Hi all, Trip59 here

My name is Trip Bauer, came across this forum looking for more info on Everlast products and after reading a bit decided to join, seems like quite a nice place.

Back in the 90s after working my way through the ranks in the auto repair industry, starting in the junk yard and working up to lead tech in a brake shop, I made the jump to motorcycles. After a couple years, I was frustrated with the lack of certain parts and wanted to start fabricating, but the limited welding experience (basic arc and gas) precluded this on high stress parts like motorcycle front ends. Unable to afford school and work, I decided to enlist and have Uncle Sam train me. Unfortunately, I was injured a couple years in, shop accident, stupidity of others and a bit of overconfidence on my part, I found myself with a screwed up back and unable to work in any career I'd trained in.

Went back to school and found my way into IT/Higher education and that's where I've been for the last 8 years.

I've begged and borrowed welders throughout that time, often asked to do one-off repairs by someone who bought a welder and couldn't run it, but a couple of years back my lawnmower rusted out. Bad deck, good engine and drive... Buy a new self propelled mower for $350 or buy a small MIG for the same and have a fixed mower with a MIG left over? Made sense to me! I've been working on random projects here and there since, outfitting my shop as time allowed, floor drill press, parts washer, blast cabinet, grinders, belt grinders, powdercoat oven, engine lathe, etc. as my project list grew. it's been slow with barely any extra cash on hand, but I'm getting there.

Upcoming purchases are an Everlast TIG (not sure which, though 225 or larger) and with luck, a Bridgeport in the spring.

Welcome to the forum Mr. Bauer. A 250EX tig and a PP50 or 60 plasma cutter are good bang for the buck.... I look forward to seeing your projects.

Thanks! That's one of the things I was hoping to find out here. I was looking at the 225/226 or the 250/256 depending on whether the multiprocess units appealed to me after reading user experience and feedback. I don't have a ton of space, so removing a machine from the mix...

What would be awesome is if you could plug one of the spool guns into one of the multiprocess machines!

And please, just Trip ;)

So it sounds like you work in IT(Information Technology) and have a shop? Or is the shop something you have at home that you use on the side? Either way it sounds like yourself and I have a few things in common.

Hi Jason, 9-5 is IT, with some teaching and freelance work after hours. The 'shop' is a converted garage, filled with parts and tools that I use for odd jobs and fabrication. One area for wood, one for metal, and one for ceramics.

Trip,

My personal choice on a TIG and Plasma. A 225LX and PP50, or, if the extra cost is not a problem, 250EX and PP60/70. I like the 70 better but it is a pain to carry it around. PP50 is great for size and power. Can't go wrong with those combos. Long as you have room.

Due to some unexpected expenses, cost has definitely become a factor, and it's looking to me like a separate plasma cutter will be in the plans. I'm seriously considering the 225LX at this point, though funding for it won't likely come through till the first week of November unless I get an unexpected contract. The primary uses will be small parts, stainless, brass, bronze, and mild steel, I don't forsee that much aluminum, though it's always a possibility. Would there be any great advantage to a 250EX over the 225LX? There seem to be a few more adjustments capable, but are they common enough to warrant it (I've never used a spot timer in my life, so I'm not worried about that one. I guess basically, does the 250EX hold any great capability for stainless and non-ferrous metals that would make it worth the difference?

For me, the EX has 25 more amps. I have used the LX series units for years, went to the EX as I work for the company and was taken care of on it. The LX will do all the EX will for me, aluminum included. The LX is a great unit and sometime easier to get than the EX as there are so machine videos on the EX people this they have to have an EX.

Like I mentioned, I used the LX for many years. Not one complaint. I have a used one, can see what is left on the warranty. Well broke in too. :) Middleburg?

As it's mostly the small stuff, I'm left wondering if that 25 amps would be too missed. I've got no problem laying a multi-pass (with only a Hobart 125 I've done some pretty damn thick material, just took longer). After pricing gas and bottles yesterday, saving a few bucks from my already thin budget would mean I'd be able to get a bottle big enough to not need filling weekly...

Middleburg is just south of Orange Park, up near the NAS Jax base, just off the St Johns river. What area are you in?

On the tank, a 125 would be the smallest I would consider and it will work fine for you to get started. 250 is a good size, tough to carry, but lasts a good bit longer and the price is better on the re-fill. When you TIG you will swear gas goes a lot faster than MIG. Shop around like Craigslist for a owner bottle, and check the date/rental status, I have bought quite a few that way. I have even bought a welder and bottle, then sold the welder and kept the bottle.

West Palm Beach is the area I am in. The 225LX is a lot more power than a HH125. And you can run multi-pass but probably will never need to.

I just got a deal on the EX. Use the 250LX for a long time, we dis-continued the 250 amp version and it was dropped to a 225 (still plenty of power). I stayed with the 225LX for years too. EX came a long though the company.

I really do not use anything I did not have on the LX. So do not get to hung up on the 250EX, though it has a couple more features I would never use. I am sure you will be happy with either unit.

LWS only leases 200+ I believe he said $120 for the year. Tractor Supply does exchanges, a 145 bottle runs $400 or a $20 for a conversion with a trade in. $70 for the gas. LWS looks to be where I'm going, but it's 30 miles instead of 5. I'll probably lease initially and keep an eye out for a good priced monster of 250+ for later purchase.

From everything I read and your comments, I'm most likely going to go with the 225LX. I found it serendipitous that my financial capability (first week in Nov) and the current contest almost lined up... so who knows :) Regardless, I'll have one on the way at the beginning of November and will plug along with the MIG I have now till then. Kinda makes me wish I hadn't closed out all my credit cards, lol.

