You forgot to mention the 24-7 excellent customer support Primeweld has. Better than all others. Plus a 3 year warranty and a better duty cycle than most comparable machines in this price range.
Primeweld is amazing for the price. As you pointed out, having a real CK 17f torch, the industry standard Nova foot pedal, a decent flow meter, and even that it comes with a 120v adapter (companies charge north of $40 for just that piece typically) set it apart. Just amazing for that price. IMO It’s not just the best tig welder under $1000, it’s probably one of the the best tig welders under $1500. This is their most popular machine - it sells out frequently. The quality of customer service is even better than the hardware. These guys answer the phone 24/7 and a full 3 year warranty with PAID shipping (what? Seriously!) is three times the competition in that range. I’m not aware of any offshore manufactured welder that can touch that (and a few of the big boys boys for that matter) I also have the ct520dp multiprocess with pilot arc plasma - and again the quality of the provided torches, etc. is ahead of the competition in the price range. I will hopefully get the mig180 as well. I simply don’t have money to have a stack of miller’s, etc right now and I feel lucky someone like Primeweld is around to build great value gear with real service. Yeah, I’m a fan - They deserve the props. Thanks for the review and the other content you produce, keep going!
@@TimWelds Absolutely. Another feature (my post was getting TLDR) is high frequency AC pulse. There aren’t a lot of machines doing that regardless of price. I am setting up for blacksmithing and using my Primeweld gear has me enjoying welding and fabrication (after a long time away, I’m a commercial photog that got crushed by the current “viral” situation) so much that I’m going to school and get some certifications. All the money I am saving goes into the other gear I need (a lot, priced an anvil lately?) With the Primeweld gear I’m building a really cool custom forge and some anvil and post vice stands, just to mention a couple of the dozens of projects I have going. There’s a lot of work out there if you have a decent setup.
At this point, I've looked at countless review/tutorials on this PrimeWeld 225x TIG welder. This is, without a doubt, one of the very best! And I think it is *the best* when you look at it's relatively short duration vs. the breadth and depth of the topics you covered. You cut out all of the boring or totally obvious stuff (like literal unboxing and the cheesiness of the included 'welding mask'). I really appreciate that you went into some detail with examples of all the features/controls. And I like you idea to use a simple phone pic to capture settings and an example of the associated weld. That's a great idea. Liked and Subscribed!
I have one of these on order, this was a nice presentation. As a former production welder i appreciate you ending your welds properly and not just leaving a crater like i see so many others do.
Bought one of these two years ago and have nothing but positive things to say about it. Your review is one of the best I’ve seen on this welder btw, great job!
@@andrewmott9751 yes actually! I admit I don’t use it a lot so I can’t comment about longevity, but again I would guess the average guy buying one of these is a hobbiest. Actually thinking about getting a Mig from them as well
I have the exact machine and very pleased with it. I haven't even used all the capabilities, but it is way more capable then I am presently. Thumbs Up!
Tim, ordered a 225X at 10AM this morning, got shipped confirmation at noon. I was considering the AHP 203xi but went with 225X based on your comments here (CK torch, setting flexibility/ease of view, manual quality, 3 year warranty and setting storage via phone photo). Thanks for the review.
@@autodidacticartisan so far so good, I've learned a few things about welding aluminum but need to have a tutor or a class to get over the hump. The welder and torch work great and the manual is well written. If you're on the fence, I'd buy it again for sure.
That’s a good welder you got there. I like the AC welding feature for aluminum and the access to change certain settings in the machine, makes it ideal for the experienced welder. Great review: Thanks!
Thank you so much for such great videos! I am just starting out with welding and bought the Primeweld TIG225X. I have watched this video before but came here and watched again before I unpack the machine and get stated with it.
I've been watching many videos with the primeweld that is looking to be a great welder because the promos are with guys who don't play favours for a machine, can't wait to get mine.
Nice video Tim. A couple suggestions: 1. Please mention the setting you are making as the digital readout doesn't come across 2. Do a video of common settings you would make for different materials and configurations of the welder. Thanks!
I was pretty amazed on the stick, the Primeweld 225 was able to run 6011 and 6010 for me in addition to 7018. I don't consider myself to be a great stick welder, but the Primeweld was able to burn what I tossed at it. I have another stick welder that has Hot Start and Arc Force settings, but knowing the Primeweld can burn most of the common rods I would throw at it was a definite plus. I have not seen anyone unhappy with this machine, nor have I seen any complaints that needed to get a replacement sent out or even a single warranty issue. Mike and Dustin are very easy to deal with also. Since I was using a CK 17 Flexhead torch previously, all of my consumables transferred right over.
@@michaelparks1887 You can for stick welding, there are several methods for starting stick, but the Primeweld only has HF start for Tig welding, that's one feature it's lacking. Often Tig welders will use scratch start, or lift start Tig when doing automobile work, and the Primeweld 225 doesn't do that. You can still do automobile work with HF start Tig, you just need to disconnect the computer to avoid damage. Some people say you can use HF if the Tig welding is not too close to the computer, but I have never Tig welded on an automobile to date, so not sure. I think to be safe, disconnecting the computer would be the safest if using HF start. As to stick welding on the Primeweld, there's really not much to it as the only control you have is the amps. I was able to run 6010, 6011 and 7018 all on DCEP, and you could always run 6011 on AC if needed. There is also a 7018AC which you could run on AC, but I had little issues running 6010, 6011 and 7018 all on DCEP. I have another ESAB Miniarc 180i that is a phenomenal stick welder, so don't really need to use the Primeweld for that, just good to know I can if needed.
