buying a new oxford /tec arc welder(transformer based)

[arther dailey]

Be aware if your thinking of buying a transformer based welder due to euro lgislation the like of technical arc are not going to be allowed to make them anymore due to eco laws, So anyone thinking on buying a new Oxford mig (transformer based) make up your mind as there will only be the current previously made stock available for sale ,well thats how I read it on their site, obviously there will be second hand stuff but if your after new look up the technical arc site and see what it says.

 

[Brad93]

There was a thread about this recently.

I don't see why anyone would want a transformer now.

Inverters, good quality brands, are going to last you many many years giving the same performance as the day you bought them. Transformers decline.

 

[gaz1]

I cant name one digital inverter that has lasted the test of time compared to a transformer based type

and that also goes for the old valve systems that are still in use today

i can say ive got a transformer sip welder transformer based thats older than my children so thats over 22 years and still in working condition
the same can be said for an oil arc welder

 

[Brad93]

I cant name one digital inverter that has lasted the test of time compared to a transformer based type

and that also goes for the old valve systems that are still in use today

i can say ive got a transformer sip welder transformer based thats older than my children so thats over 22 years

I can.
Original miller dynasty my pal has, over 18 years old.
Richard off this forum had a Fronius Magicwave that was 20 odd years old.

 

[tigdlo]

We can only compare old welders that are no longer made when looking into long term reliability, so not a great comparison for how long new welders will last, even if a model has been made for a long time the components would have likely been updated sourced from different supplier, etc. Same goes for transformer or inverter machines.

My clarke 150 must be 30+ years old, it looked well used when I my grandad first let me have a go with it about 25 years ago. Doesn't mean a new one will have a transformer that will last that long.

 

[GRW]

Well - just bought a new Oxford 180-1 last year (it replaced an Inverter one that keeled over).
So far at least, I'm happy with the decision, and rightly or wrongly am more at ease with a feeling it'll be reliable.

 

[oilcooled :)]

I have seen Kempi mls 3000 mastertigs and old square thermal arcs sanrex ones take some hammering, welding at 250 amps all day often out in rain and wind and snow and heat and I never ever seen one broken and there not new, if you buy a quality inverter u will get service transformers have done there day

 

[gaz1]

i can say with the reliability of old tvs to the reliability of the new lcds tvs

the new ones dont last the test of time older lopt tvs lasted well over 30 years

 

[Jack Ryan]

i can say with the reliability of old tvs to the reliability of the new lcds tvs

the new ones dont last the test of time older lopt tvs lasted well over 30 years

As has been suggested already, it is really difficult to make these comparisons.

Over 50 years ago, the GPO bought telephones from local manufacturers and in normal service (not run over by a truck), all of those telephones would still be working.

A new (landline) telephone will not give you the satisfaction of slamming down the receiver after an objectionable call without disintegrating. Even smartphones - how many have you seen with a broken screen? Faulty batteries?

New technology always has teething problems but for welding machines we are largely past that. What is different is the change from an over-engineered device designed for a long service life (like a GPO Bakelite telephone) to a built to a price consumer device.

People buy cheap stuff - therefore manufacturers supply cheap stuff - or go out of business.

The best strategy is to buy from an organisation that backs their products. That organisation has an incentive to supply stuff that they don't have to waste time (and money) fixing.

Oh, and there aren't too many transformer based AC Pulse "MIGs" - or STT MIGs

Jack

 

[arther dailey]

I wasnt suggesting there isnt good inverters , i have a kemppi for portability, just saying if anyone is humming n haaing about buying new transformer based kit nows the time to make up your mind eeither way

 

[Munkul]

I cant name one digital inverter that has lasted the test of time compared to a transformer based type

and that also goes for the old valve systems that are still in use today

i can say ive got a transformer sip welder transformer based thats older than my children so thats over 22 years and still in working condition
the same can be said for an oil arc welder

the Miller XMT 304 in my workshop is from 1997 which makes it 26 years old...
The Esab 250 AC/DC welder I had up to 2019 was from 1991, I sold it on as working... making it 28 years old and counting...
At work we have an old Kemppi Kempomig 4000 which is from early 2000s making it come up to 20 years old...

EDIT: Oh and the beauty of these machines is that they still weld the same as they did when they were brand new.

 

[Morris]

i can say with the reliability of old tvs to the reliability of the new lcds tvs

the new ones dont last the test of time older lopt tvs lasted well over 30 years

Apart from valve heater failures, flyback transformers arcing, CRT failures and capacitors drying out, yup, they were great.

 

[Munkul]

i can say with the reliability of old tvs to the reliability of the new lcds tvs

the new ones dont last the test of time older lopt tvs lasted well over 30 years

no-one wants a TV to last 30 years any more, they want newer, higher res, bigger, blacker blacks, crisper everything.... 10 years between new ones is probably about right.

...so that's why they don't make them to last that long.

 

[ChrisBailey]

I wonder how this affects their 15 year guarrantee of replacement parts? I guess most parts are off the shelf and the only part manufactured by Technical Arc is the actual transformer and chassis.

 

[arther dailey]

I wonder how this affects their 15 year guarrantee of replacement parts? I guess most parts are off the shelf and the only part manufactured by Technical Arc is the actual transformer and chassis.

be interesting to find out what their latest inverter models are actually like , presumably some one on here will buy one sooner or later..