Alternates to the TECH-ARC?

[voteshanequinn]

iv found two brands, apart from the tech arc recomended here if anyone could let me know if their any use, thanks very much

http://www.cornishweldingsupplies.co.uk/product-info.php?pid308.html

http://www.cornishweldingsupplies.co.uk/product-info.php?pid356.html

 

[GrahamGKD]

...not sure if you saw it but Oilcooled was singing the praises of a Parweld inverter yesterday - second post in thread (not the same machine though)?

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=23833

Graham.

 

[PTvor]

Have a good look at the warranty offered on the GYS inverter. I've heard stories that GYS are a bit delicate mechanically and GYS play up if units are returned with so much as a scratch on the paintwork.

Have a good look at the duty cycles they offer and what temperature are they quoted at.

GYS state two duty cycles for the 161, one at 20C where it does 60% @ 160A and another at 40C where it does 14% @ 160A. 40C is supposed to be the standard, but you need to be comparing like with like.

There's also R-Tech which a few people on here have and which seem to be well thought of.

http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/welding_equipment/Arc_MMA_Welder

 

[cornishwelding]

I'm not convinced that the 40c is the norm for duty cycles, especially in this country. You would be lucky to get an ambient temp of 25c over here in good old blighty, for any length of time to impact on the machine's temperature.

The GYS were a tad delicate in years past, that's true, but they have really pulled their socks up since coming back. Standards have been raised, and reliability far superior to that in the past.

The Parweld is another pretty good all rounder, the 161i pumping out 135 amps at 100% duty, in a blow moulded case with a set of leads.

For the money, the GYS are good value, not the best, but not at the bottom of the heap either.

Lorch are obviously in a different league, but it's the same old sausage, you get what you pay for.....

 

[aidank]

out of curiosity how much are the eqivalent Lorch machines by comparison to the tech arc and paraweld

 

[cornishwelding]

Well the list price on the Handy 160 is £638.25, machine only.

There may be discounts to be had, but that's between customer and distributor