@@michaelparks1887 Not sure I understand your question, but scratch start is pretty much the only method most people use for stick welding. You need to either scratch or touch the metal from the inside of the flux to the metal your welding to in order for the arc to start. So yes, in theory you need to scratch start stick welding. It doesn't sound like you've stick welded before. Some people will kind of bounce the end of the rod off the metal as the rod will stick if you just touch it to the metal. A scratch start is pretty much all I use with stick welding.
You did an excellent job explaining and demonstrating this machine. I should get mine next week and I am looking forward to trying out some of the setting you showed.. Thanks
You did such a good job with the review I really wanted one so my Wife bought it. Now I just have to get the Argon tank and I will be in heaven. BTW the stick side works with an arc as smooth as butter
Thanks, Tim. Just found your channel. I am thinking about buying the Primeweld 225 machine and your video was very helpful. I am hoping to learn to TIG weld aluminum. And I see you teach online courses. Bravo, I am totally signing up! 👍
Tim, thank you so much for all that you do. I was very close to convincing myself to get a Lincoln or Miller, hadnt decided yet but was heavily leaning Lincoln since I love my Century FC90 so much, for about 3x to 4x the cost of this machine. Then, in order to prep myself for my upcoming TIG learning I loaded your 1st vid in your TIG playlist, saw your endorsement of this machine in your vid description, read reviews, remembered seeing this "off brand" that I had never heard of but remembered once seeing it being discussed favorably in a forum ... long story short, I feel uber confident purchasing a primeweld now, all thanks to you. 1 question .. the primeweld website lists a 325 machine that costs a few hundred more. Main difference for me is the larger thickness of material that the higher cost machine can handle. But I dont see that machine on amazon, only on primeweld website. Do you know anything about that? maybe their 325 TIG is newer and not listed on amazon yet, idk? Man, thanks again, I wish you all the best.
Great video! I’m new to Tig got a DC machine getting to the point I am looking for an AC machine to learn aluminum. The one thing I’ve learned so far is a water cooled torch is not an option but a requirement! And a lot of these machines don’t have a horrible duty cycle at the higher end of the amp range. I find myself running 180-200 amps on steel anything less just cooks the part. So I’m probably looking for a 350+amp machine next.
I’d only say from what I’ve seen around RUclips... it would have been good to see you explain what the pulse duty does exactly or explaining what (HZ) represents under the pulse frequency. You did halfway touch on the second part there. I only say this bc those were the knobs that confused TF out of me. I only halfway understood it and until I fully understood it, I really didn’t have a ton of control over my welder. Btw I don’t know if they just didn’t used to come with an owner’s manual but I’ve never seen that in my life lol. There’s only one vid out there that I have found that explains which knob does what. AM Fab or something of the sort.
Can you reverse the start current feature to give a boost at the start and then reduce for the run? Some tig I have done needed more current to get the puddle established on a t joint on thin stainless, but then reduced to avoid burning through.
Tim, great video. If someone told you you had to return this, or your dynasty, and both for a full refund, which would you choose to keep? I'm trying to decide between this unit, or something far higher end (thinking Fronius 230i), just for hobby use -- I'm in the fortunate position I could go either way, but I don't like wasting money. cheers!
Would you recommend the TIG225x or TIG200D for basic mild steel and Stainless steel. Stainless will be thin material and mild steel up to 3/16". I have never TIG welded but want to learn. I do own Primeweld products and they are built great
I got myself one of these the other week and have only used it to stick weld so far (tried buying argon on amazon but the seller messed up the hazmat paperwork so fedex would not deliver it). Compared to the Titanium 225 stick welder that ive been using for the past couple years, this thing is great (not to say the titanium welder from Hazard Fraught isn't any good). Much easier to strike an arc and the LED display is extremely helpful for getting the right amperage. Is it worth the extra $500 or so just for stick welding? Probably not but sure is nice to have the option to use it for stick. Fortunately I finally received a refund the other day for the tank of argon that never arrived and went and bought one from my local welding and gas supply shop and will hopefully get it set up this weekend and start messing around with tig for the first time ever. im pretty excited
Primeweld has a MIG180 that comes with a spool gun which seems like a solid option as well for the garage welder. What do you think is the thinnest you could weld with that spool gun?
Not sure if he mentioned it but you can ad a water cooler to this machine the latest machine comes with a 115 outlet in the back for just that reason . You would have to. Yup a water cooled tig torch of course .
Could this machine handle 2+ inch thick aluminum blocks? Butt or filet, can I just do multiple passes? They don't need to even be structural, just stick together like for art.
I just ran out to the shop and tried it with a 6013; definitely works. It felt a bit different than a buzz box, but the arc was smooth and the bead came out really nice. Could be a good option for a job where arc blow (magnetic fields messing with the puddle) is a problem.
I would still pick this one. Mine still works great, and their customer service is excellent. One of my good friends just bought one and it had a little trouble with the arc start. They sent him a new one immediately, no questions asked. The accessories are also as good as any other you might consider.
