Buying a welder
#161
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any suggestions on a mig? I went to eastwood and tested out the 175, for my first time laying a bead it didn't look to bad. Now that they have a retail store in Illinois i could always run and get parts if needed. Are there any other good knock offs? This will be for light hobby usage. I have 220v. The guy at Eastwood said they have a new 250 mig coming out soon it was at sema but they are not sure when or how much.
#162
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Well, as a result of Hot Wheels' mig thread, I ended up with a TIG, so I thought I'd post about it here...
Bought an AHP AlphaTIG 200X.
AC/DC 200A, 110/220
$760 + shipping ($30 for me) on Amazon
I was looking at the Eastwood TIG when it was on sale, but this one has a little more adjustability for about the same $$, still has a 3year warranty. I was torn over the great customer service provided by Eastwood, compared to an unknown from AHP, but decided to pull the trigger.
Welder showed up in 3 days, and this morning I picked up a gas bottle, splurged on an HF cart and fired it up. I know the first thing you're supposed to do with a new welder is build the cart yourself, but I did that with my MIG years ago. I really didn't want to take the time to do it with TIG, and when you figure the time and materials... well **** it, I just bought one.
Machine:
![Name: DSC_0114_zps4a6b7320.jpg
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![](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Bronco/DSC_0119_zps171cc71f.jpg)
![Name: DSC_0120_zpsa8a7d381.jpg
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On the cart:
![](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Bronco/DSC_0123_zps86a64f38.jpg)
So, I've built a bunch of stuff with MIG, but I've never TIG welded, and haven't gas welded since Jr. High (Carter was in office!). Today, I mostly wanted to make sure the welder worked, so I was just trying a few butt welds with some scrap 3/16" flat stock I had laying around. I used a 3/32" 2% Thoriated Tungsten (Red), ground to a point. Top amps varied from 100-130, as I was playing around with the settings.
Top left is the first arc I struck with the machine. No filler, just getting a feel. Bottom right is a little more power, with filler rod. I was weaving around a bit, and lifted the torch too fast. Bottom left I was trying to move a little faster, but still lifted too fast.
![](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Bronco/DSC_0125_zps9628af1d.jpg)
Same setup in this one, far left is no filler. I think I may be moving too slowly, 'cause it seems I'm getting too much heat into the piece. What say the experts? How am I doing?
![Name: DSC_0126_zps65dcba34.jpg
Views: 260
Size: 63.8 KB](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/fabulous-fabrication-96/184495d1501208003-buying-welder-dsc_0126_zps65dcba34.jpg)
I already LOVE this thing. It's so much more controlled than MIG, I can tell I'm going to have a lot of fun with this!
Bought an AHP AlphaTIG 200X.
AC/DC 200A, 110/220
$760 + shipping ($30 for me) on Amazon
I was looking at the Eastwood TIG when it was on sale, but this one has a little more adjustability for about the same $$, still has a 3year warranty. I was torn over the great customer service provided by Eastwood, compared to an unknown from AHP, but decided to pull the trigger.
Welder showed up in 3 days, and this morning I picked up a gas bottle, splurged on an HF cart and fired it up. I know the first thing you're supposed to do with a new welder is build the cart yourself, but I did that with my MIG years ago. I really didn't want to take the time to do it with TIG, and when you figure the time and materials... well **** it, I just bought one.
Machine:
![Name: DSC_0114_zps4a6b7320.jpg
Views: 386
Size: 66.2 KB](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/fabulous-fabrication-96/184492d1501208003-buying-welder-dsc_0114_zps4a6b7320.jpg)
![Name: DSC_0117_zpsb9a4f3f7.jpg
Views: 511
Size: 50.0 KB](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/fabulous-fabrication-96/184493d1501208003-buying-welder-dsc_0117_zpsb9a4f3f7.jpg)
![](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Bronco/DSC_0119_zps171cc71f.jpg)
![Name: DSC_0120_zpsa8a7d381.jpg
Views: 402
Size: 43.7 KB](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/fabulous-fabrication-96/184494d1501208003-buying-welder-dsc_0120_zpsa8a7d381.jpg)
On the cart:
![](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Bronco/DSC_0123_zps86a64f38.jpg)
So, I've built a bunch of stuff with MIG, but I've never TIG welded, and haven't gas welded since Jr. High (Carter was in office!). Today, I mostly wanted to make sure the welder worked, so I was just trying a few butt welds with some scrap 3/16" flat stock I had laying around. I used a 3/32" 2% Thoriated Tungsten (Red), ground to a point. Top amps varied from 100-130, as I was playing around with the settings.
Top left is the first arc I struck with the machine. No filler, just getting a feel. Bottom right is a little more power, with filler rod. I was weaving around a bit, and lifted the torch too fast. Bottom left I was trying to move a little faster, but still lifted too fast.
![](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Bronco/DSC_0125_zps9628af1d.jpg)
Same setup in this one, far left is no filler. I think I may be moving too slowly, 'cause it seems I'm getting too much heat into the piece. What say the experts? How am I doing?
