Got my new tig welder!

[youngnstudly]

I finally bought an Everlast 250EX on Tuesday in the very late afternoon, and it arrived the next day around 1pm. I got a 26 series torch too since I haven't collected all the parts to build a water cooler yet. Oleg was a pleasure to do business with (as usual), and I'm very happy with what I got. The unit was in stock, I had Everlast green bucks to use towards the purchase, AND my birthday is in less than 3 weeks from now! If turning 31 isn't a good reason to buy a new tig welder, the other reasons listed should be!!!

I opened the box yesterday evening and everything looks good thus far. I was surprised that the factory sent the full 30 page (paper) manual too with this welder since I only got a 4 page "manual" with my 160STH purchase.

I was a little disappointed by the fact the welder didn't come with a NEMA 6-50 plug, even though I was told that it would when I asked. I was even more disappointed this afternoon when neither Home Depot or Lowe's had the plug in stock. Looks like I'll be driving over to the LWS on Monday. I wanted to weld with it this weekend, but I need to tidy up around the garage anyways before I spread new welder parts all over the place, so the plug issue isn't the end of the world.

I've read the manual a few times AND watched Jody's 4 or 5 part series on "All those freakin knobs!", so the switches, knobs, and functions are sinking in slowly. I've had very limited experience with adjusting the settings this unit has, so there will be some trial and error on my part. It's still less complicated than a woman, so I think I'll be okay.

I will be posting more pics when I get everything situated and the welder "up and running" next week. Stayed tuned!

[Rambozo]

Congrats on the new toy. That model can use single or three phase so the lack of plug makes sense. I like the new regulator/flowmeter. So did you get a 26 and an 18? Now that most ranges and dryers have changed from NEMA 6 to NEMA 14, I've noticed the big box stores don't stock as many as they used to.

[youngnstudly]

Thanks, I'm excited to get it going. I am curious to see how the new regulator works compared to the older chrome version that I got with the 160STH. And yes, I did get both torches, the 26 for immediate use, and the 18 for when I finish collecting parts for the water cooler.

My plan is to run a simple water tank with a small external electric pump (120v), but finding a reasonably priced tank with the correct dimensions and bosses for fittings is proving to be more difficult than I thought. The main problem is I'm cheap, the second problem is I haven't figured out how much capacity I want or need, and the last problem is I need something with a shallow depth and a return fitting on the top of the tank.

Home depot and Lowes both had a lot less selection in the electrical section than I recall from my previous trip(s) there. That's okay, I haven't been gouged by the LWS in a while.

[DaveO]

Congrats, Andy!

I'm a little surprised both HD and Lowes are out of stock. The LWS is closed on the weekend, probably, and so are electrical supply places... how do we get you a 6-50 plug? Look for an electrician's van in the HD parking lot? Maybe ask a Home Deep guy to check inventory at another store, and go there if it's close enough? Borrow one from another machine... mom-and-pop hardware store... temporarily plug the machine into the dryer circuit... put a "want to buy" ad on Craig's List, see if somebody's got a spare... appliance repair boneyard...? At one point we ran a 220v tombstone by jamming bare ends of the wires into the knife switch in the fuse box, possibly a bit too Frankenstein-ish for long term use!

Hope you can get it running this weekend!

[m j mauer]

Congrats on your new toy.

[youngnstudly]

Congrats, Andy!

I'm a little surprised both HD and Lowes are out of stock. The LWS is closed on the weekend, probably, and so are electrical supply places... how do we get you a 6-50 plug? Look for an electrician's van in the HD parking lot? Maybe ask a Home Deep guy to check inventory at another store, and go there if it's close enough? Borrow one from another machine... mom-and-pop hardware store... temporarily plug the machine into the dryer circuit... put a "want to buy" ad on Craig's List, see if somebody's got a spare... appliance repair boneyard...? At one point we ran a 220v tombstone by jamming bare ends of the wires into the knife switch in the fuse box, possibly a bit too Frankenstein-ish for long term use!

Hope you can get it running this weekend!

Congrats on your new toy.

Thank you both! This has been a long time coming, so it's pretty cool for me. I am planning to wait until the local "Ma and Pop" welding store opens on Monday since they treat me right, and I may get a few other supplies from them as well. I did thank about robbing the plug from my 160STH, but I bet I could call a few friends and get one if I really tried. That's okay though, as mentioned earlier, I have a few things to do before I play with my new toy. Responsibility is a heavy responsibility!

I laughed at the part about jamming the bare ends of the wire into the switch, since I had a boss at the old HVAC shop that used to do that on electrical motors and dampers we received. I've told this before on here, but by the time I was 3, I had stuck the same car keys into the same wall socket on 2 separate occasions, so I try to avoid Frankenstein's methods as much as possible! Keys make a good "jumper" if you're trying to "hotwire" a house to steal it, just FYI! Nobody suspects a 3 year old to do it either!

[DaveO]

Andy, just realized we haven't heard from you... how's it going?! Got the new machine going by now, I hope, up to your elbows in TIG gloves?

[youngnstudly]

Andy, just realized we haven't heard from you... how's it going?! Got the new machine going by now, I hope, up to your elbows in TIG gloves?

Hi Dave, I have used the new welder for only a minimal amount so far. It took more than I thought it would to make the welding cart ready for the new machine, and I'm trying to get the 160STH ready for an Ebay auction too. Today won't be good for welding though since the apartment building behind my Dad's shop is less than 12 feet from the back wall of the shop. I'm sure the tenants would love me messing up their TV signals and such on America's Birthday.

It's okay when we have to listen to their out of control screaming children and the loud Mexican music coming from multiple units of the complex everyday, but NOT when we do anything that might inconvenience them......come to think of it, today might be a wonderful day to do more tig welding.....and some loud banging, grinding, and air hammering too.