Been thinking about a 160 STH instead of a 200DX...

[ncsugrad2006]

So, I had originally been intending to buy one of the new model 200DX's with the 25% discount I received from one of the contests, but have been leaning more and more towards the 160 STH now after seeing some of the weldingtipsandtricks videos using it. I may just buy it at the best price Oleg will give me and save my 25% discount for later in case I ever want to upgrade to the 200DX.

My concern is the 160 STH really may do everything I ever really need, and be a fraction of the cost. The negative of course is that the 200DX WILL do anything I would ever need, and comes with a foot pedal so there's no additional expense required there but of course the welder costs quite a bit more.

Certainly I can't be the only person who has thought about this before--any suggestions from anyone else on here? I would only be welding small things around the shop (quite honestly I don't really NEED a TIG welder, but have always wanted to learn how to use one so I figured why not?) and can't remember a time I have needed AC. But, with the 25% discount a 200DX gets quite a bit cheaper so it's a tough call.

Suggestions/thoughts/experiences??

[ShaneJackson]

I'm trying to make the decision myself... let me make it a little harder for you
You could always get a Itig200 for $525 with the 25% discount or get it off amazon for $580 (shipped, not sure how much everlast charges on shipping...) but no foot pedal with it...
OR
get a 185 micro for $637 with the 25% discount... but still no foot pedal.....
OR
spend the $900 with the 25% discount and get the 200DX

If you are going to spend the $150 for a foot pedal anyways..... well it's like spending $750 for the 200DX comparing apples to apples.... I'd probably go with the 200DX

[performance]

The 160 sth is a DC only unit. Big difference.
I'd get the 185 myself. If you buy the unit, you can get the pedal at a discount.

[ncsugrad2006]

I'm trying to make the decision myself... let me make it a little harder for you
You could always get a Itig200 for $525 with the 25% discount or get it off amazon for $580 (shipped, not sure how much everlast charges on shipping...) but no foot pedal with it...
OR
get a 185 micro for $637 with the 25% discount... but still no foot pedal.....
OR
spend the $900 with the 25% discount and get the 200DX

If you are going to spend the $150 for a foot pedal anyways..... well it's like spending $750 for the 200DX comparing apples to apples.... I'd probably go with the 200DX

Yeah, decisions decisions!

The 160 sth is a DC only unit. Big difference.
I'd get the 185 myself. If you buy the unit, you can get the pedal at a discount.

Yeah def a big difference--I'm just not sure I NEED AC. I'll email Oleg at some point and get prices on the different options. I'm sure I've about driven him crazy having him quote everything for me already, lol

[SeanMurphy265]

You could go with the 185 micro and the 140st (for stick welding). I owned the 200dx and I think that is a solid machine. From all the research I did before I made my first purchase from Everlast the PT200DX had little to no complaints. I never had one problem with the welder. It was a solid tig package and a solid stick welder. I could see have the 160 if you are starting to learn, or if you need a good machine for out in the field. If you weld enough eventually your going to need AC tig welding capabilities. The only Everlast machines I am not a fan is the multi purpose (tig, stick, and plasma) units, but there are several people who have them and love them, and would not own anything different. The tig units are all good solid units.

[ncsugrad2006]

It really sounds like I may should just be patient & hold off until I can get the 200DX, but we shall see.

[Alaska]

In my opnion, welders are like trucks, guns and chainsaws - can you ever get one too big? Several years ago, I bought a small mig thinking "I am only going to do some small stuff." Boy was I wrong, I was always trying to weld larger metal maxing my little machine out. Needless to say, I sold it and bought a 220 machine with 250 amps. Now I can run a spool gun, and weld anything. When the gas prices went up a few years ago, I sold my 1 ton diesel and boutght a Toyota Tacoma to "save on gas", problem was I could not haul anything with it and it drove me nuts. Simple things like putting a sheet of plywood in the bed and closing the gate sure are missed in one of the mini trucks. Now I have another diesel - I should have kept the last one. So when I decided to get a TIG I went straight for the 250EX with the cooler even though it was a lot of money for me to shell out. I will probably run it at half power most of the time, but if I want to get after some heavy steel or do a big aluminum project I have the machine for the job.

Think it out on your own and realize you too will at some point want to weld something larger than you are planning on now. I would urge you to save your money and use the coupons to get the biggest machine you can afford. Buy once and don't look back.