Stick Tig and Plasma all in one. Too good to be true?

[Thomo]

Hi there,

I'm a newbie to this site and to Welding. Basically i'm looking to buy my first welder and am leaning towards the stick/tig inverter welder route. I figured I'd get started with stick and then have a go at tig.

I came across this unit from LTS:

http://www.localtoolsales.co.uk/CT416.aspx - going for £260 on fleabay.

Arc/Tig and plasma all in one... Too good to be true? Plasma sure would be nice.

I want to use the machine to start learning how to fabricate bits and pieces for my Landcruiser. First project is going to be a swing out spare wheel carrier. I'm guessing i'd need to be able to weld 3-4mm box section mild steel.

So would the above cut it or am i better off going for something like:
http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/welding_equipment/Arc_MMA_Welder/Arc_Welder_R-Tech_MMA140M

and leaving the plasma cutting for when i can afford a proper one?

Any advice or other recommendations would be much appreciated. By Budget to get setup (welder and mask) is £300.

Cheers

Thomo

 

[cazl1994]

in school we have that little r-tech inverter
and its beautiful to use and for the money and after sales support r-tech its the best one i have seen.
caz.

 

[PTvor]

If you want an auto darkening helmet, £40 limits your choice a bit.

My guess is that you would be far better off with the R-Tec inverter, with 2 year guarantee, than this 3-in-1 box. At least that way, you'd have an inverter likely to be worth having, an auto darkening helmet and maybe a few quid left over for rods and also clamps and other bits and pieces which you'll want.

 

[Thomo]

Cheers for the replies.

Been doing some more reading and leaning towards the R-tech unit. Suppose the whole "jack of all trades, master of none" could well apply to the LTS unit.

Thomo

 

[merlinv12]

3 in 1

hi a mate bought one of those 3 in 1 sets just for car work worked ok for about a fortnight then just stopped left it an hour no go took it back no spars available took it to a welder repair guy / could be fixed but expenive as 75%of the componants were poor quality ended up buying a tecarc stick and borrowing a s/ h esab 200 amp mig /mine all work now done
you only get what you pay for i recon 90%of the chinese stuff that is imported for diy use is nigh on useless the sad thing is they can and do make good sets they build ships for christs sake but they have this strange idea that all we want must be as cheap as possible
tec arc is chinese BUTthe importer has it stripped and rebuilt with higer tolerance componants that is how it has a 2 year w/tee and 10 years spares and no i don't work for them but it is the best small stick set i have owened merlin

 

[Arsonista]

If something is cheap, there's generally a reason why. A company that makes a product out of quality components and offers good after sales service is never going to compete with a pile 'em high and sell 'em cheap outfit. But, in the end, you pays yer money......