Snap on tig welder experience ?

[philhrc]

Hi , I'm new here but after a search I couldn't find any threads ..

My snap on dealer is offering a new ac/dc 170 amp tig at the moment , I believe it's a 'wilkinson star' unit with snap on stickers ?

Has anybody any experience with these ? I'll be using it mainly for sheet work ( car body) but occasionally for mild steel tube 3.2mm /10 gauge , do you think it's up to the job ? I really don't want to be buying twice ..

Many thanks Phil

 

[zzr1200]

Being as it carries a" Snap-on" price tag, I'II lay money that you could get the same quality/spec machine elsewhere cheaper or use the same money and get a better spec welder...

You'll be paying a high price for those Snap-on badges.....

Possibly page 2:

http://www.wilkinsonstar.com/downloadfiles/A5 PriceList Aug2013.pdf



PS. How many beer tokens do Snap-on want for said machine???

 

[pedrobedro]

Thermal Arc and Parweld do similar machines for similar prices.

 

[philhrc]

Well it's £1800 list , but I get a bit off by trading a cheap Chinese unit in ..

The sweetener is interest free over 2 years i guess , which means it's affordable rather than huge outlay , but I know what your saying about snap on premiums

 

[philhrc]

Having just reread what I typed ^^ I guess the high price is the interest

 

[langy]

Well it's £1800 list , but I get a bit off by trading a cheap Chinese unit in ..

The sweetener is interest free over 2 years i guess , which means it's affordable rather than huge outlay , but I know what your saying about snap on premiums

You can get a 200 AC/DC set for just under a £1000

 

[zzr1200]

Well it's £1800 list , but I get a bit off by trading a cheap Chinese unit in ..

The sweetener is interest free over 2 years i guess , which means it's affordable rather than huge outlay , but I know what your saying about snap on premiums

If you have the cash to buy a welder outright, I'd advise you to contact Matt (a member here) who works for Lorch uk and ask him what deals are available at the moment and the spec.

You might be able to buy a 240 volt West German Built AC/DC 200/220 Amp Tig Welder with a foot pedal,for the same price as the chinese built Snap-on priced unit without foot pedal....

 

[philhrc]

Hmmm , I like the snap on back up warranty , but I don't like spending daft money ..

So the wilkinson star /snap on stuff is rebranded Chinese models then ?

Is 170 enough for 3.2 mm ? As most people on here seem to go from 200 upwards ..

Thanks for the advice guys

 

[philhrc]

You can get a 200 AC/DC set for just under a £1000

Yep I've so I've seen , I've got a 200 ac/dc Chinese unit now , but like most cheap things I don't trust the power ratings ...

The problem I have with the one I've got is set up , I'm self taught but none of the controls seem to work consistently ... And the instructions are in chinglish ..

 

[philhrc]

Bar the price, which can be adjusted apparently lol , anybody used one of these ? Is 170 enough power for tube etc ?

 

[ukracer]

Bar the price, which can be adjusted apparently lol , anybody used one of these ? Is 170 enough power for tube etc ?

Do yourself a favour and check out R-Tech. Their 201 is awesome and if anyone can beat the warranty I will be absolutely amazed.

They are also doing interest free currently.

Not sure if I can post you tube links but there are 5 videos on there by a guy that shows the set up from start to finish.

Regards Andy T

 

[langy]

Yep I've so I've seen , I've got a 200 ac/dc Chinese unit now , but like most cheap things I don't trust the power ratings ...

The problem I have with the one I've got is set up , I'm self taught but none of the controls seem to work consistently ... And the instructions are in chinglish ..

The Rtech & Parweld are both very good machines, its the really cheap stuff to avoid.

 

[chevy2]

Do yourself a favour and check out R-Tech. Their 201 is awesome and if anyone can beat the warranty I will be absolutely amazed.

They are also doing interest free currently.

Not sure if I can post you tube links but there are 5 videos on there by a guy that shows the set up from start to finish.

Regards Andy T

Heres a link to one of the videos.
http://youtu.be/dgxJuL9jhCo

 

[philhrc]

Cheers guys , the videos make good viewing , plain and simple :-)

I'm on the Rtech site now ..

What's the catch they seem a very good price !!

 

[Jiffers]

I have a snap on one 170ac/dc welder with foot pedal and I'm no expert but I find it easy to use and works well I have had it about a year now and only brought it because I farmed out all my ally welding on my bikes and finished paying off my toolbox so thought I would give give it ago

 

[ukracer]

Cheers guys , the videos make good viewing , plain and simple :-)

I'm on the Rtech site now ..

What's the catch they seem a very good price !!

There is no catch mate.. I know it seems too good to be true but I have visited the premises and its NOT a two penny happeny outfit.

The way they dont loose out is to quality control the components they build the welders out of. So they have far less returns than would be expected from equivalent low priced items.

As an example they had some not so robust foot peddles in a while back and some packed up so they sent the ones with a potential problem a new foot pedal............the old one went in the bin as per their instructions.

If all companies had their ethics the country would not be in such a state.


Where are you in the Country? Anywhere near Bham you are welcome to try mine out!

 

[Crocket81]

I have a snap on one 170ac/dc welder with foot pedal and I'm no expert but I find it easy to use and works well I have had it about a year now and only brought it because I farmed out all my ally welding on my bikes and finished paying off my toolbox so thought I would give give it ago

Alright mate, I've got one of these tig welders as you have that my dealer supplied to me with a foot pedal, thing is the pedal I have doesn't adjust the amps, just turns it on or off, I've been back on to my dealer (who is a lovely bloke but so useless) and he can't find another pedal, can I ask what make and where you got yours from cos I'm at my wits end! Cheers pal

 

[Richard.]

Cheers guys , the videos make good viewing , plain and simple :-)

I'm on the Rtech site now ..

What's the catch they seem a very good price !!

There is no catch with the price of the R tech. Thermal arc and parweld do them for similar money to the same spec. They are Chinese machines but they are QC'd and supported on our door step. Like the snap on man you can pay for the R tech over 6 months with no interest.
If you do go for the snap on badged unit like said above you will pay a premium for the logo.
The cebora machines were badged snap on and were always a lump dearer with the badge on. 170 amps is a decent amount of power (enough comfortable power to get a puddle going on 5mm aluminium ) shop about it's too easy to take the first one that comes along to your door in a van and even with discount you will pay more than you need to for that privilege .

 

[Richard.]

If you have the cash to buy a welder outright, I'd advise you to contact Matt (a member here) who works for Lorch uk and ask him what deals are available at the moment and the spec.

You might be able to buy a 240 volt West German Built AC/DC 200/220 Amp Tig Welder with a foot pedal,for the same price as the chinese built Snap-on priced unit without foot pedal....

It's a good call but I doubt you will get a lorch acdc with pedal for 1800 quid. I'd have one tomorrow if you could.