How much money do you think one must put into getting a) a DC Big machine or b) an Til machine capable of Aluminium welding? I mean minimum prices; (hobby-) beginner friendly.
This unit is $899 which is a incredible deal with all the features. A well known brand like miller would be $3,000 for all these features or more, the build quality will be way better but is it worth it for what you're doing?
It’s still great! I still use it, but less often than my Dynasty because I’ve been in the habit of using it for so long. The Primeweld hasn’t let me down any time I’ve fired it up, though.
@@TimWelds I got a question for you, I just received my 225 and I have only ever used dynasty's. I feel like there is something wrong because the prime machine dosent have much of a low amp start, it's starts around 75% of my set high current, and when trying to work the pedal it takes at least a couple seconds to notice any difference in the arc. Seems very sluggish next to the immediate response from the pedal when using a dynasty. Do you notice this on your prime?
@@TimWelds yeah that would have probably been smart. But instead i disassembled it and attached the potentiometer to my torch to try n still have amp control instead of that friggin instant 0 - 100 clicker. It worked about as good as u wld think. Seeing as how it was faulty to start with
I’m worried that I’ll get into a situation where I want to weld on something with electronics, like a car or truck, and I won’t be able to because of the HF start. What budget friendly AC/DC machine would you pick that does lift?
It might be my set up, but I push very slowly for minimal amps and it just doesn't have, like bringing pedal push with very touchy amps, it's like amos set at 125, and it comes in like, 85, when I'm trying to slightly pedal it for very low starts, is there so way to adjust it for very low amps starts and then as I push it climbs and let off it crawls down, I just can't get that low crawl of amps, can you get yours to go very low from start off, thanks if any of this makes sense, I just don't know how to explain it any better, TKS
At my local gas supplier, it’s about $250-$300 for a full cylinder, depending on whether you get an 80 or 125 cubic foot. I’d call around to check prices because they vary a bit. Not sure what they have in your area, but I have cylinders from both Norco and Praxair. I have a full video about buying gas on the channel if you want to know more.
@@ohiomapleguy Yup. I'll run it up to 120, but she tends to sag out doing that. It's a fillet between 5/8" rebar and the corner castings on cargo containers. 98A will liquify the ends of the rebar. I forget what my voltage is set at.
I bought it last week mainly to tig aluminum but I welded stick for 45 years and let me tell you this , it welds better in stick mode than almost any machine I have used ,. I had a job on my skid steer the hydraulic tank was leaking at its base I drained the tank and tipped it so the oil would go away from my weld . I ran a few passes of 6011 then I finished it with 1/8” 7018 . No more leak and it was in a hard to get at spot . Plenty of heat at 120amps burned it in nice . Very pleased with this machine so far
Great question. It has a nice, stable arc at low amperages, like the demo on the razor blades. I would expect it to be capable of welding really thin material, such as 24 gauge with a good setup. However, when you get to really thin stuff, getting a good result depends on a lot of factors, such as material type, welder skill, joint configuration, fixturing, backing and torch setup. I think the welding machine will handle it, though.
Hi I was reading up on this machine and some people were saying that the amperage response to the peddle is slow. Is that something you noticed? Also and this is a probably a silly question but how does this machine handle being put on a 110v 15 amp circuit? I’m building out a hobby shop and was going to upgrade the service in it after I had a welder that can use it.
I haven't noticed a delay in the pedal response, but I also don't make a lot of quick abrupt adjustments to amperage. I mainly just ease into my run and taper off at the end when the heat is accumulating. As far as the electrical service goes, you will be pretty limited with 15 amps. I haven't tested this exact service, but you'll basically have 1650 Watts (15 amps x 110 volts) available to go into the welder. The efficiency of an inverter welder is usually around 80%, so you'll have about 1320 watts out (.8 * 1650). TIG welding voltage is typically just under 20 volts, so your output amperage would be limited to 66 amps (1320 watts / 20 volts). This is approximate and you may be able to push a little beyond that, but I wouldn't plan on getting much more than 80 amps out of a welder on that electrical service. Hope this helps!
Actually, the manual is really not that good-- it is repetitive and filled with too large photos. The whole pamplet could be made half as large. Also, some of the language is obviously Chinglesh and not completley clear in English. It has an awful lot of white space. Other than that, it doesn't really give all that much info.
I see all your comment about this on all the videos. I have tried to reach out to Weldpro about making a video about their machines and received no response. Unfortunately, I am not able to review every welder out there. I have been really impressed with the Primeweld and have heard really good things about the AHP in this price range. I haven’t tried the Weldpro and don’t personally know anyone who has run it, so I can’t comment on that machine.
