Are tigmig welders any good?

[GrahamBurn]

Been looking at these tigmig welders on flea bay 200A AC/DC £518 delivered to UK from Italy, yes I know they're probably chinese but does any one out there have any experience of them. They have another one a bit dearer which is programmable and looks very similar to the R tech machine 200A AC/DC for a bit more but I prefer to keep it simple and don't trust fancy gizmos
Did a search and only found one post which turned into a discussion about 16A plugs so wasn't a lot of help.
Graham

 

[Shox Dr]

I've a Plasma cutter by them, looks to be (at least) externally the same as R-tech. In fact that was the deciding factor in that I would be able to get parts if it broke down.

So far after 3/4 yrs no problems. I also had a differently badged TIG set from a Guy in Ireland and never had any problems with that either.

 

[bc30se]

I would have switched to a small 3in1 long ago if it were not for the fact that they still lack HF. I think it is worth waiting and perhaps next year it will be there, since they give something new to the lowest segment every year...

otherwise they are decent.... I have a chinese made TIG (lcd settings) and couldn't be more happy with it...

 

[wheresmejumper]

i have a stick welder ordered from them,cellulose capable with lift tig
very similar looking to everlast,so probably similar inside.

not what rtech or everlast will claim though

 

[Dave Richards]

H F start

Hi people, just to correct bc30se, you can get 3 in 1's with High frequency we have one that is manufactured by Selco ( Italy) and a superb little box of tricks it is, though not cheap.

 

[selcoweld1]

Hi guys, only just picked up this thread. Dave Richards is correct Selco MTE machines are full multi process, MIG standard, pulse and double pulse, TIG d.c. with h.f. ignition, pulse and fast pulse to 2500hz, and MMA with adjustable hot start, arc force and anti sticking. These are available 220 amp single phase, pulse welded 1.2mm aluminium at 170 amps+ off 13amp plug! Also avilable 3 phase 270 and 300 amp compacts, and 320, 400 and 500 amps with separate wire feed units with interconnecting cables to 30mtr lengtht. The TIG side of these machines even have the easy join function that helps speed up the forming of the weld pool and can be used for very small neat tacks!
Mark.

 

[daleyd]

Hi, I have the RTech variety of the 3 in 1 welder (MTS 210 I think), and for someone like me who doesn't have loads of space and is an occasional welder its great. Ive tried it on all 3 processes and although my tig welding isn't up to much the other 2 work great (That's more a reflection on my welding, not the machine by the way , a friend who does TIG welding for a living has had a go with it and it produces great welds in his hands.)

It's just been used to fabricate a load of stable pens in a barn for a friend (MIG welded box section frames with plywood inserts) and never missed a beat, even on a stupidly long extension cable. Before that it welded up a roll cage for a Land Rover off roader project.

The lift tig is perfectly useable, once you get the hang of it.

Hope this helps.

 

[tlovatt]

I have a 40A plasma cutter and a TIG / MMA Machine from them. My first choice would be to buy a UK built machine hence my MMA machine (ILF) and MIG (Tec Arc) are British made, however, for plasmas I could not find a reasonably priced UK machine and for TIG I only wanted a cheap play set. The TIGMIG are Chinese machines and you do take a risk on the return postage costs if it goes wrong during the first year. I went with TIGMIG as they are essentially the same machines as others but they are cheap (they will often take surprisingly low offers on the best offer function I got both machines at around 22% below the buy it now price). R-Te has good support, but when the machines cost over twice the amount it did not seem worth the extra to me - on more expensive units the differential may not be so great.

Both TIGMIG machines were well packaged and it was a UPS delivery made surprisingly quickly (the TIG took about 3 days and the Plasma cutter 2 days) and they have both worked without a problem. They do turn up with a continental plug and an adapter that I would never contemplate using, but fitting a UK plug is often required on other machines anyway.

 

[daleyd]

The r tech machine comes with all the torches, so if your comparing prices check the one you are thinking of getting comes with the regulator and tig torch, otherwise you need to add this on top.

I got the shop soiled offer from r tech ( usually come up on eBay) which knocked about 100 quid off the asking price, and there wasn't a scratch on it as far as I could see.

 

[Jim Davey]

I got the shop soiled offer from r tech ( usually come up on eBay) which knocked about 100 quid off the asking price, and there wasn't a scratch on it as far as I could see.

There never is...

 

[daleyd]

There never is...

Yeah i have heard a few people on here say the same about the machines they had via the shop soiled offer.

 

[BrokenBiker]

my Chester lathe was shop soiled, but only because one corner of the box had got wet and gone soft. Never mind the fact that the inside of the box was fully lined with foam pads and bubble wrap. Knocked 20% off because of it, the machine is perfect

 

[Shox Dr]

There never is...

Yeah i have heard a few people on here say the same about the machines they had via the shop soiled offer.

and the problem is? It can't be because you're getting a new undamaged machine with full warranty at a discount?

or, as I've just read in the thread "help out a lost cause" about R-Tech going the Extra mile for this for forum member 'seventynine'.

and, I've yet to hear anyone posting on here, not having a problem resolved.

So...

 

[daleyd]

and the problem is? It can't be because you're getting a new undamaged machine with full warranty at a discount?

or, as I've just read in the thread "help out a lost cause" about R-Tech going the Extra mile for this for forum member 'seventynine'.

and, I've yet to hear anyone posting on here, not having a problem resolved.

So...

No problem from me - I'm chuffed with my r-tech machine and I would happily buy another shop soiled one again.

I was merely pointing out that I read about several other members on here had also gone down the shop soiled route and had pretty much all had the same experience as me (I.e a good wedge of money off and what looks to be a near perfect machine )

 

[wheresmejumper]

and the problem is? It can't be because you're getting a new undamaged machine with full warranty at a discount?

or, as I've just read in the thread "help out a lost cause" about R-Tech going the Extra mile for this for forum member 'seventynine'.

and, I've yet to hear anyone posting on here, not having a problem resolved.

So...

What did rtech do ? I cant see it

edit, didnt see the offer of replacing foot pedal

 

[wheresmejumper]

Are tigmig welders any good?
I cant speak for them all, but the one I had was a P.O.S.
dedicated 6010 port was horrible with cellulose rods of any kind