Arc Welder Group Test

[Archie]

Fair point but I have to disagree with one thing; I could never convince myself that Tesco's cornflakes taste the same as Kellogg's!

 

[marknotgeorge]

I see what you're saying about cheap tools, but food is slightly different. I don't know who makes Tesco cornflakes (probably not Kelloggs) but I do know that United Biscuits (who make McVitie's) make the own-brand biscuits for just about all the supermarkets. My dad trunks the stuff from UB's depot to the supermarket depots. I remember seeing a UB recall notice for bourbon biscuits. It covered everyone from Waitrose to Happy Shopper.

 

[TechnicAl]

Archie.........to be honest I cant stand corn flakes, Kelloggs or anyone elses

marknotgeorge
I think that happens with lots of items. Dont they call it badge engineering or something. I know of similar situations but they usually do something to reduce the costs of the cheaper brand, such as cheaper raw materials, cheaper packaging and the simple bulk purchase.

I know it happens with welding products and I also know some reps make false claims. I know of one who makes a point of telling everyone that his wire is not chinese, which is true, its Indian.

 

[GeorgeB]

Fair point but I have to disagree with one thing; I could never convince myself that Tesco's cornflakes taste the same as Kellogg's!

Neither could I. They don't taste the same but, after a day or two, I forgot the difference and they're just as good in their own way, a bit like the difference between some welding sets. I now buy the cheapest 'Corn Flakes' from Tesco's value range, Asda or Lidl and would never waste my money on Kelloggs again.

It's a near-certainty that many 'own brands' are identical to the leading brands and come off the same production line. Not Kelloggs, though, but who cares!

Here are two forum threads well worth reading if you are starting to feel the effects of the recession:

Great disguised own brand hunt:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=23002

What value things have you tried and liked?
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=405198

 

[TechnicAl]

Incredible how a thread subject can transform from Stick Welding to Cornflakes. You couldnt do it if you tried.

 

[matt1978]

Personally the cheap cornflakes are often rotten to my tastebuds, but cheap wheetabix tastes like the branded one.

Regards,

Ian.

Christ..............they must be bad!

This is coming from the home of Deep fried mars bars

 

[madkayaker]

Iron Brew doesn't taste as nice south of the border

 

[TechnicAl]

Iron Brew doesn't taste as nice south of the border

That must be why I think its awful.........tastes like medicine

 

[snowcat]

I see what you're saying about cheap tools, but food is slightly different. I don't know who makes Tosca cornflakes (probably not Kelloggs) but I do know that United Biscuits (who make McVitie's) make the own-brand biscuits for just about all the supermarkets. My dad trunks the stuff from UB's depot to the supermarket depots. I remember seeing a UB recall notice for bourbon biscuits. It covered everyone from Waitrose to Happy Shopper.

ahh just because biscuits are made in the same bakery doesn't mean they use the same ingredients, cheaper products on the whole use cheaper raw materials, wheat isn't just wheat, the variation between a British grown high protein biscuit or bread making wheat, is completely different to a low protein, harvested in the wet, Canadian import, ever wondered why cheep bread has holes you could drive a bus through, its down to cheep flour with a poor Hagberg which is normally produced for a pittance in Eastern europe....

all mills and bakery's produce different priced products using different ingrediants.....its not just loading a price on to pay for a name, supermarkets generally have a massive % of profit over everyone else in the chain, and notoriously price set with each other........to hold prices low for the producer and profits high for themselves but thats a diffrent dabate....

 

[eddie49]

I was once talking with someone from Glasgow about how revolting I thought the idea of a deep-fried Mars bar would be, especially at the end of a night out. She replied "Yes, but you're ganna be throwing up anyway".

 

[bill_gj]

I think I've seen that Glasgee girl on one of those TV progs with titles like "boozed up Britain" or Traffic Cops etc. No offence meant.

 

[aero]

My sortta gal!

 

[simon718]

classy bird

 

[simon718]

or "steeks" as theyre known over here.... really dunno where that one came from

 

[simon718]

ummm summit to do with sticking bits of metal together... i think

ah thats a good one Ian

 

[Wozzaaah]

Even a deep fried Marathon sounds rotten.

Regards,

Ian.

Blimey Ian, you're showing your age, they've been called Snickers for umpteen years now!

Cheap cereals?......hell yeah! I just wish someone made shreaded wheat copies, it's about the only one I've never found .
Cheap welders?.....hmmmm, I have both cheap and expensive and I know which ones I prefer to use

 

[matt1978]

Saying that, you can't tar them all with the same brush based on the experience of just using one model or one brand.
Regards,

Ian.

Thats the main problem with the cheap or cheaper stuff..........there is very little consistancy regarding build quality.

You can drop lucky with even the cheapest of the cheap stuff and it may well be fine (Providing you accept its limitations)....... but then you go back and pick up the next one on the shelf and it will be totally crap, almost like a completely different machine.

Its down to the fact that they use cheapest of cheap componants but also because there is practically zero quality control or monitoring on the actual assembly of the product.

Pays your money........takes your chance I guess.

 

[Bravheart]

Sorry for dragging this thread out of the nettles but this picture on the first page gives a great view of the problems I was having with my old stick welder.

The edges of the weld seem to have hardened flux which can be a right pain to get rid of if you want to build any more runs alongside. Anyone know what causes this please.