Let me throw a monkey wrench into everything.... if you are new to welding, this machine on AC starting amps is 20 amp DC 10amp.... very important to know...... I called prime weld to verify because the spec that are advertised are misleading, so I call and ask that specific question about starting amps and the rep totally lied to me " I think his name was Tim" told me some complete BS about and I busted him out and he finally came clean and confirmed AC starting amps is 20.... What does it matter? 20 amps is really high and if you are new to welding aluminum or you intend to weld thin aluminum 20 amp start is going to really going to increase the difficulty on initiating the arc without blowing a hole in the material, if you are welding 1/4'' aluminum then you are fine. Why am I writing this? to arm the beginner with correct knowledge BEFORE investing money..... duty cycle is another spec that is also should be understood and my personal favorite does this machine ( whatever the brand ) have a continuous then figure out fan.....) Those 3 points should be the determining factor when investing in welders.... yeah I know "but it's inexpensive" regardless.... know the right questions to ask before purchase so you don't find out the hard way " hey this really isn't the machine that I want" I am in NO WAY saying do not buy this machine It has pretty good reviews, but note in the video you didn't get to hear how loud the continuous fan really is ( trust me loud fans are annoying and if the machine is pointed towards the work it can cause your argon to be blown away ) and I would have like to see real world start with 20 amps say a corner joint without backing.... Again not trashing the video in any way, one question I would ask is this video sponsored or is the machine given to this channel? . If you have a problem with what I'm saying ask the person in the video these questions and concerns that I've mentioned. Invest your money wisely to avoid buyers remorse.
Ugh I’m so pissed every time I see the primeweld 225”x” with that rocker pedal being a new addition and the only thing I see in that setup to be able to call it something different than what I bought a few years ago. I have the crap pedal they used to give with that combo 🤦♂️. I called primeweld a year after I bought mine when I realized they added the rocker pedal.... they said oh yeah we can get you one, it’s $100. I love the welder but they can suck it over that pedal lol.
I'm sorry you feel that way, however, this video was not paid and I said nothing but my own opinion. The paid promotion tag can be misleading. The only reason for the tag is that they provided a machine to review after I reached out to them. I reached out because after much research, this appeared to be the best machine in this price range and I wanted to share first hand experience to help others know if it is the right pick for them.
-Tim -Same place we all come from -Definitely not smartest -Been Welding on the side since I was 12 -I finished trade school in welding and have a master’s degree in welding engineering -Anyone can do a review about a welder.
I'm not using it in this video, but the setup is completely compatible with the machine. I usually use it because I can run a smaller torch at higher amperage on aluminum. As far as brand goes, it's just a cheap one off eBay, but it works good besides making a little extra fan noise. This video shows the whole setup: ruclips.net/video/6Zi0dQTP1Fc/видео.html
You can learn to weld. I'll show you exactly what to do in my affordable online welding courses at courses.timwelds.com.
You forgot to mention the 24-7 excellent customer support Primeweld has. Better than all others. Plus a 3 year warranty and a better duty cycle than most comparable machines in this price range.
I am going to take a shot in the dark and say you work for prime weld
@@brysontrotman5865 He is 100% accurate and I do not work for them.
Primeweld is amazing for the price. As you pointed out, having a real CK 17f torch, the industry standard Nova foot pedal, a decent flow meter, and even that it comes with a 120v adapter (companies charge north of $40 for just that piece typically) set it apart. Just amazing for that price.
IMO It’s not just the best tig welder under $1000, it’s probably one of the the best tig welders under $1500. This is their most popular machine - it sells out frequently.
The quality of customer service is even better than the hardware. These guys answer the phone 24/7 and a full 3 year warranty with PAID shipping (what? Seriously!) is three times the competition in that range. I’m not aware of any offshore manufactured welder that can touch that (and a few of the big boys boys for that matter)
I also have the ct520dp multiprocess with pilot arc plasma - and again the quality of the provided torches, etc. is ahead of the competition in the price range. I will hopefully get the mig180 as well. I simply don’t have money to have a stack of miller’s, etc right now and I feel lucky someone like Primeweld is around to build great value gear with real service. Yeah, I’m a fan - They deserve the props.
Thanks for the review and the other content you produce, keep going!
Thanks! I'm really impressed so far and I haven't found anything it can't do that my $4k machine can do.
@@TimWelds Absolutely. Another feature (my post was getting TLDR) is high frequency AC pulse. There aren’t a lot of machines doing that regardless of price.
I am setting up for blacksmithing and using my Primeweld gear has me enjoying welding and fabrication (after a long time away, I’m a commercial photog that got crushed by the current “viral” situation) so much that I’m going to school and get some certifications. All the money I am saving goes into the other gear I need (a lot, priced an anvil lately?) With the Primeweld gear I’m building a really cool custom forge and some anvil and post vice stands, just to mention a couple of the dozens of projects I have going. There’s a lot of work out there if you have a decent setup.
Not a Nova. It's PrimeWeld's knock-off because they knew the last kit had a BS pedal.
I’m impressed at your small comments that show your knowledge of the individual processes and the effects they have. Thanks for teaching me new things
At this point, I've looked at countless review/tutorials on this PrimeWeld 225x TIG welder. This is, without a doubt, one of the very best! And I think it is *the best* when you look at it's relatively short duration vs. the breadth and depth of the topics you covered. You cut out all of the boring or totally obvious stuff (like literal unboxing and the cheesiness of the included 'welding mask'). I really appreciate that you went into some detail with examples of all the features/controls. And I like you idea to use a simple phone pic to capture settings and an example of the associated weld. That's a great idea. Liked and Subscribed!
I have one of these on order, this was a nice presentation. As a former production welder i appreciate you ending your welds properly and not just leaving a crater like i see so many others do.
