PowerTIG 225LX delivered today...

[Zoomie]

Hadn't thought of that, but you're right. I'm a nimrod!

[angular]

Okay, So I got home with shielding gas, got a cheapy welding bench from Northern Tool and all the the extraneous items etc I thought I'd need. I assembled the bench and got started organizing my stuff.

Hey, Zoomie. Which welding table/bench did you get? I'll soon be in the same boat you are, so to speak, getting my first TIG welder and watching Jody's videos over and over again.

Thanks.

-Bradley

[Zoomie]

Howdy Brad,
I got the $79.00 "Northern Industrial Tools Welding Table — 36in.L x 20in.W x 35in.H" Item# 628860. It seems to be pretty stable. I got it on sale for $67 bucks or so. The ad said it weighs about 40 lbs which seems about right. The table top looks like it's been zinc chromate coated for anti rust I suppose. When assembling, lay the top upside down attach legs then cross braces. Mine didn't come with instructions. Use a speed square to verify that the legs are vertical. I couldn't have built it from scratch for 70 bucks. I do plan to build a cart though.

[angular]

Thanks... I appreciate your feedback especially since that table only has one review. I'm on the fence right now between the one you got and the Strong Hand folding table for $130. Sounds like either one will get the job done, though. Decisions, decisions.

[Zoomie]

I probably would have gotten the strong hands version had it been a stocked item and I could have fondled it. Shipping was outragous. I guess I could've had it delivered to the store though...

[angular]

I just ordered it. $151.30 shipped to my office in Tacoma, WA. There aren't any Northern Tool retail locations on the West coast. All we gots is Harbor Freight. Actually, we have Grainger (up in Bellingham, WA) and Grizzly and a few others aside from the big box stores.

Just need argon now! And the actual TIG welder of course. Hoping to see a shiny new 250EX by the end of next week if I'm lucky. In the mean time I'll have to unbox and play around with the metal cutting band saw I just got... entry level Jet HVBS-56M for $400.

[Zoomie]

Very nice! I didn't get the 250EX due to the extra cost, but would've prefered it I think. As to the machine, I'm sure your familiar with Jody Colliers site. Go there and watch the settings videos (6 now I think) until you can quote chapter and verse what "all those freakin knobs" functions are! It makes a world of difference. His other videos definitely help also. Heck, if you can spell welder you're miles ahead of me but I sure am having fun!

Zoom

[angular]

I was on the fence too. The 250EX is certainly more welder than I need, but I followed the principle of buy as much welder as you can afford, better to have it and not need than the other way around, etc. Most of my friends think I'm crazy and biting off more than I can chew with my (car) project, but that's OK. Mostly I'll be welding 304L. If I get in too deep, I do know some experienced TIG welders locally I can turn to for help.

[WaWelder]

I just ordered it. $151.30 shipped to my office in Tacoma, WA. There aren't any Northern Tool retail locations on the West coast. All we gots is Harbor Freight. Actually, we have Grainger (up in Bellingham, WA) and Grizzly and a few others aside from the big box stores.

Just need argon now! And the actual TIG welder of course. Hoping to see a shiny new 250EX by the end of next week if I'm lucky. In the mean time I'll have to unbox and play around with the metal cutting band saw I just got... entry level Jet HVBS-56M for $400.

I know this is an old thread, but i wanted to chime in.
Angular, I too live i Tacoma, and there is or at least was a Grainger in Fife.

Everyone complaining about the shipping and all.
I have to wonder how many of you are going to UPS (the people that likely damaged you unit) and complaining to them. I ordered several items from everlast. I am not totally happy with double the wait time, on the backordered items, as I was told to expect. I am, however, happy as all H E double hockey sticks with the speed of delivery and the quality of my 250 EX. The packaging seemed to be adequate, assuming that some direspectful UPS driver with no work ethic, didnt abuse the package. Work ethic would dictate "Oh damn, I droped this package, I better call the boss annd let him know so we can make it right, or make sure the reciever opens the package and inspects it right away." Most of these problems come down to the drivers not the corporate office or even the packaging. A welder should be able to be shipped with no packaging (assuming an ethical delivery person) and arrive undamaged! I know my unit was supposed to be signed for, but I arrived home to find it in plain view of the street on my front porch. Again UPS not Everlast.

Sorry for the rant from a new member, but I have been blamed for things that happened after my involvelment in a task ended before, as I am sure we all have. Everlasts support staff seem to be open and helpful to everyone. We should be inundating UPS(or any other shipper) with the complaints, or the shipping problems will never end. If thier corporate never knows there is a problem, they cannot discipline the drivers or fix the problem.

I anxiusly await the arrival of the rest of my order, hopefully in undamaged condition.

Best of luck to all others doing the same!!!!

[angular]

They don't call 'em "United Package Smashers" for nothing!

However I would say that the 250EX is somewhat prone to shipping damage due to the fact the front plastic bezel is structual part of the chassis and supports a good deal of weight. One good drop and it's likely to break the bezel.

[WaWelder]

Yeah,
I have a Hobart Handler 125 with the same design. It got tipped over durring use once. Cracked the bezel pretty bad, but the unit still welds like a champ, and the handle attatched to it still carries the unit fine. I was teed off when it broke, but if they were indestructible, we couldnt afford them....lol

It all still boils down to, the units are designed to be droped.

