Eastwood TIG 200 vs Lincoln Square Wave 200 – A Close Comparison

If you are interested in a 200 amp TIG welder, you may have two welders on your list: the Eastwood TIG 200 AC/DC and the Lincoln Square Wave TIG 200. 

Welders know and respect the Lincoln name. But Eastwood also has a devoted fan base in the car restoration market and offers interesting welders with an attractive price tag.

So, a close look at how these two welders fare in a head-to-head face-off is in order, especially after Eastwood’s latest update.

Side by Side Comparison

	Eastwood TIG 200 AC/DC	Lincoln Square Wave TIG 200
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Welder Type	TIG & Stick	TIG & Stick
Stated Input Voltage	110v / 220v	110v / 220v
Duty Cycle	60% @ 190 A (220V)	25% @ 200A (230V)
Output Amperage	10 – 200A	10 -200A
Current Output	AC/DC	AC/DC
Designed In Manufactured In	USA China	USA Mexico
Weldable Materials	Steel, Stainless, Aluminum	Steel, Stainless, Aluminum
Weld Thicknesses	thin gauges – 1/4 in.	24 ga. – 3/16 in.
Foot Pedal	✅	✅
Trigger Switch on Torch	✅	⛔
Stick Electrode Holder	⛔	✅
Square Wave Technology	✅	✅
Pulse Control	⛔	✅
Pre and Post Flow Control	✅	⛔
Clearance/Cleaning Setting	✅	✅
High-Frequency Start	✅	✅
Welder Dimensions (H x W x L)	17.8 in. x 8.4 in. x 20.2 in.	14 in x 10.75 in x 19.25 in
Weight	38 lbs.	46.5 lbs
Warranty	3 years	3 years
Price	Latest Price Eastwood	Latest Price Amazon

Eastwood TIG 200 (33920)

Eastwood sells a line of welders as part of the car restoration tools. The TIG 200 AC/DC is a good option for rookie welders, DIYers, and auto fabricators.

One of the first features you notice, the unit carries an attractive price tag. While prices can vary depending on where you shop, it is markedly less than the Square Wave TIG 200. 

But you still get a surprisingly good duty cycle (60% @ 190 A (240V), which is better than the Lincoln offering. Plus, you can adjust the pre and post-gas flow. This is not possible on the Lincoln welder.

Two features were updated this past July. First, Eastwood added a gas lens to provide better shielding of the weld as it cools. Second, they upgraded to a rocker-style foot pedal. Both of these give you more control as you TIG weld and help you lay better beads.

Another attribute not on the Lincoln, Eastwood includes a trigger switch on the torch. If you are out of position and unable to use the foot pedal, flip a switch and set your amps on the control panel to use your finger to start and terminate the weld.

While not a welder for industrial applications, this welder meets the needs of its intended users and provides an excellent price to performance ratio.

Related read: Eastwood TIG 200 Reivew

What’s Included

The Eastwood TIG 200 comes with a generous package that includes:

• TIG 200 AC/DC Welder with NEMA6-50P Plug
• Shielding Gas Flow Meter/Regulator
• Shielding Gas Hose (4.6’)
• Ground Cable with Clamp (9.5’)
• Flex Head TIG Torch (17 Series) (12′ lead)
• Rocker Style Foot Pedal for Amperage Control (16’ Cable)
• 110-120 VAC to 220-240 VAC Adapter Plug
• Instruction Manual
• Hand-Held Shield
• Hammer/Brush
• #8 Gas Lens
• Long Back Cap
• Short Back Cap (Installed)
• 3/32” Collet Body (Installed)
• 3/32” Collet (Installed)
• 3/32” x 6” Red Thoriated Tungsten Rod
• 3/32” x 6” Green Pure Tungsten Rod

Eastwood TIG 200 Compared to Lincoln Electric Square Wave 200

Where to buy

The official and cheapest place to buy the Eastwood TIG 200 is from the Eastwood online Store.

Lincoln Electric Square Wave TIG 200 (K5126-1)

Lincoln Electric has manufactured welders and welding accessories for a long time, and their name is well known in the welding community.

The Square Wave TIG 200 meets the needs of DIY, hobby, light fabrication, automotive, and educational shops. 

The control panel is clean and easy to use while still providing advanced features. For example, true pulse control makes it easier for novices to create strong, good-looking TIG welds.

This welder is more expensive than the Eastwood unit. But the Square Wave TIG 200 also comes with a stick electrode holder in the box. 

For a straightforward, easy-to-use welder, the Square Wave TIG 200 offers reliable performance for first-time welders, auto enthusiasts, teachers, and DIYers. But the 25% @ 200A (230V) duty cycle is low and prevents it from being used in industrial or high production situations.

What’s Included

• Square Wave TIG 200 welder
• PTA-17 Series 150 Amp Air-cooled TIG Torch with Flexible Head and Ultra-Flex™ Cable Assembly with TIG Torch Parts 
• Foot Amptrol™ 
• Regulator/Flowmeter with Gas hose kit
• Stick Electrode Holder 
• Ground Clamp and Cable
• 120/230V Input Cords

Lincoln Electric Square Wave TIG 200 Compared to Eastwood TIG 200 AC/DC

Where to buy

The Square Wave 200 is more widely available to buy. You can pick it from the official online store as well as all the usual welding supply stores online, including Amazon.