Thanks! I've run this machine quite a bit since the video and it's yet to let me down.
just got my 225x a few days ago and man does your video help me.. thanks so much
Bought one of these two years ago and have nothing but positive things to say about it. Your review is one of the best I’ve seen on this welder btw, great job!
Is it still going good for you? Thinking of getting one of these
@@andrewmott9751 yes actually! I admit I don’t use it a lot so I can’t comment about longevity, but again I would guess the average guy buying one of these is a hobbiest. Actually thinking about getting a Mig from them as well
I have the exact machine and very pleased with it. I haven't even used all the capabilities, but it is way more capable then I am presently. Thumbs Up!
Thanks for the comment! It really does work well.
Tim, ordered a 225X at 10AM this morning, got shipped confirmation at noon. I was considering the AHP 203xi but went with 225X based on your comments here (CK torch, setting flexibility/ease of view, manual quality, 3 year warranty and setting storage via phone photo). Thanks for the review.
How do you like the prime weld so far? Planning on getting one
@@autodidacticartisan so far so good, I've learned a few things about welding aluminum but need to have a tutor or a class to get over the hump. The welder and torch work great and the manual is well written. If you're on the fence, I'd buy it again for sure.
@@CraigHollabaugh are you using it off 110 or 220v? And if 110 how big is you circuit breaker?
@@autodidacticartisan 220V@20A
That’s a good welder you got there. I like the AC welding feature for aluminum and the access to change certain settings in the machine, makes it ideal for the experienced welder. Great review: Thanks!
Thanks! I'm having a blast with it!
Thank you so much for such great videos! I am just starting out with welding and bought the Primeweld TIG225X. I have watched this video before but came here and watched again before I unpack the machine and get stated with it.
I've been watching many videos with the primeweld that is looking to be a great welder because the promos are with guys who don't play favours for a machine, can't wait to get mine.
That was a good demo, I'm glad I saw it before I got mine .. Thanks for sharing
Nice video Tim.
A couple suggestions:
1. Please mention the setting you are making as the digital readout doesn't come across
2. Do a video of common settings you would make for different materials and configurations of the welder.
Thanks!
I was pretty amazed on the stick, the Primeweld 225 was able to run 6011 and 6010 for me in addition to 7018. I don't consider myself to be a great stick welder, but the Primeweld was able to burn what I tossed at it. I have another stick welder that has Hot Start and Arc Force settings, but knowing the Primeweld can burn most of the common rods I would throw at it was a definite plus. I have not seen anyone unhappy with this machine, nor have I seen any complaints that needed to get a replacement sent out or even a single warranty issue. Mike and Dustin are very easy to deal with also. Since I was using a CK 17 Flexhead torch previously, all of my consumables transferred right over.
Do you have to scratch start the prime weld on stick welding?
@@michaelparks1887 You can for stick welding, there are several methods for starting stick, but the Primeweld only has HF start for Tig welding, that's one feature it's lacking. Often Tig welders will use scratch start, or lift start Tig when doing automobile work, and the Primeweld 225 doesn't do that. You can still do automobile work with HF start Tig, you just need to disconnect the computer to avoid damage. Some people say you can use HF if the Tig welding is not too close to the computer, but I have never Tig welded on an automobile to date, so not sure. I think to be safe, disconnecting the computer would be the safest if using HF start.
As to stick welding on the Primeweld, there's really not much to it as the only control you have is the amps. I was able to run 6010, 6011 and 7018 all on DCEP, and you could always run 6011 on AC if needed. There is also a 7018AC which you could run on AC, but I had little issues running 6010, 6011 and 7018 all on DCEP. I have another ESAB Miniarc 180i that is a phenomenal stick welder, so don't really need to use the Primeweld for that, just good to know I can if needed.
@@michaelparks1887 Not sure I understand your question, but scratch start is pretty much the only method most people use for stick welding. You need to either scratch or touch the metal from the inside of the flux to the metal your welding to in order for the arc to start. So yes, in theory you need to scratch start stick welding. It doesn't sound like you've stick welded before. Some people will kind of bounce the end of the rod off the metal as the rod will stick if you just touch it to the metal. A scratch start is pretty much all I use with stick welding.
@@TraditionalToolworks exactly what I needed to know, and no I have never welded anything at all. Thank you.
Nice video. I just purchased one of these machines and I'm very impressed with it. Looking forward to more content on this welder.
You did an excellent job explaining and demonstrating this machine. I should get mine next week and I am looking forward
to trying out some of the setting you showed.. Thanks
You did such a good job with the review I really wanted one so my Wife bought it.
Now I just have to get the Argon tank and I will be in heaven.
BTW the stick side works with an arc as smooth as butter
So Your Wife Bought It ? Sounds like you've got a welding competition between you & your wife ! Tell me who wins .............
@@WilliamRNicholsonLST-1195 I win because I am the only to use it.
BTW My Wife spoils me rotten lol.
