Howdy Friends!

Hiya, my name is Jimmy, I live in South Florida.

I have never actually welded anything before, and don't own a welder.

I am interested in repairing my 1986 Toyota Corolla GTS, it has a lot of rust and other issues.

I have been doing research on the net, and it seems like the best welder for my project and budget is the PowerTIG 210 EXT.

I use a Oxy/Acetylene torch at work for brazing copper tubing (AC work), and I have soldered plenty of electrical components.

Nice to meet you all. I hope to learn as much as possible from you. THANK YOU in advance!


Jimmy

Your going to spend more on the welder than your car is worth??? That seems odd to me.

I actually paid $2300 for my car, and hope to pay less than that for my welder.

A MIG is the usual for auto body repair. A 210 EXT is a great machine, but overkill, unless you need to repair every part in your car. With it you could weld the engine block, cylinder head, bodywork, exhaust, radiator, etc. And by the time you outfit a 210 EXT with basic supplies you will have more into it than your car, for sure. :)

Nice I'm already learning! I guess any project I work on must cost more than my welder, so far some very constructive replies. Thank you.

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Originally Posted by smaggo

Nice I'm already learning! I guess any project I work on must cost more than my welder, so far some very constructive replies. Thank you.

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Welcome to the forum. The forum members here are very knowledgeable and always quite helpful. There are quite a few products available. If you've got the time, spend it figuring out exactly what kind of jobs you'll be doing. That will help you establish what kind of welder is best for you. Cheers!

Welcome Jimmy. There are lots of people here willing and able to help you learn.

Do keep in mind that outfitting yourself from scratch will burn through 300-600 depending on how frugal you are and how good a deal you can score on a cylinder. TIG is a really great and versitile way to weld, but it is sorta slow and as I am finding out, not very good on dirty metal.

Hi Jimmy,

No expert here- fairly new to welding, and just bought an Everlast and joined this Forum myself.

Question: why have you decided on the 210EXT? Are you just doing bodywork? Do you have cracked aluminum to repair or something? The 210 is a lot of welder, for pretty specialized work. I would say it's for pros. Everlast recommends a watercooler, pedal, etc. In your house or garage you'll also need a 60 amp circuit free, at least.

It will do everything you want TIG-wise, but it's not that versatile otherwise. Just asking, because maybe a cheaper welder like the 140or 160st would be more economical and still do what you need it to do (and you'd be spending less than your car's worth ;) ).

You can weld anything with TIG, but it's really slow, and pretty much only for indoors, unless you want to build wind-breaks everywhere to protect the gas shielding.

I wanted more welder myself, but I'm limited by space and the amperage coming into my house. For those reasons I bought a 140st. It is TIG and stick, and can be used on 110 or 220 circuits. I expect it will be enough for the small parts fab I want to do. I can weld outside with the stick, and practice TIG with it inside. DC only, so no aluminum, but I have a Lincoln MIG that can take a spoolgun if I want to try that. Anyway, it will do parts fab, sheet metal, most any motorcycle or automotive stuff I'll need.

Sorry to question your choice, you may have thought through all this stuff already, in which case I'll STFU!

Hi and thanks for taking interest.

My first project will be repairing extensive rust on the body, undercarriage, exhaust manifold, and anywhere else I find it.

The reason I thought the 210EXT would be best is because it looks relatively small and can weld, if I'm not mistaken, a huge variety of materials.
I am a electronic technician, and have a interest in the different wave forms and their effects, along with the pulse features.
I want the ability to weld aluminum, for future modifications, and other projects.

I will be working out of a small shop, my car can fit inside and I can close the gate, I have access to 220v there.

I only recently started doing research but I was first looking at a dynasty 200dx, or a Invertec v205t, that was untill I told my wife how much they cost 8)
The 210EXT is within my budget.

I can understand why most will think my car is not worth much, but to me it is priceless.

I have been looking into different water-cooler designs and plan on building my own with a pump off Ebay.
Any input is greatly appreciated.

