250 EXT Updates?

[DVA]

So I tried to call about the 250 EXT last week and have recieved no call back. This about sums up the latest updates:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8E_zMLCRNg

[Rambozo]

Why is the main 250EXT thread locked?

[DVA]

Why is the main 250EXT thread locked?

That is a good question.

[3m-11]

That is a good question.

Agreed.

Even a "they're working on it but no progress since the last update" would be better than no information at all.

[todmorg]

Agreed.

Even a "they're working on it but no progress since the last update" would be better than no information at all.

Is the 250EXT fix still being researched, or have they given up on it?

[X83]

I gave up and just had them refund my payment.

[Oleg]

I gave up and just had them refund my payment.

Factory is working on it .. once new update will be available main thread will be unlocked

[3m-11]

Todd;
on a number of occasions during your experimentation it seems like you managed to get your 250EXT working well. Could you kindly tell us the state that your machine was in when it was working?

thanks,
3M-11

[Mike J]

Todd;
on a number of occasions during your experimentation it seems like you managed to get your 250EXT working well. Could you kindly tell us the state that your machine was in when it was working?

thanks,
3M-11

I am not sure what you are getting at here - we had an initial design that sort-of worked, and a series of fixes which did not solve all the problems, and each problem solved seems to unveil a new one. That went on for months, and then Oleg had to make the call to pull it out of circulation, and I am sure its going to be tested to death before it comes available again.

I had an opportunity to get another welder that was a deal I could not resist, so I have also given up on this particular welder (for now) and did the refund route. It will be interesting to see how this all works out in the end though

Cheers,

Mike

[3m-11]

Hi Oleg,
any updates on the 250 EXT fix? Can you assure us that the factory is continuing to work on it?

best,
3M-11

[DVA]

No update?

The factory needs to look into stick welding also. The 250 EXT does not have a good hot start at all, and it is hard to a stick fired up.

[Topaz32]

I would like an update also. It will be a year before we know it and the problems are not solved.

[Mike J]

I do not think they are "problem solving" anymore but redesigning and testing the crap out of it (my guess). I gave up waiting, so cashed out my deposit and moved on, but am still interested to see how this all turns out. My prediction without any basis in fact? 250EXT production and general availability earliest mid 2013. This is not that much different than Miller, their 280DX has been in the works for years, was announced long time ago, and they are completely mum on its availability. Maybe we will hear an announcement at Fabtech 2013. I think Oleg is going to follow the same technique of Miller's, Everlast's rep took a kicking on the way this went, so it makes sense to remain quiet about it until is REALLY ready.

I hope all the guys who have 250EXT's have been taken care of, little word of this on the list.

Its too bad, that machine would have been a perfect blend of power and features, and a killer sales vehicle for Everlast. As long as the 280DX does not come out, they still have that window.

Cheers,

Mike

[DVA]

I do not think they are "problem solving" anymore but redesigning and testing the crap out of it (my guess). I gave up waiting, so cashed out my deposit and moved on, but am still interested to see how this all turns out. My prediction without any basis in fact? 250EXT production and general availability earliest mid 2013. This is not that much different than Miller, their 280DX has been in the works for years, was announced long time ago, and they are completely mum on its availability. Maybe we will hear an announcement at Fabtech 2013. I think Oleg is going to follow the same technique of Miller's, Everlast's rep took a kicking on the way this went, so it makes sense to remain quiet about it until is REALLY ready.

I hope all the guys who have 250EXT's have been taken care of, little word of this on the list.



Its too bad, that machine would have been a perfect blend of power and features, and a killer sales vehicle for Everlast. As long as the 280DX does not come out, they still have that window.

Cheers,




Mike

For now I am stuck with the 250 EXT. I do not want to go with the 210 EXT because I have not heard anything about it other than a few videos and it does have the power of the 250 EXT. Hope this issue works out. If not I will go for the 210 EXT if it proves to be a good welder.

One other issue I have found with the 250 EXT is the stick welding hot start is horrible. It works good once the stick is lit but the hot start is like a “stick start”. The machine takes a lot of finesse to get a stick lit up. I have tried to write Oleg about this but I have received no word back. This is another issue that needs to be added to the list with the 250 EXT. Just hope the issues are worked out, sooner than mid 2013.

[JimMinKent]

DVA,

Can you elaborate... What were your settings, material, and electrode? I'd like to do the same test with mine.

Thanks,

Jim

[DVA]

DVA,

Can you elaborate... What were your settings, material, and electrode? I'd like to do the same test with mine.

Thanks,

Jim

I was welding on 1/4 inch carbon steel plate and 2" schedule 160 pipe. Rod wos Hobart 7018, 3/32 inch and Lincoln Xcaliber 7018, 1/8 inch.

