Lincoln Precision TIG 225 - anyone have/used one?

[z0diac]

Anyone used one of these before? I just bought one last Friday (it's now Sunday) and I'll be picking it up this upcoming week. Although I forgot to add the stick electrode holder and cable to the order as I though it came with the ReadyPak stuff.

I was looking at a Miller Dynasty 200, but after looking at the one in the show room there were 2 turnoffs - the switch to go from AC/DC+- didn't really seem to click in on any of the 3 very well, and the input power cord was just 3 bunches of loose wire at the end (ie: not connected to the power plug). After reading on the net about this, it looks like both are issues with that machine.

I've got a Lincoln SP 175+ mig welder, and we use Miller migs at work, so I know both are quality companies...

I was going to spend some more cash and get the Lincoln Invertec 205, but from what I've read, inverter-type welders aren't the best for stick welding. 'Never tried one for stick though. But inverters *do* however seem to have a much better duty cycle which was a major plus (and the smaller size is always nice). Plus it could use both 115 and 230V inputs which would come in handy...

But according to the info I've read, the Precision TIG 225 is a much better stick welder than the Invertec 160 and 205.

Hopefully I'll be able to do a review of this machine after I've used it for a couple days (yah, I'm sure there's hundreds of reviews already done on this, but hey, the more the merrier)

[MAC702]

Originally Posted by z0diac

... from what I've read, inverter-type welders aren't the best for stick welding. ...

Sure would like to know where you've been reading that. Inverters are outstanding for stick welding, almost as good as a pure DC generator. The Miller Pipe Pro is a regular on the pipelining jobs (it's a inverter) and many, many inverters have been in the Stick-welding industry for a long time.

I have a PowCon 300SM and have had two Maxstars (140 STR and 150 STH). All were excellent Stick welders, on par or better than the rectified 3-phase from the TB301G.

[z0diac]

Originally Posted by MAC702

Sure would like to know where you've been reading that. Inverters are outstanding for stick welding, almost as good as a pure DC generator. The Miller Pipe Pro is a regular on the pipelining jobs (it's a inverter) and many, many inverters have been in the Stick-welding industry for a long time.

I have a PowCon 300SM and have had two Maxstars (140 STR and 150 STH). All were excellent Stick welders, on par or better than the rectified 3-phase from the TB301G.

On the Miller and Lincoln specs. sheets I've read, the have one symbol for "good" and another for "excellent", and with the inverters they always had the "good" symbol next to stick, and "excellent" next to tig.

Example:
http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/equipmentseries.asp?browse=101|207|

I believe I asked about this a long time ago on here (probably last summer) and someone mentioned something about the internal workings of inverters versus rectifiers being the reason (??)

[gt403cyl]

I can't say much to about which is better for stick, but I agree that according to the "books" lincoln does say the 205 is "good" for stick and "excellent" for the 3 tigs. But alot of it is within the user's comfort and or skill.

Personall, i'm looking into the 160-T I don't really need the amps of the 205 but the AC would be nice for alum from the 205 so yeah. the biggest decision making factor will be $$

My $.02
GT

[whateg0]

I've used a PT225 at a friend's house, but not much, and only for TIG. It does seem very nice though. I haven't used any of the blue inverters so I can't provide much of a ocmparison. As far as the inverter vs. transformer goes, I like that the inverters are more efficient, thus requiring only about half the current going in that a transformer uses. Not sure what you mean about the cord, unless you are referring to it not having a molded plug attached. I guess that's a personal thing. Some people like to have it already there; some prefer to be able to attach the plug of their choice.

Dave

[z0diac]

Originally Posted by gt403cyl

Personall, i'm looking into the 160-T I don't really need the amps of the 205 but the AC would be nice for alum from the 205 so yeah. the biggest decision making factor will be $$

My $.02
GT

Yah, there's a huge price difference between the 205 and the 160. (I believe the MSRP on the 160 is about $1600 and the 205 is $3800). I *was* going to go with the 160 instead of the Precision Tig 225 as I liked that it could plug into both 115/230 outlets, and inverters tend to have nice duty cycles. It was just the no AC thing that turned me off. The 205 of course *has* AC output, but $3800 is out of my range right now.

[macmetalworks]

I've played with a buddy's 185. Pretty nice. I tend to weld alot of thin stuff and bieng able to crank the machine down so low is an added bonus. I'm shopping for anew machine myself. Keep me posted on how you like yours.

[z0diac]

Originally Posted by macmetalworks

I've played with a buddy's 185. Pretty nice. I tend to weld alot of thin stuff and bieng able to crank the machine down so low is an added bonus. I'm shopping for anew machine myself. Keep me posted on how you like yours.

Will do. I went down to the welding store today to add on a stick electrode holder/cable (since I just found out that didn't come with the Readpak option) and they said it would be in tomorrow for pickup (Tues).

I picked up the wheels for my cart for it (making my own) today. Gonna pick up the steel for it tomorrow, so that'll be my first project with it. Unless of course I get frutrated or things never work out as planned - which always happens to me - and I just use my mig machine But I guess that would be defeating the reason of having a new machine...

