YES! Finally it's here!

[Winky]

An old saying, practice, practice, practice. It takes time. And A/O does not always make aluminum come easy on TIG.

I would bump up the post flow or at least stay over then end of the weld and let the gas shield it at the end of the weld (one you release the power). Looks like you are pulling away when the arc dies.

You will want many beads to get the feel and see how aluminum melts and flows, not quite as colorful and clear as steel.

Keep at it man.

Oops! That's what I've been doing ... as soon as I've let go of the trigger I've been pulling up my helmet to look at my weld ... my bad ... anxious to see what I've done so been jumping the gun,wow this is fun.

[undercut]

Oops! That's what I've been doing ... as soon as I've let go of the trigger I've been pulling up my helmet to look at my weld ... my bad ... anxious to see what I've done so been jumping the gun,wow this is fun.

Post flow is your friend, Winky! On the newest 200dx I believe you have pretty much all the bells and whistles. pre-flow, post-flow and arc-force if you stick weld. The number of dials was pretty daunting to me at first but once you see the power of them and how they can help you ..... ... not that I have one, just reading.

[everlastsupport]

Oops! That's what I've been doing ... as soon as I've let go of the trigger I've been pulling up my helmet to look at my weld ... my bad ... anxious to see what I've done so been jumping the gun,wow this is fun.

Looks like you can run a little more heat. The white haze (etch) you can see on the far left weld is the cleaning (right yellow knob).

[Winky]

Looks like you can run a little more heat. The white haze (etch) you can see on the far left weld is the cleaning (right yellow knob).

Thanks ... I'm done for the day but will make note of it.

[Winky]

Post flow is your friend, Winky! On the newest 200dx I believe you have pretty much all the bells and whistles. pre-flow, post-flow and arc-force if you stick weld. The number of dials was pretty daunting to me at first but once you see the power of them and how they can help you ..... ... not that I have one, just reading.

I played with the machine most of the day yesterday and all of the issues I was having was me ... first I had the pre flow set to high and thought there was an arc start problem ... then I had the AC balance way out of whack not realizing that the settings were backwards to other brands (had it at 65% when it should have been 35% then I had the down slope to long and was pulling off while the arc was still going ... having only used stick, mig and a no frills DC TIG getting used to all the control is a little intimidating at first. buy the end of the day things were looking much better ... this thing is GREAT!!!

[everlastsupport]

And the arc start problems, I agree with Mark on the gas being way too high. Why everyong mentioned drop it to 8-10 range. That will do for about anything, I run down until I see it is too low and bump in up a little and done.

Glad you are on the right track, 2 two, we expect to see perfect TIG welds

[Winky]

And the arc start problems, I agree with Mark on the gas being way too high. Why everyong mentioned drop it to 8-10 range. That will do for about anything, I run down until I see it is too low and bump in up a little and done.

Glad you are on the right track, 2 two, we expect to see perfect TIG welds

Yes, I took down the gas flow (I think Rod touched on that too) having no problems with the arc start now ... next step ... try out the pedal ... Everlast has gr8 machines ... and this forum's members are outstanding too.

[everlastsupport]

Yes, I took down the gas flow (I think Rod touched on that too) having no problems with the arc start now ... next step ... try out the pedal ... Everlast has gr8 machines ... and this forum's members are outstanding too.

Glad you like the machine, us and our extended team. A lot of smart guys on here for sure. They beat Mark and I do the punch a lot and that make us look great.

[Winky]

I know these don't look all that gr8 ... but no one can say I haven't been practicing ... I have to go get some more argon now lol. This is just a fraction ... I've been stacking beads all over the place.

[undercut]

My, my, you have been very busy! How's the welder's performance? Everything you expected? Certainly looks like you are having fun.

Are you getting some aluminum time in because it is new or because your next project will need it?

[everlastsupport]

I know these don't look all that gr8 ... but no one can say I haven't been practicing ... I have to go get some more argon now lol. This is just a fraction ... I've been stacking beads all over the place.

