small dc welder for scratch start tig

muddstopper · Aug 24, 2014

Arc weld said:
Seems like you already knew what you should be buying.

Well, to be honest, I started this thread off a brain fart. Just wanting something i could stick in the basement for very small jobs. It wasnt until after I started this thread that I actually started researching the alternatives.

I think a few of you havent read all the way thru this thread and saw where i already own a very capable stick/tig, ac/dc machine that will tig about anything including Aluminum and a bunch of other metals. My goal isnt to get serious about tig welding, but to move some of it out of my shop and into my basement. I already own tig torches to use on a scratch start tig, its the 110v DC welder i dont have. This isnt my profession, its my hobby

Big Barn · Aug 24, 2014

muddstopper said:
Well, to be honest, I started this thread off a brain fart. Just wanting something i could stick in the basement for very small jobs. It wasnt until after I started this thread that I actually started researching the alternatives. I think a few of you havent read all the way thru this thread and saw where i already own a very capable stick/tig, ac/dc machine that will tig about anything including Aluminum and a bunch of other metals. My goal isnt to get serious about tig welding, but to move some of it out of my shop and into my basement. I already own tig torches to use on a scratch start tig, its the 110v DC welder i dont have. This isnt my profession, its my hobby

Bill. Oddly enough we must have had the same brain fart around the same time period. Partially on impulse I purchased a used but brand new Miller Maxstar 150STL off eBay last Thursday. My needs were similar to yours. I'll throw the old " great minds think alike" out there.

Terry

downsizingnow48 · Aug 24, 2014

This thread is dangerous. Don't need another welder. But, I got to looking, found a 90 amp DC machine at Northern Tool that weighs 9 pounds, costs $139. Has a bunch of positive reviews.

muddstopper · Aug 26, 2014

downsizingnow48 said:
This thread is dangerous. Don't need another welder. But, I got to looking, found a 90 amp DC machine at Northern Tool that weighs 9 pounds, costs $139. Has a bunch of positive reviews.

I found the best reviews for a small machine on the little 80amp dc, $149, at Harborfreight. I think I have pretty much talked myself out of going that route. Seen a few Youtube vids of that machine where someone has already tried it. Yea, the machine will probably do what I need it to do, but for a $100 more, I can get a much more capable machine, that comes with everything to tig with except the gas regulator. If you dont already have a regulator and tig torch, that $139 machine will end up costing as much to set up as just going ahead and buying a 110/220v Stick tig machine. I already have the tig rig and I am going to try and borrow a small machine to try out before committing to a purchase.