Hi all, Trip59 here

[everlastsupport]

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.

[Trip59]

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.

[everlastsupport]

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.

[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!

[everlastsupport]

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!

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.

[Trip59]

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.

[everlastsupport]

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.