R-tech MIG welder

[Dan collins]

Hi guys, brand new on here... just taking the plunge into setting up a small shop. Been doing a little research into which MIG set to invest in under £800 and I've come acroas a British brand called R -Tech. Has anyone had any experience with these? Many thanks. Dan

 

[rtbcomp]

Welcome to the forum - the name has cropped up a couple of times

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/forums/r-tech.69/

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Welcome aboard, Dan.

the name has cropped up a couple of times

As rtb says, and then some. Best have a cuppa at hand when you settle down to read the debate ....sorry, discussion(s) .

 

[cumbriasteve]

There are some questions that can make a grown moderator cry

Take no notice Dan.. a bit of dark humour and welcome to the forum.

My opinion on the machines are: I have one (an R-Tech MMA), I am very pleased with it and I think the firm is excellent at customer service.

However if I was buying a mig for the workshop with that budget and no plans on moving it out of the workshop would at this present day buy an Oxford, simply because I am an old fashioned sod and like heavy built machines that can take a bit of abuse.

If my budget was half that I would buy an R-tech.

 

[Dan collins]

Ha thanks for the warm welcome fellas, just had a good read, I think debate was the closest (borderline handbags) cheers for the thread link tho. I'm just going to have to take the plunge I think, I guess regardless if it's foreign parts if the machine works well and the after sales team is British I have half a chance. Not convinced I need the higher amp machine but the lower one only takes small 5kg reels of wire. Will this work out a lot more expensive in the long run?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I have one (an R-Tech MMA), I am very pleased with it and I think the firm is excellent at customer service.

Me too, I forgot to say - and it's used for hobby work only, but I've been pleased with the results, especially as I'd never used a welder of any kind before getting it.
The help/advice/encouragement I had on here has been exceptional too, great bunch of lads!!

 

[windingroads]

There are some questions that can make a grown moderator cry

Take no notice Dan.. a bit of dark humour and welcome to the forum.

My opinion on the machines are: I have one (an R-Tech MMA), I am very pleased with it and I think the firm is excellent at customer service.

However if I was buying a mig for the workshop with that budget and no plans on moving it out of the workshop would at this present day buy an Oxford, simply because I am an old fashioned sod and like heavy built machines that can take a bit of abuse.

If my budget was half that I would buy an R-tech.

Hi and welcome,
as mentioned above the company are good to deal with by all accounts, I swapped a few emails and everyone was answered in
lightning time, I how ever chose an Oxford 330 amp welder over the R-Rech 250,
for two reasons, One it had more power, and Two, I am old fashioned as well and the Oxford is transformer technology
where the R-Tech is inverter.
Here is a link to an Oxford in your budget, which also comes with a GENUINE Binzel torch, which is a very good item
and it has more power.
https://www.weldingsuppliesdirect.c...-welders/oxford-migmaker-270-singlephase.html
Either way you will be happy with either item.

Regards, john

 

[Dan collins]

Yeah that's brilliant, for me it would be for professional use rather than a hobby. The other brand i was considering was Tecarc. Very similar prices and after sales. :/ like I said I'll take the plunge and either be moaning like mad in a new thread or praising them ha

 

[Dan collins]

Hi and welcome,
as mentioned above the company are good to deal with by all accounts, I swapped a few emails and everyone was answered in
lightning time, I how ever chose an Oxford 330 amp welder over the R-Rech 250,
for two reasons, One it had more power, and Two, I am old fashioned as well and the Oxford is transformer technology
where the R-Tech is inverter.
Here is a link to an Oxford in your budget, which also comes with a GENUINE Binzel torch, which is a very good item
and it has more power.
https://www.weldingsuppliesdirect.c...-welders/oxford-migmaker-270-singlephase.html
Either way you will be happy with either item.

Regards, john

Thanks John, looks good. Big old heavy piece of kit isn't it. First one I've seen where the reel is mounted that way. Does it take 15kg reel? Transformer better than inverter?

 

[Dan collins]

Thanks John, looks good. Big old heavy piece of kit isn't it. First one I've seen where the reel is mounted that way. Does it take 15kg reel? Transformer better than inverter?

Also is that still a Euro connection?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Hi and welcome,
as mentioned above the company are good to deal with by all accounts, I swapped a few emails and everyone was answered in
lightning time, I how ever chose an Oxford 330 amp welder over the R-Rech 250,
for two reasons, One it had more power, and Two, I am old fashioned as well and the Oxford is transformer technology
where the R-Tech is inverter.
Here is a link to an Oxford in your budget, which also comes with a GENUINE Binzel torch, which is a very good item
and it has more power.
https://www.weldingsuppliesdirect.c...-welders/oxford-migmaker-270-singlephase.html
Either way you will be happy with either item.

