Hat tip from South Texas

[tom_tom]

I've been a once-in-a-while stick welder most of my life. I also did quite a bit of gas welding but gas welding/cutting never 'grew on me' like one of my mentors said years ago. I recently learned MIG/FCAW and found that knowing to stick weld helped greatly with flattening the learning curve. I've always had the itch to learn TIG welding and hope to get my feet wet soon. I may enroll in a CC course if time and finances permit. In the meantime, I look forward to getting a little hood time.

I received my PowerTig 250EX today. It got held up in Mezquite, TX for a few days (storm/ice) but to my surprise, IT ARRIVED IN ONE PIECE and not too badly knocked around by UPS. The machine looks great! I like the layout of the controls and it isn't too heavy to carry here and there but a rolling cart is definitely on the to-do-soon list .

So far, I've only unboxed the machine and accessories. I will wire up the plug, connect Ar line, try to rig the water supply for torch (water bib for now), turn on, test and maybe strike an arc or 300 tonight.

Tom

[DaveO]

Welcome, Tom, and congrats on the new machine! What part of TX are you? I've got a lot of relatives down around Corpus, always enjoy getting down there.

If you're new to TIG- have you heard of WeldingTipsAndTricks.com? A lot of good informational videos there.

[geezer]

Congrats on the 250ex ,,,a wise choice,,,if you can master all it's potential,,,,you will be one hellav welder,,,best of wishes on your quest to master the 250ex,,,there is nothing out there that can compare for dollar for dollar value..you bought right...

[everlastsupport]

Welcome Tom,

I will second geezer, the 250EX is a great machine. Update your profile with your location and signature with you welder model and tools, and watch the list grow . Maybe make the first project a welding cart? Also note you can stick weld with the 250EX if you have no argon yet, need to weld in a windy area or just want to save a little cash on a weld.

Post of pictures of your projects if able and welcome to the Everlast family.

[tom_tom]

Thanks guys,

Dave, I'm in the Rio Grande Valley -- about 2 hours south of Corpus. I've been watching the videos that (jody/jodi) posts up. The videos and blog are VERY helpful. I'll probably be ordering one of his products in the near future (not sure yet if forum rules permit mentioning product name/s yet).

geezer, I went back and forth between a 210ext-ish machine (digital), a multi-process, a lower amperage tig only (analog). I settled on the 250EX in spite of water cooling requirement and heavier weight.

Mike, will do. Thanks!

So far I have the plug wired and argon line hooked up to the bottle. I switched the machine on for a minute and adjusted the main amperage pot between min and max. The display is bright and that fan roared up nicely It may be loud but good cooling will be crucial in this HOT climate! I now have the correct fittings to hook/rig up the water line but am confused as to which hose is the feed/return. A simple 'breathalizer' test revealed that the hose that comes off the power connector is one of the water lines. One of the free-running hoses exhausts through the torch head so that is obviously the gas line (right?). Which of the other two water lines should be hooked to the water feed?

Tom

[DaveO]

I'm in the Rio Grande Valley -- about 2 hours south of Corpus.

Oh, you mean *Southern* South Texas! I've got relatives in Kingsville, too. Enjoyed a couple of fine dove hunts there.

I have not worked with a water cooled torch- did you get those connections worked out?

[tom_tom]

[...]did you get those connections worked out?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrDg5hRXY6c

Using this video as reference and assuming that water line connections are more or less standard between manufacturers and series, it seems that the water hose that stems from the power lead at the front of the machine is the hot water (return) line. Can somebody confirm? I have the SR-18 type torch.

Tom

[everlastsupport]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrDg5hRXY6c

Using this video as reference and assuming that water line connections are more or less standard between manufacturers and series, it seems that the water hose that stems from the power lead at the front of the machine is the hot water (return) line. Can somebody confirm? I have the SR-18 type torch.

Tom

The video does explain it. But without the video, a quick check, the hose you can blow in and hear the air coming out the torch head is the gas line. The shorter hose (braided) coming from the dinse euro connector (plugged into the machine) is the water out (return).

[m j mauer]

Tom welcome to the forum, I am thinking of getting one of those machines.

[tom_tom]

The video does explain it. But without the video, a quick check, the hose you can blow in and hear the air coming out the torch head is the gas line. The shorter hose (braided) coming from the dinse euro connector (plugged into the machine) is the water out (return).

Thanks Mike, I hooked up the water lines as described in the video. Got everything up and running and so far so good.

Tom welcome to the forum, I am thinking of getting one of those machines.

I've only had the machine up and running for a few hours but so far, I have no regrets. I'm attacking some 3/64" stainless to test the lower limits of the machine as well as exposing my lack of experience with a TIG machine.

Here, I'm practicing my technique with torch angle, arc length, etc on some SS spice cups. I'm using the foot pedal only to initiate the arc in order to get used to the pedal. No filler metal, just trying to run a puddle without burning through and without dipping the tungsten (fail, and fail). It would help tremendously to have something to rest my arm or at least elbow on but I'm just winging it for now.

[TheGary]

Welcome to the forum. You got the right machine. I usually winter down where you are ( palmview) but my wife had a few surgeries and was not well enough to go down this winter so I am toughing it out here in northern wisconsin this winter. I will be down there for next winter for sure.

[tom_tom]

Welcome to the forum. You got the right machine. I usually winter down where you are ( palmview) but my wife had a few surgeries and was not well enough to go down this winter so I am toughing it out here in northern wisconsin this winter. I will be down there for next winter for sure.

I wish your wife a speedy recovery. Several of my customers are Winter Texans and they say it's been a rough season up there. Hang in there - I don't think we'd survive an hour up there when we break out our jackets when the temperature dips below 70 degrees

Tom