![Name: DSC_0126_zps65dcba34.jpg
Views: 260
Size: 63.8 KB](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/fabulous-fabrication-96/184495d1501208003-buying-welder-dsc_0126_zps65dcba34.jpg)
I already LOVE this thing. It's so much more controlled than MIG, I can tell I'm going to have a lot of fun with this!
![Party Kitty](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/smilies/birthday[1].gif)
#164
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Roda, i am no expert and only have a few months experience, but i believe the grayish color weld is either too much heat (slow speed or high setting) or not enough gas.
I agree on the control. I always felt like mig was rushed without being able to really work the puddle. With tig, i can get just the right amount of heat with the peddle and really watch the puddle. Tig has made me a more confident mig welder even though the techniques are way different.
I agree on the control. I always felt like mig was rushed without being able to really work the puddle. With tig, i can get just the right amount of heat with the peddle and really watch the puddle. Tig has made me a more confident mig welder even though the techniques are way different.
#165
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So I played around with some aluminum just to make sure the AC side of the machine worked. I had the settings FUBAR'd starting out and melted a couple of tungstens (had the AC Balance way too high), and uglified some aluminum before I got in the ball park. The below pic is 1/8" aluminum (unkown Ace Hardware flat stock), 3/32 Lanthanated tungsten (gold), with 5356 1/16" filler rod. On ~120A, 120Hz and 35% on the AC Balance. Cratered the finish, but I was pretty pleased considering this was around 35 minutes into my aluminum welding experience... ![Noob](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/smilies/noob.gif)
I'm now wishing I hadn't thrown out a bunch of scrap pieces a few months ago... I can see I'm going to be doing a LOT of practicing!![Loser](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/smilies/sign0058.gif)
![Noob](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/smilies/noob.gif)
I'm now wishing I hadn't thrown out a bunch of scrap pieces a few months ago... I can see I'm going to be doing a LOT of practicing!
![Loser](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/smilies/sign0058.gif)
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#170
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The 2015 AHP has freq adjust on A/C.
Seems like the comparable Everlast is the PowerTIG 200DV at ~$1350, almost double the price. I bought the AHP, but the Everlast was out of my budget...
Here's some more practice welds with the AHP on 1/8" mystery aluminum...
![Name: DSC_0138_zpsc2c9646a.jpg
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I'm still having some issues with too much heat in the material by the end of the run... need more practice...
Seems like the comparable Everlast is the PowerTIG 200DV at ~$1350, almost double the price. I bought the AHP, but the Everlast was out of my budget...
Here's some more practice welds with the AHP on 1/8" mystery aluminum...
![Name: DSC_0138_zpsc2c9646a.jpg
Views: 294
Size: 38.3 KB](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/fabulous-fabrication-96/184480d1501207969-buying-welder-dsc_0138_zpsc2c9646a.jpg)
I'm still having some issues with too much heat in the material by the end of the run... need more practice...
#173
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Cool, what is the difference between the 200X and 200DX? I looked up the 200DX and the layout of the control panel is different.
And would you happen to know what the duty cycle on these things is? I just want to make sure that when I do thick aluminum getting close to 200AMP, it does not $hit the bed.
And would you happen to know what the duty cycle on these things is? I just want to make sure that when I do thick aluminum getting close to 200AMP, it does not $hit the bed.
#178
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Currently shopping for a welder.
Found these two so far.
PowerTIG 200DX - TIG Welders | Everlast Generators
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Eastwood...158502&vxp=mtr
Why is the Everlast $500 more?
Found these two so far.
PowerTIG 200DX - TIG Welders | Everlast Generators
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Eastwood...158502&vxp=mtr
Why is the Everlast $500 more?
#179
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I ended up getting the PowerPro 205s.
The Eastwood is a more simple machine, but it has the advantage of working on 110v (if you're doing light duty stuff) or 220v. The Everlast is 220v only, but has a bunch more features, like adjustable cleaning for AC, pulse, upslope and downslope control. The Everlast also has a 5 year warranty (why I chose it) vs 3 years for the Eastwood (also Miller and Lincoln are 3 years).
The PowerPro205 is more expensive, but I plan on getting a compressor at some point and I've heard good things about the plasma cutter part.
The Eastwood is a more simple machine, but it has the advantage of working on 110v (if you're doing light duty stuff) or 220v. The Everlast is 220v only, but has a bunch more features, like adjustable cleaning for AC, pulse, upslope and downslope control. The Everlast also has a 5 year warranty (why I chose it) vs 3 years for the Eastwood (also Miller and Lincoln are 3 years).
The PowerPro205 is more expensive, but I plan on getting a compressor at some point and I've heard good things about the plasma cutter part.
#180
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Simadre Plasma Cutter CT5200D with Foot Pedal 25 Cons 50A 200A Welder 110 220V | eBay
Or something like that. Too good to be true?
Or something like that. Too good to be true?