PowerTIG 225LX delivered today...

[everlastsupport]

Mike,

Again, thanks for the update.

I spent the whole Thanksgiving weekend researching both Everlast and Longevity units. (I had already concluded that I could'nt afford a Red or a Blue). I read tons of posts, both negative and positive.

After talking to Oleg, I prepaid a PP256. So yeah, I did put my faith in you guys because I felt that the positives outweighed the negatives.

Trust me, I am upbeat about this purchase and if there are hiccups I will take the high road and call you for a resolution.

Cheers,
Rivets

Glad you made the right choice and we will be here. I cover the weekends most of the time as well, long as my hands are not dirty or not in the middle of something. FYI, that box will be about 70+ lbs

[Zoomie]

Howdy all! It seems my thread has drifted a little since I originally posted. Just to clarify, I'm a fraz disappointed, but not with the company I chose to do business with. I would say it’s more about the time I have than anything (or lack thereof). I contacted customer service via telcon and email during the holidays. I'm sure there is going to be a delay. Shoot, I EXPECT there to be a delay this time of year! Ray and Mark contacted me after my initial post and have done their best to address my concerns and I have been assured my issues will be taken care of. I'm satisfied with how things have gone so far with Everlast! Heck, it's when stuff goes wrong that you know if you're dealing with right minded folks or not. Hey, my box of stuff got banged up by a shipping company in the middle of their biggest shipping season push of the year. Did I mention it arrived a day early! It isn't the end of the world. I got a welder that appears to need some cosmetic TLC(a plastic cover and a missing screw). If all goes the way I think it will the parts will be shipped, I'll swap'em out and things will be fine. If not, I'll return the welder for a replacement, (notice I said replacement not refund) and Everlast and I will still be on good terms. No biggie! My reason for posting this is to provide an update to my previous posts for those contemplating a welder etc. For me, the bucks are a much bigger deal than they were a year ago. I really want my money to go further, which is why I chose to do business with this company. I need more value for my money! I think Everlast has a bright future with a sound product line which is one of the reasons they got my business. If all goes as planned, a W300 water cooler is next. Just gotta save a little more!

[Zoomie]

Well, nothing much new really to report. I have been away for the last 2 weeks with work. I hope to get home Thursday evening and get everything fired up and running to verify my machine is healthy (still gotta get shielding gas etc) . Oleg picked up the phone while I was talking to Katya about replacement parts, he wanted to check to see if there was anything he could help with. Very COOL! Hopefully the parts will show up the end of this week so I can get them swapped out and get started learning! Maybe a cooler and a Plasma cutter...

[Zoomie]

Okay, So I got home with shielding gas, got a cheapy welding bench from Northern Tool and all the the extraneous items etc I thought I'd need. I assembled the bench and got started organizing my stuff. Some are probably asking what my my rationale was for not building a bench. Well, the NT version is pretty light and easily moved by one person so I can get cars back in the garage. Just having rollers isn't enough. I got my rod, tungsten ground and everything hooked up, set up etc. and got down to burning some metal. I got a cheap piece of 16 gauge mild steel from Lowes, 70 S2 1/16" rod and started playing! 50 amps, pulse off, and the AC Freq and AC balance pointing at 12 oclock. All I can say is wow! It seems this is not going to be as difficult as I imagined! Don't get me wrong you professional types! I know you have been doing this all your life and that you don't have the luxury of knowing the type metal your working on nor the thickness and must hit the amperage right the first time with the correct filler rod. You have ALL MY RESPECT! Not to mention the skill and technique to make stuff happen on exotic metals and wierd locations, all from a "2nd degree burn" type of experience. I just really anticipated it to be MUCH more difficult just to get an arc started and get the coordination with the filler rod up and running. I used Jody Colliers rhythm method which helps immensely with the coordination (a thousand and one, a thousand and two, etc. dabbing the rod into the puddle at the end of each number then moving about 1/8 inch forward). Also understanding the melting/fusing process (tungsten melts base metal, puddle melts the rod). Another reason I think this seems much easier is the puddle seems SO MUCH EASIER TO CONTROL! I can see it more clearly therefore I can control it more easily, and again this has more to do with a capable machine than operator manipulation. When using my Miller MIG I always felt like I was chasing the machine. that is, trying to keep up with the wire feed. With this you can kinda bumble along at your own pace and still can make something happen other than a pile of bird poo. I think I'm gonna like this machine and definitely like the process. Now, if I could just figure out a way to quit dipping my freakin electrode in the puddle or touching the damn rod to it I'd be happy!!!

A few notes:

Basic TIG welding during my first infantile steps is much easier than I anticipated it to be.

You are going to need more money than you thought to get set up (even if you do have a MIG welder, protective gear etc.)

I haven't yet gotten my welder replacement parts due to a snow storm. Katya forwarded the tracking no., but UPS keeps rescheduling delivery to the house).

The welder is awesome (and yes, I am a rank amateur). It is VERY adjustable and if you watch Mr. Jody Colliers TIG videos it'll put you miles down the road towards understanding your Powertigs settings and how they effect performance.

The TIG torch is stiff. This stiffness makes it slightly more difficult to manipulate the arc accurately due to the reduced flexibility of the cables/hoses. I have NEVER picked up a different TIG torch, so it may just be me.

Everlast's customer service, Mike Mark Ray Katya and above all Oleg, have been outstanding, second to none, period!

If you have questions for me that can be answered by a rank amateur feel free to do so via open forum or PM. I'll tell you everything I know! It should take about 5 seconds! :wink:

Lastly, I do not have any affiliation with Everlast or any of the above named folks. I would say if anything they (Everlast) think I'm an azz due to the way I have spoken to them and the number of times I called. In my defense, I'm an Air Traffic Controller, emotion does not figure into communications with aircraft, pilots or other controllers, data is king, all the emotional crap gets filtered out. Some folks see it as quite cold, but after 30+ years it seems normal and therefore appropriate to me. Others needless to say, do not.

[Rugar]

I got a cheap piece of 16 gauge mild steel from Lowes, 70 S2 1/16" rod and started playing! 50 amps, pulse off, and the AC Freq and AC balance pointing at 12 oclock.

Just a FYI, it doesnt matter where the AC settings are when TIGing mild steel on DC.

[Zoomie]

Hadn't thought of that, but you're right. I'm a nimrod!

[angular]

Okay, So I got home with shielding gas, got a cheapy welding bench from Northern Tool and all the the extraneous items etc I thought I'd need. I assembled the bench and got started organizing my stuff.

Hey, Zoomie. Which welding table/bench did you get? I'll soon be in the same boat you are, so to speak, getting my first TIG welder and watching Jody's videos over and over again.

Thanks.

-Bradley

[Zoomie]

Howdy Brad,
I got the $79.00 "Northern Industrial Tools Welding Table — 36in.L x 20in.W x 35in.H" Item# 628860. It seems to be pretty stable. I got it on sale for $67 bucks or so. The ad said it weighs about 40 lbs which seems about right. The table top looks like it's been zinc chromate coated for anti rust I suppose. When assembling, lay the top upside down attach legs then cross braces. Mine didn't come with instructions. Use a speed square to verify that the legs are vertical. I couldn't have built it from scratch for 70 bucks. I do plan to build a cart though.

[angular]

Thanks... I appreciate your feedback especially since that table only has one review. I'm on the fence right now between the one you got and the Strong Hand folding table for $130. Sounds like either one will get the job done, though. Decisions, decisions.