SWP Reliability?

[Jackfrost]

Hi all,

I'm sorry to have to start yet another thread of this ilk but having tried the search function I get no returns.

So, question is does anyone have any experience of SWP as far as reliability? I was thinking I would go for the portamig 185 but am being rather tempted by the smaller dimensions,weight and versatility of the SWP 170. I could swear I had seen the reliability of the SWP machines called into question somewhere but for the life of me I can't find it now.

 

[cumbriasteve]

I think some of the SWP's, perhaps the later one's are made in China and not Europe.

No idea if that makes a quality or reliability difference, or if the cheaper priced models simply reflect the cheaper production costs.

 

[squazy84]

im in the exact same dilema! was going to get a portamig but i seen the swp,looks like china to me, but ive just lifted my clarke 160 into the boot of my car for the last time! break your bloody back with the bottle and all the gubbins

 

[Dev]

I have an SWP. I've not had any problems but I'm not a heavy user. But if you want photos of any components let me know.
I chose it over a portamig because I like being able to drive it back to the shop if I ever need support.

 

[PTvor]

I've been wondering about this.

Get the Portamig which uses long established technology, big transformers etc, and has a good name for reliability, 2 year guarantee and good resale value. But it's big and heavy.

Or

Get the SWP170. Smaller and lighter, better duty cyle, but that's probably not that important for most of us. Can be used as a stick inverter. More efficient, so less problems with a 13A socket. 2 year collect and return guarantee.

But the SWP is an inverter, with all the potential problems you get with inverters. Usually expensive to fix, doesn't like metal dust, damp or being knocked about.

As far as Chinese made stuff goes, there's no reason why quality equipment can't be made in China, as long as the QC is there, it's just that so much of what they make is cheap and nasty. I think a lot of it comes down to the support given by the importer in the UK.

The big question is the long term reliability of the SWP. If you are buying a £600 welder, for light (not industrial) use, you want to be confident it's going to easily outlast the guarantee without saddling you with a £150 repair bill. As they haven't been around that long, I wouldn't have thought anyone was in a position to answer that with the confidence that Portamig users can.

Caution says get the Portamig without some pressing need for portability, in which case it's worth considering the extra £80 for an ESAB Caddy. ESAB have a better name than SWP.

Anyway, it's not a decision I've got to make for the next few months as there are other things to sort out first.

 

[pondman]

I have an SWP 220 that I bought from weldequip a couple of years ago, I use it nearly every day 6-10 hours a day. I had to replace the torch a few months ago but other than that its been a great machine (fingers crossed it doesn't blow up after saying this :-/ ) I'm looking at getting another higher Amp machine and am very tempted to get another SWP. So in short I would recommend it.

 

[PTvor]

But the SWP 220 is a traditional transformer based machine and the SWP 170 is a recently introduced inverter machine and as we know, inverters have been known to have more than their share of problems.