TIG or Bust...

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Surprisingly, one thing I found out from all the dealers I talked to (six of them total and they all sold Red, Blue, and TAs). Hands down, everyone said either the Synch 200 or the Diversion 180. No one recommended buying the Lincolns or TAs even after I asked for a quote on them.

I'm going for the sync 200 at the LWS. If i can't beat them up on price too much, i may try to get them to include some stuff I need like a new Ar tank, some filler rod, tungsten...and maybe home delivery.

From what I've read online, $1500+/- seems to the be the going rate for something fairly new. Occasionally, you see a steal for $1200, but I'm usually not that lucky. I'm not too far off my budget and I think this machine will fit the bill for some time to come. Just need to finally move that roof rack I have for sale...
 
That Sync 200 is a solid unit for sure . I know some shops that run them mercilessly and no issues . Got some news today on my Dynasty 200DX - after testing and running it very hard on the load bank system they can find nothing wrong. No error codes, no software issues, nothing . I sent it in due to the display going out , seems when the tech hooked up to it the dumb thing worked upon startup. Tech says maybe just a loose molex plug, he's checking all of them closely to make certain .
Talk about dodging a bullet....
Sarge
 
If you need a gas regulator, PM me and I will give you one for the cost of shipping. I have a box of them. These are not flow meters however. Just quality double stage regulators.
 
Got a double output Argon or CO2 reg, looking for a spare for purge jobs when doing stainless and large/hidden aluminum when the Dynasty gets home. Gotta check in with the tech again today to see where my total bill is at so far. Also trying to see if they can upgrade her power input cable to the newer MVP plug style since I haul it to distant jobs and have to use the Auto Link a lot with different power sources.
Sarge
 
I have about a dozen regulators to get rid of after keeping several for myself. About 4 are cga580 inert gas and 4 are cga320 Co2 with the washer. About 4 are missing the stem, but you can get one for $5. I could sell them on Ebay or Craigs list, but I just don't want to deal with it. They were given to me, so easy come easy go.
 
Most of the regulators have two outlets, but usually one is plugged. I noticed that I have one with an oxygen stem and one for fuel gas, like acetylene. These are made in the USA and are not cheap junk.
 
The 2 stage regulators Pinhead has will work but becasue they are controlling pressure and not flow you would probably use too much gas, this costs $$ and running out at the wrong time is a pain in the axx; additionally excess gas sometimes creates a problem in the puddle, especially in TIG with a small torch.

I'm all in for a good deal so if I went with a "regulator" like this and wanted to use it for welding I would add a flow restirctor to the outlet and get the flow knocked down to acceptable TIG/MIG welding flow-rates (typically 30-40 MIG & 20-30 TIG)

Smith has a cheap simple item they call a surge protector (15001 series) that will work well these are used mostly in MIG but will work in TIG also. Most welding sales guys don't sell these because there is more $$ in a pretty regulator/flowmeter.

look at page 11 in this catalog
http://www.smithequipment.com/products/smithcatalog2007regulators.pdf

My 2-cents hope I didn't confuse the issue.




 
What I'm looking for is the 30 series dual flowmeter regulator . No confusion, I've ran the standard regs and they waste a ton of gas, flowmeter style regs allow you to set the exact cfm rate at a fixed pressure rate instead . In the basement shop I normally run down to 15cfm , 25cfm for stainless with oversized cups. You cannot get enough flow out of the secondary port that is normally plugged, even using smaller diameter hoses . I'll have to hunt around and probably just buy the twin flowmeter unit , just no way to balance a single output correctly for the different purge heads I made.
Sarge
 
Regulators and flow meters are two separate parts. You have to have a regulator to drop the tank pressure to a constant pressure. It is the regulated pressure that determines the flow rate. The flow meter just reads out what the flow is and is very handy. If you don't have a low meter, you have to calculate the flow by measuring how long it takes to full up a 2L coke bottle or something like that.

You have to have a regulator to adjust the flow. A flow meter is added on the output of the regulator to read what the flow rate is.


These have been going fast. I only have 4 left out of a dozen.
 
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yoopercharged said:
I don't crank the amperage up to run single pass on 1" plate or anything.
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s***....i'd LOVE to see you run a 1" single pass.........takes me 8 passes with a weave bead for 1" and thats with my Bobcat!!!
 
Got It!

It arrived on Monday and I was grinning ear to ear. :D My new (to me) 2010 Syncro 200 came with the tig runner package, pedal, torch, brand new stick leads, purchased 80cf Ar bottle, about a pound of filler, and 4 pieces of tungsten to get me started that day. (I told the LWS I wanted to burn metal as soon as it got off the truck, so he made that happen.) It still has a year of warranty left and and it was lift gate service to my garage door. Broke the budget a little- $2k all in, but very happy with the purchase. I don't think I will outgrow this anytime soon. Best part, the machine has only 23 hours on it.... :bounce:

Plus, I got to support my local welding supply company. This is the second machine I have got from them and it may be a few dollars more than Craigslist or some of the other online vendors, but when it comes to service, these guys have always come through for me.

Can't wait to buy some aluminum and stainless, but since steel is going well, I might hold off on ruining my self-confindence for a little while longer. :hhmm:
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I have had the same machine for about 5 years and it has worked flawlessly. In some ways I wished I had the earlier model with the analog knobs rather than the digital buttons but it's a great machine regardless.
 
i wonder why nobody you talked to recommended a lincoln, i like lincoln and one of the better tig welders i know uses lincoln.
 
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