I definitely have a keeper how about you. 😁
Thanks, Tim. Just found your channel. I am thinking about buying the Primeweld 225 machine and your video was very helpful. I am hoping to learn to TIG weld aluminum. And I see you teach online courses. Bravo, I am totally signing up! 👍
Tim, thank you so much for all that you do. I was very close to convincing myself to get a Lincoln or Miller, hadnt decided yet but was heavily leaning Lincoln since I love my Century FC90 so much, for about 3x to 4x the cost of this machine. Then, in order to prep myself for my upcoming TIG learning I loaded your 1st vid in your TIG playlist, saw your endorsement of this machine in your vid description, read reviews, remembered seeing this "off brand" that I had never heard of but remembered once seeing it being discussed favorably in a forum ... long story short, I feel uber confident purchasing a primeweld now, all thanks to you.
1 question .. the primeweld website lists a 325 machine that costs a few hundred more. Main difference for me is the larger thickness of material that the higher cost machine can handle. But I dont see that machine on amazon, only on primeweld website. Do you know anything about that? maybe their 325 TIG is newer and not listed on amazon yet, idk?
Man, thanks again, I wish you all the best.
i like all the knobs over some lcd computer screen menu like you are using a copy machine.
you can see the settings at all times at a glance.
Been wanting one for a really long time now!
It’s pretty great. Used it several times over the past week.
Nice I have prime weld plasma cutter 60 works excellent. and the company is great to deal with.
Awesome! I'm impressed with the product, and it's great to find out that the company is good too. Thanks!
Great video! I’m new to Tig got a DC machine getting to the point I am looking for an AC machine to learn aluminum. The one thing I’ve learned so far is a water cooled torch is not an option but a requirement! And a lot of these machines don’t have a horrible duty cycle at the higher end of the amp range. I find myself running 180-200 amps on steel anything less just cooks the part. So I’m probably looking for a 350+amp machine next.
Like a big brother to the Arccaptain MIG200.
Is nice all those adjustments
Your underated
Great job all the way around THANKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You're the best thank you for sharing this video
Great review
I’d only say from what I’ve seen around RUclips... it would have been good to see you explain what the pulse duty does exactly or explaining what (HZ) represents under the pulse frequency. You did halfway touch on the second part there. I only say this bc those were the knobs that confused TF out of me. I only halfway understood it and until I fully understood it, I really didn’t have a ton of control over my welder. Btw I don’t know if they just didn’t used to come with an owner’s manual but I’ve never seen that in my life lol. There’s only one vid out there that I have found that explains which knob does what. AM Fab or something of the sort.
Can you reverse the start current feature to give a boost at the start and then reduce for the run?
Some tig I have done needed more current to get the puddle established on a t joint on thin stainless, but then reduced to avoid burning through.
Order directly, no tax to Texas. 🤠
Good video Tim
Thanks 👍
hey Tim Great video.
Thanks for watching!
Just bought one; now got to get the gas and a new helmet.
Hey Tim,
Great review. Can you tell us or share a link to your fab table? Thank you
Thanks!
Wants one!
Tim, great video. If someone told you you had to return this, or your dynasty, and both for a full refund, which would you choose to keep? I'm trying to decide between this unit, or something far higher end (thinking Fronius 230i), just for hobby use -- I'm in the fortunate position I could go either way, but I don't like wasting money. cheers!
You did a fantastic job of demonstrating this unit. Bravo mate!
Can we get a TIG325x VS TIG 225x, please?
Hey man do u have a discunt code?
Would you recommend the TIG225x or TIG200D for basic mild steel and Stainless steel. Stainless will be thin material and mild steel up to 3/16". I have never TIG welded but want to learn. I do own Primeweld products and they are built great
Do you still own the Primeweld machine? If so, do you still recommend it to the beginner/homeowner?
I got myself one of these the other week and have only used it to stick weld so far (tried buying argon on amazon but the seller messed up the hazmat paperwork so fedex would not deliver it). Compared to the Titanium 225 stick welder that ive been using for the past couple years, this thing is great (not to say the titanium welder from Hazard Fraught isn't any good). Much easier to strike an arc and the LED display is extremely helpful for getting the right amperage. Is it worth the extra $500 or so just for stick welding? Probably not but sure is nice to have the option to use it for stick.
Fortunately I finally received a refund the other day for the tank of argon that never arrived and went and bought one from my local welding and gas supply shop and will hopefully get it set up this weekend and start messing around with tig for the first time ever. im pretty excited
Awesome!
Tim. If you could only have one welder ever. Would it be a TIG, or MIG?
thanks
Oh boy!!I I love mine ..monte
Primeweld has a MIG180 that comes with a spool gun which seems like a solid option as well for the garage welder. What do you think is the thinnest you could weld with that spool gun?
See your running a tig cooler with this machine as well ?
Not sure if he mentioned it but you can ad a water cooler to this machine the latest machine comes with a 115 outlet in the back for just that reason . You would have to. Yup a water cooled tig torch of course .
Could this machine handle 2+ inch thick aluminum blocks? Butt or filet, can I just do multiple passes? They don't need to even be structural, just stick together like for art.
WICKED VIDEO 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👌🏿
Will it do ac with stick welding as well just wondering if it has both like the tig setting
Yes. I never tried it but it looked to be possible.
I just ran out to the shop and tried it with a 6013; definitely works. It felt a bit different than a buzz box, but the arc was smooth and the bead came out really nice. Could be a good option for a job where arc blow (magnetic fields messing with the puddle) is a problem.
Thank you for the information was not noted on the site but could have missed it
How does this stack up to the Yeswelder 250p, i been thinking about getting it, $750 might be cheaper with upcoming holidays.
