I used an ac/dc hobart buzz box, a simple air cooled tig torch and 75/25 gas for decades before I upgraded to my Lincoln 225 precision tig. There are high freq adapters that you can add to the buzz box for dirt cheap if you are on a serious budget, and it would weld 1/4" aluminum or 4130 all day long.

I'm not at all a fan of Chicom tools, but Ditto on Everlast unless you have Big $ for Miller, ESAB, or Lincoln inverter. Loaded with features and adjustability. Chicom built, American design with Siemens Rectifiers, 5 yr warranty, great price, but not exactly inexpensive. Get upgraded CK Torch and pedal. I bought the 250EX inverter, less than 1/2 the cost of similar featured welder from Big Blue, and I'm definitely happy with it. Check out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjDSeY_SUpo

pretty interesting video. Everlast started out several years ago and quality control wasn't great at first, but they've steadily improved and now they are pretty solid. I believe Alpha run by the brother of the guy at Everlast, so there's probably some design overlap there.

Sometimes you can find good used American units but out on the welder's forums there's plenty of complaints about built-in-China board failures in name-brand "American" inverter welders. These boards are expensive unless you have a warranty....which most used units don't.

Really old Millers, ESAB, Lincoln, etc transformer welders are bulletproof, but they draw a ton of power and lack features like HF start and pulse. Sometimes you can get them with an external accessory box that adds those features, but unless you have 100 amp service in your garage, you won't be able to get full power out of them.

Also I second the recommendation to check out "Welding tips and Tricks". Also Tig Time on weld.com. Lots of great reviews of various TIG welders plus great pointers for newb's.


If you want a multi-Process machine(MIG/TIG/STICK):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7hnR-JHlzA

Impressive, one 11-minute long sentence.

ToT has a new Tig video for youtubers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOL1bMC-UJQ

I just seen the new videos of the Miller Multimatic 220 AC/DC multiprocess machine. Looks pretty nice for a easy setup entry level machine that has a bunch of options.
MIG (3/8"), Stick (3/8"), TIG AC/DC/Pulse (1/4"), connections for two shielding gasses (don't have to swap bottles when changing from Mig to Tig.)
Priced at $2,999 with free shipping and offer for free Miller Digital Helmet.
Looks like it comes with just about everything except the dual cylinder welder cart that is another $295.

https://www.weldingsuppliesfromioc.com/m...ChoCzm4QAvD_BwE

Millers YouTube videos:
https://www.youtube.com/user/nielsmiller/videos

In retrospect, if these new multiprocess machines existed when I bought my TIG, I would have ditched my millermatic and bought one of these. Here's a comparison chart I ran across. Any of them would be great machines

I have read a lot here, about some machines needing a "ton" of power. Somebody explain to me, I thought conservation of energy applied to Chinese welders also. I got an old school transformer Tig machine and it weighs in the neighborhood around 800lbs. If I put the pedal down if sure puts out a lot juice to the tig electrode, and expectedly draws a lot of current. The machine internally does NOT give off any real noticeable/excessive heat. Therefore I assume it is reasonably efficient in converting the building power to welding power, conservation of energy and all. So other then the new inverters being magnitudes lighter, how exactly are they reportedly magnitudes more efficient in this process?

My Miller welder at 500A draws 205 Amps at 208V, a Miller inverter at 500A draws 136 Amps at 208V, that means to me there is a loss (wasted heat inside machine) of nearly 70amps at 208V, that is a lot of energy.

my old 200a airco machine has ac/dc/stick/tig with a brand new, still in the box, 175a scratch start tig torch i have never tried. at my age, i will most likely never do much tig work, that is, if i ever teach myself how to in the first place.

Lincoln's website explains pretty well:

https://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us/support/process-and-theory/pages/inverter-power-detail.aspx

Smaller transformers used with big transistors and big capacitors. Same reason that audio amplifiers used to weigh a ton just to get 100W RMS into 2 channels, now you can get 135W RMS into 7 channels in the same sized box.

I bought the Lincoln square wave 200

Get back to us when you can weld a cut in half leak proof beer can back together.

I don't recall the brand of big welder but a guy I knew years ago showed me that he could weld 2 paper staples together and also the pop can.

I always liked my Miller Syncrowave 250 before it walked away...

Solid old school unit.

Let us know how you like it. Be sure to check out the trucolor helmets.