Eastwood TIG 200 vs. Lincoln Square Wave TIG 200: Main Differences

Controls/Display

The controls are a major difference. The Eastwood unit uses rocker switches and dials, which are usable with gloves. 

The Lincoln Square Wave TIG 200 employs a digital display, a single dial, and two blister buttons. Press the right button, spin the dial to set the selected attribute, and start welding. Plus, the digital display is easy to read at a glance.

If you want modern, simple-to-use controls and an easy-to-read display, the Lincoln will have the edge over the TIG 200 AC/DC welder. If you would like a digital display in a similar Eastwood welder, the TIG 200 Digital AC/DC is worth a look if you can run it on 240v.

Torch/Trigger Switch

Lincoln and Eastwood include a flexible torch head, which is convenient and allows you to get just the right angle.

However, if you are out of position and cannot use a foot pedal, the Eastwood welder gives you an option to use a trigger switch. Flip a switch on the control panel and set your amps on the panel of the TIG 200 AC/DC, and you can start an arc with your trigger finger.

Of course, when using a trigger switch, your amps are fixed – No adjusting as you go, like with a foot pedal. But you have the freedom to access those hard to get to positions and weld.

Arc Start-Up

Both units use a high-frequency start to keep things controlled when you start an arc. But the Lincoln surges more as it starts, and less experienced welders may have a tough time preventing scorching or blow through on thinner materials.

Unfortunately, neither unit includes the ability to adjust the starting amps. So, if you are a novice and plan on working with thin stock, the Lincoln welder may present you with more of a learning curve.

Pre and Post Gas Flow Control

The Lincoln welder comes with fixed pre and post-gas flow times. It is not adjustable.

In contrast, the Eastwood welder allows you to adjust the pre and post-gas flow (pre: 0.1 to 1.0 sec; post: 2 to 8 sec.). For those who want or need to control the pre and post-gas flow, the Eastwood is the clear choice of the two welders.

Pulse Mode

The Lincoln Electric Square Wave TIG 200 includes a pulse control feature. The Eastwood TIG 200 AC/DC does not; it only comes with a clearance adjustment. 

You can set the pulses per second with the Lincoln unit, but not the pulse “on” time like you will find on more expensive welders. 

Pulse control gives welders a more refined arc and makes learning to weld a little easier, especially with aluminum. So, new welders might be willing to pay more for the Lincoln if they want to make the training process a bit easier.

Duty Cycle

The duty cycle lets you know how long a welder can run before it needs to cool during a ten-minute period.

For example, the Lincoln has a stated duty cycle of 25% @ 200A (230V). This means it can run 2 ½ minutes before it needs to cool for 7 ½ minutes. The Eastwood has a duty cycle of 60% @ 190 A (220V). Or it runs for 6 minutes, then cools for 4 minutes.

Note the amperage is not exactly the same. The Eastwood is rated at a slightly lower amperage, and as the amperage goes down, the duty cycle goes up. However, the duty cycle of the Lincoln rates 60% @ 130A (230V), confirming the Eastwood has a better duty cycle.

Stick Welding

Both units can arc weld. The Lincoln is more expensive, but it includes the stick electrode holder with the initial purchase. If you decide to buy the Eastwood unit, you will need to buy the stick electrode holder separately.

Gas Lens

Eastwood included a gas lens as part of the recent upgrade. This provides a more focused shielding gas layer and is better at keeping contaminant gases out. This means less porosity defects in your TIG welds.

Also, you can get away with sticking your tungsten out a little more in tight spaces because of the better gas coverage.

Price

Lastly, and sometimes the deciding factor, as you may already know, even when you add the optional stick electrode holder to the Eastwood TIG 200 AC/DC welder, your wallet will like the Eastwood welder’s price. It is less expensive and the choice for the budget-conscious.

Conclusion

Eastwood priced the TIG 200 AC/DC aggressively, and that means you get a favorable price to performance ratio. Even with adding the optional stick electrode holder. In addition, you get a machine with a duty cycle over twice as long compared to the Lincoln.

Plus, you get a trigger switch on the torch with the Eastwood machine, and it allows for adjustment of the pre and post-gas flow. Lincoln Electric does not include either of these features with its more expensive offering. 

Eastwood also has a more robust duty cycle in their TIG welder. If you plan on welding often, the higher duty cycle is a plus for the TIG 200 AC/DC.

The drawback of the TIG 200 AC/DC used to be the substandard foot pedal. But with the July upgrade, you now get a rocker-style pedal comparable with the Lincoln foot pedal.

The Lincoln Electric Square Wave TIG 200 simplifies the welding process with a clear digital display and easy-to-use controls. 

In addition, the included pulse control makes fine-tuning your arc easier and gets you creating good quality welds faster. In short, the Square Wave TIG 200 helps rookies get through the learning curve faster. 

A short duty cycle makes the Square Wave TIG 200 appropriate for occasional use, like in a DIYer’s or autobody shop. But it also prevents it from use in heavy or industrial applications.

If you think we missed any other important details when comparing these models, please us know in the comments below.

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