Newbie from the Northwest signing in!

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Hi,

New to everything welding - including this site! Hope to save enough to buy a welder for myself. Want to soak up as much information between now and then so that I'll be prepared to "lay down some bead" when I get some equipment!

[MigPlazArc]

Hi,

New to everything welding - including this site! Hope to save enough to buy a welder for myself. Want to soak up as much information between now and then so that I'll be prepared to "lay down some bead" when I get some equipment!

Welcome to the Everlast forum. What type(s) of welding are you planning to do? MIG, Stick, TIG?

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Welcome to the Everlast forum. What type(s) of welding are you planning to do? MIG, Stick, TIG?

Worst case possible - very, very green, hobbiest (for now!) no money, no place to weld indoors! That doesn't leave me with many options so I've decided stick but I'm not complaining as I'm loving just reading about welding let alone doing it (although I suspect I would *love* TIG)!

Hey, you are from Iowa. I went to Cedar Rapids a couple of times on work related trips. Not sure if they are still there but I believe Quaker Oats had a facility in Cedar Rapids. Loved the smell of cereal / oatmeal in the air first thing in the morning.

[everlastsupport]

You will want to look at the power arc series. The 200 is nice, stick unit and 6010 capable.

I am waiting on the new PA160STH Stick, TIG with HF start and runs one 110volts AC. That might be the machine to look at. You will need an argon tank though for the TIG. But you can stick until you get one.

[undercut]

You will want to look at the power arc series. The 200 is nice, stick unit and 6010 capable.

I am waiting on the new PA160STH Stick, TIG with HF start and runs one 110volts AC. That might be the machine to look at. You will need an argon tank though for the TIG. But you can stick until you get one.

Yes, the 160sth - curse Everlast .... Been saving my pennies for the 140st - trying to keep the 160sth out of my mind as it is out of my budget. Major drooling. I shouldn't even be going there as the welder price is outside of my range and TIG will require the tank as you say, and the regulator, gas refill and another set of consumables .... But TIG looks so tempting to learn especially if there is HF start! Curse Everlast! Curse them! They seem to know my weaknesses.

[everlastsupport]

Yes, the 160sth - curse Everlast .... Been saving my pennies for the 140st - trying to keep the 160sth out of my mind as it is out of my budget. Major drooling. I shouldn't even be going there as the welder price is outside of my range and TIG will require the tank as you say, and the regulator, gas refill and another set of consumables .... But TIG looks so tempting to learn especially if there is HF start! Curse Everlast! Curse them! They seem to know my weaknesses.

No curse. Just read your post and put what "I" would do or recommend. And appears you know what you really want.

If you are on a budget, here are a couple ideas for you.

Talk to Oleg, I know margins are low on the new 160STH but he is pretty cool. Get him early in the week, not Friday afternoon.

True you will need a tank of argon, the consumables are not that much per pound. HF start a very nice feature. If no gauge comes with it, talk to Oleg about that when you order.

On the tank, while you save up the money, find a older MIG or TIG, with a tank, on craigslist local to you. Use the saved money to buy the set and then sell only the welder. Make sure the welder if one of two big names and someone will buy it even without the tank (done that a few times myself). Now you have a tank or lower cost tank, and your money back. Maybe more money. If not an argon tank, go to LWS and swap it. That will be $35-$75 for a fair to good size tanks.

ALSO, make sure the tank is within dates and owner tanks. If not an owner tank, make sure there's someone local that can fill it. Ask them questions, make sure you note where they live .

[Rodsmachineshop]

Benjamin what part of Iowa lol i was born in Iowa lived in Waterloo. ceder falls and Nashua