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Talk me out of buying this(Cheap Chinese AC/DC Tig)

Mike Honcho

Mike Honcho

Red Skull Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2021
Member Number
3379
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708
Loc
Missouri
I currently have a Miller 215. I would like to Tig some aluminum. This Yeswelder 250P AC/DC machine is $487 on Amazon right now. Reviews seem good. What say you? Chinese junk?

 
A friend has one similar (does plasma as well though). It does OK but it definitely does not do rated output. It's better than bubblegum though.
 
FWIW Lift arc studios reviewed several cheap welders on their Youtube channel and just recently did another.


I have a cheap Cut50 China plasma and it works fine however but it's not great.
 
Mike Honcho said:
I currently have a Miller 215. I would like to Tig some aluminum. This Yeswelder 250P AC/DC machine is $487 on Amazon right now. Reviews seem good. What say you? Chinese junk?

Click to expand...
I have a Vevor 200A one that looks similar.
My Miller 135(?) (120V only) seems to max out at the same power output.
Runs 0.030 wire fine, not heavy enough to run 0.035 wire (doesn't feed right, ground and MIG cables get uncomfortably hot running full out).
Sending it back.
Should have bought an Everlast, have their 200A stick welder and it runs full out without any issues.

Aaron Z
 
where are you at
if you're east of some imaginary line through kansas, then get you an old transformer machine
 
Mike Honcho said:
I'm not poor just trying to be a cheap bastard :flipoff2: I rarely if ever need to weld aluminum.

Going down the youtube rabbit hole. Looking at this primeweld 225X as well.
Click to expand...
I have that one, bought it from a website and the dude is located in... Jersey? I guess he was getting big shipments in and going through testing them and whatnot. I'll see if I can find the link.

I do like it, hasn't given me any issues at all, I've welded steel, ss, aluminum, and even cast aluminum oil pans with it.

Edit: it's been a few years... I might be getting my memories mixed up. My bookmark for it took me right to primewelds website
primeweld.com

TIG225X AC/DC TIG Welder With Pulse

Meet the powerful and versatile TIG225X AC/DC TIG Welder—PrimeWeld's top-selling model! Equipped with everything you need to start welding, it caters to both hobbyists and professionals. Order yours online today at PrimeWeld! How to Choose Your Torch: 12.5 Foot Torch – A standard torch for...
primeweld.com primeweld.com
It is located in Jersey though.....
 
I got a fucking Everlast TIG... Dang if isn't a great machine! TIG it is great! SMAW... WTF... but I really haven't given it a chance. Man do I miss my Idealarc 250! :eek::beer::smokin:
 
Mike Honcho said:
I'm not poor just trying to be a cheap bastard :flipoff2: I rarely if ever need to weld aluminum.

Going down the youtube rabbit hole. Looking at this primeweld 225X as well.
Click to expand...

Does it have to be TIG? You could MIG it, my 215 will feed aluminum wire without a spool gun as long as the whip is relatively straight.

Still on my list is to try DC TIG on aluminum, see what happens :)
 
Foxmxrcer said:
I have that one, bought it from a website and the dude is located in... Jersey? I guess he was getting big shipments in and going through testing them and whatnot. I'll see if I can find the link.

I do like it, hasn't given me any issues at all, I've welded steel, ss, aluminum, and even cast aluminum oil pans with it.

Edit: it's been a few years... I might be getting my memories mixed up. My bookmark for it took me right to primewelds website
primeweld.com

TIG225X AC/DC TIG Welder With Pulse

Meet the powerful and versatile TIG225X AC/DC TIG Welder—PrimeWeld's top-selling model! Equipped with everything you need to start welding, it caters to both hobbyists and professionals. Order yours online today at PrimeWeld! How to Choose Your Torch: 12.5 Foot Torch – A standard torch for...
primeweld.com primeweld.com
It is located in Jersey though.....
Click to expand...

I have one as well, dude is in jersey and is easy to work with. First one I got was dead on arrival and they next day aired me a new one. Other than that I haven’t had any problems with it doing ss, aluminum, copper and steel.