Regards, john

Agree, but R-Tech does MIG, MMA and even scratch-start TIG - a bit more versatile and can even be easily carried on-site if needed, to do MMA.
Much handiness.

 

[ukracer]

Yeah that's brilliant, for me it would be for professional use rather than a hobby. The other brand i was considering was Tecarc. Very similar prices and after sales. :/ like I said I'll take the plunge and either be moaning like mad in a new thread or praising them ha

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/struggling-with-ali-welding.66160/page-2#post-872227

should help you get an idea of what decent welders think of R-tech machines.

I know that thread is tig but their migs are just as good. I ended up getting the 250 because the smaller one only takes 5kg reels as you said.

 

[windingroads]

Re Techarc, first off this is their lower spec machines and their duty cycles are way lower than the Oxford,
http://technicalarc.co.uk/index.php...lypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=8&category_id=7
Their higher spec machines are higher duty though a little difficult to understand their chart in this regard.
http://technicalarc.co.uk/index.php...lypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=9&category_id=8
I wouldn't be surprised if you found the same inside these as an Oxford,
20 years of future parts, same as oxford, though I do not know what comes in the package,
I got a torch, regulator, and earth clamp.

Regards, john

 

[Dan collins]

Brilliant cheers chaps, from what everyone's saying I don't think I can go far wrong with any of these three.

 

[windingroads]

Also is that still a Euro connection?

Yes, they are heavy, they all have that Euro Connector, and the torch is worth a good bit more and will last.
Transformer technology is tried and trusted, inverter is very electronic based, built right they should have an edge
over the transformer type as regard finish, but that depends on the person with the torch in their hand, very little to
separate the final welds though.
Now here is a spanner for the works, if you are going to be doing aluminium welding, then I would advise you to
go for a welder that has adjustable inductance, and for a given price range you are most likely to find this in an
inverter, some transformers have two or three inductance sockets where one moves the earth to, this can make
a big difference especially if welding aluminium.
I hope to buy a welder more suited for aluminium at a later date, but I will be making the Oxford sing in the mean time.
Also too, its better to have two migs, as one never know when a problem will put one out of commission for a while.
Did someone mention reel size, the OXford is more suitable for the big heavy rolls of wire
as is the Tecarc, but if you need mobility then the lighter inverter from R-Tech would be better.
You really have to price the welders according to your anticipated work load.
If you have jobs that will make it pay, then I would always spend the extra, if not, a cheaper welder will pay for its self in a shorter time, if you have an old damp workshop
I would watch putting a costly welder in there, as condensation is not kind to the electronics found in either type of welder, though expect more electronics in an inverter based welder.

Regards, john

 

[Dan collins]

Yes, they are heavy, they all have that Euro Connector, and the torch is worth a good bit more and will last.
Transformer technology is tried and trusted, inverter is very electronic based, built right they should have an edge
over the transformer type as regard finish, but that depends on the person with the torch in their hand, very little to
separate the final welds though.
Now here is a spanner for the works, if you are going to be doing aluminium welding, then I would advise you to
go for a welder that has adjustable inductance, and for a given price range you are most likely to find this in an
inverter, some transformers have two or three inductance sockets where one moves the earth to, this can make
a big difference especially if welding aluminium.
I hope to buy a welder more suited for aluminium at a later date, but I will be making the Oxford sing in the mean time.
Also too, its better to have two migs, as one never know when a problem will put one out of commission for a while.
Did someone mention reel size, the OXford is more suitable for the big heavy rolls of wire.

Regards, john

Thanks again John.

 

[ukracer]

Thanks again John.

you might be able to understand this guy as he is closer to you than us. lol

 

[Dan collins]

that's put me off

 

[rikrobson]

I've never been to Hartlepool
I went for the r-tech 250 over the portamig, which I was going to get, because it can do the mma as well and it's a long build time for them.
The main difference is the dual process and the inverter mma is smooth as silk
But at the end of the day it's your money and your choice.
It's just the guys on here all have their own option, which to my mind is great but when it comes to buying a machine there are divisions within the forum. But we will always say no that's not the one to buy.

 

[Miggy89]

i dont have a r tech mig but i do have their tig & its a great piece of kit alot lighter being inverter, & as said above their customer service is brilliant along with the warranty. may be worth dropping them an email & asking for a discount on a machine bit cheeky yes but i did & they gave me one so if you dont ask you dont get