Intro & my PP256/W300 experience
I've finally got something worth while to write about on here in dealing with my Everlast products. Some good, some bad. Here it goes.
Ever since I was about 7 years old I've wanted to learn how to weld. I spent my youth drawing up plans for go-karts and submarines which I knew could be assembled from the giant field of leftover pipe and propane tanks which were in my Dad's company scrap yard. None of those plans ever came to light due to the prohibitive costs of the engines/waterproof electric motors needed to make my projects move. Unable to fund these projects on my allowance I never bothered learning the tricks of the trade even though much of it was at my disposal in the company shop.
Fast forward 10 years or so and I found myself in my last couple years of High School but while many of my classmates had fun in wood shop making 'pot boxes', learning to weld in the metalworking class or learning all about automotive maintenance I found myself taking calculus and physics.
Finally, almost another decade later, with an electrical engineering degree and a few years of work under my belt I can finally afford to dabble in some of my interests.
I've been in the process of stripping down and restoring/re-doing my 1990 Nissan 300ZX and I plan on doing some welding on various things throughout the project. Having had zero experience with welding but much experience with the interwebs I searched and read and eventually found myself here. It didn't take me long to make my decision once I discovered Everlast.
I ordered up a PP256 in Early July 2011 and received it in early August 2011. A bit of a wait, but I wasn't in any hurry. Snag #1 occurred the day my package arrived. I had ordered a PP256 and instead received a PowerTig250EX - a great machine, but I wanted the plasma cutter as well. Everlast was quick to respond and they got the right machine shipped out ASAP.
It took another couple weeks for me to find time to wire up a 220V outlet and to install a ground rod but once it was up I was having a blast welding away. The machine ran great from the get-go and I managed some decent welding with the GIANT WP18 torch in my small hands.
In September I decided it was time for some more upgrades and decided to buy an Everlast welding cart and an Everlast PowerCool W300 to use along with a new CK Worldwide WP20 sized torch.
It took about another month for the shipment from Everlast to arrive and more time yet to get all the appropriate connections to adapt the torch to the watercooler (and wire ANOTHER 220V connection). The folks over at Arc-zone were very helpful and I've also got to thank Everlast forum user Rugar for his helpful post having done the same and documented it nicely.
(see below)
http://www.everlastgenerators.com/fo...tos-and-Part-s
I didn't buy exactly what he bought. My adapter list is as follows:
1x CK-SLWHAT-35 CK Worldwide SafeLoc, Large Water-Cooled DINSE Connector w/ (I bought the model with the fuse)
2x WCPZHCK-W Weldcraft ZHCK-W Coupler - For torch to W300 quick connect
1x custom hose for adapting the gas line to the quick connect on the PP256 (just ask arc-zone and they'll hook you up with what you need)
Upon assembly of my Everlast weld cart I found that the bottom most tray had a small bend in it which likely happened during shipping. The cart also was missing 3 nuts and bolts. Neither of these things really bugged me as I knew my W300 would be sitting on top of the slight bend on the lower tray and I was able to scrounge up a few similar nuts/bolts to attach the last side-hook. These issues weren't significant to me, but I'm sure they would have done their best to correct the issues had I bothered to e-mail them about it.
Finally with everything hooked up and my watercooler filled and running I started up a practice bead on some steel just to try the new torch. After only 1/2 an inch I lost my arc and couldn't get it back. After a few busy weekends away from my welder I discovered I had blown the fuse in my new DINSE connector and that this had occurred because there was zero water flow through my new torch. I quickly replaced my fuse and got on to diagnosing the issue with the Everlast PowerCool W300. I'll cut right to the chase here; I discovered that there is a small squishy silicone washer used in the connector between the water output quick-connect and the fitting which has the small tank return hose. This doughnut shaped washer, when compressed, would do a wonderful job of sealing the connection but also resulted in the center hole of the 'doughnut' effectively cutting off the path for water to flow. I fixed it by trimming the inside of the 'doughnut' ever so slightly with an x-acto knife. Once re-assembled it was leak-free and free-flowing just as it should be. I have e-mailed Everlast support with this information and encouraged them to pass it on to their quality control people. I hope no one else has encountered this issue.
So that's that. I guess you might say that I've had issues with Everlast and their products, but I am quite pleased with the end result.
Next project - fabricate mounts to get my 300ZX up on an auto rotisserie.
Thanks for reading my life story - I'll see you on the forums.
-Bret
