The Comprehensive Welding Thread
05-24-2021, 12:21 PM
#81
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Hmm, that's kind of a tough one. $2000 is kind of no man's land for tig welders assuming you want AC capability.
I really like my Primeweld Tig225x but it's kind of the same deal but with way better customer support instead of AHP. I feel like Primeweld, AHP, Everlast, MT200 etc are all Chinese and do decent but they're not what you would consider "the big dogs".
If you look at Miller, Lincoln, and Esab, it gets way expensive. The closest you'll get is probably a Miller Diversion 180 and those are $2500 new.
Maybe start keeping an eye on craigslist.
One that kind of caught my eye was the Canaweld 201 Pulse D, apparently it's made in Canada and it's available on Amazon for just a touch under $1900 then you buy your own foot pedal. The Youtube channel Pacific Arc Tig Welding uses that machine and it seems nice.
If I wanted to get a do it all multi-process machine I would definitely be looking at the Esab Rebel 205 AC/DC but that thing is like $3500.
I really like my Primeweld Tig225x but it's kind of the same deal but with way better customer support instead of AHP. I feel like Primeweld, AHP, Everlast, MT200 etc are all Chinese and do decent but they're not what you would consider "the big dogs".
If you look at Miller, Lincoln, and Esab, it gets way expensive. The closest you'll get is probably a Miller Diversion 180 and those are $2500 new.
Maybe start keeping an eye on craigslist.
One that kind of caught my eye was the Canaweld 201 Pulse D, apparently it's made in Canada and it's available on Amazon for just a touch under $1900 then you buy your own foot pedal. The Youtube channel Pacific Arc Tig Welding uses that machine and it seems nice.
If I wanted to get a do it all multi-process machine I would definitely be looking at the Esab Rebel 205 AC/DC but that thing is like $3500.
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05-24-2021, 01:40 PM
#82
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Hmm, that's kind of a tough one. $2000 is kind of no man's land for tig welders assuming you want AC capability.
I really like my Primeweld Tig225x but it's kind of the same deal but with way better customer support instead of AHP. I feel like Primeweld, AHP, Everlast, MT200 etc are all Chinese and do decent but they're not what you would consider "the big dogs".
If you look at Miller, Lincoln, and Esab, it gets way expensive. The closest you'll get is probably a Miller Diversion 180 and those are $2500 new.
Maybe start keeping an eye on craigslist.
One that kind of caught my eye was the Canaweld 201 Pulse D, apparently it's made in Canada and it's available on Amazon for just a touch under $1900 then you buy your own foot pedal. The Youtube channel Pacific Arc Tig Welding uses that machine and it seems nice.
If I wanted to get a do it all multi-process machine I would definitely be looking at the Esab Rebel 205 AC/DC but that thing is like $3500.
I really like my Primeweld Tig225x but it's kind of the same deal but with way better customer support instead of AHP. I feel like Primeweld, AHP, Everlast, MT200 etc are all Chinese and do decent but they're not what you would consider "the big dogs".
If you look at Miller, Lincoln, and Esab, it gets way expensive. The closest you'll get is probably a Miller Diversion 180 and those are $2500 new.
Maybe start keeping an eye on craigslist.
One that kind of caught my eye was the Canaweld 201 Pulse D, apparently it's made in Canada and it's available on Amazon for just a touch under $1900 then you buy your own foot pedal. The Youtube channel Pacific Arc Tig Welding uses that machine and it seems nice.
If I wanted to get a do it all multi-process machine I would definitely be looking at the Esab Rebel 205 AC/DC but that thing is like $3500.
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05-24-2021, 05:18 PM
#86
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Everlast is a step down. Will probably do just fine for what your doing. ESAB Is a step up and should last longer. Miller is great, breaks down as much as the ESAB but parts are easier to get.
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05-24-2021, 09:17 PM
#87
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If you were going to get a Chinese welder I would have said to just get the Primeweld Tig225x. Their customer service and warranty is the best out of all the cheap inverters and it comes with a nice CK torch.
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05-25-2021, 09:18 AM
#88
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My 2018 AlphaTig machine just took a **** on me. Looking to buy a new 250 amp tig welder (no mig). Budget of $2k to get the best machine I can. What do you guys recommend?
Was looking at the MT200, but it is just a cheap rebranded chinesium machine marked up.
I'm eyeing the Everlast machines right now. Any other recommendations?
