AWELCO MIG / UNIMIG 210 AMP WELDER any good?

Hi,
I am in the market for a new (or good used) mig /mag welder but it mist be single phase. I have been watching the auctions on eBay for a while & have come across what looks like a real bargain. This welder (AWELCO MIG / UNIMIG 210 AMP WELDER or the 250 amp version but not the external wire feed as its outside my price range) is considerably cheaper than any other for sale. The question is... Is it to good to be true? I have looked at the full spec on the makers web site & the duty cycle ect all look good (better than most of the same power & much better than any thing in the same price). Am I missing some thing?

Any advice most welcome

Oh yes what do I use it for... Well mostly thicker stuff repairing kit around the small holding. I also have a 250amp oil cooled arc welder but if I go for the high one I will prob sell that.


Justme

Originally Posted by Justme Hi, I am in the market for a new (or good used) mig /mag welder but it mist be single phase. I have been watching the auctions on eBay for a while & have come across what looks like a real bargain. This welder (AWELCO MIG / UNIMIG 210 AMP WELDER or the 250 amp version but not the external wire feed as its outside my price range) is considerably cheaper than any other for sale. The question is... Is it to good to be true? I have looked at the full spec on the makers web site & the duty cycle ect all look good (better than most of the same power & much better than any thing in the same price). Am I missing some thing? Any advice most welcome Oh yes what do I use it for... Well mostly thicker stuff repairing kit around the small holding. I also have a 250amp oil cooled arc welder but if I go for the high one I will prob sell that. Justme

Things are usually (in fact always) cheaper for a reason! The AWELCO machines come in from Italy as most others do in the same price range, however, they are not that big in the UK & you may struggle getting spare parts. The UK importers of CEBORA machines did used to also sell AWELCO but now they don't, so thats telling me something.
weldequip

Hi,
Thats what I was worried about. As these are coming in from Ireland I suspect that the VAT has some thing to do with the cheap price (which I can claim back anyway). On looking at the makers web site they do seem to have spares avaliable direct to the end user. I have mailed a few other buyers of them & they all seem very happy.

Justme

I checked the dealer on eBay & they do seem great value for money, although there ALWAYS seems to be a catch with 'too good to be true' prices. A typical example of this is a dealer on eBay who recently traded as Powershack, selling Chinese machines at unbelievable prices - they have since folded & buyers are now left high and dry with any kind of aftersales.
A web contact to the manufacturer can only be a good thing & you are only forking out 300+ pounds, so it's hardly gambling your house is it! My advice would be to go for a respected, established name (you even have to be carefull with that!) but you are then talking substantially more.
Your call.

Yeh been looking at the better makes but that will mean a lower spec machine. Also been looking at pro used ones but they all seem to be 3 phase or busted. Thisnk I will wait for more people to get back to me that have bought one & see what they say. I fully expect that the seller will stop trading at some point during the warranty but as I do have the makers details (which is unusual normaly you cant find out who makes them) I guess the spare wont be an issue. Been watching you and other traders for bargains but with no joy yet.

Justme

I wasn't implying that the Awelco dealer on eBay will go bust, just that a previous one selling 'Bargains' had done. The machine looks good & has an excellent spec for the money - go for it, just be prepared that you may not be able to get any spares quickly if it goes wrong.
weldequip

g'day i haven't heard the name awelco here in australia (not that that means much) but i bought a unimig 210 last week , and i think its absolutley great for the $$ parts are redily avalible here in oz so theres no back up problem , but as for the machine i prefer it over the lincon 325 we have at work (im a mechanic not welder) . simply because of the ease of use , once again im very happy with mine .

cheers jai

This is the one http://www.awelco.com/AWELCO%20PDF/migUnimig210-240.pdf
I think the Australian siteis this one http://www.unimig.com.au/PRODUCTS/UN...aftSeries.html
With luck it will be here tommorow.

Justme

you will be happy with it , although i dont know if you'll get the 2 button ones anymore one black one yellow, as they i am told are old stock ? i looked at the 2 button one bought one got home unpacked it and thought what the ? but they and another shop assure me the new model only has the one black mode button ?

enjoy

Hi,
Yep mine has the one mode button but looks very good. Typicaly it only came with one contact tip & I have managed to jam the wire in it whilst setting it up so not even made a spark yet. Local sources dont have any in the right size so its eBay again. Any advice on the settings for the following:-

pregas
ramp up
burn back

for normal welding (IE non spot or stitch)

I guess with a bit of trial & error I will get them spot on so they dont need changing each time I weld.

Justme