Settings were 80-100 amps for the 3/32 and between 100-123 for the 1/8 inch rod.

I played with the dig between about 20-70 and found that a setting of about 30-35 worked best for the rod used.

Main issue was start up, did not have these many issues sticking electrodes with my dad’s old Lincoln 225 when I was about 12 years old.

[JimMinKent]

I've got Xcaliber in 1/8, and a new sealed can in 3/32. Not sure I want to break the seal on those, but I can come up with some Radnor in 3/32. I'll run it against my son's 140ST, which works great with both sizes. This will be interesting, the 140 is a pretty surprising machine,... but so is the EXT :/

Thanks,

Jim

[DVA]

I've got Xcaliber in 1/8, and a new sealed can in 3/32. Not sure I want to break the seal on those, but I can come up with some Radnor in 3/32. I'll run it against my son's 140ST, which works great with both sizes. This will be interesting, the 140 is a pretty surprising machine,... but so is the EXT :/

Thanks,

Jim

Let us know how it goes.

[JimMinKent]

Okay, here's how it went...

It went without any surprises, my EXT works as expected on Lincoln Xcaliber 7018 - 1/8, Radnor 7018 - 3/32, and Lincoln Fleetweld 5P 6010 - 1/8. Range of amps was 70 to 140. Range of Arc Force was 001 to 200. Tried enough permutations to be satisfied with its performance. Did not run the 140ST on this test, but nothing jumps out as being much different, in these ranges, and running the 140 on 220v.

I noticed the Xcaliber caps-over with molten flux so completely, that it really restarts best if quickly dressed with a coarse file, if it still had a little color from the previous weld then it would start without a lot of banging. I actually start used rods most often by dragging them slowly toward the point I'm going to tie in, it may take up to 3 or 4 inches of scratching to light up but by then they are burning good. OR just dress the end and get a like-new start every time.

I also noticed that when setting the Arc Force, which the owner's manual states is a Percentage, the value (1 to 200) is displayed as Amps. Not sure what it is telling us, maybe Mark knows.

But my EXT worked very well, better than any other stick welder I've used in my lifetime, and on par with the 140ST in these ranges. The other machines were a Lincoln AC/DC tombstone, a Miller DialArc HF, Miller Econotig, Miller Syncrowave 250 (still have), Miller Maxstar 150STH (still have, and as an inverter my be equal to my green machines).

Your Dad's setup might have been AC, and rods meant for AC, which should light pretty hot and fast no matter what.

I don't use the EXT in stick mode much, it's 99.75% TIG, but I do grab the 140ST every few weeks to deploy out of the shop. That 140ST is an amazing machine, someday I'll hook up my ReadyWelder to it and run some aluminum in mig mode .

That's it for now,

Jim

[DVA]

Okay, here's how it went...

It went without any surprises, my EXT works as expected on Lincoln Xcaliber 7018 - 1/8, Radnor 7018 - 3/32, and Lincoln Fleetweld 5P 6010 - 1/8. Range of amps was 70 to 140. Range of Arc Force was 001 to 200. Tried enough permutations to be satisfied with its performance. Did not run the 140ST on this test, but nothing jumps out as being much different, in these ranges, and running the 140 on 220v.

I noticed the Xcaliber caps-over with molten flux so completely, that it really restarts best if quickly dressed with a coarse file, if it still had a little color from the previous weld then it would start without a lot of banging. I actually start used rods most often by dragging them slowly toward the point I'm going to tie in, it may take up to 3 or 4 inches of scratching to light up but by then they are burning good. OR just dress the end and get a like-new start every time.

I also noticed that when setting the Arc Force, which the owner's manual states is a Percentage, the value (1 to 200) is displayed as Amps. Not sure what it is telling us, maybe Mark knows.

But my EXT worked very well, better than any other stick welder I've used in my lifetime, and on par with the 140ST in these ranges. The other machines were a Lincoln AC/DC tombstone, a Miller DialArc HF, Miller Econotig, Miller Syncrowave 250 (still have), Miller Maxstar 150STH (still have, and as an inverter my be equal to my green machines).

Your Dad's setup might have been AC, and rods meant for AC, which should light pretty hot and fast no matter what.

I don't use the EXT in stick mode much, it's 99.75% TIG, but I do grab the 140ST every few weeks to deploy out of the shop. That 140ST is an amazing machine, someday I'll hook up my ReadyWelder to it and run some aluminum in mig mode .

That's it for now,

Jim

I have tried some more stick and have some better success but not where it should be on start up. Seems like the Hobart 3/32 rod likes to run hot around 90-100 amps but this may just be the machine. My brother stick welds a lot and he had a hard time getting my machine to lite. Like other 250 EXT issues seems like each welder has its own issues.