Used Miller Dynasty 200DX for £1680, or new SureWeld TEC222 (same price) ?

[carl0s]

Hi.

I want to learn to weld. Stainless exhaust midpipes and aluminium things for now.

I have been offered a used Miller Dynasty 200DX for £1400 + vat (£1680), with a 3 month warranty and supplied with new torch and regulator, leads etc. (possibly/probably not Miller original accessories).

I have also seen a new SureWeld TEC222 for almost the same price (£1369 + vat), with a 2 year warranty (http://migtigarc.co.uk/TIG_Welder/tig_welder.html )

I don't have thorough specs on the SureWeld, but I think it might be missing the pulse feature, at least. Whether I will want that is another thing. I haven't touched a welder yet ..

The only specs / paperwork I can find on the SureWeld are these:

Single phase AC/DC Inverters for AC or DC TIG welding and MMA Welding

Ø Very portable
Ø Current down-slope time
Ø Gas post flow control
Ø Bi-level current control
Ø AC Balance control
Ø Arc force control
Ø 2/4 time switching
Ø Hot start and anti-stick
Ø Connector for Hand or Foot Remote control
Ø For all types of electrode – Rutile, basic, stainless steel, cast iron etc.
Ø Thermostatic protection

The Miller Dynasty is quite well known so I won't copy/paste specs on that.

What do you think I should do? The new 2yr possibly more basic machine, or the better but used machine with only a 3 month warranty ?

 

[carl0s]

The SureWeld TEC222 looks like the bigger brother of the Sealey AC/DC TIG units, which I don't think Sealey do any more.

Sealey 160 amp TIG175HF (old stock now I think.. not on the sealey website any more.. might there be an important reason for that?)

 

[carl0s]

I just noticed it says PULSE in big writing there... hmmm.

 

[carl0s]

Actually, the SureWeld is almost £100 less because it comes with free delivery, while the Miller man wants about £50 delivery.

 

[Delgado]

Although a bit risky being as it's a used inverter type machine, I'd go for the miller everytime.

 

[wellyweld]

I know it is more money again but have a look at the Murex Tradestig 220a, it is the same as the Esab CaddyTig 2200 but painted red & is a very highly thought of machine. We have some brand new packages at good prices whilst stock lasts. Certainly a classy option if you can run to it.
Ask around on this forum & I think you would get a lot of people telling you to buy this kit if you can afford it.
Warranty is 2 years parts & labour.

 

[carl0s]

I know it is more money again but have a look at the Murex Tradestig 220a, it is the same as the Esab CaddyTig 2200 but painted red & is a very highly thought of machine. We have some brand new packages at good prices whilst stock lasts. Certainly a classy option if you can run to it.
Ask around on this forum & I think you would get a lot of people telling you to buy this kit if you can afford it.
Warranty is 2 years parts & labour.

It does look good that one, but it's 50% dearer than what I'm looking at.
I'm already unsure if I'm doing a very bad thing by spending this much money in the first place.

 

[hotrodder]

I'm with Delgado but i'd need more info on the Miller first. Get the serial number off the seller and go here... http://www.millerwelds.com/service/serialnumberreference.html. The machine has an arc hour meter, if the seller doesn't know how to access it you can download the owners manual from the millerwelds site (under 'resources'). The Dynasty was upgraded sometime around 2009... depending on age, hours and condition it might be a bargin or it might not

Miller kit is generally very reliable but you need to be aware that repair costs can be SCARY expensive

 

[carl0s]

I'm with Delgado but i'd need more info on the Miller first. Get the serial number off the seller and go here... http://www.millerwelds.com/service/serialnumberreference.html. The machine has an arc hour meter, if the seller doesn't know how to access it you can download the owners manual from the millerwelds site (under 'resources'). The Dynasty was upgraded sometime around 2009... depending on age, hours and condition it might be a bargin or it might not

Miller kit is generally very reliable but you need to be aware that repair costs can be SCARY expensive

Thanks hotrodder! I have sent the seller an email about the s/n and arc hour count.

Not many recommendations for the SureWeld yet.. It looks like a good bit of kit for the money!

 

[carl0s]

The seller has a few of these and is going to get me serial numbers off a few, and arc hours off one of them.

 

[carl0s]

The seller (Westermans) never came back to me with the serial numbers, or whether they were pre or post changeover (I gave the cut-off serial number info that I'd got from the Miller forums). I did ask a couple of times so I guess it wasn't meant to be.

Realistically, it's probably a wise thing. I need to buy a house.

I am going to buy an Inverter Fusion 200PHF probably tomorrow, and learn/practice doing stainless. If I get keen and fancy doing aluminium at a later date, I'm fairly confident the IFL will be easy to sell on for reasonable money..