when working in aluminum and I decided that I would save my
dollars till I could afford something that would not be this limited.
Having said all this, if you keep the power limitations in mind and
are not likely to want to do aluminum work, I think it is a nice
machine (personal opinion, no experience to back that opinion)
Regards
Jens

PS: I own a Millermatic as well (250 model though) and it is working
nicely for me. I would have been OK with the 130 as far as power is
concerned as I rarely go above approx 1/2 power. I use the unit only
on mild steel though. If I was to do aluminum with it I think I would
need all the power it can dish out based on what I saw in the TIG
demo.

---

From: [email-masked](Michael A. Moore)
Date: 27 Apr 1996 23:45:49 GMT

I bought a Miller Gold Seal (an older  300 amp big blue TIG welder) from a
guy who bought several of them when Lockheed was closing down in the SF Bay
area.  I think after he made his profit I paid about $1200.  This included
the water pump and foot control.  You may not have all the latest trick
square wave etc, but there older machines out there at good prices that are
more than adequate for the home shop.   
 
With an 80 amp incoming circuit, I can weld on an aluminum cylinder head
(lots of heat) for about 20-30 minutes before the circuit breaker gets too
hot and trips.  It was less time, but I hooked up a little muffin fan to
blow air through the circuit breaker box, which extended the welding time
noticeably.  Now I just stop after about 20 minutes and go out for a breath
of fresh air to give the breaker time to cool.  I can weld as long as I can
stand it on steel, since it takes so much less power.   
 
Don't forget, that if you can throw the item in the oven and get it really
hot first, you'll need to put in less heat from the welder.  I use argon,
but a friend told me that if you use helium it "supercharges" the welding
process, I guess by keeping more heat in the welded part, so you don't have
to add as much from the torch. 
 
My motto is: always buy the maximum machine you can afford, as it delays
the day when something is to big to fit. 
 
Michael Moore 
SF, CA