How do feel 2 years into owning this unit?
Where did you find a welding cart large enough for this welder?
I got the Harbor Freight "Vulcan" cart for $119. Just fits.
How does it compare to the Invertig 221?
any way to buy in eu?
Tim, if you had to choose a budget AC/DC tig machine for under $1k to get for hobby and general around the house use, what would you choose?
I would still pick this one. Mine still works great, and their customer service is excellent. One of my good friends just bought one and it had a little trouble with the arc start. They sent him a new one immediately, no questions asked. The accessories are also as good as any other you might consider.
@@TimWelds awesome, thanks much! Loving your channel!
👍
Do you have to scratch start when stick welding? Or is it also HF start?
HF on stick ?
@@horaciosalinas8145 yeah I was very ignorant then. Since then have learned to stick weld and tig weld lol 😂
I bought one month's ago and sold my miller 165,, prim weld is way more smoother and cheaper and cleaner welds
What are the setting for stick?
How much money do you think one must put into getting a) a DC Big machine or b) an Til machine capable of Aluminium welding? I mean minimum prices; (hobby-) beginner friendly.
This unit is $899 which is a incredible deal with all the features. A well known brand like miller would be $3,000 for all these features or more, the build quality will be way better but is it worth it for what you're doing?
Does anyone know if this machine will run 6010 smoothly?
So, can you see the figures you're dialing in on the LED display? I couldn't see anything because the light you had on the display.
no
Yes, but only for the WELDING CURRENT control, which is the middle knob in the second row.
How do you compare it to the ahp welder
What are your thoughts on this machine after three months? Has it become your go to, or has it failed you?
It’s still great! I still use it, but less often than my Dynasty because I’ve been in the habit of using it for so long. The Primeweld hasn’t let me down any time I’ve fired it up, though.
@@TimWelds I got a question for you, I just received my 225 and I have only ever used dynasty's. I feel like there is something wrong because the prime machine dosent have much of a low amp start, it's starts around 75% of my set high current, and when trying to work the pedal it takes at least a couple seconds to notice any difference in the arc. Seems very sluggish next to the immediate response from the pedal when using a dynasty. Do you notice this on your prime?
I love my primeweld. But the foot pedal is crap. I got maybe 10 minutes of tigging before it gave up the ghost
Bummer…I’m sure they’ll replace it. Mine has had a lot of use without any issues.
@@TimWelds yeah that would have probably been smart. But instead i disassembled it and attached the potentiometer to my torch to try n still have amp control instead of that friggin instant 0 - 100 clicker. It worked about as good as u wld think. Seeing as how it was faulty to start with
Tim, will this machine lift start?
I’m worried that I’ll get into a situation where I want to weld on something with electronics, like a car or truck, and I won’t be able to because of the HF start. What budget friendly AC/DC machine would you pick that does lift?
Where do l buy?
It might be my set up, but I push very slowly for minimal amps and it just doesn't have, like bringing pedal push with very touchy amps, it's like amos set at 125, and it comes in like, 85, when I'm trying to slightly pedal it for very low starts, is there so way to adjust it for very low amps starts and then as I push it climbs and let off it crawls down, I just can't get that low crawl of amps, can you get yours to go very low from start off, thanks if any of this makes sense, I just don't know how to explain it any better, TKS
did ya sell it?
Hey Tim will this pulse stick weld? If so can you show this?
Pulse welding is only on tig.
@@leifnilsen6107 I thought so too until he showed it doing pulsed stick!!!
Can you stick AC with this welder or is the stick function DC only?
I believe only on DC can you stick with this machine, but you can call them and confirm.
What does it cost for the tank and gas ?
At my local gas supplier, it’s about $250-$300 for a full cylinder, depending on whether you get an 80 or 125 cubic foot. I’d call around to check prices because they vary a bit. Not sure what they have in your area, but I have cylinders from both Norco and Praxair. I have a full video about buying gas on the channel if you want to know more.
can you run 6011 or 6010 on this box? very helpful for root passes, but i know its a hot arc and some inverter machines have trouble...
I sent an email and they said no to 6010 but that 6011 might run ok
Hot arc for 6011?
I've burned 12# of 1/8" 6011 on 96A with a 304XMT. Plenty of heat to dig into 1/2" steel castings.
@@MotivatedMetalworks 96 amps for 1/2" cast?
@@ohiomapleguy Yup. I'll run it up to 120, but she tends to sag out doing that. It's a fillet between 5/8" rebar and the corner castings on cargo containers.
98A will liquify the ends of the rebar. I forget what my voltage is set at.
I bought it last week mainly to tig aluminum but I welded stick for 45 years and let me tell you this , it welds better in stick mode than almost any machine I have used ,. I had a job on my skid steer the hydraulic tank was leaking at its base I drained the tank and tipped it so the oil would go away from my weld . I ran a few passes of 6011 then I finished it with 1/8” 7018 . No more leak and it was in a hard to get at spot . Plenty of heat at 120amps burned it in nice . Very pleased with this machine so far
What is the thinnest Guage metal you can weld with that machine
Great question. It has a nice, stable arc at low amperages, like the demo on the razor blades. I would expect it to be capable of welding really thin material, such as 24 gauge with a good setup. However, when you get to really thin stuff, getting a good result depends on a lot of factors, such as material type, welder skill, joint configuration, fixturing, backing and torch setup. I think the welding machine will handle it, though.
