Been thinking about a 160 STH instead of a 200DX...

[ncsugrad2006]

So, I had originally been intending to buy one of the new model 200DX's with the 25% discount I received from one of the contests, but have been leaning more and more towards the 160 STH now after seeing some of the weldingtipsandtricks videos using it. I may just buy it at the best price Oleg will give me and save my 25% discount for later in case I ever want to upgrade to the 200DX.

My concern is the 160 STH really may do everything I ever really need, and be a fraction of the cost. The negative of course is that the 200DX WILL do anything I would ever need, and comes with a foot pedal so there's no additional expense required there but of course the welder costs quite a bit more.

Certainly I can't be the only person who has thought about this before--any suggestions from anyone else on here? I would only be welding small things around the shop (quite honestly I don't really NEED a TIG welder, but have always wanted to learn how to use one so I figured why not?) and can't remember a time I have needed AC. But, with the 25% discount a 200DX gets quite a bit cheaper so it's a tough call.

Suggestions/thoughts/experiences??

[ShaneJackson]

I'm trying to make the decision myself... let me make it a little harder for you
You could always get a Itig200 for $525 with the 25% discount or get it off amazon for $580 (shipped, not sure how much everlast charges on shipping...) but no foot pedal with it...
OR
get a 185 micro for $637 with the 25% discount... but still no foot pedal.....
OR
spend the $900 with the 25% discount and get the 200DX

If you are going to spend the $150 for a foot pedal anyways..... well it's like spending $750 for the 200DX comparing apples to apples.... I'd probably go with the 200DX

[performance]

The 160 sth is a DC only unit. Big difference.
I'd get the 185 myself. If you buy the unit, you can get the pedal at a discount.

[ncsugrad2006]

I'm trying to make the decision myself... let me make it a little harder for you
You could always get a Itig200 for $525 with the 25% discount or get it off amazon for $580 (shipped, not sure how much everlast charges on shipping...) but no foot pedal with it...
OR
get a 185 micro for $637 with the 25% discount... but still no foot pedal.....
OR
spend the $900 with the 25% discount and get the 200DX

If you are going to spend the $150 for a foot pedal anyways..... well it's like spending $750 for the 200DX comparing apples to apples.... I'd probably go with the 200DX

Yeah, decisions decisions!

The 160 sth is a DC only unit. Big difference.
I'd get the 185 myself. If you buy the unit, you can get the pedal at a discount.

Yeah def a big difference--I'm just not sure I NEED AC. I'll email Oleg at some point and get prices on the different options. I'm sure I've about driven him crazy having him quote everything for me already, lol

[Alaska]

In my opnion, welders are like trucks, guns and chainsaws - can you ever get one too big? Several years ago, I bought a small mig thinking "I am only going to do some small stuff." Boy was I wrong, I was always trying to weld larger metal maxing my little machine out. Needless to say, I sold it and bought a 220 machine with 250 amps. Now I can run a spool gun, and weld anything. When the gas prices went up a few years ago, I sold my 1 ton diesel and boutght a Toyota Tacoma to "save on gas", problem was I could not haul anything with it and it drove me nuts. Simple things like putting a sheet of plywood in the bed and closing the gate sure are missed in one of the mini trucks. Now I have another diesel - I should have kept the last one. So when I decided to get a TIG I went straight for the 250EX with the cooler even though it was a lot of money for me to shell out. I will probably run it at half power most of the time, but if I want to get after some heavy steel or do a big aluminum project I have the machine for the job.

Think it out on your own and realize you too will at some point want to weld something larger than you are planning on now. I would urge you to save your money and use the coupons to get the biggest machine you can afford. Buy once and don't look back.

[SeanMurphy265]

You could go with the 185 micro and the 140st (for stick welding). I owned the 200dx and I think that is a solid machine. From all the research I did before I made my first purchase from Everlast the PT200DX had little to no complaints. I never had one problem with the welder. It was a solid tig package and a solid stick welder. I could see have the 160 if you are starting to learn, or if you need a good machine for out in the field. If you weld enough eventually your going to need AC tig welding capabilities. The only Everlast machines I am not a fan is the multi purpose (tig, stick, and plasma) units, but there are several people who have them and love them, and would not own anything different. The tig units are all good solid units.

[ncsugrad2006]

It really sounds like I may should just be patient & hold off until I can get the 200DX, but we shall see.

[EchoSixMike]

The 160 STH is multivoltage and so works better from a portable standpoint. I'm sorta in the same boat you are, I'm using the 160STH as a portable repair unit, and am going to get a 200DX for a home workshop unit. I'm probably going to put a TIG torch on my Lincoln PM300 one of these days too, so I have a large DC TIG at my workbench at work. S/F....Ken M

[cbmkr]

I have the 185 Micro it is a very nice machine , simple to setup (after you get used to it), and does a great job on 1/4" Aluminum , But it would be nice for me if it had the Stick capability ,as my 36 year old Miller Thunderbolt has seen better days.( Who knows how many 50 pound boxes of rod it saw doing repair work on the farm) I probably should have purchased the 200DX just to have the Stick feature and a few more adjustments but what i purchased i serving my purpose just fine for now.

I was just thinking about the 250 Linde Multi use Heliarc , Stick ,Mig machine i learned on back in the early 1970's you could put 15 or 20 micro 185's inside that huge old monster. These new machines doing basically the same job in a different type of process have come a long way.

[Rambozo]

I have the 185 Micro it is a very nice machine , simple to setup (after you get used to it), and does a great job on 1/4" Aluminum , But it would be nice for me if it had the Stick capability...

Have you ever tried stick on that unit? It is after all a constant current power source. I know it would be lacking things like hot start and arc force, but I wonder how well it would do anyway.

[cbmkr]

I noticed in the operation instructions it showed welding holder optional, if it would work i would try it, maybe Mark ,Oleg or Ray would give some advice on adding stick to the machine,My old thunderbolt would be a bad boy with hot start and arc force.I will probably just use what i have until it quits.

[everlastsupport]

It really depends on what you plan on doing.

Good advice from Alaska, you can never go too big.

Also, Ken M as well (more like me), I too have the 160STH (portable multi-voltage, steel only) and 250EX (could be a 200DX for that matter like him) to cover the in-house stuff including aluminum.

Mark mentioned 185 (fair amps, AC and DC) and foot pedal option. Sort of a middle ground and the price is really good, only one unit required.

Again it is really what you plan to do. That being said, always go a little bigger. Because you will grow into the bigger, not the smaller.

Once your friends find out you have a welder. Well. Prepare to make some cash and plan on some aluminum in there too.

[MoparCar]

I'd do the 185 at minimum so you have AC capability and the 200dx if it's within reach budget wise and you want stick. Especially the new version since the pedal function is corrected. That 185 with a 25% discount is a very good deal. Actually both are, but the 185 is very budget friendly for the features compared to the other blue 185 on the market with very little adjustably! You should be happy with either, but get AC if you can afford it.