r-tech 210 or 250

[chip]

morning all im after some help in deciphering the pro,s and cons in choosing one of the above over the other.
initialy I was set on a 250 amps ac dc unit but im seeing the 210 digital albeit 40amp less there only about 60 quid aprt. which would you have and why.im in a position to buy one immediately if they will except me on a 12 month payment plan with 500 quid down.
http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/welding_equipment/Tig_Welder/TIG_Welder_Digital_Series_210A_ACDC
http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/welding_equipment/Tig_Welder/Tig_Welder_R-Tech_Tig251

 

[Richard.]

In put power supply would be my only issue. I could not use either of them past 200 amps and they are both pretty much the same price so I would buy the 210 as its got more features and a more modern panel. Having not used either though I'd rather try before I buy then I'll buy the one I like the best. It will be purely down to panel preference for me as I couldn't make use of the extra current scope.

 

[rikrobson]

Why not give them a ring and ask them. I found them to be very helpful.

 

[doubleboost]

I have used the 200 analog
At the moment I am using (playing) with the digital 210
The digital has more features & 9 memory settings
The digital panel had me worried at first but it is easy to use
Give them a ring ask to speak to Dylan

 

[chip]

im sure you did rik ive heard nothing but good things regarding their support but id much rather hear from them in the field that are tig welding regular and besides its sunday followed by a bank holiday plus if I ring them it,ll leave my head an hour later :P

 

[chip]

thanks Richard thers tig done at work on occasion by some of the lads, I see these parweld units dotted about the place gathering dust.
going for a trial run on an r tech or any other aint really an option specially with me not being competent in tig.the machine will basically help learn tig and keep my hand in it.
thanks double boost yes I saw your vid earlier thanks for the upload wouldnt mind seeing it in action.

 

[rikrobson]

Joe was on the website earlier, they have a chat function on their site. If not you'll need to wait until Tuesday, which is when i get my MIG

 

[I'm getting on a bit]

I'm on my first machine it's the 210EXT as will all the dials/settings and so on i thought i would have trouble with the settings so liked the 9 memory function but after awhile you remember it so not as difficult to set the welder as i first thought

 

[chip]

thanks all due to lack of credit history despite being in work and debt free I didn't qualify for the payment plan,not rtechs decision but the company that deals with finance. so I just purchased their 200 dc digital model...looking forward to it,its purely bought to learn tig and the only real reason I wanted ac was because im told alu is the hardest to tig and if you can weld that you can do steel and ss..I was looking forward to the challenge of being competent in welding aluminium but couldn't afford to shell out in one hit for the acdc...thanks all

 

[Richard.]

Alu is only hard if you don't do it. IMO it's certainly no harder than mild or stainless if your new to all 3. It's just very different. Someone who welds Alu day in day out but rarely touches stainless is going to struggle with stainless to start with because of the massive differences in thermal conductivity. Alu is very high and ss is much much lower and localised. This makes ss a pain for distortion if correct steps are not taken. A greater understanding of the metals and there reaction to welding really makes the process easier. This will come with practice. But the hardest one is the one that's done least IMO.

 

[Shox Dr]

... But the hardest one is the one that's done least IMO.

So very true, people tend to do the bits they like, leaving the ones they don't.


As for the option; Analog over the digi. You can see from the other side of the room what the settings are, and you can never have too many amps