Dad is down in Boynton and my sister and her family are in Coral Springs. I lived down there for a few years before the Navy, used to work near Yamato and 441. I miss it in comparison to here, anything I needed was a phone call and 20 minute drive away. Things are so spread out and scarce up here it makes it rough.

Really anxious to get back to it, loved doing it in the Navy and was set to make it a career, then the accident kinda wiped that out. I can still run whatever process, I'm just rusty as hell. I figure I'll burn through a bottle of argon in practice and be back up to speed, maybe less, only took a couple hours on the MIG to get back up to speed.

Normally, under 200 is an owner bottle, but I still have a couple and when I fill the last one it came back tattoo's all over, welder service. Sorta ticks me off actually. And the ring on it has their name too. Prax said they will fill it. But sort of tacky and I really like WSI.

I would not give up the MIG, we do probably 80% MIG and 20% TIG I would say. Hang on to the Hobart. Maybe an IMIG200 down the road for you. The 225LX is in Boynton Beach. I have it for a spare but have not needed it. Sat probably 6 months and is maybe a couple years old, well tested. Ever down this way you can check it out. :) Just hate to ship, but I saw Florida and it got me thinking. I can get the warranty extended through my boss I'm sure. If you can not get the price you like or we sell out again. Even they go fast now.

Not get the price I like? Is that the make offer button? I was going to ask what that was...

I won't be without a MIG, can't beat it for some jobs. It's too big for some, too small for others, and the metal I can do is limited. Once I have a TIG and Plasma (and after securing a Bridgeport) I'd definitely be looking towards a bigger MIG that could run AL too. Lots of things will depend on the volume of work coming in though, it's a side thing, so I'm not doing anything beyond word of mouth. That said, I have a series of decorative architectural elements (about 160 ft worth of square tube) and a few decorative/functional equipment pieces, stands and supports for tattoo artists. Also a small product line of handmade items I hope to start producing (pics once launched, hush hush till then). There are a few shops of varying types in the area, I'm hoping to pick up some work from them, especially after I get the Bridgeport in, no 'local' jobber shops in the area.

Pics and post this weekend, but I'm starting on a milling attachment for the lathe to tide me over till the spring, welding it up with the HH125, but the steel is ~3/4" thick, lots of passes, lots of waiting for it to cool. Should be fun!

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Originally Posted by Trip59

Not get the price I like? Is that the make offer button? I was going to ask what that was...

I won't be without a MIG, can't beat it for some jobs. It's too big for some, too small for others, and the metal I can do is limited. Once I have a TIG and Plasma (and after securing a Bridgeport) I'd definitely be looking towards a bigger MIG that could run AL too. Lots of things will depend on the volume of work coming in though, it's a side thing, so I'm not doing anything beyond word of mouth. That said, I have a series of decorative architectural elements (about 160 ft worth of square tube) and a few decorative/functional equipment pieces, stands and supports for tattoo artists. Also a small product line of handmade items I hope to start producing (pics once launched, hush hush till then). There are a few shops of varying types in the area, I'm hoping to pick up some work from them, especially after I get the Bridgeport in, no 'local' jobber shops in the area.

Pics and post this weekend, but I'm starting on a milling attachment for the lathe to tide me over till the spring, welding it up with the HH125, but the steel is ~3/4" thick, lots of passes, lots of waiting for it to cool. Should be fun!

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3/4", That's gonna be a LOT of them. hahaha.. The LX would do it in a fraction of the time even being a TIG.

If you call into the office, don't use the make an offer button. Ask for Oleg and tell him you are a member of the forum and looking for a TIG and Plasma. With a multi-purchase and if we are over stocked, sure he will help out.

Or win a contest here for some green bucks. :) Last contest got everyone that placed outside of first and second, but qualified in the contest, a 50% off coupon on a single purchase.

Gotcha! We'll see how this contest goes, I won't have the cash till first week of Nov anyhow, so I might as well wait to see if all those lotto losses mean I'm due for a win :)

Then again, I could get a call for a web contract tomorrow and have the cash next week...

Fortunately, I overbought MIG wire last time, plenty of it laying around.

Down here there is a ton of small one off welding work. Word of mouth, etc. So ya never know. On the lotto side, good luck, I bought two today.

I was down there in the 90's, worked with some bike shops, it's what got me into welding. Kind of thin up here, but the more I network the more work I find, leather, computer, carpentry, metal fab, repair, etc.

Trying to get into a couple of niches that could take it to a different level on the fabrication, working with some folks with decades in their industry. They'll design, I'll fabricate, they'll assemble and sell.

Measured out and started sketching plans for my weekend projects. Electrician coming by tomorrow to help me re-wire the shop, planning a 50 amp 220 line to the front instead of the 30 we were going to run for the compressor so I can run the welder from there :)

50 will be a good start, 30 would be a little light with the equipment you are planning on. Most 220volt solid-state (inverter) welders will want to run around 20 amps on lite to normal items. Figure doing plasma and the compressor re-charging too. Or the compressor just needed to charge while you are welding.

I hope it all works out for you. I know there is work around, once the word gets out.

60 gallon tank gives me a good run at moderate PSI. Welders/cutters/etc. can sit there with the fan on but without the arc while the compressor charges for a few minutes. It'll be a small feat of choreography, but right now I do that dance with my lathe, grinders, drill press, welder, etc. when I have someone working with me. Working by myself, it's not a problem to run one thing at a time.

Waiting on a new panel now, the one I had was out of room but not out of power.

Wound up re-grinding gears for a lawn mower's drive instead of working on my projects, didn't get any pics though.