R-tech, GYS or Clark mig welder

[Rabnud]

hello
New to site, but was looking for some advice, looking to buy mig welder to run off 13amp supply.
Which be used mostly for light fabrication and general repairs on landscaping equipment, will be mostly welding up to 4mm
My choices are r-tech I-mig180 which I like and also can be used for stick welding, but am a bit concerned about reliability long term.
GYS. Smartmig 162 which seems to get good reviews, or wait for vat free day and buy Clark 151te as a cheaper option.
Planning to use rent free gas.
I would appreciate your advice.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Welcome to the forum:

Although I rate Clark machines, in this case I think you would be pushing the limit with it a bit too often by the sounds of it, the GYS has a bit more power but not enough to make a big difference.

The R-Tech should be about ideal with it's higher power and it's arc welding function, reliability is not something I would comment on, my personal preference is for heavy built transformer machines but we all differ in our preferences and views.

Edit: In case you think I am suggesting I doubt R-Tech reliability...not so, I actually own and am impressed with the R-Tech MMA I bought, even though it blew a capacitor within the first 5 mins of use, R-Tech delivered a replacement next morning and that's been fine.

I am just old school and like old school tooling.

 

[Gareth0123]

I have an R-Tech 250-1 inverter mig which I use commercially on material up to 12mm thick, and 6-25mm round bar. I use it on average 6 hours at a time for 18-24 hours per week every week and I love it. I have yet to overheat the set and trip it out: even in the recent hot weather. In MMA mode is about as good as gets on electrodes up to and including 4mm. As far as I'm concerned the reliability is 100% as my set at 1 year old now has already out performed and out worked the 2 previous Sealey sets that I had and killed.

One point worth noting though, is that the R-Tech 180 will only take 5kg wire reels.

 

[skotl]

Welcome to the forum!

I'm not exactly next door, but relatively close in Queensferry and you're welcome to come up and try my R-Tech mts-250 if you'd like to get a feel for it. Not sure how it compares to the 180 but the offer's there. Regarding reliability, I've not had a failure on the unit as such, but there was a cosmetic issue on delivery and the company insisted on shipping a whole new unit to replace it, so my experience of their service has been excellent.

 

[julianf]

I'm considering the CWS best mig 160.

It seems to be in the same sort of group that you are considering, but not in your shortlist?

 

[AdrianH]

I have an R-Tech 180 and find it OK, well compared to previous SIP welders it is marvellous, but with my limited knowledge of other machines I can not really comment. It is still a basic machine with a voltage pot and a wire speed pot, the Smart Mig seems to have fixed voltage tapping's, but not sure, a bit like the Clarke stuff with 1min, 1max, 2min and 2max.

My R-Tech was causing problems today, erratic arc, I found I was twiddling the settings to keep a good bead. Turns out the earth clamp fixings was loose and partly disconnected, so the clamp it self was getting hot. Basic checks on my part missed. When sorted the unit does perform very well and will even do spay welding rather then DIP at the top of it's range. All so far from a 13 Amp socket.
I am pleased with it and now have two of their welders.

Adrian

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I have the R-Tech 180 and find it easy for a beginner to get satisfactory welds in both arc and mig. I used to have a Clarke 151TE and find the R-Tech much easier to use, although I only had CO2 with the Clarke as against Argoshield with the R-Tech.

 

[HughF]

The r-tech is most suitable for your needs.

 

[rikrobson]

The R-tech 180 was on the list when I got a new welder, but the budget had a wee boost and I went for the R-tech 250.

Inverters are reletively new, but long term transformers are not without there problems too. Only time will tell if the inverters stand up to the transformers, but they have a much better duty cycle, because the components can be cooled better than a transformer, which is in effect a lump of iron and copper (or Aluminium).

Also you have the flexibility of mma with inverter units.

 

[Rabnud]

Thanks to all for your good advice, have just bought R-tech 180.