Got to play today!

I finally got a chance to spend a little time playing with my 250ex today.Keep in mind that i am a noob when it comes to tig so it's a trial by fire process for me.I had tacked together a cart with a Lincoln that i have and used the tig to weld everything together.Things started out pretty ugly but as time passed i started to get the hang of things.Wish i had taken photos but with time being in such short supply right now i just wonted to keep the torch in my hand,sorry guys no photos at this time.
The 250 never missed a beat.She ran for 4 straight hours.2 hours were me sharpening tungsten,Go figure..:) The other 2 were me wasting filler rod and argon but having one hell of a good time.After i get alittle more time with this thing i think that a more flexible 25 ft torch may bee in order.My machine came with the 18 non euro water cooled torch witch is fine but i think i am going to look for something more flexible in the future.
As soon as i get the chance to take some photos of some welds i would like to post them and get you guys to tell me what you see/what im doing wrong and right.what i should change,how,and why.I got a lot to learn and what better way than to get advice from all who have been there done that.

loving my 250ex
jody miller

That's what it's all about! LOL Watching and feeding that arc is bloody fun stuff. I never would have known if I hadn't tried myself.

Jody, I recieved the same torch with mine. What little time I have using it, the cables are too stiff. My quick solution was to remove about 3' of the plastic cover from the torch back. Then just wrapped electrical tape about every 4". Made a hughe difference in flexability.

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Originally Posted by Odyknuck

Jody, I recieved the same torch with mine. What little time I have using it, the cables are too stiff. My quick solution was to remove about 3' of the plastic cover from the torch back. Then just wrapped electrical tape about every 4". Made a hughe difference in flexability.

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I was thinking the same thing about if the plastic cover was restricting flexibility. I will have to try what you did if I ever have to pull that torch out again.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Odyknuck

Jody, I recieved the same torch with mine. What little time I have using it, the cables are too stiff. My quick solution was to remove about 3' of the plastic cover from the torch back. Then just wrapped electrical tape about every 4". Made a hughe difference in flexability.

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I may give that a try.I spent quite a bit of time with twisting and fighting the the torch.I went to my lws and had the chance to check out the ck superflex lines and all i can say is wow!Looking at getting a ck 230 with the superflex lines when the bank account allows (need to recover from Christmas).

I have one of the smaller torches that I got from everlast and while I like the torch a lot better than the big ones that come with the machines, I wish the lines were different. I am going to order a setup with a superflex line in the future as it seems that are muct more enjoyable to weld with.

Got a chance to wast a little more time with the welder today.Played around with a few settings and worked on my welding cart.All i got is 15 bucks in this thing so far.She aint real pretty but it should get the job done when i'm finished.While i was messing with the cart i set my torch down and then picked it back up a few mins later and the switch was missing it's button.I found the button and the spring laying in the floor.It was broke clean off.I had been using the foot peddle the entire time so i don't know when or how it got broke.Guess i need to look into getting a new switch.

I tried my hand at melting some aluminum before i put things away for the night...Please don't laff its my first try!:) I ran a few beads from left to right with the torch in my left hand and from right to left with the torch in my right hand.I went down hill on 1 try and up hill on the one that i melted through.I'm just playing and trying to get the hang of this stuff so any advice would be greatly appreciated.Sorry for the crappy photos...I got a new camera and don't have it figured out just yet ether.

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The cart is looking good. But next time, do yourself a big favour and grind down to clean metal in the area of the weld. You'll find it goes far smoother, and is well worth the small amount of time it takes. Flap discs work really great for this (~60 grit for speed). There's no sense making it hard on yourself.

Sucks about the torch switch. :(

Won't say anything about the aluminium since I really don't know much about that. Well, I'll say it looks good to me! :)

Bed rails do come in handy don't they. LOL great for light duty fabrication projects. The aluminum beads look pretty good for your first attempt. Of cource what do I know, as I have never done it. Hope my first attempt go's as well as yours.

That will do the job. I like the pneumatic rear wheels, as they roll over almost anything. However, if they are like most Harbor Freight ones, do yourself a favor and put some Slime in the tubes to keep then from leaking down.
You might have a look at Zoama's torch switch design. Probably never break it, and it won't get in the way.

I purchased the switch here> http://www.sourcingmap.com/5mm-push-...-p-168159.html They're very easy to deal with.

Thanks guys for the reply's and ideas about the switch.The switch still works but it turns out that the more i use it the better i like it with the switch broke off!There is still a small piece that is there to press but it does not protrude out and get in the way.I have been using the foot pedal and dont think that i would ever use the switch unless i just had to. Now that i have had some time to spend playing around with my cart,It seams that eather the torch is getting more flexible or i am getting really comfortable in the way i am holding it.

I have had the chance to spend a few hours working on the cart this week and was able to make a little headway on it.I even got some green paint on it!Its darker then the everlast green but was as close as i could find at my local rattle can supply store.I cant wait to move my 250ex on to her new home!Big thumbs up to you guys at everlast....Loving the hell out of my welder!!!


Sorry for the crappy photos..they were taken with my cell phone.
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Nice. I like the V at the back to keep the bottle centered.

Very nice cart.

Got the chance to set the 250 on her new home this weekend!Took a few photos,so you know i got to post them!:D Over look the mess in the shop...In the middle of going through everything in it and a work trailer!

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I really like the expanded metal shelves. Just enough to hold big things, but won't be a crud catcher. Better air circulation, to boot.