2013 200DX 240 Volt Version First Impressions

[cbmkr]

After a few hours of playing with the New model 200DX i am impressed, ( I had my Son In Law under a hood also first time tig welder ) Had a little setback with the pre flow knob set to high ( Mark Set me straight on that) Tried some passes on 11 ga Aluminum The machine had a very smooth and stable arc, Had to set the heat lower than i was used to with the 185, 95 amps was too hot with the 200DX settled on 75 amps and it did well. We tried some .095 Mild Steel tubing for exhaust and settled on around 65 amps. I also tried some .025 and .030 aluminum with the pulse setting and had good success keeping warpage to a minimum on the thinner sheet. I will have a little more time in tomorrow afternoon to try some more applications and see how the 200DX performs.

So far it's a Great Machine.

[Gwaltnak]

Did I read correctly that you were using this DC machine on aluminum? How did it do? I'm new to tig, and thought you had to use AC for Aluminum.

[Rambozo]

Did I read correctly that you were using this DC machine on aluminum? How did it do? I'm new to tig, and thought you had to use AC for Aluminum.

The 200DX is an AC/DC machine.

[zedron]

Did I read correctly that you were using this DC machine on aluminum? How did it do? I'm new to tig, and thought you had to use AC for Aluminum.

I doubt he used DC for alum. I just don't think he mentioned that he changed the setting over to AC since it is an AC/DC machine.

[cbmkr]

Sorry i did not mention it , AC for Aluminum and DC for Steel, I did change over the stick holder to a Tweco as this is all i have used for 40 years. I have some stick work to do this weekend and will post the results on that ,weather permitting .

[Trip59]

Sorry i did not mention it , AC for Aluminum and DC for Steel, I did change over the stick holder to a Tweco as this is all i have used for 40 years. I have some stick work to do this weekend and will post the results on that ,weather permitting .

Which Tweco, I can't get used to the screw type clamp myself either. Have you found a brand you prefer over others?

[cbmkr]

Tweco A-532 rod holder , has the different angles along with straight.

[DaveO]

Which Tweco, I can't get used to the screw type clamp myself either. Have you found a brand you prefer over others?

Sadder but wiser voice of experience: I got what I paid for when I went cheap online and bought a stinger. It has the angled slots that cbmkr mentions but the jaws don't actually touch, and there's enough of a gap that I'm not sure it would hold a 1/16" rod, for instance. I was so annoyed with it I didn't even attempt to install it. So it may be worthwhile to go with a name or at least hold the thing before you buy.

[Trip59]

Sadder but wiser voice of experience: I got what I paid for when I went cheap online and bought a stinger. It has the angled slots that cbmkr mentions but the jaws don't actually touch, and there's enough of a gap that I'm not sure it would hold a 1/16" rod, for instance. I was so annoyed with it I didn't even attempt to install it. So it may be worthwhile to go with a name or at least hold the thing before you buy.

I was looking at the one TSC has, I think one is a 250A and one is higher rated, they're Hobart and felt very well built. Just figured I'd ask as all the ones I've used previously were stock models from Lincoln and Miller a decade and a half ago or more. Wasn't sure what else was out there, I just know I'm not a fan of the one I have, just can't get used to it.

[performance]

Lenco makes the best economy minded stingers. As good as Tweco in my book but cheaper. Their 200 amp stinger fits perfectly in my hand.

[cbmkr]

Just tried a couple of different rods on a piece of scrap in the flat position and in vertical up, 6011 1/8" 85 amps and 7018 3/32" 70 amps, both had easy starting and a nice smooth arc. This is quite a step up from the old 1977 Miller Thunderbolt i have.
The 7018 had the flux lifting at the end of a 5" bead as i finished. Going to make longer ground and stinger cables for my need, probably a 20'-25' stinger and 15'-20' ground.

[vicrc]

I have never tried stick welding with my 200DX, you have any pictures you can share with stick welding with your machine?

[cbmkr]

Here are a couple of pics , nothing pretty just playing with scrap, some 7018 3/32 at 75 amps up hilll and flat. Some 6011 1/8" same amps flat. These rods need dried they have been laying on a shelf for a couple of years.

Had a dirty piece of 1/4" aluminum did some outside corner inside corner and a little flat until the material got too hot. Settled out around 125 amps on AC for the 1/4".

[Odyknuck]

Ok, I am a little confused here. The 200DX has a max of a 1/4" aluminum per spec and your only using 125 amps on 1/4"? Am I missing something here. Note I have zero experience welding aluminum.

[Rambozo]

Ok, I am a little confused here. The 200DX has a max of a 1/4" aluminum per spec and your only using 125 amps on 1/4"? Am I missing something here. Note I have zero experience welding aluminum.

The power required for welding aluminum is a function of the heat dissipation. For little pieces like that you don't need a lot of power. Just like for large castings, even with 1/4" thick sections you can need 300 amps or better to get a good weld without preheating. The published spec is just a baseline for typical conditions. 1 amp per .001" is considered the average requirement. With AC balance you can push that a little since you don't need to run 50%. So the 200DX is rated to 1/4" even though it doesn't make 250 amps. Just like fuel economy, YMMV.

[DVA]

The power required for welding aluminum is a function of the heat dissipation. For little pieces like that you don't need a lot of power. Just like for large castings, even with 1/4" thick sections you can need 300 amps or better to get a good weld without preheating. The published spec is just a baseline for typical conditions. 1 amp per .001" is considered the average requirement. With AC balance you can push that a little since you don't need to run 50%. So the 200DX is rated to 1/4" even though it doesn't make 250 amps. Just like fuel economy, YMMV.

It does seem like some of the welding specifications are like fuel economy, just typically welders tend to work in our favor.

I second what Rambozo said just add that the specifications are typically built off of a single pass for the material thickness. But a single pass on something larger than 3/8 inch is impractical unless it is some type of submerged arc from my experience.

[Kempy]

Yes and this can change a little if you use 100% Argon or 100% Co2 or argon Co2 mixes and then a little Helium mix changes thing again or the size of wire to thickness of steel, aluminum or grade of material to many variables or as Rambozo put it as a good start is baseline 1 amp per .001" on most material but aluminum alloys change alot on types of welders and now with welding advancements as Advanced Squarewave, Soft Squarewave,Sinewave and Triangle Wave with AC balance and in AC Frequency with Independent AC EP-EN or EN-EP then comes the type of Tungstens that change things again. Welding is so much fun. I learn new things weekly some times daily every day it changes like yesterday I welded 1/4 armor plate.

[performance]

Kempy,

You won't be welding TIG if you use so much as a smidgeon of CO2. It jsut ain't gonna happen.

[Odyknuck]

So I understand I could weld 3/8" aluminum with the 200DX if I pre heat the material? I ask because I am in the process of deciding on buying a TIG machine. I am down to the 200DX and the 250EX. I do not want to find myself with a machine that is under powered. At this point I do not know if I will ever need to weld 1/2" thick aluminum however would be nice if needed and I had the proper welder. Decisions, decisions!

[bswinn]

My understanding (please someone with more experience chime in and correct me if I'm wrong) is that the thickness ratings on most welders are for "one pass" welding. Meaning the 200DX should be able to do 3/8" Aluminum with one pass. If you go any thicker you'll need to do multiple passes.

Like I said...I very well could be wrong but that is my understanding of all the "suggested thickness" ratings.