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TIG welding is like patting your head while rubbing your belly, while also doing a Rubik's cube with your feet and whistling Yankee Doodle. Simply put, you’ve got a lot going on while TIG welding (especially if you use a foot pedal). Because of that, TIG welders need a machine that can simplify the parts that don’t matter, while giving the user more control over the aspects that do.
Miller’s new Syncrowave 212 machine was largely designed around that exact goal: to reduce frustration while empowering the user. The Syncrowave 210 was a favorite amongst the TIG welding community, but its new successor offers some significant advantages.
Autoset for the Win
Amongst many of Miller's best-selling machines, Autoset technology stands out as a prominent feature. The reason for this is, to put it simply, Miller’s autoset technology just works so dang well.
For many welders, laying the perfect TIG bead can take years of practice. That challenge is further complicated when you have to dial in your settings. This is because it can be difficult to understand if a poor weld is being caused by your settings or your technique. A weld with the perfect technique will still turn out poorly without the right settings (and vice versa). We cannot tell you the number of times we’ve seen even veteran welders with decades of experience struggle to weld, not because of their technique, but because they just had a few of their settings off.
With the new Syncrowave 212, the autoset is easier than ever. Its color LCD display is much more intuitive than the old Syncrowave 210 control panel. When selecting autoset, the screen will ask you a series of questions. All you have to do is select the answer that matches what you’re doing, and the machine gives you the perfect recommended settings.
Once the Syncrowave 212 has set your ideal starting parameters, you can always go in and tweak the amperage. This way, you can always fine-tune your settings manually as needed.
The LCD screen was also a favorite feature of Chris from Weekender Solutions. Check out his video review below:
Complete Control Where You Want It
While the Syncrowave 212 has one of the best autoset features we’ve seen, you still have full control over the machine. In fact, if you’re a skilled TIG welder who knows exactly what settings you want, you don’t have to use the autoset at all.
The Syncrowave has a manual mode along with a Pro-Set feature. Pro-Set is different from Autoset in that with Pro-Set, you still manually adjust your parameters and then fine-tune them based on visual feedback from the machine. It’s basically the same idea as a backup camera for a car: You’re still in control, it just makes seeing what you’re doing easier and more effective.
The new LCD screen also allows you a lot of manual control. With the Syncrowave 212, you can adjust your AC balance, AC frequency, pulse control and more. This machine is capable of both AC and DC TIG welding, meaning you can TIG weld aluminum, stainless steel and steel.
Lighter, Smaller and Better
Despite having better features, the Syncrowave 212 is significantly more portable than the old Syncrowave 210. The old machine was so heavy that getting it from point A to point B could feel like transporting an elephant.
The new Syncrowave 212 only weighs 54 pounds. This makes moving it from job sites or around your workshop significantly easier than in the past. It also has quite a small footprint at just 17.5” Height x 11.25” Width x 21.5” Length. If those numbers mean nothing to you, it’s basically the size of a toaster oven or microwave.
Do You Need the Water Cooling Addition?
Welding Supplies from IOC offers a version of the 212 without a water cooling unit and another version with the water cooler. You might wonder, “Do I actually need the water cooling addition?” We’ll break down exactly what you’d get from the water-cooler, so you can decide which Syncrowave 212 version is right for you.
As a quick overview, every welding machine or accessory that experiences heat has a duty cycle. The duty cycle is basically how much “heat” that item can handle within a 10-minute period. So if your machine has a duty cycle of 60% at 100 amps, that means after using it for 6 minutes (60% of 10 minutes) at 100 amps, you must let it cool down for 4 minutes.
It’s not just welding machines that have duty cycles. Your TIG torch also has one. With the non-watercooled Syncrowave 212, your TIG torch has a duty cycle of 60% at 115 amps AC TIG welding. That means at 115 amps (AC), you can weld for 6 minutes continuously and then you have to let your torch rest for 4 minutes, or you risk damaging the internal components.
Now, let’s look at the duty cycle with the water cooler addition. The water-cooled TIG torch has a duty cycle of 100% at 180 amps AC TIG welding. That means the water-cooled torch can weld without stopping for up to 180 AC amps. Another nice benefit is that it keeps your torch cooler to the touch, making it more comfortable to weld for longer periods of time.
So is the water-cooled version of the Syncrowave 212 right for you? Do you often weld for long, continuous stretches at a time? If your paycheck or job performance is based on how much welding you’re able to complete, increasing your duty cycle can essentially add money to your pocket.
For some equipment, we tend to say, “Whether this machine is right for you truly depends on your situation."
However, this isn’t one of those situations. The Syncrowave 210 was a big favorite for many TIG welders. Now it’s gone, replaced by this new Syncrowave 212. In almost every way, the 212 is an upgrade over the 210, from the new screen to a lighter weight and smaller footprint. If you’re a Miller fan looking for a serious hobby or light-industrial TIG machine, you won’t find a better option than the new Syncrowave 212. To get the best price and customer service plus fast shipping, make sure you check out the Sycrowave 212 at Welding Supplies from IOC.
