Like a number of others on here I am looking to buy my first AC/DC Tig machine to teach myself Tig welding. It's for hobby use, so wanted to keep the cost to around a grand. Decided on a digital machine and have been looking at the usual suspects, R-tech, Paraweld, Stealth and Jasic. Started out looking at the R-tech TIG170EXT and after assessing the others, which do seem to offer better value for money finally came back to the R-Tech as I liked the the layout, memory function, support, SSC Foot Pedal, fan on demand and a decent manual. At 30 Amps less than the others I did feel it was a bit overpriced, as others on the forum have commented.
Looked on the R-Tech website yesterday to find all the Tig machines have increased in price by 5%. I had looked a few days before so this is a very recent increase. With the R-Tech now at almost £1200 Vat Inc and only 170 Amps it's just to big a gap to the Stealth Digi Tig 200 at £950 including a foot pedal in the WSD deal. The Stealth is not without it's drawbacks in terms of constant fan noise and an utterly useless manual. It is however gaining a reputation as a capable and very reliable machine. Paying £250 more for a lower spec machine is hard to justify and would cover the cost of gas and some consumables.
Given the competition in this sector of the market it makes you wonder how they can justify increasing their prices. Or is outstanding service worth the extra?
Looked on the R-Tech website yesterday to find all the Tig machines have increased in price by 5%. I had looked a few days before so this is a very recent increase. With the R-Tech now at almost £1200 Vat Inc and only 170 Amps it's just to big a gap to the Stealth Digi Tig 200 at £950 including a foot pedal in the WSD deal. The Stealth is not without it's drawbacks in terms of constant fan noise and an utterly useless manual. It is however gaining a reputation as a capable and very reliable machine. Paying £250 more for a lower spec machine is hard to justify and would cover the cost of gas and some consumables.
Given the competition in this sector of the market it makes you wonder how they can justify increasing their prices. Or is outstanding service worth the extra?