JOEPRO
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I spotted this £1100 odd RRP welder on FB marketplace this week for £150 as spares or repair. Phoned seller, nice guy and said it started to give trouble and with his work he had to buy another welder to keep him going and that was a few months back.
He did then take it to a repair guy and he had it for about 4 months but kept ignoring him and he ended up landing and collecting it back off him. What he did say was the repair guys parting comment was that it needed a control panel at about £100.
I then bought it for £150 including the leads etc.
First impressions last night was that it did power up OK and the screen controls were working. But I didn't leave it on for long nor did I try to weld.
Tonight I hooked up my Argon bottle and fitted a new electrode and gas lens etc. Tested it on clean mild steel no filler rod.
It struck an arc then didn't for a few more tries. The earth clamp looked a bit worn and arc marks on the connection. I borrowed and fitted a new earth clamp from my other recently repaired inverter arc welder.
It then would strike and hold an arc OK.
But then I noticed the control panel going to 008 on the amps and the buttons no longer functioned. After that it wouldn't strike an arc but I got gas and it was igniting inside the machine. (The buzzing that tells you auto ignition is trying)
If I turn it off and leave it a couple of mins then turn back on the control panel reads normal again at 200 amps and buttons work for a very short period. And it will weld OK until the display trips again.
So what to think? The control panel can be bought new from SIP for £94 inc VAT. If I check the connections tomorrow first is it a reasonable next step to buy the new control panel?
Or could this be something else like a logic board inside? It feels very weighty and quality machine.
Basically I'm not selling this on or anything. I hope to repair it and keep it for my own occasional use. I may then sell on my other Draper Expert AC DC Tig if this one is going well. It is likely a superior machine to the Draper. At least RRP wise it's about twice the price on paper.
He did then take it to a repair guy and he had it for about 4 months but kept ignoring him and he ended up landing and collecting it back off him. What he did say was the repair guys parting comment was that it needed a control panel at about £100.
I then bought it for £150 including the leads etc.
First impressions last night was that it did power up OK and the screen controls were working. But I didn't leave it on for long nor did I try to weld.
Tonight I hooked up my Argon bottle and fitted a new electrode and gas lens etc. Tested it on clean mild steel no filler rod.
It struck an arc then didn't for a few more tries. The earth clamp looked a bit worn and arc marks on the connection. I borrowed and fitted a new earth clamp from my other recently repaired inverter arc welder.
It then would strike and hold an arc OK.
But then I noticed the control panel going to 008 on the amps and the buttons no longer functioned. After that it wouldn't strike an arc but I got gas and it was igniting inside the machine. (The buzzing that tells you auto ignition is trying)
If I turn it off and leave it a couple of mins then turn back on the control panel reads normal again at 200 amps and buttons work for a very short period. And it will weld OK until the display trips again.
So what to think? The control panel can be bought new from SIP for £94 inc VAT. If I check the connections tomorrow first is it a reasonable next step to buy the new control panel?
Or could this be something else like a logic board inside? It feels very weighty and quality machine.
Basically I'm not selling this on or anything. I hope to repair it and keep it for my own occasional use. I may then sell on my other Draper Expert AC DC Tig if this one is going well. It is likely a superior machine to the Draper. At least RRP wise it's about twice the price on paper.