Did you ever recieve your 250 EX? If so, how are you liking it? Mine is great, although my skill(or lack of)leaves for some ugly welds so far.

[angular]

Yep, I've had my 250EX since late January. After sorting threw a few minor issues (broken front bezel, blown multiplexer chip) and tweaking the foot pedal, it's working pretty well. I also got a CK-200 torch like Rugar did which is a great upgrade over the stock torch. Of course being a total welding noob, my welds pretty much look like a$$ right now. But I'm slowly getting better at it. Here's the "welding corner" of my garage.

[WaWelder]

Very nice, I am still getting my garrage set up. I have gotten some welding done though. I will post some ppics soon. I was lucky, in that my welder was in working order upon hook up. I did have a skipping problem in the foot pedal. I added a small bungee cord to the bottom of the track leg to add more contact force with the cog. Seems to have fixed the problem. I like you Jet band saw. Where did you get that?

[DiabolicZ]

Duncan,

Funny, when we had DHL here in the US, I couldn't wait for them to be gone. Then they were and UPS came along. I would score them a little better actually, but not what I hoped for. Not sure why US shipping is so bad.

U.S. shipping is so bad because we have lazy Americans working who don't give a crap about anything but what they think is owed to them. I don't think it's a matter of who the shipping company is. It all boils down to the type of employee in the industry. If someone leaves UPS, they will just go over to FEDEX because they have experience in the industry.

FedEx delivered my turbo to where I work. When they dropped it off, they literally DROPPED it off on the dock. I looked at the guy and said "That's a $1,500 turbo you just tossed onto the dock..." He just looked at me and said "Oh." I asked him how he still had a job and he just shrugged.

That was just one of the people handling the boxes IN FRONT OF CUSTOMERS. Imagine what happens when there are no customers around to see what is happening.

[WaWelder]

U.S. shipping is so bad because we have lazy Americans working who don't give a crap about anything but what they think is owed to them. I don't think it's a matter of who the shipping company is. It all boils down to the type of employee in the industry. If someone leaves UPS, they will just go over to FEDEX because they have experience in the industry.

FedEx delivered my turbo to where I work. When they dropped it off, they literally DROPPED it off on the dock. I looked at the guy and said "That's a $1,500 turbo you just tossed onto the dock..." He just looked at me and said "Oh." I asked him how he still had a job and he just shrugged.

That was just one of the people handling the boxes IN FRONT OF CUSTOMERS. Imagine what happens when there are no customers around to see what is happening.

I agree 100%. That is exactly what I was saying. This is alot of the same reason that American companies (like Everlast, ford, chevy, miller and most others) have taken thier manufacturing overseas. Lazy, unappreciative american workers that only care about putting in thier 8 hours, and not a bit a care about productivity or quality. Yes there are quality issues overseas, due to uneducated societies where the manufacturing plants are built. The difference is, those workers are doing things to the best of thier abilities based on the training provided. They are also Happy and Appreciative to have that job and makes changes to the procedures when trained to. If we Americans want to bring the manufacture back to our soil, we will need to learn and live the fact that our lazyness and lack of productivity is what dirves costs up and raises the prices at the shelf. Then we B**ch about those prices......bit of a conundrum, isnt it???

[everlastsupport]

Joshua,

Hope UPS didn't see your posts here, you might jinx the next 1/2 of your order.

Kidding aside, glad you guys know it is not all us here at Everlast. Trust me, last thing I want is a call to tech support unless it is to ask a welding question. We've tried to fix shipping over the years (DHL was worse). Funny thing, some people will call in and say the unit is fine and why all the bubble wrap (bubble wrap is expensive). Some areas, we wrap them for the ride. It is sad as we do pay "their rates".

Anyway, after seeing that Jet saw. Off to add a set of wheels to mine, don't know why I never thought of at. Thing is a pain to move around.

[WaWelder]

Joshua,

Hope UPS didn't see your posts here, you might jinx the next 1/2 of your order.

Kidding aside, glad you guys know it is not all us here at Everlast. Trust me, last thing I want is a call to tech support unless it is to ask a welding question. We've tried to fix shipping over the years (DHL was worse). Funny thing, some people will call in and say the unit is fine and why all the bubble wrap (bubble wrap is expensive). Some areas, we wrap them for the ride. It is sad as we do pay "their rates".

Anyway, after seeing that Jet saw. Off to add a set of wheels to mine, don't know why I never thought of at. Thing is a pain to move around.

Yeah, I suppose I could be jinxing myself, but from the sounds of the condition that some peoples product arrives in, they couldnt be any worse even if done on purpose.....lol

I agree on the jet saw, id like to have one, and the wheels would be a bonus!

[everlastsupport]

We are way off topic now, on an old post too. But what the heck.

WaWelder, probably fine on the unit shipping. I was just joking, I agree 100% on the UPS comments on the heavier units.

Angular, how old is that weller soldering iron you have. I have two that are 25+ years old that look just like that. Wondering is they kept the old look on the news ones today.

[angular]

Indeed the Weller soldering station is old! I think I got it when I was 20 and I'm now 40. Good grief, where'd the time go?!

I ordered the Jet saw from tools-plus.com and it was about $400 delivered. It came with the wheels you see in the picture. Not a bad little saw for the money, although the blade is comes with is junk. You'll want to get a nice bi-metal blade for it right away.