Hitachi GP2

[HughF]

The hitachi is supposed to not allow arc initiation unless there is enough water pressure to trip the flow switch, which appears to be happening OK. The switch on the front of the machine sets whether there is water-cooled or air-cooled torch attached and therefore bypasses the 'make to weld' contacts around the flow switch (which I have read as being closed when pressure is enough)... Either I have the thing set for air cooled torch operation (I don't think I have), or my flow switch is faulty.

Bright yellow sticker is a short term fix until I get the flow switch fixed.

 

[gt6s]

There is Hitachi and Hitachi China I had a Chinese Hatachi drill some years back proper POS it was. Japanese Hitachi make good stuff.

 

[Richard.]

No. They are Japanese and were extremely expensive in there day.

 

[gt6s]

No. The one I had was Hitachi CHINA and was green at the time Hitachi Japan was blue. I can tell you I was really dissapointed with it very poor quality not the quality of the Hitachi Japan stuff It was cheaper though.

 

[HughF]

I've had green Hitachi drills before, never had had problem with them. The welder is Japan built. It's a simple, robust design with all power components being stud mounted, no PCBs like the gys that pdg is working on. It does make the wiring a total mess though. Gate drive lines running all over the place.

 

[Richard.]

I have a green hitachi grinder which is by far my favourite out of the 3. Cheapest too. Really comfortable to use and tool less brush changes is a great design. Made in China it certainly is but it's great.

 

[gt6s]

Yeah the newer stuff is green and I do not doubt their Chinese stuff has improved over the years from the one I had, it was 25 years ago.

 

[hotrodder]

Hitachi are huuuuuuge, their welding kit is/was more associated with big industry side of things than trade/DIY tools/consumer goods which is why they're welding kit is relatively unknown to the masses; they never made little DIY buzzboxes or cheap MIGS

Similar deal with http://industrial.panasonic.com/ww/products/fa-welding/arc-welding/tig#quicktabs-line_up_page_tab=1

 

[HughF]

The Panasonic and hitachi are very similar, almost badge engineered I think. They both have the mixed tig mode. Mine came from somewhere around Filton doing aerospace work. It's a bit quirky but I like it a lot, it gets used almost exclusively on aluminium. I hardly ever touch stainless... Steel gets done off the engine drive normally.