Just ordered PowerTig 225lx

[froader]

Alex gave me a good deal on a PowerTig 225 LX and a Defender Helmet yesterday. I am excited to get this thing running. I will let you guys know how it works.
If anybody is interested in my Tacoma build thread that will be another place to check out what this welder can do.
I will also post some weld pics and my thoughts on how the PowerTig 225lx works. Should be here next week some time. Enough time to stock up on Tungstens, rod, 220V50Amp plug, and a bottle of Argon.

[performance]

Welcome, and we hope you enjoy your unit.

[madcratebuilder]

Alex gave me a good deal on a PowerTig 225 LX and a Defender Helmet yesterday. I am excited to get this thing running. I will let you guys know how it works.
If anybody is interested in my Tacoma build thread that will be another place to check out what this welder can do.
I will also post some weld pics and my thoughts on how the PowerTig 225lx works. Should be here next week some time. Enough time to stock up on Tungstens, rod, 220V50Amp plug, and a bottle of Argon.

I think you well be very happy. It comes with a water cooled torch. You may want to find a water cooler or maybe build one. Used ones on evil bay or build using a soda carbonator pump and motor, again used off evil pay. Everlast sells a nice new unit also.

Nice work on your truck, very cool.

[Rodsmachineshop]

My 250 still going strong .lol been using the hell out of it at the machine shop. love the water torch when welding at max amps , sure saves your hands from getting hot when welding aluminum . My home made cooler still working great . using rv coolant to keep distilled water clean and fresh

[froader]

Welcome, and we hope you enjoy your unit.

Thanks! I am definately looking forward to be TIG welding soon.

I think you well be very happy. It comes with a water cooled torch. You may want to find a water cooler or maybe build one. Used ones on evil bay or build using a soda carbonator pump and motor, again used off evil pay. Everlast sells a nice new unit also.

Nice work on your truck, very cool.

Thanks, I appreciate it! It's a nice feature of the torch that comes with this machine. You just have to buy the water cooler down the line.

My 250 still going strong .lol been using the hell out of it at the machine shop. love the water torch when welding at max amps , sure saves your hands from getting hot when welding aluminum . My home made cooler still working great . using rv coolant to keep distilled water clean and fresh

TIG is what I really enjoy doing. It's been a while since I sat at a welding bench and welded all day long for work. There was always a water cooled torch back in those days. Since I have had access to a Lincoln SquareWave 175. It didn't quite have the power to do what I need and that damn air cooled torch got pretty hot:-(. I will think about the cooler for sure. Some time down the line... What's this home made unit you have? Got any pics or a link? Sounds interesting.

Do you have to have a seperate 220V outlet for the water cooler?

[madcratebuilder]

Do you have to have a seperate 220V outlet for the water cooler?

The 225lx has a 220 receptical on the back of the machine. It is a unusual plug, like a computer moniter, three prong. Most commericial water coolers have motors that well run either 110 or 220, you just swap two wire points inside the motor.

[froader]

The 225lx has a 220 receptical on the back of the machine. It is a unusual plug, like a computer moniter, three prong. Most commericial water coolers have motors that well run either 110 or 220, you just swap two wire points inside the motor.

Nice! I sure was hoping that there was going to be a smart way to plug both in cleanly. Thanks!

[Rodsmachineshop]

I got a plug from a computer store for my pump and cooler setup my cooler is 110 volt I rewired my plug on the welder for 110 and wired it so it turns on the cooler pump when i turn my tig welder on. my hole cooler setup cost me about 150 tp build got the pump on ebay . Also make sure you use a air cooled lead if not using a cooler since water cooled lead will get to hot when welding high amps and melt it . lol I found out the hard way using my water torch with out water cooked the water hoses

[froader]

I got a plug from a computer store for my pump and cooler setup my cooler is 110 volt I rewired my plug on the welder for 110 and wired it so it turns on the cooler pump when i turn my tig welder on. my hole cooler setup cost me about 150 tp build got the pump on ebay . Also make sure you use a air cooled lead if not using a cooler since water cooled lead will get to hot when welding high amps and melt it . lol I found out the hard way using my water torch with out water cooked the water hoses

Thanks for the tip. That sounds like a great way to go. I will have to do some research. The hard way is the best way to learn! hehe! Just too expensive

[froader]

Edit: Deleted -

[performance]

The head band is plain jane. But the helmet itself is high quality and very well designed for protection.

[froader]

The head band is plain jane. But the helmet itself is high quality and very well designed for protection.

Much better phrased! Thanks!

[froader]

Mark - Don't know what happened on the phone but some how got disconnected.
Anyway, I got the helmet all sorted out. It works really nice!!

What do the beeps coming from the helmet mean while I am welding? The battery is almost full.

[performance]

If I remember right, the beeps signal the unit is adusting the shade automatically, or making some sort of compensation. These helmets as well as the other two have temperature auto compensation technology which adjust the LCD darkness according to surrounding temperature.

[froader]

If I remember right, the beeps signal the unit is adusting the shade automatically, or making some sort of compensation. These helmets as well as the other two have temperature auto compensation technology which adjust the LCD darkness according to surrounding temperature.

Thanks! That makes sense now. What would I have to do to make the helmet switch from dark back to 0 shade so I can move onto to next welding spot quicker? I have played with the settings but doesn't seem to happen fast enough for me or compared to other helmets that I have.

[performance]

Delay adjusts dark to light times.

[froader]

Delay adjusts dark to light times.

Delay has 2 settings slow and quick. I can't tell a difference on either setting.

I wan't it to be QUICK and have it set to quick, but it still takes a good 2sec.

Is the helmet not working as it should? 2sec is way too long to wait.

Idealy it should be very quick if set that way so that you can move from 1 weld to the next.

[performance]

If the sensitivity is set low, the intense white hot glowing weld will keep the helmet sensor engaged. Standard delay times are .2-.8 seconds plus or minus 10 percent.

[froader]

If the sensitivity is set low, the intense white hot glowing weld will keep the helmet sensor engaged. Standard delay times are .2-.8 seconds plus or minus 10 percent.

I am aware that the weld will still be red hot and can keep the helmet engaged. I have the sensitivity set to 2 bars and delay to quick.
When welding aluminum which doesn't glow after the torch being off has the same long delay with the helmet.

Yes .2-.8 +-10% sound correct, but it's going on 2sec. Besides, I have another helmet to compare with that works absolutely perfectly.

Sounds like the helmet is not working as it should - should we swap sensors or something?

Thanks for the assistance Mark.

[froader]

I couldn't get the helmet to do what it is supposed to so a new lense should be here tomorrow. The replacement was effortless. Thanks for the support Mark and to Alex for sending out a replacement right away.

I ordered a Tig Cooler today and am stoked to get it all setup and see what the difference will be with the cooler torch. I will post my review.