A Quick Hello (new 200DX owner)

[turbodave]

Hi guys,

I purchased a 200DX and fingertip contractor pack several months ago, and it has been sat in my basement doing nothing - mainly becuase i spent up on it, and other priorities around the house have been taking over...

I've just found this fantastic forum, and have downloaded all the PDF's from http://www.millerwelds.com/education/TIGhandbook/. I know the usual forum rules about searching, so hopefully will not annoy anyone too much, and try not to troll up ancient posts.

I've just bought a miller elite helmet, and 30lb of stainless, steel and aluminun rod. Now I just need to source the best local place for Gas and I'll be on my way. Or so the theory goes... I am confident that i'll be asking many questions on here to get the best out of my unit - which I'll be using for everything from making intakes, headers, and pretty much everything inside of the engine room.

Cheers,
Dave

[SignWave]

Welcome Dave,
C'mon in, pull up a chair and take a load off. Lotsa good people here. Ive got a 200 as well... Can I borrow some ER316 x 1/16th? I'm fresh out....

[KBar]

Hey Dave, welcome to the board.

If ya need gas, I'll send some of my 5 star chili over

[Samurai Dave]

Welcome aboard!

I am a recent 200DX owner as well. I found out that purchasing the unit was only half the work. The other half was setting it up. For example, the power cord comes with bare wires (so you can choose your own flavor of wall plug. Had to ask the guys on this Forum for advice to gain some electrical background.) Quite a change from openning the box and immediately using a new toy. The guys on this Forum are GREAT!

However, once you read the manual and are set up you'll find it is hard to make a bad weld with the 200DX. Quite a change from the beat-up equipment at school, that is basically off - on - REALLY on, with few power setting in-between.

That fingertip controller is the next accessory on my list. I had to get down on all 4's to tack a broken mower handle the other day; had to use my elbow on the foot control. Got it tacked up and then welded good as new, but that finger controller would have made life much easier.

[SignWave]

[QUOTE=Samurai Dave;19123] The guys on this Forum are GREAT!

QUOTE]

Glad ya think so Samurai Dave, Now give each of us a dollar...

[turbodave]

Cheers folks,
I actually have used a DX before - I was helping a mate finish his racecar in Wales (UK) before a big meet, and his welder (in the same shop) couldn't be around for the last 24hour solid push, so before he departed, he showed me what settings to use for steel and alloy, how to re-grind the tungsten, and in 5 minutes I was welding. A few practice welds later, I was turning out pretty good welds on the remaining intercooler and water pipes.
That was the point i decided the ONLY welder i was going to purchase was a DX. It made me feel like a pro - just as good tools are meant to do LOL!

As regards the fingertip - well - I figured I did fine using a fingertip the last time, and as a good proportion of my jobs will not be positioned on the 'bench', and me not knowing the pros/cons of either - I'd learn and stick 100% of the time with the method that i would have to use sometimes. At least i'll be consistent.

one thing - folks talk about welding 'coupons' ??? Does this mean small pieces of material? I've only lived in the US for a few years, so the lingo still plagues me occasionally

[SignWave]

one thing - folks talk about welding 'coupons' ??? Does this mean small pieces of material? I've only lived in the US for a few years, so the lingo still plagues me occasionally

you got it mate! a piece of metal large enough to lay a bead for setup or practice..

[Billburn]

New DX Owner

Hello to all, long time reader first time threader. I too am an owner of a recently purchased 200DX. I love it! But like Turbodave , been busy with the house ,and work and kids. Priorities. I haven't saved up enough scatch to buy the contracters pac yet, but have been practicing running beads with stick on coupons and scrap, real nice machine can't wait to start TIG welding though, I also will be full of questions.

Later,
Bill

[Dustyhaze75]

welcome to the forum. good luck with the new machine !