I tig welded utility knife razor blades with mine it worked great.
does the 4-t mode work on a c aluminum?
yes
Hi I was reading up on this machine and some people were saying that the amperage response to the peddle is slow. Is that something you noticed?
Also and this is a probably a silly question but how does this machine handle being put on a 110v 15 amp circuit? I’m building out a hobby shop and was going to upgrade the service in it after I had a welder that can use it.
I haven't noticed a delay in the pedal response, but I also don't make a lot of quick abrupt adjustments to amperage. I mainly just ease into my run and taper off at the end when the heat is accumulating.
As far as the electrical service goes, you will be pretty limited with 15 amps. I haven't tested this exact service, but you'll basically have 1650 Watts (15 amps x 110 volts) available to go into the welder. The efficiency of an inverter welder is usually around 80%, so you'll have about 1320 watts out (.8 * 1650). TIG welding voltage is typically just under 20 volts, so your output amperage would be limited to 66 amps (1320 watts / 20 volts). This is approximate and you may be able to push a little beyond that, but I wouldn't plan on getting much more than 80 amps out of a welder on that electrical service. Hope this helps!
Actually, the manual is really not that good-- it is repetitive and filled with too large photos. The whole pamplet could be made half as large. Also, some of the language is obviously Chinglesh and not completley clear in English. It has an awful lot of white space. Other than that, it doesn't really give all that much info.
Can you review the weldpro tig200gd?
I see all your comment about this on all the videos. I have tried to reach out to Weldpro about making a video about their machines and received no response. Unfortunately, I am not able to review every welder out there. I have been really impressed with the Primeweld and have heard really good things about the AHP in this price range. I haven’t tried the Weldpro and don’t personally know anyone who has run it, so I can’t comment on that machine.
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Let me throw a monkey wrench into everything.... if you are new to welding, this machine on AC starting amps is 20 amp DC 10amp.... very important to know...... I called prime weld to verify because the spec that are advertised are misleading, so I call and ask that specific question about starting amps and the rep totally lied to me " I think his name was Tim" told me some complete BS about and I busted him out and he finally came clean and confirmed AC starting amps is 20.... What does it matter? 20 amps is really high and if you are new to welding aluminum or you intend to weld thin aluminum 20 amp start is going to really going to increase the difficulty on initiating the arc without blowing a hole in the material, if you are welding 1/4'' aluminum then you are fine. Why am I writing this? to arm the beginner with correct knowledge BEFORE investing money..... duty cycle is another spec that is also should be understood and my personal favorite does this machine ( whatever the brand ) have a continuous then figure out fan.....) Those 3 points should be the determining factor when investing in welders.... yeah I know "but it's inexpensive" regardless.... know the right questions to ask before purchase so you don't find out the hard way " hey this really isn't the machine that I want" I am in NO WAY saying do not buy this machine It has pretty good reviews, but note in the video you didn't get to hear how loud the continuous fan really is ( trust me loud fans are annoying and if the machine is pointed towards the work it can cause your argon to be blown away ) and I would have like to see real world start with 20 amps say a corner joint without backing.... Again not trashing the video in any way, one question I would ask is this video sponsored or is the machine given to this channel? . If you have a problem with what I'm saying ask the person in the video these questions and concerns that I've mentioned. Invest your money wisely to avoid buyers remorse.
Ugh I’m so pissed every time I see the primeweld 225”x” with that rocker pedal being a new addition and the only thing I see in that setup to be able to call it something different than what I bought a few years ago. I have the crap pedal they used to give with that combo 🤦♂️. I called primeweld a year after I bought mine when I realized they added the rocker pedal.... they said oh yeah we can get you one, it’s $100. I love the welder but they can suck it over that pedal lol.
Always wait when a new machine comes out for the updated version that’s the reason I bought it sorry dude
Why are most of these reviews paid? Sucks
I'm sorry you feel that way, however, this video was not paid and I said nothing but my own opinion. The paid promotion tag can be misleading. The only reason for the tag is that they provided a machine to review after I reached out to them. I reached out because after much research, this appeared to be the best machine in this price range and I wanted to share first hand experience to help others know if it is the right pick for them.
I have owned this machine for over a year and it truly is everything they say it is and I am not paid .
Who the heck are you? Where do you come from? Are you smartest? Do you have experience? Are you educated? Should you be doing a review about welders?
-Tim
-Same place we all come from
-Definitely not smartest
-Been Welding on the side since I was 12
-I finished trade school in welding and have a master’s degree in welding engineering
-Anyone can do a review about a welder.
@@TimWelds No wonder you seem to know what you're talking about!
hey time i noticed the torch cooler on the cart. do you have it hooked up to the machine? if so, what brand is it? thanks
I'm not using it in this video, but the setup is completely compatible with the machine. I usually use it because I can run a smaller torch at higher amperage on aluminum. As far as brand goes, it's just a cheap one off eBay, but it works good besides making a little extra fan noise. This video shows the whole setup: ruclips.net/video/6Zi0dQTP1Fc/видео.html
@@TimWelds cool. thanks