What are the deficiencies of this machine in the MIG/TIG/stick configuration ?
I'm considering a used one less than 10 years old, but have no experience with it.
What should I be looking out for ?
What's a good price with MIG/TIG/stick setup ?
Appreciatively,
Courtney Thomas
From what I see, the shopmaster is a machine that does everything, but nothing very well.
It will work decently for most applications, however, but for precise-code quality-welding-you would be ahead to continue your search.
The shopmaster works adequately on stick and tig (being based loosely on the Syncrowave 250).
It runs flux core decently. So will a battery charger. Hard wire can be a challenge with the shopmaster. Spray arc is ok, but short arc can somewhat difficult in certain applications. Seems to be a slope/inductance problem, but if you do not encounter these specific situations, it may be ok.
A bit of history-the shopmaster was the answer to a true multi-purpose machine before the inverters came along. As was the Lincoln DC250
My opinion, FWIW-don't buy a shopmaster, unless you can absolutely steal it.
Same opinion for the early Dimension multi-purpose series.
Waiting to hear from well satisfied shopmaster and dimension owners.....Please be kind!!
Good Luck
brad
That is pretty close to what I have heard too. The repair guys I know have never had nice things to say about them, and they both like Miller stuff.
The Shopmaster was created for schools, so they wouldn't need as many power supplies. One power supply for TIG and Stick and MIG. Unfotunately it isn't very good at any of them.
If you can get it for $500 for the base unit, and it comes with the addons for TIG and MIG, then it may be a decent investment for a small hobby shop.
They were not cheap units. I think it was around $3000 for the base unit and $500 for the TIG package and $500 for the MIG package.
For $2K or less.
Thank you. Courtney
Ernie Leimkuhler wrote:
I don't remember seeing a description of what you intend to weld. The size of your work determines how big a machine you need.
The best deal in small TIGs is the Thermal Arc Prowave 185 TSW inverter. Selling for around $1700 complete. It is an AC/DC TIG/Stick machine.
It is around the same price as the Lincoln PrecisionTIG 185 and the Miller Syncrowave 180, but weighs 40 lbs instead of 200 lbs, and pulls
30 amps of 220 single phase instead of 60 amps.The Best small TIG unit is the Miller Dynasty 200DX, but it is around $2700 so it is a matter of if you have another $1000 to get 15 more amps at the top end and a few better features.
I have a Maxstar 200DX and a Syncrowave 250DX. Both are excellent machines.
The Syncrowave 250DX is around $1900 for the base machine, but you would need another $500 to fit it out with torch, foot pedal, cables and such. It also requires a 90 amp circuit of 220v single phase to be happy.
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