Please convince me not to do it.

[MikeBs]

I will soon be getting a new MIG welder.
It’s a long story, but as soon as I get the use of my arms and legs back, in a month or so hopefully, I will be ordering my new machine.
I had my eyes on an RTech 181, but invariably I have looked at other machines.
Can someone convince me NOT to get a Hitbox that does it all. All sorts of arc, MIG, and TIG including aluminium. MIG being the only one I’ll ever use, but have almost convinced myself, it would be nice to have all the other capabilities to never use.
Please someone tell me they have had one and regretted it.

 

[Barking Mat]

Yeah buy a Hitbox from China, no customer back up, bound to go wrong, promises everything, or an Rtech with customer support....and a guarantee.

 

[qwakers]

hitbox will go pop in about 30 mins of welding time. and you will have no chance of seeing your money back.

 

[Wildefalcon]

I've some excellent magic beans, special discount for you, sir!

 

[Wildefalcon]

But still...... If money was infinite, I'd buy one for a giggle.

 

[JOEPRO]

Buy an AC DC Tig from R Tech instead.

You know you want to.

 

[Wildefalcon]

I want to, but I've no real need.

 

[JOEPRO]

I want to, but I've no real need.

But you need to have all options available to you. When you need to weld aluminium who are you going to rely on?

Best to learn yourself and TIG is a so much cleaner and precise welding method. Very versatile and a great skill to learn.

I have this SIP Tig. It's excellent I couldn't do without it even for occasional DIY use

 

[500e]

DONT
Worked with me and beloved

 

[skotl]

I will soon be getting a new MIG welder.
It’s a long story, but as soon as I get the use of my arms and legs back, in a month or so hopefully, I will be ordering my new machine.
I had my eyes on an RTech 181, but invariably I have looked at other machines.
Can someone convince me NOT to get a Hitbox that does it all. All sorts of arc, MIG, and TIG including aluminium. MIG being the only one I’ll ever use, but have almost convinced myself, it would be nice to have all the other capabilities to never use.
Please someone tell me they have had one and regretted it.

Think I posted something similar after going to the pub a few years ago and talking to my mate about getting an RTech 180.

Woke up the next morning, very hungover, to be greeted by the order confirmation for my soon-to-be shiny new RTech MTS255 MIG, TIG, Arc welder.

So nah - I'm not gonna talk you out of it. If you've got some cash then buy the best you can afford (and the 180 is a fine machine). Although I didn't get the 180, I have used my 255 at full chat on MIG and Arc a few times, and it really does flatter the operator.

Only other bit of advice would be if you're going to spend anything more than pocket money then get one from a vendor with good support (which RTech is).

Good luck!

 

[zzr1200]

I want to, but I've no real need.

Since when has that minor detail stopped any of us from buying more tools/machines.......One day I will need that capability..... .....some people just want an exquise.......

 

[arther dailey]

Think I posted something similar after going to the pub a few years ago and talking to my mate about getting an RTech 180.

Woke up the next morning, very hungover, to be greeted by the order confirmation for my soon-to-be shiny new RTech MTS255 MIG, TIG, Arc welder.

So nah - I'm not gonna talk you out of it. If you've got some cash then buy the best you can afford (and the 180 is a fine machine). Although I didn't get the 180, I have used my 255 at full chat on MIG and Arc a few times, and it really does flatter the operator.

Only other bit of advice would be if you're going to spend anything more than pocket money then get one from a vendor with good support (which RTech is).

Good luck!

or get a transformer based unit which will sit in the shed getting cold ,damp and ignored for years on end while you deal with silly things like work/life family , and will still work irrespective of time left , as long as the wires not gone rusty in the liner

 

[winchman]

I have just put two broken welders in the sales sections you could buy these to save buying a new broken welder?
Joking aside the Rtec is a proper machine it's what we replaced our assorted SIP / Draper machines with. And like everything quality I now cant remember how much it was, we used Double boosts advice and discount code.
The Hit box I feel will be a lottery, some people are 100% happy others not. Do you want to weld or spend time fighting for a refund or trying to repair it?
Look at it this way the Rtec has a warranty that we know is good. Should you ever give up welding or upgrade it has a good second hand value.
We have an Oxford oil cooled stick welder and a Rtec mig and these do everything we need. We have a Tig at work but to be honest I rarely use it as I Mig 90% of stuff, if you cant Tig you may well get frustrated trying to teach yourself on a cheap set, some one with more experience will be along soon and probably agree.

 

[redlig]

I want to, but I've no real need.

Psychic then are you ,if so please tell me next weeks lottery no's.

 

[JOEPRO]

I have just put two broken welders in the sales sections you could buy these to save buying a new broken welder?

I bought my SIP AC DC Tig broken for £150 from FBMP. I diagnosed it myself and turned out to be a £40 sensor was faulty.

 

[dobbslc]

or get a transformer based unit which will sit in the shed getting cold ,damp and ignored for years on end while you deal with silly things like work/life family , and will still work irrespective of time left , as long as the wires not gone rusty in the liner

Except the EU tells us we can't have any more transformer based welders.

 

[dutch2u2]

or get a transformer based unit which will sit in the shed getting cold ,damp and ignored for years on end while you deal with silly things like work/life family , and will still work irrespective of time left , as long as the wires not gone rusty in the liner

I totally agree with you on this, my Oxford 181 mig welder has been kept in a damp wooden shed for over 25 years and still works as well as it did the
first time it was used and I can run at max off a 13amp plug.........

 

[JOEPRO]

I've about 6x modern inverter welders and never had a single issue with any of them stored for years in my unheated uninsulated garages.

Then only repairs I've had to do is when I bought them cheap spares or repairs and fixed them myself.

Inverter welders weld much nicer than transformer welders in my opinion but each to their own. I got rid of my transformer welders years ago.

 

[MikeBs]

Well that got a lot more replies than I expected.
I doubt I would have actually bought a HitBox. I once bought some cheap consumables from China, tips and shrouds, The tips lasted seconds before they melted. When I threw them away and put a decent tip on the shrouds lasted about 5mins.
RTech are less than 30mins from me so I have used them in the past occasionally.
I thought about going the TIG route, but I don’t think the stuff I do would suit it, whereas MIG suits me fine.
I’m laid up at the moment and I’ve promised myself a nice welder for when I can get back in the shed.
Thanks

 

[Onthespotwelding]

I’ve promised myself a nice welder for when I can get back in the shed.

Don’t wait too long, the R-tech 181 mig is on special offer at the moment.

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