Was looking at the MT200, but it is just a cheap rebranded chinesium machine marked up.
I'm eyeing the Everlast machines right now. Any other recommendations?
I just purchased a Lincoln Square Wave® TIG 200 from my local airgas. It was about $2k out the door. I am extremely happy with it, and it was a good upgrade over my 25 year old Lincoln tig 170 machine.
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05-25-2021, 10:08 AM
#90
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Do you really need 250 amps? If not seriously go buy the Lincoln I got it. It is a beast and I have no doubt it in my mind it will last the next 25 years like my last Lincoln did.
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05-25-2021, 12:49 PM
#92
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I know it's been a while, but I've been burning with my Everlast for years now. Still hasn't broken down. It may be Chinese, but it works just fine for the garage.
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05-25-2021, 06:43 PM
#93
I had an Everlast, it seemed like a solid machine. I had to send it in for warranty around year 2 or 3. It was as bad of an experience as they say, but they fixed it. It was the top end multiprocess machine. I think $2500.
Fast forward to a few years ago. The machine wouldn't create an arc. I call them up, knowing that I was out of warranty, and they said, "that machine is too old and we can't get parts and we won't try to fix it". I came to the opinion that I would never again buy a premium import welder. 7-10 years old is not that old for a welder and at $2500 it was $250-300/yr. If it was a miller or another established company it could have been fixed. Also to note was that the inside of the Everlast looked like it was designed and built by a child. It was full of hand rework, cheap looking boards, and spaghetti wiring.
Tldr, buy cheap or buy expensive but don't don't mix the two and think that you get the best of both worlds. I'd buy a primeweld or one a miller, but never an Everlast.
Fast forward to a few years ago. The machine wouldn't create an arc. I call them up, knowing that I was out of warranty, and they said, "that machine is too old and we can't get parts and we won't try to fix it". I came to the opinion that I would never again buy a premium import welder. 7-10 years old is not that old for a welder and at $2500 it was $250-300/yr. If it was a miller or another established company it could have been fixed. Also to note was that the inside of the Everlast looked like it was designed and built by a child. It was full of hand rework, cheap looking boards, and spaghetti wiring.
Tldr, buy cheap or buy expensive but don't don't mix the two and think that you get the best of both worlds. I'd buy a primeweld or one a miller, but never an Everlast.
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05-25-2021, 07:56 PM
#95
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It does have less "options" then a lot of the other welders out there, but honestly you don't need them all. I can do steel and aluminum fine.
You being in Texas, I would bet money that you could call local welding stores in the morning and have one the same day.
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05-25-2021, 08:25 PM
#96
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Buy the Lincoln. With my old welder, 3 or 4 years ago I had issues with the power switch. I called up and gave them the serial number off the back. They were able to pull up the exact build date, and then an accurate parts diagram. I had the part number I needed for a new switch and my local welding shop had me the part in 2 days. The tech knew the welder, and said just about all parts were still available. The bit of extra money seems worth it to me to know long term reliability and availability of parts across the country is well worth it..
It does have less "options" then a lot of the other welders out there, but honestly you don't need them all. I can do steel and aluminum fine.
You being in Texas, I would bet money that you could call local welding stores in the morning and have one the same day.
It does have less "options" then a lot of the other welders out there, but honestly you don't need them all. I can do steel and aluminum fine.
You being in Texas, I would bet money that you could call local welding stores in the morning and have one the same day.
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06-08-2021, 07:22 AM
#99
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Well my Lincoln died Friday night. Talked to support Monday morning and then dropped it off at my local airgas to be picked up later this week. The big downside is the shop in SC that does all the repair work says it is most like 2-4 months to get the board I need from China. So this is a sad day.
I am looking at grabbing either a HF tig machine or an AHP to hold me over until it gets fixed.
I am looking at grabbing either a HF tig machine or an AHP to hold me over until it gets fixed.
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06-08-2021, 07:50 AM
#100
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Well my Lincoln died Friday night. Talked to support Monday morning and then dropped it off at my local airgas to be picked up later this week. The big downside is the shop in SC that does all the repair work says it is most like 2-4 months to get the board I need from China. So this is a sad day.
I am looking at grabbing either a HF tig machine or an AHP to hold me over until it gets fixed.
I am looking at grabbing either a HF tig machine or an AHP to hold me over until it gets fixed.
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