I'm so sorry to have to ask, as I'm sure this has been asked many, many, many times with the usual sarcastic and derogatory answers (I know, I run a Forum myself about motorcycle restoration) - I've been looking for a hobbiest Ac Tig machine which will only get occasional (once a month) usage for some time and have seen and read reviews on lots and lots.
I have looked at hours and hours of Youtube videos on all the makes I'm interested in and really would like to know - why not a Chinese made machine from a reputable dealer who offers a good return and back up service ? - Most parts nowadays come from China, even my Eutectic machine i use at the moment has some Chinese components in it.
Where do the machines that command big money get their electrical components made ? and why are these better than the cheaper machines - for someone looking for an occasional use machine, why spend thousands of pounds to have the machine sit there doing nothing more than somewhere to put your mug of tea, coffee, pint, red wine... (insert as appropriate)
I can obviously see the benefits of spending the money if you were going to make money from it and need to use it daily, but for someone wanting to do the occasional bit of Ally why not the cheaper machines.
If they (the cheaper machine) didn't work as intended and are that bad, why do they sell so many and why are there so many people using them without any issues. I appreciate that some do develop faults, but so do the expensive ones. I have had many welders over the years - even Calor Gas (yes, Calor Gas!) made a small Arc welder which I used for many years with no problems - Sealy Mig welders - and my Eutectic MMA Tig machine I use now.
I don't want to spend huge amounts of money on something which will just sit there, so the cheaper machines are my best option.
FYI - I'm looking at the Stahlwerk AC/DC Tig 200 Pulse machine. From what I have found out, Stahlwerk seem a very easy company to work with and have a very good reputation and excellent client relationship, with a 5 year return to base warranty and a very reputable service department team.
Also as a company that has branded parts and consumables made with their name on surely wouldn't go to all that expense to produce a lower grade machine for it to not work as intended.
Sorry for the long thread but - I want to get opinions on this.
Pros - Cons - Cheapish AC/DC Tig machines.....?
Over to you....
I have looked at hours and hours of Youtube videos on all the makes I'm interested in and really would like to know - why not a Chinese made machine from a reputable dealer who offers a good return and back up service ? - Most parts nowadays come from China, even my Eutectic machine i use at the moment has some Chinese components in it.
Where do the machines that command big money get their electrical components made ? and why are these better than the cheaper machines - for someone looking for an occasional use machine, why spend thousands of pounds to have the machine sit there doing nothing more than somewhere to put your mug of tea, coffee, pint, red wine... (insert as appropriate)
I can obviously see the benefits of spending the money if you were going to make money from it and need to use it daily, but for someone wanting to do the occasional bit of Ally why not the cheaper machines.
If they (the cheaper machine) didn't work as intended and are that bad, why do they sell so many and why are there so many people using them without any issues. I appreciate that some do develop faults, but so do the expensive ones. I have had many welders over the years - even Calor Gas (yes, Calor Gas!) made a small Arc welder which I used for many years with no problems - Sealy Mig welders - and my Eutectic MMA Tig machine I use now.
I don't want to spend huge amounts of money on something which will just sit there, so the cheaper machines are my best option.
FYI - I'm looking at the Stahlwerk AC/DC Tig 200 Pulse machine. From what I have found out, Stahlwerk seem a very easy company to work with and have a very good reputation and excellent client relationship, with a 5 year return to base warranty and a very reputable service department team.
Also as a company that has branded parts and consumables made with their name on surely wouldn't go to all that expense to produce a lower grade machine for it to not work as intended.
Sorry for the long thread but - I want to get opinions on this.
Pros - Cons - Cheapish AC/DC Tig machines.....?
Over to you....