They also do a big sale on Black Friday/ cyber Monday, think it was $1-200 off. I ended up around 500 after discounts in 2020.
 
aczlan said:
I have a Vevor 200A one that looks similar.
My Miller 135(?) (120V only) seems to max out at the same power output.
Runs 0.030 wire fine, not heavy enough to run 0.035 wire (doesn't feed right, ground and MIG cables get uncomfortably hot running full out).
Sending it back.
Should have bought an Everlast, have their 200A stick welder and it runs full out without any issues.

Aaron Z
Click to expand...
I've gone through 2 Everlast plasmas. Lime green junk.
 
I don't have experience with it but I am debating this brand

ahpwelds.com

AHP AlphaTIG 225Xi

Description: New features for 2024! Now with HV Start (Electronic, solid state simulated HF, no point gap to manage and maintain), and updated internal software, components and controls. NOVA 2.0 torches with new Silicone Ultra Flexible Lines are included as well. The AlphaTIG 225Xi is a...
ahpwelds.com ahpwelds.com
 
fl0w3n said:
I don't have experience with it but I am debating this brand

ahpwelds.com

AHP AlphaTIG 225Xi

Description: New features for 2024! Now with HV Start (Electronic, solid state simulated HF, no point gap to manage and maintain), and updated internal software, components and controls. NOVA 2.0 torches with new Silicone Ultra Flexible Lines are included as well. The AlphaTIG 225Xi is a...
ahpwelds.com ahpwelds.com
Click to expand...
I got one about a year ago and used it a handful of times. Just recently fixed an aluminum truck toolbox a buddy gave me. It’s been a good welder so far
 
fl0w3n said:
I don't have experience with it but I am debating this brand

ahpwelds.com

AHP AlphaTIG 225Xi

Description: New features for 2024! Now with HV Start (Electronic, solid state simulated HF, no point gap to manage and maintain), and updated internal software, components and controls. NOVA 2.0 torches with new Silicone Ultra Flexible Lines are included as well. The AlphaTIG 225Xi is a...
ahpwelds.com ahpwelds.com
Click to expand...

When I was looking a few years ago it came down to ahp and primeweld. Prime weld was slightly cheaper and had a better torch and pedal but I think they are now pretty much comparable.

I would wait till Black Friday they both have run sales for a hundred bucks off or so.
 
cheap shitty and chinese. they suck.

when i was starting out i bought a few of the ahps and they all blew up. all the cheap shitty welders i bought did.




your going to buy the unit then spend another 3-400 on a decent torch etc..


just rip the band aid and buy a good unit. HTP is killing it with price right now and they are my favorite tig welder. thye come with a good peddle or slide control, ck torch, etc. usaweld.com for about $2000. i get the slide control, 25ft leads, and flex neck.

usaweld.com

Fall Sale Invertig 221 AC/DC Single Voltage (220V) Air-Cooled

Meet The HTP Invertig 221, a true classic! Trusted and used daily by thousands of welding and fabrication professionals. Best in class arc dynamic, ultra-portable package, balance, frequency, and asymmetric arc control. The machine is made in Italy. The foot pedal, tig torch, ground cable and...
usaweld.com
 
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fl0w3n said:
I don't have experience with it but I am debating this brand

ahpwelds.com

AHP AlphaTIG 225Xi

Description: New features for 2024! Now with HV Start (Electronic, solid state simulated HF, no point gap to manage and maintain), and updated internal software, components and controls. NOVA 2.0 torches with new Silicone Ultra Flexible Lines are included as well. The AlphaTIG 225Xi is a...
ahpwelds.com ahpwelds.com
Click to expand...
I have one of the older versions of that. I've had it for maybe 6 years. When I first got it the regulator wouldn't seal to a gas bottle. They sent me a new regulator no problem. I use it a handful of times a year on both steel and aluminum. It's never given me any problems. I would buy one again.
 
tracyb said:
cheap shitty and chinese. they suck.

when i was starting out i bought a few of the ahps and they all blew up. all the cheap shitty welders i bought did.




your going to buy the unit then spend another 3-400 on a decent torch etc..


just rip the band aid and buy a good unit. HTP is killing it with price right now and they are my favorite tig welder. thye come with a good peddle or slide control, ck torch, etc. usaweld.com for about $2000. i get the slide control, 25ft leads, and flex neck.

usaweld.com

Fall Sale Invertig 221 AC/DC Single Voltage (220V) Air-Cooled

Meet The HTP Invertig 221, a true classic! Trusted and used daily by thousands of welding and fabrication professionals. Best in class arc dynamic, ultra-portable package, balance, frequency, and asymmetric arc control. The machine is made in Italy. The foot pedal, tig torch, ground cable and...
usaweld.com
Click to expand...


