Buying advice SIP 05773 Weldmate HG3000MP

[Christopher Sheppard]

I have a MIG welder already, quite a cheap clarke one but its been a good small workhorse. Need more control now and would like TIG capabilities so instead of buying 2 new machines i was looking at this.

https://www.sipuk.co.uk/sip-05773-weldmate-hg3000mp-mig-tig-arc-inverter-welder.html

Anyone had experience with one? And why such a knockdown price?

Cheers

 

[skotl]

I'd ignore the "RRP" - just because it's recommended doesn't mean that anyone would buy it at that price!

There are plenty other units that are basically generic imported devices that will have similar if not the same functionality - that said, this SIP does seem a little cheaper than the equivalents that I came across on ebay, which (all new) seemed to be around the £680 mark.

At this price it probably comes down to after-sales service so have a good read of the warranty - anything that offers 3-5 years shows a vendor that has faith in what he's selling (bearing in mind, he's probably importing them by the 100). A one year warranty doesn't say much about their faith in the machine!

What is it you want it for? At that price you might also consider a used machine that still has some warranty left.

 

[Christopher Sheppard]

well ive been wanting to make my own stainless silencers so been looking for a small TIG, at the moment i have to take fabrications to a guy and get him to weld them for me, i also need more speed and heat control rather than the 1/2/3 high/low so i saw this 3 in 1 thought id look into it

 

[Tom Orrow L]

Will you need the full 200A? I personally avoid SIP because I've only ever heard bad things regarding it.
Take a look at the Parweld XTI 160M and the Jasic MIG 160, they're around the same price and they've got more of a welding related back up.. Although it's only worth looking at if 4/5MM is what you're planning on doing

 

[skotl]

The guy who made my stainless exhaust (Simon's Exhausts in East Kilbride) only uses MIG with stainless wire, not TIG. So definitely look at smaller MIGS or dedicated TIG units - what thickness will you be welding? If it's very thin then you'll want a unit that can go down to 10-30A.

 

[Jim Davey]

Don't buy a MIG if you want TIG, the multi-process type machines have very limited TIG ability (no HF, no pulse and often no slope control) buy a cheaper dedicated MIG and save for a TIG if you need both.

 

[6 milli billi]

These are not what i would call "knock down prices", they are the realistic selling price with the vendor still making his profit margin. It just tells you that the machine is produced at minimal cost to the manufacturer, most likely using cheaper components, or without much investment by the manufacturer in R & D, basically, mass produce something as cheaply as possibly and get it to market in several different colours with different brand names. there is website called "made in china dot com" where you will see offers of machines looking very similar and extremely cheap, perhaps looking similar to some low cost products in the market?