Hi, new to the forum and am looking to purchase a tig/stick welder in a few weeks

My name is Ed and I'm from Ohio. I keep my certifications up for structural and sanitary welding, I like to tig stainless steel piping but really don't do a lot of structural stuff now that I'm getting a little older and don't like climbing in the pipe racks much anymore. I have been looking to buy a trailerable sailboat and this is one of the reasons that I want a welder for home use, you can find a lot of sailboats that don't have trailers that people are tired of paying slip fees for but if someone doesn't want to be at that particular lake its hard to sell. I am looking to build a nice trailer for a 25 - 27 foot sailboat, I am not going to trailer it everytime I use it just to bring it home in the winter to do maint. and maybe a different lake on occasion. My dad was a boilermaker and he had me out in the driveway with a little red lincoln buzz box when I was little learning to weld go karts and mini bikes, he always said that if I could learn to stick two pieces of metal together properly I would always have a good paying job, he was right. I am interested in the everlast welders because of the cost first and I really need a tig/stick machaine that I know I am not going to be using everyday so I don't want to have a lot of cash tied up in it. I also do want the ability to weld aluminum if the need arises. I am looking to buy a 200dx or the 250ex I will have some questions as I go that I hope you guys can help me with. I know that they have just made some changes to the 200dx making it a dual voltage machaine and I think they changed to foot pedal configuration but I'm not sure if it is a dual voltage machine or is it being offered in a dedicated 110 and dedicated 220 machine?? I also have some questions about using a different tig torch for these units and the fittings you would need.
Thanks,
Ed

Welcome Ed.
I am also a new member.

glad to hear from you, Markcuda, hope I can learn something here and get some questions answered.

Welcome Ed! The dual voltage machines are both 110 and 220, and automatically sense incoming voltage. Torch connections at the machine end are DINSE type connectors.

Great that you already TIG stainless and have a stick background too- both the 200DX and 250EX offer stick as well as TIG. Have you done trailer work before? Most often a factory built trailer is cheaper than a home built because the factories get materials in volume (and thereby a discount) and have production figured out well in advance. I don't mean to spit in the wishing well- making one on your own is certainly worthwhile if you already have the steel or aluminum on hand, for instance, or if you just take it on as a labor of love and be able to say "I made this" at the end of the day.

Welcome again, and to Markcuda as well! Think about joining the current contest- time is getting a little tight but you might still make it!
http://www.everlastgenerators.com/fo...bruary-28-2013

I think I will be the one asking question ;)

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Originally Posted by Markcuda

I think I will be the one asking question ;)

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Fire away! Welcome, Markcuda! What brings you to Everlast... do you weld now, or would you like to?

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Markcuda! What brings you to Everlast... do you weld now, or would you like to?

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http://www.everlastgenerators.com/fo...l-new-guy-here

I have owned The PowerTig 185 and now own the 200DX both are great machines and will do a wide variety of welding jobs, My first Everlast machine was the 185 which was tig only or i would probably still have it. I moved up to the 200DX to retire my old miller stick welder and gain the pulse function on the 200DX. Both are good machines and you will get a lot of support from forum members on suggestions and settings for the machines. With your background you should be just fine with either machine and will get to enter the field of aluminum welding with its little quirks and picky settings. Aluminum is like painting a show car clean clean clean and everything will be just fine.

Good Luck on your Decision

Both the 200dx and the 250ex look like really good welders and there are many owners of both here that have been very happy with their purchases. Do you know what the thickest material you might be welding (steel and aluminum)?

I know that it would probably be cheaper and I think that you are right about it being a labor of love thing. I don't know if you get on you tube very often but there was a guy on there who built a trailer for a 27' C and C sailboat that I thought was one of the best designs that I've seen in a while and I contacted him to see if he cared if I built one similar and he didn't seem like he had a problem with it. I don't like to steal other peoples ideas without asking but I don't have time to make all the mistakes myself and I like to learn from what other people have proven works. You are right and if I run across a trailer that I like before I start mine I would surely go that way. As far as the tig torch goes do you use the one that they show, it just seems a little large and that it may be hard to get into some areas, I like to use a foot pedal and I was reading the review for the new 2013 200dx that they changed the foot pedal to be more like I'm used to where you set the max amps at the panel and when you step on the pedal all the way it holds those amps and as you let off on it the amps decrease as you pull out. The foot pedal and the dual voltage are big plus for me but I also like the upslope on the 250ex for startup on aluminum???? I will have to make up my mind as I listen to input here. Thanks for any feedback, Ed.

Probably the thickest mild steel that I would be welding is 1/4" and as far as aluminum it would probably be thin stuff, maybe pontoons, possibly repair a boat trailer for friends?? The only reason I would go with the 250 over the 200 is the additional settings, I like the reduced startup amps and think it would be a big plus for aluminum not sure though how often I would ever weld aluminum but I would hate to have a buddy bring me something and have to tell him I couldn't help him and they both have the pulse function I like for thinner stuff

I looked at the machines that just tig and I agree with you that the tig/stick seems to be the way to go. If I have my choice I will tig it if I can, just don't trust what they put in the coatings on those welding rods but I guess as long as I've been breathing it now is not the time to start worrying about it, but there are times that you need to stick weld something heavy. Did you get the dual voltage 200dx and does it have the new type of foot pedal. I saw on the 2013 review of the 200dx that they changed it to where you set the max amps at the machine and when you have the pedal depressed all the way you get those amps and as you let off on the pedal the amps go down as you pull out. I have never used a machine where the pedal set the amps and over rode the panel but I guess it is what you get used to, I used a tig torch with a slide control for years and when it broke the gave me a new one with a thumb wheel and I hated it took me months to get used to it. Thanks in advance for any feedback on the machines, Ed.

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Originally Posted by mrflashlite

As far as the tig torch goes do you use the one that they show, it just seems a little large and that it may be hard to get into some areas

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I think this question may be directed to me- I should tell you I'm a TIG newbie and still learning, and I'm using the stock 26 torch that arrived with the machine. I haven't encountered a "torch is too big" or "won't fit in tight spaces" situation. Yet!

The dual voltage *is* very convenient- the IMIG 200 is also dual voltage, and great for portability, although there is a reduction in duty cycle you may want to consider or be aware of. The 250EX will weld thicker materials, and requires a water cooled torch and cooling system to do so.

Welcome to the forum Ed ... I have a 200DX and think it's awesome ... I think at I may invest in a flex torch and some gas lenses in the near future.