- Thread starter Alanv
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I'm told there's a common design fault in this class of machine when they come from china, some importers have it sussed , and from the reports here alot still don't.
I have a cheapo chinese unit like the one above (yes it is painted red
) bought just before Xmas, but because it no longer has the common fault, I have had it working on AC welding down to 0.6mm corner welds and upto 6mm butt welds in ally. It strikes an ac arc easily, cleans the oxide, and develops a weld pool . Its not down to my skill I'm new to tig.This Tig set has enabled me to create usable leak free ally tanks in thin sheet in a few weeks of starting TIG welding.
The secret is finding a "in the know" importer who isnt going to charge you an extra £300 to £500 for their knowledge on how to put this right.
One of these chinese units could be "the best single phase welder" but looking identical to the "worst". The difference being all in who brought it in to the country and then fettled it.
(btw the 0.6mm was welded with 1.0mm zirconiated tungsten)
I'm sure it is, and you paid the premium to have it fettled and painted blue.
A 200 Amp HF start A/C DC set that actually works on both ally and steel for £500 including torch and footpedal, and easy to use (if TIG can ever be described as easy) for beginner to get started, with proven UK repair support (not just "we'll ship you new box straight of the boat, cos we just import them") must be a contender for the best single phase TIG.
langy
langys rodshop
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I was happy with what i paid as i get a very good support package from my UK supplier. At the end of the day its a decent machine in my opinion, Although its never going to be as good as my Miller as their is a bit of a price difference.
Depends on your definition of 'best' [/pedantic]
Price might be one of the most important criteria for an occasional DIYer, moreso if they are buying before they can weld especially if it'll spend most of it's time sat in the corner and get used once or twice a month. OP said...
and was asking about which of the high end brands is the best value. If you're using it daily and especially if you make money from using it the best won't be built down to a price
You could buy 6 £500 cheapnese machines for what my 10+ year old inverter would cost today. Ignore the fact that mine will run off any single phase power from 110-240V, kick out 200A from a 13A plug and is portable (one handed) complete with it's watercooler in this comparison. Would 6 cheapnese machines survive what mine has... carted around to different jobs rattling around in the back of a car, dropped a couple of times etc. Considering that some of the better cheap (re-engineered) brands still appear to be suffering from the odd DOA machine i wouldn't bet on it. If it took 3 of 'em to do what mine has done then, inconvience aside, a DIYer would be better off finacially. Me... i'd have lost more in paid work than i'd save (and have had the hassle of getting the replacements)
Not sure if was this forum or not but there was a thread i saw a while ago comparing the basic component layout of cheapnese to leading brand. Layout, the way things were mounted and heat sinked were chalk and cheese with the high end kit clearly having much more thought with regards to what happens in real world use i.e. airflow through the machine, things like fan on demand and being dropped, kicked/tripped over etc
langy
langys rodshop
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I just reread this post and i'm not exactly sure what you were trying to say in your reply ???
Inverter TIGs are electronic devices ( a switch mode power supply a cousin of the power supply in your PC, or in the low voltage lighting in your ceiling), and like your TV or PC , the price for the same spec falls or should do as the component cost fall and the design becomes well known. The same spec TV I paid a grand for 18 months ago is now £500. Divergence from this is what you might call "Brand value" i.e. what you are prepared to pay it having a particular name on it.
your 10year inverter should be available for small fraction of it original price with product that is more reliable and consume less power, unless there are dominant players in the market keeping the prices artificially high.
Derek
(my real job is electronic product managment and product marketing but not welding machines )
your 10year inverter should be available for small fraction of it original price with product that is more reliable and consume less power, unless there are dominant players in the market keeping the prices artificially high.
Derek
(my real job is electronic product managment and product marketing but not welding machines
)18 months ago £800 was a great price, you got a good bargain. 25% pa price erosion on electronic goods isnt bad.
I would challenge the assumption that cheap always means poor quality, and expensive means good quality especially with electronic products. A good welding machine with good after sales service is a good welding machine with good after sales service regardless of the price.
brightspark
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u cant get a rolls royce for the price of a mini
Shox Dr
Chief Engineer to Carlos Fandango
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I agree with you in principal, however as someone else has said, top end machines are built to withstand the ingress of grinding dust, having the PCB vertical so dust does not settle on components, my Kemppi has a tunnel for the forced air to travel down cooling the heat sinks, stopping the air from going anywhere near the PCBS, open up that Parweld and it's no different to any other rebadged unit, OK it might have the MOSFET heatsink screws checked to make sure they are not too tight (a major cause of MOSFET failure). But it still sucks in all the crap and lets it settle on the boards, and sooner or latter it WILL fail
Thanks for the info , I'll knock up an external inlet baffle over the back (paint it red
), and once a month lift the lid and blow it out with the airline.
Shox Dr
Chief Engineer to Carlos Fandango
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That's just what I did on my Plasma Cutter and the TIG I used to have, I sold that and bought the Kemmpi, after looking inside, I knew there was no need to filter it, as it's so well designed to keep the grinding dust away from the components.
Here's a thread I started about how I did it
Here's a thread I started about how I did it
ali zeuse
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hi,i wanna do somthing like u but it decrise the inlet air presser mortgan 40%,is it ok?Thanks for the info , I'll knock up an external inlet baffle over the back (paint it red
Munkul
Jack of some trades, Master of none
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best? Not cheapest?
well they all have their own issues, be it support, or parts prices, etc, but:
Miller dynasty 200DX
ESAB Caddy TIG 2200i ac/dc
Thermal Arc Arcmaster 202
I'd take any of those three depending on price and back-up/support
well they all have their own issues, be it support, or parts prices, etc, but:
Miller dynasty 200DX
ESAB Caddy TIG 2200i ac/dc
Thermal Arc Arcmaster 202
I'd take any of those three depending on price and back-up/support
Barlidge
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best? Not cheapest?
well they all have their own issues, be it support, or parts prices, etc, but:
Miller dynasty 200DX
ESAB Caddy TIG 2200i ac/dc
Thermal Arc Arcmaster 202
I'd take any of those three depending on price and back-up/support
I've a feeling the OP may have bought one by now
