New 185 TIG machine?

[Zoomie]

Does anyone have experience with the new diminutive 185 TIG machine? I'm not certain of the official name!?! It looks like it could be a most useful tool. Great size, lots-O-power, relatively simple to set up and use. Looks like a good value!

[ericf07c]

I have the new Powertig 185, I think its a great machine and is very cabable.
This is a link to my thread over at weldindweb about it: http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=50228

Here are some pictures of what I have welded with it:





I have nothing but good to say about it. In the right persons hands (I am new to welding) it can make some beautiful beads.

[Zoomie]

I guess i should have done a little more research. Congrats on the new unit!

[performance]

Its officially called the "PowerTig 185 MICRO"

[Snow Trooper]

I have the new PT185 micro as well and its a great unit. I bought it to be a backup unit to my Dynasty 200dx and SW250. It basically replaced a Thermal Arc 185, which was a horrible machine in my personal experience.

Since getting the machine about two weeks ago I have not lit and arc with any of my other tig machines. The pt185 is so easy to use, it just makes sense around my busy shop to run it, and its power consumption is less. I will try and grab some pics tomorrow of some recent work with it, but on the turbo manifolds and charge piping I make you cannot tell what beads were layed with my millers and what was put down with the Everlast. Oh and I was welding 1/4 6061 with it the other day... lets see a diversion do that.

[Zoomie]

Awesome dude! Photos, must have photos!

[SeanMurphy265]

They appear to be nice machines. I almost purchased one, but purchased the 200dx instead. I needed to be able to stick weld, I plan to use it with a generator. For the money a 185micro has to be a good buy!

[performance]

Commentary:
We felt that it was important to make the unit a single minded, single purpose, hard core TIG unit, and to keep the price down. As cheap as a GREAT stick unit is from us is, a second unit for stick is still a viable option for those wanting both worlds.

[Snow Trooper]

Mine came with a stick lead, its still in the box for obvious reasons but im curious if it works now. Hadnt really thought about it.

[performance]

No,
The stick torch will not function with the unit. It appears some may have them in there (some packing mistake in the factory). But there is no functional way to make them work. If you received one, then use it on another welder if you have one.

[footboarder]

The 185 is the only machine on the website where the photos don't show. And I can see any photos here either. Has to be on my end. I would love a close up pic of the 185 control panel. Also, I get the manual for the 250 DX when I try to d/l the 185 manual. Any help or suggestions? charlie

[performance]

We are updating the page. I will try to finish it up in the next couple days.

[Mikey B]

I have the new PT185 micro as well and its a great unit. I bought it to be a backup unit to my Dynasty 200dx and SW250. It basically replaced a Thermal Arc 185, which was a horrible machine in my personal experience.

Since getting the machine about two weeks ago I have not lit and arc with any of my other tig machines. The pt185 is so easy to use, it just makes sense around my busy shop to run it, and its power consumption is less. I will try and grab some pics tomorrow of some recent work with it, but on the turbo manifolds and charge piping I make you cannot tell what beads were layed with my millers and what was put down with the Everlast. Oh and I was welding 1/4 6061 with it the other day... lets see a diversion do that.

Snow trooper
Please Please Please post pics comparing the micro 185 to the 200 dx. I am so close to ordering this machine its crazy. If I can see some pics of what it can do in the hands of a skilled welder I am all over it.

[bigjoeinkg]

They appear to be nice machines. I almost purchased one, but purchased the 200dx instead. I needed to be able to stick weld, I plan to use it with a generator. For the money a 185micro has to be a good buy!

I was drooling over the 200DX also. That is until I really read the specs. On 240V single phase the TIG drops down to 150A. I think I will go with the 250EX, cooler, and cart and keep the left over $$$ in my pocket.

[performance]

BigJoe, Sean isn't talking about a Miller unit. He is talking about OUR 200DX....Ours is 200 amps at 60% duty cycle on 220 1 phase.

[sportbike]

I hope to bring my Everlast 200DX into work and have the shop manager put it through its paces. He wants to see it it really does what the specs say. We have quite a few other Tig machines (Miller syncrowave 250's and 350's as well as a Miller Syncrowave). I should be able to get some comparisons done.

He used to be an excellent aluminum welder (worked for ALCOA R&D tech center prior to coming on as the shop manager about 20 years ago). I am sure he still has it, just not quite as fluid (or with as good eyesight) as his younger years.

[performance]

Our DX is a sleeper. Some think we aimed it at the Miller 200DX. We did not. I guess if we had thought more about it, we'd would have selected different suffix designations. We were using a model more related to the car industry than anything else...DX, the lowest, LX, the mid, and EX the best with the most. The 200DX lacks some of the features of the Miller DX for sure, but it will weld and do a nice job while its at it. It doesn't have the low amp start on AC, but it still has adjustable features and a pulse. It would be more in line with the 200SD,yet it has more features than it does. Its a great little unit and a VERY reliable one as well...

[sportbike]

I chose the 200dx after reviewing all of the specs (extensively) mostly due to the amount of functionality it DOES have. Comparing spec sheet to Spec sheet, I would say it compares quite well with the Miller with respect to features that most anyone will ever really need.

I personally think there is alot of focus on all of the bells and whistles offered by say the 250EX, when in reality, the features of a simple almost non-adjustable squarewave tig is all that most users will ever really need to use anyway. The additional features are neat, but unless there is specific production work to be done, they likely are just that...neat.

Don't get me wrong, I am a "feature" guy, but most all of the welding I do is related to Stupidly high performance motorcycles (mostly) or some car work. I intentionally did not want the extra power offered by the 225 or 250 since anything needing that level of power will need to be a very sound, structural weld for my applications. In those cases, I will just tack the parts, and then bring them in to work or other location and have them welded by someone who welds everyday and is MUCH better than me. I am a Mechanical Engineer, and I know how to design for welds, I know how to weld and am fairly knowledgeable about welding processes, but I am not going to pretend I weld extremely well myself (somewhat due to lack of constant practice).

John

[scootarida1]

any updates on this if its gonna be 110 as well as 22o at some point?

[Oleg]

any updates on this if its gonna be 110 as well as 22o at some point?

scootarida1

possibly for xmas time but we not 100% sure