Invertig 201/221
I know I'm bringing this thread back from the dead, but I figured this would be a good place to post my impressions....
The first TIG I ever struck an arc with was a Miller Syncrowave 250DX and I only used it 3-4 times over a few months. Didn't have much luck (nor training).
A few years later I started working at a shop that had an HTP Invertig201, the owner sat me down, gave me a few tips, and told me to practice until I had it down. Within about a week I was laying nickles on 3/16" plate, and welding up 20ga fuel tanks on choppers.
After a few months I was able to weld just about anything, from razorblades edge-to-edge (and keep the bead in the groove), to a 3/8" thick 6061 Billet tag bracket (with an O/A preheat).
I ran the snot out of that machine for 3-5 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 4 years. Never had one problem.
About 5 years ago I started at a shop that had a Miller Dial-Arc 300HF with a water cooled push button torch. That took some getting used to (and remembering where on the dial my amp setting were), but I got the hang of it pretty quickly. Though, I couldn't do my razorblade trick, and it wouldn't even begin to puddle a 3/8" Aluminum casting. Everything in between was cake though....
Two months ago I ordered a new HTP Invertig 201 and got a call back that they were discontinued
. But that they were coming out with a replacement, the Invertig 221. I patiently waited a month for them to come in. It arrived last week, and I've been spending the last few days testing it out.
So far its pretty darn good. Threw down some pretty nice beads on some 316L, patched up a 22ga MS fuel tank (after a 2 week flush and purge), and I've been playing with the pulse settings this evening.
While typing this I ran out in the shop and threw a chunk of an old transmission case (A518) up on the table. Hit the bellhousing with a flap wheel, and struck an arc on the thickest part of the mounting flange I could find (~1/2" x 1/2" thick, roughly 30* of the case). It puddled within seconds, and I ran a bead a few inches long without a problem. It only penetrated ~1/8", but i was using the same settings (bal/freq) as i was using for 1/8" plate and just cranking the amperage all the way up. Without a preheat. I'm sure if I grooved it, tweaked the balance, and preheated it, I wouldn't have a problem.
The only negatives I can come up with are:
The welder came without a plug, nor US spec color codes on the cord. I finally figured out how to cross reference the ISO/DIN wire specs too hook it up to US 220V 1PH.
And the manual leaves much to be desired. It barely touches on the main settings, but doesn't go into the effects (or examples) of changing each setting (pulse freq, duty, balance, + duty, -duty, etc.).
-John