$2000 vs $500 for an occasional use machine? :shaking:


I'm all for supporting us businesses, but 4x the cost is retarded
 
tracyb said:
cheap shitty and chinese. they suck.

when i was starting out i bought a few of the ahps and they all blew up. all the cheap shitty welders i bought did.




your going to buy the unit then spend another 3-400 on a decent torch etc..


just rip the band aid and buy a good unit. HTP is killing it with price right now and they are my favorite tig welder. thye come with a good peddle or slide control, ck torch, etc. usaweld.com for about $2000. i get the slide control, 25ft leads, and flex neck.

usaweld.com

Fall Sale Invertig 221 AC/DC Single Voltage (220V) Air-Cooled

Meet The HTP Invertig 221, a true classic! Trusted and used daily by thousands of welding and fabrication professionals. Best in class arc dynamic, ultra-portable package, balance, frequency, and asymmetric arc control. The machine is made in Italy. The foot pedal, tig torch, ground cable and...
usaweld.com
Click to expand...
Have you blown up anything else? Sounds like a you problem honestly :homer:
 
Ummduh said:
A friend has one similar (does plasma as well though). It does OK but it definitely does not do rated output. It's better than bubblegum though.
Click to expand...
Look to the chart on output and duty cycle of the unit in the idiot book. If you have one of those universal systems that runs on 120 or 220, the output is 50% max of what it is on 220. What's more typical 100% duty cycle of any welder made is actually 50% of the max output...
 
Pt_Ranger_v8 said:
$2000 vs $500 for an occasional use machine? :shaking:


I'm all for supporting us businesses, but 4x the cost is retarded
Click to expand...
yes. if you cant swing it, it is what it is. but for 4x the cost your going to get 10x or 100x the welder


would you buy tires that had shitty performance and only lasted 1/10th the milage if they where 4x cheaper? spending 4x as much doesn't seem so bad when your getting 10x in return.



my logic is the $500 machine will cost you more by the time you have a torch, peddle, etc that makes it comfortable to use. the torches they use and the peddles are straight garbage. and another potential failure point i wouldn't expect to last very long.


the more expensive machine will hold resale value and will easy put out 100x as much work with no issue. i like the invertig 221 every bit as much as the dynasty i also have. the invertig has more features, only downside comparitivly is the invertigs interface isn't as simple. i liked the 221 enough that i also bought the invertig 330 rather than another dyanasty when i need to go bigger.


fl0w3n said:
Have you blown up anything else? Sounds like a you problem honestly :homer:
Click to expand...
a me problem:lmao:
yes, blown up plenty. but not yet an HTP or miller welder.

im self employed, weld and fab everyday. started out with a 120v Homedepot welder, built up what i am today from there. now i have the big boy welders, but started on the cheap crap. i'm not just a welder punching a clock telling my boss i need the best most expensive welder out there. i knew nothing about welding until after college and have learned the hard way.

only problem i have is that i use the machines i have. like i said i've had the cheap chinese welders, at the time they where worth the throw away cost as a job expence. i had to start somewhere and was making it up as i go. the shitty welders work but features and performance are very ruff, on top of that they dont work very long. of course i'm puuting more hours on the machines than most any home shop guy would, but wasn't pushing duty cycle limits. the 2 ahp's i had one lasted 3wks and the other 5-6 months. i'd be afraid to come close to a china welders duty cycle (which wouldn't take much welding aluminum)... all my other machines i run hard.




if $500 is all that you can afford, sure get a shitty machine thats not fun to use and be prepareded or just know it will fail (these machines have such a high 'off the boat' failure rate most US importers open and test every unit before resale. as so many fail out of the box)

at one point $500 was all i could do, i was able to get a job done i otherwise wouldn't have. so worth it at the time.

spending 4x the cost if its in the cards.... buys a welder that is way more the 10x better.




also worth noting that the closest comparison to the HTP machine is a dynasty. and if you look at it that way, the HTP is 3-4x less cost.

your money, do what you want. but thats the opinion of a person who started at the bottom and knows what your getting for the $.
 