Sounds like you've thought this out pretty good. I guess that didn't come through before. Your oxy-fuel experience will really help you learning to TIG. It is truly one of the most flexible welding processes, you can even braze with it.

If you are into technology, the 210EXT has all the technology toys. Please keep in mind, though, that each process has its strengths. TIG welding can be an art form and you have a lot of control over the puddle. You can weld thin and relatively thick materials but it isn't a fast process. While you are researching, look up how MIG welding and TIG welding differ. If you do decide to go with TIG (with stick capability) and purchase the 210EXT, I think you will be very pleased. Just be sure you understand how TIG will work with what you need to do. Happy researching. Cheers!

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Originally Posted by smaggo

The reason I thought the 210EXT would be best is because it looks relatively small and can weld, if I'm not mistaken, a huge variety of materials.
I am a electronic technician, and have a interest in the different wave forms and their effects, along with the pulse features.
I want the ability to weld aluminum, for future modifications, and other projects.

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Ahh, that was exactly the reason I went with the EXT myself. It is nice to have a machine capable of welding almost anything, just add practice!

I will caution you again though, TIG HATES impure metal. Even small rust pitting makes for a nasty weld. Stick will do OK for that though.

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Originally Posted by smaggo

I have been looking into different water-cooler designs and plan on building my own with a pump off Ebay.
Any input is greatly appreciated.

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If you want something quick and cheap, you can always just hook it to a hose with a few fittings and some tubing. A cooler is on my list for someday, but the hose works just fine for now.

The 210EXT out of the box does not come with a water cooled torch, so you might want to get a WP-20 as well when you, I recommend both. I too run with city water pressure and have done it for years (same two torches and no damage), so you can build your cooler and still use the machine until it is done.

I just received the 210EXT and must say I am beyond happy with it. Your options are probably 225LX, 250EX or 210EXT, from what you described (185 and 200DX fix in there too). The 210EXT has all the features as the 250EX, and microprocessor dialed in.

I did not think I would like the EXT over the EX, but that changed in the first 10 minutes. Nothing wrong with the EX by any means, just like the digital front end.

Mark (performance) has a 210EXT panel video on youtube that is a mush watch, watch that and you are pretty much ready to start. The A/O as stated will give you a jump start on the TIG. How I wound up with a TIG machine.

I have used mine on stainless and aluminum and it is great, have not used it on mild steel yet, but just received it and most steel work is MIG. You might want to look at the IMIG-200 and IMIG205 as well. They too are great machines. We tend to do 95%+ MIG and the rest TIG. We do not use stick anymore (flux core outside, we run the IMIG-200 on a 5500watt generator).

Hope that helps. Note a lot of people will try to direct you to a less cost machine that will do your car, but if the funds are there, the 210EXT will do it and a lot more. And they are right about the MIG as well, I would probably get the MIG first, but the TIG will do it all, just slower and more prep work.

I myself will be getting a 210 EXT for it's capabilities, but redbeard's comments about TIG hating rust is very worth dwelling on. I've done a lot of rust repair on a musclecar project I'm building and a MIG is really what you want for rust repairs. I personally want a TIG now because I've moved on from the rust repairs to a lot of clean new metal fabrication, suspension parts/mounts, etc. where the heat control and AC for aluminum will be needed, but for general auto body repairs if I had a choice of only one machine I'd have to go the MIG if any of the metal is rusty or corroded. Just my thoughts......or you can get both!!!! :)

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Originally Posted by everlastsupport

The 210EXT out of the box does not come with a water cooled torch

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Uh oh... really?! Joke's on me, I've been building a water cooler!

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Originally Posted by DaveO

Uh oh... really?! Joke's on me, I've been building a water cooler!

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Mine came with a 26, sure you can upgrade or talk to Oleg nice.. I would like to have one myself. You can use the WP-20 with it and the foot pedal.

Oh yeah, one way or another I'll be using the cooler.