Winkey, I can say you are 100% right lol. It takes time if you jump into the harder stuff.

I would think about going back to steel and practice and get the feel of TIG there, then back to aluminum. You can see a lot better with steel and get the feel. Aluminum is not easy.

What size argon tank? 125 will go fast when you get started.

[Winky]

Winkey, I can say you are 100% right lol. It takes time if you jump into the harder stuff.

I would think about going back to steel and practice and get the feel of TIG there, then back to aluminum. You can see a lot better with steel and get the feel. Aluminum is not easy.

What size argon tank? 125 will go fast when you get started.

Steel was the first thing I tried it on and it looked great from the start ... I've used DCEN before with a little 130 amp Harbor Freight unit so I'm not completely new to tig. I'm using an 85 tank it was half MT when I started and I just got back with a full one. You are right about seeing better w/ steel ... that's part of the issue I'm having, seeing when the puddle forms and adding my filler at the right time. I think at some point I'm going to add a gas lens so I can bring my tungsten out a little further. The machine is performing flawlessly ... I'm not planning to start my next project with aluminum I just want to get well used to it before I do; in fact I practiced yesterday morning for about two hours then made an art piece with steel just to take a break from the aluminum and find my center. I am finding aluminum less and less aggravating than the first few attempts.

[everlastsupport]

Ahh. Then sounds like you are on the right track and just need more table time. The smaller tank and TIG, you might want to look into a 125 or 250. Some reason TIG just sucks up the gas (for us anyway). But it is a blast for sure.

Keep up the good work, looking forward to seeing the new art. Car or bike? Something evil bwhahahaha..

[Winky]

This will probably be my last post on this thread … some of you are probably saying … it’s about time ... lol.
This, my first purchase of an Everlast product has been quite the adventure. I haven’t tried out the pedal yet but that’s me learn everything the hard way ... then when I introduce stuff that makes it easier it’s like WOW. That’s how I started welding in general first stick, then flux core, then Mig , then Ozy/acetylene the DCEN now AC/DC TIG … again the hard way 2T. I know my aluminum welds look like fido’s butt but it will all come around eventually. I am already figuring out things and that too is how my learning process works … I did the reading; I watched the videos, researched and contemplated but when it all comes down to brass tacks the way I get things going is by jumping in and … sink or swim; a few things I already figured out … aluminum goes much better when you pre heat, I’m using too large of a tungsten for the amount of current I’m using and I need to upgrade to a larger gas tank. In closing I want to say that so far my 200DX has lived up to my expectations and then some … as soon as I start taking full advantage of the tremendous amount of control offered I know my welding will make strides … everything I’ve owned to this point has been bare bones. Saturday when I took a break from my aluminum practice and spent a half an hour doing a steel art piece just to find my center … this is what I made … sick art from a sick mind … LMAO.

[Winky]

Well ... I've been using my 200DX for a couple months now and I just wanted to say it has lived up to my expectations quite well ... although I haven't had much time to use it over the 12 days or so ... been real busy with other work ... now I need to get my Buell ready for the AHDRA NW Nationals coming up in a couple weeks ... I will have some time available to me next week to work with with it ... just wanted to keep everyone informed about how this fine machine is working for me.

[2tailfins]

Please keep us updated with your luck with the 200DX- I was looking at the 250EX but it looks like they are updating that model due to the problems- The 210EX looks good but it came out in March and it still hasent been added to the US site.
I like the 200DX also because it isnt all "Digital display" which like every microwave oven etc with similar displays dosent seem to hold up.

[Rodsmachineshop]

are you sure your on the 250ex have not seen any problems with this welder , sure your not thinking of the the 250ext instead ,

[everlastsupport]

Probably the 250 EXT and left off the T. Like the avatar Rod. Last one was hard on the eyes.

[Rodsmachineshop]

what you didn't like my tootoo i was wearing lol

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what you didn't like my tootoo i was wearing lol

Oh gosh no .... didn't want to say anything but now that you mention it ... it was a bit ... "disturbing" ... LOL