TIG Welder - Sears Has A Great One On Sale

[Bill Havins]

I have been looking for a quality TIG Welder (a machine) for quite some time.  But, and it's a big but, I didn't want to stretch my budget too far to buy one.

Yesterday I almost pulled the trigger on an Everlast Power I-TIG 201 that Amazon has on sale for $650 with free shipping (have to pay tax on it here in Texas).  Although it is built in China, it is considered to be an excellent machine (https://www.everlastgenerators.com/product/tig-stick/power-i-tig-201).

This morning I found it on Sears.com for $611.99 with free shipping (http://www.sears.com/everlast-reg-poweri-tig-200-tig-stick-welder/p-00948098000P?plpSellerId=Sears&prdNo=7&blockNo=7&blockType=G7).  Did I order one?  You bet!  Should be here Wednesday (with any luck).

So, if you have ever wanted a TIG welder with some excellent features and a 5 year warranty you might consider this one.

Bill

[bscrive]

I thought Sears was closing?  They closed down all their stores up here.

[Bill Havins]

They are trying to hold on here in the U.S., but....  Every once-in-a-while you can catch a really neat item online.  The welder, it would appear, is one they have drop-shipped from the manufacturer.  I'll pick it up at the store (don't want it sitting on the front porch).

Bill

[Firefight100]

Bill you should spend a few more dollars and pick up the ac/dc version.  It will work for aluminum with the a/c welding.
Quote from Lincoln site "The AC function acts as the oxide layer remover and "cleans it". The whole problem and idea behind A/C is that the oxide layer melts at a much higher temp than the base metal itself, so when you finally get through the oxide layer, you have waaaaaay overheated the base. That's why A/C is used for aluminum as it has a cleaning and penetration cycle in the wave length and it removes the oxide layer and keeps the aluminum bare and clean for welding.

If you clean it and weld it fast enough with a Stainless toothbrush, you might be able to do it but the layer rebuilds pretty fast, never tried it but you never know."

[Bill Havins]

I debated that very seriously and finally decided to not weld aluminum for now.  I chose the DC welder to help me "stay focused" on TIG welding steel tubing.

Now, if at some point I want to take on aluminum, then I'll spring for one of the AC/DC TIG units.  But I have a funny feeling it will be a cold day in.... 

Bill

[Bill Havins]

Finally have the TIG welder in the garage.  Not too much drama - didn't sit level on its feet  when I took it out of its box, so I loosened the screws for the faceplate and rear cover, then loosened the screws on the U-shaped sides/top cover.  Just a little "tweaking" and things settled in fine.  Tightened the screws and still on all four feet - success!

After supper I plumbed the argon cylinder and fired it up.  TIG is a lot different!  It is much slower-paced so, with my old eyeball, things are much more forgiving.  I made a good start on the "learning curve."  After tomorrow I have a full week off my part-time gig so I'll really have a chance to get into it.

One of the neatest finds I made (while buying the TIG welder) was a Jackson Safety "SmarTIGer" welding helmet.  It has a Balder autodarkening lens.  Very helpful.  I was able to see well enough to track a weld along a 6" scratch mark I made in a flat piece of 16 gauge steel plate.  That was my big worry - being able to see detail.  The SmarTIGer helmet saved my bacon.

Onward and upward.  I have a lot to learn yet.  This may be possible...

Bill

[bscrive]

TIG welding is a whole different ball of wax from ARC, or MIG welding.  Depending on what you are welding will determine whether the tungsten end will be pointy, or rounded.  For aluminum welding the tungsten should be rounded and for stainless steel it should be pointed.  I welded aluminum a long time ago and I remember how much a pain in the butt it is to weld.  A lot of practice is needed to get a good weld and I could never get a decent weld.  Stainless steel was easy to do, though.  I picked up on that easily.

[Bill Havins]

A little update on my new TIG welder.  Simply put, it is a nice TIG welder.  The torch that comes with it is okay.  The consumables (electrodes, collets, nozzles, etc.) are barely adequate - in Everlast's defense, they have no way of knowing what a consumer is going to do with one of their welders so they expect you to order consumables (and another torch) specific to your needs.

Now, about their e-commerce site.  It is poor.  I have now placed two orders through the site.  The first one was shipped to Pensacola, FL.  I live in Abilene, TX.  WHAT?  I discovered the error myself and had Everlast send a replacement order.  When it finally arrived (2 days later than promised) the kit I had ordered had parts missing.  I completed the kit by buying parts at a local welding supply.

This past week I ordered a special TIG torch from Everlast.  I had to send them an email to get a tracking number for my package; they sent me a tracking number the same day.  It has now been 5 days and, despite repeated promises, UPS has not received the package to ship to me.  So, it would appear I will not receive the new torch anytime soon.  And, from my interactions with them via email, it would appear that what they communicate is questionable.  We'll see if I ever receive the torch.

Or it may show up in Pensacola tomorrow.

The Everlast TIG welder seems to be a good one.  Their e-commerce site has lots of room for improvement.  I will be shopping somewhere else from now on.

Bill

[pago cruiser]

Hey Bill - got any pics of burning metal yet?

[Bill Havins]

No, Mitch.  I don't have any nice things to show.  Lots of practice, and learning to clean mill scale from raw steel.  With TIG the cleaner the metal is the better everything goes together.

And then came the tariffs and, locally, steel prices went up by a third.    I'm waiting for the market to settle back down (or stabilize) before I order any more steel for practicing and to finish the tubing bender and my rack.  Right now I'm going to Lowe's once a week, spending $10 on really dirty and yucky steel, cutting it into 4" pieces, and practicing lap, angle, and butt joints.

And then Judy asked me to till a new flower bed for her... 

Life sometimes comes between me and my projects.

Bill

[Bill Havins]

An update; got a refund from Everlast for the torch I had ordered.  It turns out they won't be available until around the 15th of April.  Their way of doing e-commerce was a bit uncomfortable for me.  Seems like a "backorder notice" might have been more appropriate than a UPS shipping number.

Onward and upward.