R-Tech Pro-MIG250-1 or Portamig*

[hippytyre]

Hello,

I've decided it's time I got a new welder and I'm looking at either an R-Tech or a Portamig or whatever you guys suggest in the same price range. It's for car body repairs, making stuff out of old gas bottles, making a new workshop bench when I get time and whatever else I decide to make.

I'm leaning towards the R-Tech because my dad often comes into my garage to weld things and hates migs so at least he could use stick if he wanted to.


Thanks


Callum.

 

[cumbriasteve]

No negative views against R-Tech but if it was my money it would be a Portamig, I prefer old fashioned heavy built machines that would hopefully last longer than me.

 

[ukracer]

I have t be careful what I say as some people complain I am advertising. I can only do that if I benefit from the product IMHO. However I can tell you I have the R-tech 250 pro Mig and not only do I find it awesome, its the peace of mind from a Full 2 year warranty where R-Tech collect , repair and return the welder at no cost to me if the worst happens. Not only that but in two years I can extend that warranty for another for a few quid. I have not used stick yet but was impressed by Double Boost's video on it.

Regards Andy T

 

[W4yne]

I can only speak from experience of owning a Portamig, I can't fault it, not ideal if you want to regularly transport it as it is built like a tank, and if anything should! go wrong, they are built just down the road in York. This machine is a pleasure to use on thin metal as in vehicle skins with it's low 15A setting. I can't really comment on the R-Tech or know much about them, other than they are (made in China?)

 

[ben8vgte]

I have the r tech I mig 180 and can say for the price it's great to use, not too mention if I want to move it or use on site I don't need gorilla arms. I also prefer having a pot to adjust the voltage rather than switches, makes it easier to give it a little tweak to suit the job. Stick welder side works very well indeed as well

 

[ukracer]

I can only speak from experience of owning a Portamig, I can't fault it, not ideal if you want to regularly transport it as it is built like a tank, and if anything should! go wrong, they are built just down the road in York. This machine is a pleasure to use on thin metal as in vehicle skins with it's low 15A setting. I can't really comment on the R-Tech or know much about them, other than they are (made in China?)

R-Tech is not made in China. The IGBT is most certainly not chinese. http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/inverter-welders.php

I think its a german company. http://www.infineon.com/cms/en/prod...html?channel=ff80808112ab681d0112ab6a6bd104f4. It could be they are also using Siemens IGBT as I am sure that has been mentioned before.

 

[doubleboost]

It is my understanding that they use Siemens IGBT
I have been playing with one for a few weeks now
Nice welder with a good duty cycle & a very good warranty

 

[cumbriasteve]

As I originally posted I would prefer the Portamig because I am old fashioned but in fairness to R-Tech when I bought my MMA from them a capacitor blew within 5 mins of using it, there was a replacement machine delivered next day and that has been fine, a very nice machine to use.

They do come across as a firm with excellent customer service and back up.

 

[wheresmejumper]

Rtech are certainly built in China, but so are other brands who let you believe you are buying british or american.parweld, sip, esab, thermal arc even have some models built there

 

[jackjosh]

I can certainly vouch for the Portamig as I have one and they are very well built and weld great. I have never used an R-Tech machine so cannot comment. You could always pick up a cheap secondhand MMA machine to keep your Dad happy, he may even like the Portamig, depends on what type of MIG's he has used in the past.

 

[ukracer]

Rtech are certainly built in China, but so are other brands who let you believe you are buying british or american.parweld, sip, esab, thermal arc even have some models built there

What is your definition of "Built in China" for example Miller are made and built in china and shipped as complete units. They no longer have final assembly in the US.

In my opinion R-tech is not built in China. It does contain some parts sourced from China but the quality control is controlled in the UK. The IGBT is a siemens module, which is one of the major differences to the cheaper Chinese buit units.

How do I know, I asked the question and i have seen the process at the R-tech factory but also I used to sell Chinese built cutter plotters. The mortality rate was diabolical at the start and the quality control was all over the place. When I ran the whole operation we tested each and every machine that left the warehouse BUT when the owners wife got involved she decided it was wasted money to test and just shipped as they came out of the container. So many different issues with the shipping of built items I cant list them all here .

So to say R-tech is built in China is just wrong. Especially as so many new users will see built in china as some indication its crap. Funny thing is they sit in front of their Sony (chinese made and buit Tv) quite happily.

