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Thank you for the tips. Fronius is a Euro company and they’re growing in the US. I’ll definitely check them out. I’ve also thought about going with ESAB.

Sure. I have 2 that are barely functional as a lift TIG and no ability to stick weld with them.

How much you thinking

What are you planning to do with a broken welder? The parts alone cost more than the machine costs new.

I'd like to try and fix it and maybe solve why it happens to the STH and maybe prevent it from happening again

You must realize what you’re saying is insane. Miller has known about the issues for 8? years? And you’re thinking you can troubleshoot for Miller to help figure out what’s happening? $2,000 and it’s yours. Shipping is not included.

The machine comes with it instead of a foot controller.

I’m sure the 161 S is a good machine because it’s the simplest version. The 161 STH does, is supposed to do, way more capabilities than the “S” model. It’s apples vs apple pie with ice cream.

My understanding is that the 150 STH was produced over 8 years ago. If it’s still functioning it should be fine.

@@oldmarketforge9999 it work great just got it to learn how to tig with it, while doing research on it I came across this video and wasn't sure if there the same or anything like that but I appreciate your response back

@@Joseph-pd8phI’m glad you got an older machine. They are proven to work. Good luck with learning TIG. It’s relatively easy, just stick with it. My little piece of advice is that if you ever take a break from it, even for a few weeks or months, do some practice before jumping back in. And! With every change in material thickness, position!, material type, and machine, do some practice lines first. It’s easy to forget the specifics for each application.

My understanding is that the STL is good.

I literally just bought the STL and it's on the way. I started to have second thoughts. Hopefully it'll be fine.

@@NCSCQit’s a different machine. The STH has TIG high frequency, an additional board inside that is apparently the reason the STH fails. If you have any issues warranty wise in the first year or second, contact miller, they won’t do anything about it but at least you can make your case.

Are you excusing the manufacturers for producing machines that break?

This isn’t a cheap Chinese hobby machine. If most have issues like you said then why does that list include a $2,500 machine made by one of the most reputable companies in the industry? 95% of the inverter machines could be failing and that other 5% of the machines that last well after their warranty period should include this very unit.

@@jayquick6520sorry, I’m not sure what your point is. I’ve had experience with 3 of these machines Maxstar 161 STH and I’ve spoken with my local Miller warranty repair guy numerous times over the years about this particular machine as well as inverters in general, mostly Miller. My understanding is that the “cheap Chinese machines” are not that bad considering they cost a fraction of what Miller charges and they apparently last as long or longer than Miller inverters.

Yeah, I’m sorry about rambling. I cut the video down from what it was originally. Obviously it wasn’t enough. Sorry I wasted your time, have a couple more drinks and you’ll forget about the video.

I know. I’m a slow learner.

My understanding is that the 161S is a good machine. Which is crazy because when the STH breaks I can’t even stick weld with it.

140 and 150 maxstar all models are great never fail with my 3. Had them 10 yrs to 17 yrs now. Rocker switch on the back was the only issues for me. I just hard wired it. 161 hours s junk get 150 if you can find them

Nice! Keep practicing. The 161 STH is great until it breaks.

Well, first of all, when I had staff, we’d have multiple jobs going at the same time. Secondly, this was over a period of 5 ish years so I had to buy another after the last one broke and was unusable.

Thanks. They look like great machines. However, I don’t see a finger tip control.

@@oldmarketforge9999 yes the prime weld provides Finger control and foot control

I’m not sure what you’re saying is the point of my video. My 3 different machines were all purchased new and all experiences with them were less than 3 years from purchasing them new.

You should have a local authorized repair service that can help you understand your options.

@@oldmarketforge9999 I did!!!! They said Miller doesn’t support previous lines of their own product or offer wiring schematics to help local techs keep the older machines going. Not event firmware update support. Not just one local shop either, multiple approved shops!!! Who knows when they will introduce a new machine instantly turning your machines unserviceable.

Thanks for the recommendation. Do you know if they offer a fingertip control instead of foot pedal?

@@oldmarketforge9999 it comes with a finger trigger and a foot pedal I have my finger trigger on a air cooled torch for tacking.

I thought I did explain it as much as possible. I cut out a lot of the original video to make it much shorter… I’m sorry, I don’t know the technical details and terminology. Basically, there are 3 boards in the machine. Miller service doesn’t “repair” the boards, they replace them. I believe it was usually one of 2 boards that would go bad causing a loss of HF or an error that prevented the machine from working at all. Miller would send boards until the issues were resolved, Miller usually sent the cheapest board first and then the next expensive and then the most expensive.

When the HF is not working does the lift arc still work ??

Sometimes. It seemed to depend on which board was bad whether the lift arc function would keep working or not. A few times lift arc wouldn’t work and a few times it would before I took it in to get serviced.

Are you a Miller employee?

@@oldmarketforge9999 Nope, just curious, also in the video you never actually stated what the malfunction was. I watched it multiple times before my comment.

I don’t have any experience with the ESAB 200. I’ve heard good things about it.

Mine Esab 200 pro just broke after 7 month’s using HF,no gas comming out of machine

@@vlatkokrklec8733 yea i have the esab 205 ac/dc and is working but the welds are inconstant I’m having issues thinking on getting rid of it

Absolutely nothing wrong with the Precision TIG from Lincoln. It’s about 5 years old and I’ve never had an issue with it. I use it frequently for TIG and Stick and I’ve never had any problems.

Thank you for the second opinion.

Hello Mark. I don’t think the STL has the same issue. The STL doesn’t have high frequency which seems to be the problem that Miller can’t resolve.

Hi Emily, the North Ridge of Spearhead is rated 5.6, it’s a technical climb. The keyhole route on Long’s Peak isn’t a technical climb, it’s a hiking route.

Way harder! Spearhead requires the ability to climb 5.8 moves if you get a little off route.

Si

You’re welcome. I’ve been meaning to post something like that for years. I kept holding out hope that they would resolve the issue with each repair.

I would be using it and sometimes it would produce an error code but most of the time the high frequency would just stop working. The gas solenoid would start but no arc would initiate. Most of the time I could sort of scratch start an arc but that was just a temporary fix until I could get it to the warranty repair shop. Both machines are now just scratch start machines since they’re both out of warranty and it would cost more to fix them than buying a new machine.

How much to fix each one I was going to cave inn on the miller multimatic 255 ..

@@fleetwood9142 each time it was under warranty. They’re both not working properly and to pay to fix them would cost about as much as buying new ones. I haven’t heard much about the multimatic breaking. As long as it’s under warranty it’s should be free to fix.