Tig welder for a beginner

67Dart273 said

^^^THIS^^^ and GO BIG. And BE CAREFUL it is NOT 3 phase powered (unless your shop has 3 phase service, obviously)

You can routinely find Lincoln Miller 250A and larger machines around here for 400up. I bought a big 'ol Lincoln in nice shape at an estate sale I think I paid 600, with only stick cables. It is a 250/250 AC DC tig stick, weighs?? 400 or so on casters. Yup. heavy.

You can buy import tig torches ?? about a 100 will get you going.

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This mentality of go big or don't go out at all is what kept me out of welding for many many years! As I felt I couldn't afford it. You don't have to have the best of the best to start out with. a chitty welder is probably better because if you can perfect that when you finally get that good welder your welds are gonna be 10 times better! You can get by and make acceptable welds with a cheap welder is it ideal or the best out there? No of course not but for someone on a strick budget like myself that just wants to learn you don't have to "go big" and spend 2k on a welder! I have done alot of projects that people told me I couldn't do on my 89 dollar harbor freight flux core welder! Same applies with tig welding!