Tig Welder Opinions, Trying to decide on a welder Options

[TravisNeff]

Hey all,

I am gearing up to get a welder. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)

If I do Mig it will probably be a 175-210amp welder with infinite controls. My guess is a setup will run around $700-1K, a lot less if I do the 4 position control. Like a lincoln 175Plus, Millermatic 175 etc.

I am right in Tig territory now

DC inverter (not aluminum capable) welders run from 500-1600 depending on the options. Very flexible units with a ton of controls on the higher end models.

AC/DC units can do all metal, however Stainless welding setup looks painfull (backgassing and shrouding the area for argon flooding). This is where I think I am heading.

Thermal Arc Pro-Wave 185 5-185Amps around $1700. Has pulsing, square wave balance, slope, repeate and spot controls, comes with amptrol, solenoids and gas valves - ready to weld.

Lincoln Precision Tig 185 7-185Amps, around $1700. Pusling, balance control, amptrol solenoids and gas valves - ready to weld.

Esab Heliarc 161 Tig 10-160Amps, around $1700 pulsing, balance control, amptrol, solenoids and gas valves - ready to weld.

HTP Invertec 201 Tig 4-200Amps, around 2,200, has all the gadgets, Out of the price range I am shooting for.

Hobart, Miller and Lincoln all have cheap (around 1,200) AC/DC Tigs but they all start at 30Amps, most do not have pulse, fans, gas control, wave balance.

My questions are this, how often do you weld with TIG where you need under 30Amp output? I know all the gadgets can help make great repeatable welds, but for the cost is it worth it? Lastly, from my choices of AC/DC welders (in the 1500-2K price range) what do you think? Am I limiting myself on output amperage (Migs have charts for this and is easy enough to figure out, but not for tig).

What am I welding? Starting off on doing repairs on my car, then who knows what. I know Mig is fast, relatively cheap (and honestly will do anything that I really need it to do) but I have the Tig bug. I know that Tig will take a lot of practice (so will MIG), that's fine. I also know that 1 welder will not weld everything and I am trying to get the most flexibility out of the one I buy. This will be my first welder. Thinking of this being my first unit, my thought was to go cheap mig and see how I do, then upgrade later if I really am getting into things. However, I have the cash now to get a really nice setup - descision time. Help Me!