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You just proved my point.

In a production shop, or a scenario where it's not "occasional use", shelling out money for a name brand makes sense.

OPis in a one-off situation, and probably wants to see if it's worth keeping around.

This is the equivalent of buying a harbor freight tool before dropping the coin on a Milwaukee version that will last.
 
tracyb said:
yes. if you cant swing it, it is what it is. but for 4x the cost your going to get 10x or 100x the welder


would you buy tires that had shitty performance and only lasted 1/10th the milage if they where 4x cheaper? spending 4x as much doesn't seem so bad when your getting 10x in return.



my logic is the $500 machine will cost you more by the time you have a torch, peddle, etc that makes it comfortable to use. the torches they use and the peddles are straight garbage. and another potential failure point i wouldn't expect to last very long.


the more expensive machine will hold resale value and will easy put out 100x as much work with no issue. i like the invertig 221 every bit as much as the dynasty i also have. the invertig has more features, only downside comparitivly is the invertigs interface isn't as simple. i liked the 221 enough that i also bought the invertig 330 rather than another dyanasty when i need to go bigger.



a me problem:lmao:
yes, blown up plenty. but not yet an HTP or miller welder.

im self employed, weld and fab everyday. started out with a 120v Homedepot welder, built up what i am today from there. now i have the big boy welders, but started on the cheap crap. i'm not just a welder punching a clock telling my boss i need the best most expensive welder out there. i knew nothing about welding until after college and have learned the hard way.

only problem i have is that i use the machines i have. like i said i've had the cheap chinese welders, at the time they where worth the throw away cost as a job expence. i had to start somewhere and was making it up as i go. the shitty welders work but features and performance are very ruff, on top of that they dont work very long. of course i'm puuting more hours on the machines than most any home shop guy would, but wasn't pushing duty cycle limits. the 2 ahp's i had one lasted 3wks and the other 5-6 months. i'd be afraid to come close to a china welders duty cycle (which wouldn't take much welding aluminum)... all my other machines i run hard.




if $500 is all that you can afford, sure get a shitty machine thats not fun to use and be prepareded or just know it will fail (these machines have such a high 'off the boat' failure rate most US importers open and test every unit before resale. as so many fail out of the box)

at one point $500 was all i could do, i was able to get a job done i otherwise wouldn't have. so worth it at the time.

spending 4x the cost if its in the cards.... buys a welder that is way more the 10x better.




also worth noting that the closest comparison to the HTP machine is a dynasty. and if you look at it that way, the HTP is 3-4x less cost.

your money, do what you want. but thats the opinion of a person who started at the bottom and knows what your getting for the $.
Click to expand...
That’s a better explanation and makes sense

I am just skeptical when I see posts straight off the bat that talk major shit and fully dismiss something. Thanks for backing it up.
 
Pt_Ranger_v8 said:
You just proved my point.

In a production shop, or a scenario where it's not "occasional use", shelling out money for a name brand makes sense.

OPis in a one-off situation, and probably wants to see if it's worth keeping around.

This is the equivalent of buying a harbor freight tool before dropping the coin on a Milwaukee version that will last.
Click to expand...


sort of, the spending 4x as much part is what i was trying to elaborate on. and why if possible anyone should in this case.

when i bought and used the shitty china welders there was no 'inbetween'



with ac/dc it has for a long time been spend 500-1000 on crap or 6k+ for something you can keep around.

right now you'd be a fool to buy the cheapest garbage if you can afford the $2k mid ground option. that price isn't going to last and like all things welding in the last 2yrs (besides the cheap garbage) it is set to double soon. if not more, at that point if your goign to keep it for a year its an easy dicision as next year i'd be willing to bet you could sell it used for the purchase price.


the engine drive welder in my truck was 5200 new, now its 12k to buy it.

the dyansty package i bought new for 5k, is now in the 11k area.... i could sell both right now for above my purchase price. but if i bought cheap garbage, it would be a 100% loss.


just trying to add perspective and point out that "but 4x the cost is retarded" isn't necessarily great reasoning here. big picture
 
Thread title says "talk me out of buying this" tracyb is doing just that.

I too have an htp221. Been good, has one odd problem where it shuts itself off at random now and then.

For aluminum I love a 350lx syncrowave. My favorite, just runs so good.
 
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