Hopefully this clarifies things a little more.

Regards Andy T

 

[wheresmejumper]

My defenition of built in china is, well, built in china.
Parts are gathered, most from china,and assembled, in china, put in a box and shipped to the uk.
they are then sold at huge markup, which lets rtech offer an excellent collect repair/replace return warranty.
I wouldnt believe a word rtech say about their origin and specs, same as Everlast in the US.
I have seen the inside of welders looking suspiciously like rtech on the outside, and they looked even more suspiciously like rtech on the inside.
arc, tig and multiprocess welders, some were in blue, green, orange and red paint.maybe twenty at a guess I have had to take apart for one reason or another.
cheap connectors and dodgey pots thats control the digital displays are the common faults across the board that led to failure of some kind.

But if you want to believe what some salesman tells you thats fine by me.
ill keep using my rtech acdc tig regardless, but I am under no illusions regarding its origin.

 

[wheresmejumper]

I have never owned a miller, but I do know that inthe last few years their failure rate has climbed steeply.
I dont know if that is connected, but I do know of colleges and companies that have turned elsewhere

 

[ukracer]

My defenition of built in china is, well, built in china.
Parts are gathered, most from china,and assembled, in china, put in a box and shipped to the uk.

That is what I am trying to explain. It is NOT assembled in China. (which is my definition of built)

But if you want to believe what some salesman tells you thats fine by me.
ill keep using my rtech acdc tig regardless, but I am under no illusions regarding its origin.

Its not what I believe, its what I have seen with my own eyes at the factory when I purchased what sounds like the same machine as you have. I was as skeptical as the next person with box shifters shifting stock coming from China, So I asked more questions than the average nerd . To be honest I had vague ideas at that time of importing my own Cutters and the recommendations I had regarding r-Tech and their warranty I wondered how they could be so confident in their products. I have no doubts that some parts will be sourced from China as 99% of electronics have some connection to the far east at some time

Sadly I have not managed to get the company I worked for into court yet, so I have not even pursued the cutters any more.


Regards Andy T

 

[ukracer]

I have never owned a miller, but I do know that inthe last few years their failure rate has climbed steeply.
I dont know if that is connected, but I do know of colleges and companies that have turned elsewhere

Having sold boxes that come from China before I would be fairly certain that is the case At one stage the company I worked for had a 70% failure rate in the first 2 weeks and 40% failure rate DOA.

regards Andy T

 

[wheresmejumper]

What did you see at the factory?
a whole assembly line from the ground up?im surprised as its something I thought they would advertise, a lot.

 

[matt1978]

It's simply not true that the machines are made in the UK. And it is misleading to say otherwise. The machines are assembled in China, no ifs no buts. And I would be careful about claiming that Miller have everything made in China and have no "real" production in the USA because there is a factory in Appleton that churns out 100's of machines and big blue diesel generators every single day.

R-Tech have a great reputation on here and offer a very good after sales care, but it's just plain wrong to insinuate that the machines are made anywhere other than China. I too have also been to the R-Tech warehouse in Gloucester and have a lot of time for the owner Robbie. He's an excellent electronics engineer with many years in the industry.

 

[hippytyre]

Thanks for all the replies so far. Still not made my mind up yet though. I'm not stuck on either of those two brands so if anyone has any better suggestions please chime in.

 

[matt1978]

AFAIK there isn't a single machine factory in the world that "makes" everything relating to a machine (chassis, powder coating, punching, pressing steel etc etc) Most are now assembly plants, where the main component parts are put together. It's impossible to say the a machine from anyone or anywhere can have absolutely no Chinese part of some sort or another, but as with everything there are varying qualities and high quality in china is not that different in price to high quality in Europe or America.

 

[Welderpaul]

AFAIK there isn't a single machine factory in the world that "makes" everything relating to a machine (chassis, powder coating, punching, pressing steel etc etc) Most are now assembly plants, where the main component parts are put together. It's impossible to say the a machine from anyone or anywhere can have absolutely no Chinese part of some sort or another, but as with everything there are varying qualities and high quality in china is not that different in price to high quality in Europe or America.

Just out of curiosity Matt, what about Lorch? Are Lorch set up the same? i.e put together a collection of parts sourced from wherever?