Help needed to choose replacement for stolen welder.

[schwantzz]

Hi all,

I just found this forum and would appreciate a little help.

Monday morning I was gutted to find my Garage had been broken into and my welder had been stolen. Fortunately I am insured (although there is an excess to pay)

The problem is my welder wasn't a very common brand in this country and the importer doesn't have any stock. My insurance company are prepared to offer an equvalant product. I just need help to decide what the equivalent is!!

My welder was a DECAMIG 5180 and was as new (still on first 15kg spool of wire and gas bottle!)
Spec from web site below -
MIG MAG compact wire feed welder
Spot timer gives the possibility of welding two overlapped metal sheets with welding spots, when having access only from one side
Rapid attach for "Euro" torch
Adjustable burnback: eliminates the sticking of the welding wire to the weld puddle or to the contact tip
Adjustable soft start. This result is a smooth welding arc start
ON/OFF switch to turn off the machine without changing the power adjustment
TURBO: fan cooling system
Overload protection
Metal body with upper tool storage and rugged wheels for transport
3,0 mt primary cable
Instruction manual.

Alimentation (volt 50/60 Hz): 1 Ph x 230
Fuse (Amp): 16
Installation Power (Kw): 3,0 @60%
Open circuit voltage (Volt): 34
Welding current range: 40 - 180
Duty Cycle (%): 180 @ 10% 75 @ 60% 60 @ 100%
Welding positions (N°): 6
Wire Suitable Spool: MAX 15,0 kg
Steel wire (Ø mm): 0,6 - 1,0
Stainless steel wire (Ø mm): 0,8 - 1,0
Aluminium wire (Ø mm): 0,8 - 1,0
Dimensions (mm): 850 x 380 x 750

Check it out here - http://www.decaweld.com/default.asp?cmd=getProd&cmdID=1523&l=2

The Sealey machines that the insurance suggested to me just don't seem to have the quality that my machine had.

What are your thoughts please as to the quality of the Decamig and any suggestions as to a replacement?

Regards,
Steve

(P.S. Sorry for long first post!! - here is a picture of the machine taken from the deca web site.)

 

[matt1978]

Hi Mate,

Sorry to hear about your break in.

Your right, your Deca machine is much higher quality than the replacements your insurance company have offered.

Having read the spec, I could offer a http://lorch.eu/index.php?id=63&L=2

3 Yrs Warrenty (5 on transformer), same features and more than your previous unit. German made, PM me for more details.

 

[matt1978]

Also Weldequip offers some good quality Portamigs, not sure about spec but a lot of people on here rave about them. The main thing is that you don't get fobbed off by the insurance company into having a inferior replacement

 

[schwantzz]

Thanks for your comments.

I have spoken to a local dealer today who has suggested 3 machines to approach the insurance company with.
Kemppi 1701
Butters 181 & Butters 211

Any comments regaring either of these please.

 

[Baz-Cem]

I would say the Portamig 181 & 211 are easily as good if not better than the Butters units and better value for money than all of them.

 

[Wozzaaah]

I have a Butters 211 and it's a lovely smooth machine but it's not suitable for what I do so I had to upgrade to a Portamig 361. There's not much difference in price between the butters 211 and the portamig 211 but the portamig has a far superior duty cycle.

 

[runnach]

I have access to a cebora jaguar 2000, cracking single phase mig unit, 2 euro ports, one for standard mig whip, other facilitates the spool and gun for al/al. Very simple when moving from steel to al/al. Only the gas to change. I've used it in earnest many a time, mostly on al/al.

Unfortunately the model I have access to appears to be no longer available, I have attached a link for the newer model, I'd be putting my money on this little beaut!! On the latter, no idea on cost?

I should add, a good purchase if you want to expand materials to weld.

http://www.cebora.it/ing/indexp.htm