Swp 180 turbo mig

[Ben Campbell]

Hi all
Looking to buy a swp 180 and need people's opinions on it been using an ark for a while had a mig before and sold it when I was younger should of kept it. The 180 will be for fab work and fixing things on the farm
Many thanks Ben

 

[westcoweld]

Hi Ben, There is not much difference between the smaller Chinese machines (probably all the same factory) and SWP seem to be widely advertised and sold.

One option I would look at is Jasic, they offer a 160 or 200, it may be a bit more money, but you get the added advantage of a 5 year warranty, parts and labour.

 

[Kent]

If you send it off for paid service annually and if Wilkinson star survive can you drive to Manchester
There are some very cheap jasic around these parts at present

 

[westcoweld]

If you send it off for paid service annually

But who actually does that? I think as long as it has been used sensibly, the warranty will still be valid.

 

[Kent]

But who actually does that? I think as long as it has been used sensibly, the warranty will still be valid.

read carefully needs back to base

 

[Jim Davey]

read carefully needs back to base

So? What more do you want? It's cheap, it's got a long warranty supported in the UK by a range of dealers and a UK importer, and most of the dealers will absorb the carriage cost back to base if they made a sensible margin on the set in the first place. They work pretty well from all accounts and a welder should get a service at least once a year anyway. If you want a 'better' warranty (free collection/return) but shorter timeframe go for an R-Tech. But they are usually a little more expensive, so you're paying out before it has a problem rather than IF it has a problem.
And as for the if Wilkinson Star are still going comment, any company can go under, basing your purchase on which firm will dissapear before you get your full warranty is a bit pointless, you never know, any of the importers could go under but let's face it, they've been around a long time, they sell a lot of kit and I think they are doing alright.

 

[Kent]

I cant find that comment you mention there in the thread Jim All I mentioned was there is some very cheap jassic on the shelves at present, which is very true £500 for their Multi function in my nearest dealer that's a good thing if your buying right? The Chinese market in free fall could have as much or more to do with that than Wilkinsons being in trouble. I haven't a ton of experience with their sets but I have a few cars to work on at a local garage soon and they are on jassic now so I might know a lot more in a few weeks
Actually a lot use them round here and they have an excellent name with the car lads for low power capabilities and in fairness personally I should have one over an r-tech if I was buying that sort of thing for one they have a higher IP rating and Wilkinson star are only 30 miles away. OK r-tech have free return to base collect and deliver but then they are selling a re-badged set for extra for this at the start I am told? Case in fact I recommended FJ had a look over for his new plant to me its a good choice as he is only minutes away
I don't know who pays carriage but my dealer has tried to sell me one a few times who says "just drop it in with me" I took that to mean he will give it the rep to transport for service
In fact the only thing bad about the importer I can say is they are real hard to get through to on the phone in my experience considering they are a uk distributer and run training and approval that's pretty poor.

 

[Jim Davey]

Sorry I assumed when you mentioned will the company be around to take care of warranty you meant Wilkinson Star instead of the manufacturer Jasic.
My mistake.

 

[TechnicAl]

If you send it off for paid service annually and if Wilkinson star survive can you drive to Manchester
There are some very cheap jasic around these parts at present

This led me to think the same as Jim

 

[Kent]

The same is true of any extended guarantee from any firm. In the last few years we have seen banks go to the wall
One should consider this or its the std 12 months the seller holds the can on
To many a grand on a welder is a large investment and not something they can write off as having paid it's way
I wasn't saying I know anything concrete just general advice
The same could happen to esab or Miller lorch etc. It's for the buyer to consider the implications

 

[Jim Davey]

That's irrelevant, you can't plan a purchase on guessing who will fail as a supplier and who won't. That kind of thinking would stop you buying anything, and on that basis surely buying something cheap if you are expecting to loose out on it makes even more sense.
Concentrate more on finding a supplier you like dealing with and what they reccomend rather than a particular machine. People deal with people not brands and if you choose the right supply partner from the off (use your head, cheapest will be cheapest for a reason) then you won't buy a duff set to begin with and if you have a problem they will look after you.
This same cycle of cheapest wins but what if it fails is getting rather wearing now.
R-Tech look after customers, Jasic seem to have a wide dealer network, so do Parweld, Thermal Arc and Tech Arc, obviously prices and service levels will vary across the UK but pick up the phone or better still pop in and meet a few local dealers and make an informed choice about where you but from. Ask to see the service department or chat to the engineer, if they don't have one -1, if they carry stock of common spares +1, build up a mental picture of whether or not its a company you want to get involved with.
Or buy from whoever offers the lowest price delivered to your door and hope they are helpful if problems arise.

 

[westcoweld]

What he said!