255 question

[johnson697]

thinking about getting the 255 have had the 250 ex for about 4 yrs . and love the machine made some good money with it and it went down this week and need to send in for repairs and thinking about getting another machine and using my old machine for backup .so what are the benefits of having the 255 over the 250?why have all the different wave forms ,which is better for welding on aluminum,thats what i mainly weld.

[Kempy]

I have both and I like the 250EX but use the 255EXT more mainly I like the memory part have it set for most of the welding I do just go thru the number till I get what I want and weld, no turning knobs or moving switches for the settings it is a little more money but it is worth it. If you are switching back and forth from thick aluminum to thin or to steel just have the preset number for what you want. I have used all the different wave forms and used Advance Square with Advance AC Pulse for some jobs it is different. Just welded a cast aluminum water pump with the 255EXT that broke over the winter and froze and blow the bottom out of it.

[Kempy]

Welded with 255EXT using Advance Square with Advance AC Pulse to keep heat from letting it crack worked just fine 4 separate welds let each one cool then welded again. Casting very dirty but not a show piece once back on the truck you can not see it.

[johnson697]

Looks good for being cast, wish I could try the 255 out fot a couple weeks

[johnson697]

Do you like the 255 over the 250? For the money which one would you buy?

[Kempy]

Do you like the 255 over the 250? For the money which one would you buy?

For the extra money and how easy it is to use once to played with it for a will I have both 255EXT and 250EX both I like but now I have been using the 255EXT it is hard to keep going back to the 250EX. I will be selling it because I ordered a 325EXT don't need three units. If you buy the 250EX you will like it.

[everlastsupport]

Do you like the 255 over the 250? For the money which one would you buy?

I have a 210EXT and 255EXT now. And I have had many 250EX machines over the years. I would be happy with any of them. I still to this day miss the 250EX, it is so nice to look and see the setting at a glance.

But you can not go wrong with any of them.

[johnson697]

kempy ,do you use the 255 alot?just wondering if anyone has used the 255 in a production shop,as i have used my 250 ex in that way in my garage and for the money i have made of my 250 ex cant complain but it did go down on me and just wanted to see if anyond has used the 255 this way.

[performance]

The 255ext is a lot simpler inside than the 250EX with less to go wrong. It has some of the same power components, as the current 250EX(though probably not a lot in common with your version) such as igbt modules etc...but control board HF and AC boards have changed somewhat...and are greatly simplified and in my opinion, are better built because of it.

[johnson697]

so are you saying the new 250 ex tig welders are a better machine now than the 1 i have ?mine is 4 yrs old and its nothing major that went wrong with my machine but i did have to send it in and i am thinking of getting another machine and use 1 for aluminum and the other for steel ,i mostly weld aluminum.

[performance]

Well, we've tried to make steady and constant improvements in each welder. The 250EX is no different. Chances are you may not recognize the 250EX from today if you were looking solely at the internal components.

[Rambozo]

I will be selling it because I ordered a 325EXT don't need three units.

Did you get 3 phase power?

If that machine could run full output on 3 phase, and reduced output on single phase, I would be all over that.

[performance]

I need to confirm with Duncan and Oleg, but I think that is what we've specified on the newest units.

[johnson697]

mike have you welded alot of aluminum with the 255,if so do you think it does a better job on aluminum,better starts and cleaner welds?

[johnson697]

really want the 255 over the the 250 ex ...just need somebody to give me the extra reason to purchase with it being so much more money.

[Kempy]

kempy ,do you use the 255 alot?just wondering if anyone has used the 255 in a production shop,as i have used my 250 ex in that way in my garage and for the money i have made of my 250 ex cant complain but it did go down on me and just wanted to see if anyond has used the 255 this way.

Yes I use my 255EXT almost every day mainly aluminum parts some steel and once or twice a year titanium parts on and off not a lot of SST mainly the restaurants in the town.

[Kempy]

Did you get 3 phase power?

If that machine could run full output on 3 phase, and reduced output on single phase, I would be all over that.

I always had 3 phase power for my CNC machine but running off a roto-phase with a voltage stabilizer it is plus or minus 3% in the voltage I boost it to 575V for my EDM machine I think it is good enough for a welders with PFC. The 325EXT will be in by the end of the month. I am also converting a Miller 30A spool gun to fit on my MTS250S going to pic up a EURO connector from Duncan this week if I get back from West Virginia in time.
Rambozo PM me.

[johnson697]

Went with another 250 ex, was very happy with my old 1.

[Rambozo]

really want the 255 over the the 250 ex ...just need somebody to give me the extra reason to purchase with it being so much more money.

Five reasons:
255 - 250 = ... 5

The memory is a convenience factor, for sure. But the big difference would be the advanced pulse with DC for super thick aluminum. You would have to add helium to get that much umph out of a 250EX.