[Vipernut]

I just picked up a PT-225 a few weeks ago. You will not pay $3800 for it. I got mine at Praxair with 2 - 125 cu ft tanks for $2500 and change. That includes $34 fills for the C25 and argon because I opened a cash account and he waived the tank leases for the first year.
I'd say I made out pretty darn good. I just played with it last night for the first time and can tell you this - I've never tigged before, but this machine makes it hilariously easy. When I get more control and some more time on it, I'll post some pics.

[Vipernut]

Originally Posted by z0diac

Will do. I went down to the welding store today to add on a stick electrode holder/cable (since I just found out that didn't come with the Readpak option) and they said it would be in tomorrow for pickup (Tues).

I picked up the wheels for my cart for it (making my own) today. Gonna pick up the steel for it tomorrow, so that'll be my first project with it. Unless of course I get frutrated or things never work out as planned - which always happens to me - and I just use my mig machine But I guess that would be defeating the reason of having a new machine...

Look in the projects section - I just finished a cart for the 225 and my 175 Mig. You may want to make the cart with the Mig like I did because that 225 is a ball buster, you don't want to move it unless it's on wheels. Good luck!

[z0diac]

Originally Posted by Vipernut

I just picked up a PT-225 a few weeks ago. You will not pay $3800 for it. I got mine at Praxair with 2 - 125 cu ft tanks for $2500 and change. That includes $34 fills for the C25 and argon because I opened a cash account and he waived the tank leases for the first year.

Yep - it was about $3800 for the Invertec 205 with Readypak. Yah, I paid I think it was $2400cdn even for the PT225 Ready Pak, then I also got a 5kg pack of 6011's, a pack of 7018's, today I just ordered the stick electrode holder & cable, another electrode holder (the twist-in kind - on sale right now for 12 bucks). I've got a lease with BOC for my C25 mig gas, but I'm starting up a new lease with Praxair when I pick the unit up tomorrow for my argon. Just gotta ask around what filler rods to get with it for black steel, aluminum, and stainless. I'm not even sure what size filler wire to get, or what size tungsten my readypak collets take, etc, etc..

I'd say I made out pretty darn good. I just played with it last night for the first time and can tell you this - I've never tigged before, but this machine makes it hilariously easy. When I get more control and some more time on it, I'll post some pics.

Great, looking forward to them.

I know what you mean about it being a ball buster.. .I see it's 212lbs. I can lift that onto a cart by myself, but I wouldn't want to be carrying it far (plus ther'es no handles on the thing made for lifting it!) Luckily I've got another person helping me unload it tomorrow.

[greywynd]

The PT185 has a spot and lifting eye on the top included, would guess that it's the same for the 225. I also use mine for arc welding, had to learn to turn the current WAY down now that I can use DC instead of my old AC welder!!

When you get started playing with aluminum, for the first while, set the balance to 'auto' and forget it.....I rarely adjust it otherwise.

Mark

[Vipernut]

Originally Posted by z0diac

Yep - it was about $3800 for the Invertec 205 with Readypak. Yah, I paid I think it was $2400cdn even for the PT225 Ready Pak, then I also got a 5kg pack of 6011's, a pack of 7018's, today I just ordered the stick electrode holder & cable, another electrode holder (the twist-in kind - on sale right now for 12 bucks). I've got a lease with BOC for my C25 mig gas, but I'm starting up a new lease with Praxair when I pick the unit up tomorrow for my argon. Just gotta ask around what filler rods to get with it for black steel, aluminum, and stainless. I'm not even sure what size filler wire to get, or what size tungsten my readypak collets take, etc, etc..



Great, looking forward to them.

I know what you mean about it being a ball buster.. .I see it's 212lbs. I can lift that onto a cart by myself, but I wouldn't want to be carrying it far (plus ther'es no handles on the thing made for lifting it!) Luckily I've got another person helping me unload it tomorrow.

I missed the Invertec - $3580 out the door when I priced it. I couldn't justify spending that for what I do. The 225 isn't bad as far as weight as long as you have help, but you don't want to be moving it around while it's attached to the shipping skid.
The 225 comes with a 3/32 pure - DON"T BUY TUNGSTEN FROM THEM!! They are totally insane with their prices - hunt online for tungsten. $80 for 1/16 pure You can find those for less than 30 everywhere on the net - I just ordered a bunch from aglevtech.com - 4 packs of 10 in various sizes and types for $53 shipped.

[Vipernut]

Originally Posted by greywynd

The PT185 has a spot and lifting eye on the top included, would guess that it's the same for the 225. I also use mine for arc welding, had to learn to turn the current WAY down now that I can use DC instead of my old AC welder!!

When you get started playing with aluminum, for the first while, set the balance to 'auto' and forget it.....I rarely adjust it otherwise.

Mark

The 225 has the lift eye also, I don't know who would use it tho - unless someone has a small hoist in their shop. It would be quicker to just bribe a buddy or neighbour with some beer remember - lift first, then beer

[new_welder]

Originally Posted by Vipernut

The 225 has the lift eye also, I don't know who would use it tho -

Lift eye on heavy machine is good for getting it down stairs. One guy at the top holding a strap on the lift eye and two guys at the bottom of the machine taking it down one step at a time. Don't ask me how I know that.