Advice on a tig welder

[Acam]

Started off with the power arc300 and I really do like it then I bought the imig 205 and that welder is fantastic now I am looking to buy a tig unit can anybody give me a suggestion on which one to buy thank you very much

[performance]

Tell us what you will be doing with it.

[Acam]

Trying to teach myself how to tig. Mainly steel what to you think of the powerarc 280

[Rambozo]

If you just want to do steel, you can start off with your PA300. You will learn a lot and will know more about what you want in a TIG machine. Everlast has some videos showing a TIG setup on the PA300 on their YouTube channel.

[Acam]

I have done some tig with the powerarc 140. Lift start tig

[Acam]

I am looking to have more control and options

[Rambozo]

I would look at an AC/DC machine if you want to get into TIG beyond just a basic setup.

[TheGary]

if you are not going to be into tig welding aluminum . I would not get the ac dc machine. They are much pricier than you need. Any of Everlasts machines that has HF start will work fine. You will in liklyhood not ever weld on any ferrous metal at anything over 200 amps. If you want a do anything machine that can weld copper or alum. get the ac dc machine 250 amp.

[Acam]

What about the powerarc 280. Is that a good tig welder ?

[Acam]

Or is it more of a stick welder?

[performance]

No, it really is both. It has all the features you need for DC TIG but it also has all the features of stick you need. We wanted to create a machine that could do both and either function can stand on it's own. It's a very very nice unit that is well priced. I'd recommend it myself having used one.

[TheGary]

After reading about the power arc 280 it will do it all as far as tig and stick is concerned on all but aluminum. You could sell your power arc 300 because the 280 can do it all.

[Acam]

Thanks for the input. This will be my forth everlast welder. Once I save up enough to buy it. I am very happy with my three units I have. Everlast welders are great

[zoama]

I suggest buying one that can do anything like the 250EX. It costs more money but you'll be happy with it and you'll always have what you need.

[TheGary]

I suggest buying one that can do anything like the 250EX. It costs more money but you'll be happy with it and you'll always have what you need.

There is something to be said for that. Seeing as you have already purchased 3 welders. A 250EX , your 205 mig and your power arc 300 you would be totally covered for about any kind of welding. Add a nice clean generator some time in the future and you could even go mobil if needed.

One draw back to the 250EX is that to get its full potential you will need a tig cooler too. The main question you need to answer is, are you going to want/need to weld aluminum in the future. You can run an air cooled torch on it if you want to. I have been welding a long time and there are not that many times you will need to weld aluminum at over 175 amps. I had a propeller shop for 5 years and only hade an air cooled torch. A couple of times I had to preheat an aluminum part so I could weld it but had no problem doing it. The big advantage to me with the 250EX is that it has a very good duty cycle compared to its smaller brothers.

[rick9345]

Also have the 250EX with the CK Flexlok Series 3 head air cooled. have welded 200 amps short duration, for anything under 180 amps AC/DC comfortable.

[everlastsupport]

If no aluminum you are going the right way. But I like what Zoama said, 250EX. Stick and AC/DC TIG and ton of power. You can get it all. Also, you can run a water line from a faucet and cool the torch. I have a really nice cooler I never use. So don't get stuck on the water cooler. Search for redneck water cooler here on the forum.

Then you decide which of the other unit you sell off.

[Acam]

Thanks for all the help I appreciate it

[youngnstudly]

I suggest buying one that can do anything like the 250EX. It costs more money but you'll be happy with it and you'll always have what you need.

I completely agree with this. Better to have it and not need it, than to not have it and need it! I jumped from the PowerArc 160 straight up to the 250EX and I am really glad I skipped the 225LX and the PowerTig 185. You can get by without the water cooler for awhile, but you will need to purchase an aircooled tig torch until you get a cooler.

The A/C torch I bought is rated for 200amps AC (Off the top of my head, I wanna say it has a 20% duty cycle??? ) and 250amps DC, and I don't have a problem welding preheated 1/2" aluminum plate at 190 amps in VERY short runs. The torch spends more time disassembled cooling off by the fan than in my hand welding, but it does get the job done with no trouble otherwise (for now). I have to build a new welding cart before I can even begin to think about getting/making a water cooler, and it's simply not a priority with all of the other things I have going on. Someday though.....