Upgrade ahoy

[Farside]

The time has come to spend a little (and, compared to what a professional would spend, it's a little) and upgrade to a better MIG.
I'm going to keep the Telwin machine as gasless and not bother putting a Euro torch on it - it will do fine for outside use, where gas would be a pita.
I have a Draper agent near me, but I'm totally unimpressed by what they have to offer, and the list prices in the catalogue are nothing short of a joke. Even allowing for dickering, they're still not meeting what I want - with one exception. From what I gather here, Cemont make Draper's semi-industrial and heavier duty MIGs, and it seems that Draper are unloading some New Old Stock transformer MIGs of 180, 210 and 250 amps. I've seen prices on the 180 of €499 inc VAT, which isn't too bad around here. It's got everything I want - heavy duty, Eurotorch, spot timer, robust, etc. Not sure if it's got a decent wire feed driver and whether it's actually single phase 230/400 or is actually 3 phase. Draper's catalogue writers don't seem too clued up on that.
The other Draper MIG I might stretch too is an inverter multi-process MIG/TIG/MMA box but it's around €800, and for much, much less I could have the same from R-Tech and a five year warranty, to boot.
That five year warranty makes R-Tech's offering look very interesting indeed.
I've also been looking at machines from Portamig, SIP (the Autoplus 180ST) and SWP, but really I'm limited by what my local guy can get in, as he can probably get a better price, so that almost rules out quite a few.
It's all up in the air at the moment.

 

[daleyd]

Not sure about draper stuff, I've no personal experience with their welders but some of their other tools I have wouldn't inppsire me with much confidence to splash out on a welder from them.

Having said that I'm sure someone (one of the mods I think) bought a draper plasma and was very happy with it. I think @Tom Orrow L may have some experience with them?(or maybe not , apologies if not tom!)

 

[Hood]

The other Draper MIG I might stretch too is an inverter multi-process MIG/TIG/MMA box but it's around €800, and for much, much less I could have the same from R-Tech and a five year warranty, to boot.
That five year warranty makes R-Tech's offering look very interesting indeed.

Which R-Tech Multi Process are you getting for much much less than €800
Also R-Tech are just 3 years warranty unless you are meaning buying the additional warranty?

Not knocking R-Tech BTW, I have a MTS255S and although I upgraded to a EWM Phoenix I still have the R-Tech and still rate it as a basic Mig.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

What about the TecArc 181, it has a 5 year year warranty.
https://www.tbws.co.uk/shop/tecarc-181-compact-mig-welder/

 

[Tom Orrow L]

What are you welding? If you're only blasting around 4-5MM have you considered the GYS EasyMIG 160? Nice and light, euro torch connector, gas & gasless, 2 year warranty etc..
That'll be less than €500.

 

[Farside]

Not sure about draper stuff, I've no personal experience with their welders but some of their other tools I have wouldn't inppsire me with much confidence to splash out on a welder from them.

Having said that I'm sure someone (one of the mods I think) bought a draper plasma and was very happy with it. I think @Tom Orrow L may have some experience with them?(or maybe not , apologies if not tom!)

This is the Draper that caught my eye... There are a couple more in the same range, possibly end-of-line stuff.
https://www.drapertools.com/product/71092/Gas-Gasless-Turbo-MIG-Welder-(180A)

Which R-Tech Multi Process are you getting for much much less than €800
Also R-Tech are just 3 years warranty unless you are meaning buying the additional warranty?
Not knocking R-Tech BTW, I have a MTS255S and although I upgraded to a EWM Phoenix I still have the R-Tech and still rate it as a basic Mig.

This one; by extension, I could do basic scratch TIG with it, the same as I could do with the Transarc DC130...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291249791521

What about the TecArc 181, it has a 5 year year warranty.
https://www.tbws.co.uk/shop/tecarc-181-compact-mig-welder/

It's a very serious contender, and I'd like to have a Portamig or similar. Shipping adds substantially to the cost though.

What are you welding? If you're only blasting around 4-5MM have you considered the GYS EasyMIG 160? Nice and light, euro torch connector, gas & gasless, 2 year warranty etc..
That'll be less than €500.

I was initially quite taken by the small GYS, but decided I just don't like the switch settings on it - I've had years of Hi-Lo, Min-Max and I'm sick of it. No matter how GYS dress it up with a so-called 'smart panel' that's nothing more than a sticker, it's still more of the same.

 

[arther dailey]

tecarc/portamig are a good solid machine, no frills,weld very good. if ordering new I would consider maybe if costs permit to uprate spec on ordering to include spot weld timer and maybe include heavy duty spec as well.
depends on thickness/use I geuss. the swp I believe are italian made machines and come from the same firm that made the AMT butters migs,if I am correct, I have a 271 and love it, basic transformer based tool, with 2gear driven wire feed which seems faultless ,but doesnt weld ultra thin tin like a tecarc/portapig as power doesnt go quite as low.
I believe tecarc will build machine to your spec,inc various wire feed options.enjoy searching the specs!

 

[Farside]

Oops, I was thinking of this one...
https://www.weldequip.com/gys-smartmig-162.htm

 

[Tom Orrow L]

Yeah, the starting has the min-max thing but still works a treat. The easy mig is pretty much infinitely adjustable, lovely set.

 

[Farside]

Yeah, the starting has the min-max thing but still works a treat. The easy mig is pretty much infinitely adjustable, lovely set.

I like the look of the EasyMIG; I'll put that on the list, ta.
How about electronic reliability so far?
I'm still more inclined towards a transformer machine as they're pretty much totally rebuildable, unlike the new crop of nice but expensive to fix boxes.

 

[Mr Roo]

I was initially quite taken by the small GYS, but decided I just don't like the switch settings on it - I've had years of Hi-Lo, Min-Max and I'm sick of it. No matter how GYS dress it up with a so-called 'smart panel' that's nothing more than a sticker, it's still more of the same.

Oops, I was thinking of this one...
https://www.weldequip.com/gys-smartmig-162.htm

To be fair: I spent my apprenticeship playing with Fronius' big un's: Synergic Duos for MIG and MAG work, plus a 20+yr old MIG unit and then a couple of TIG units. Also did a lot of MIG and TIG using massive Lincoln units as well which were not bad at all (though a bit... space-consuming!)

Since being punted out the door there, I've been finishing off some homers at my mate's garage using one of these and honestly; I'm very impressed by it's usability and capability.

Granted, it doesn't like anything bigger than a 5kg reel (have a 15kg in there that occasionally causes torch-end issues with weld sticking..!) but for the money it's actually a great bit of kit.

So far I've done:

- a campervan restoration (floor was rotten) where I added 2mm sheet into the floorpan, welding it into 0.8mm bodywork and stitching it to the chassis.
- a roof rack for said campervan!
- three sets of gates
- a massive railing panel using 40mm box and 12mm square bar
- a stock car roll cage (H-frame) using 70mmx3mm box, 60mmx5mm box and 8mm plate

And it's never missed a beat yet.

Like you say minimal control in terms of Hi-Lo A-B settings, but if you find your settings it runs great!


EDIT: oh... and upgrade the wheels. they don't like getting knocked about too much..!

 

[Tom Orrow L]

How on earth did you fit a 15KG in the 162? I struggle to get a 5KG in sometimes

 

[Tom Orrow L]

I like the look of the EasyMIG; I'll put that on the list, ta.
How about electronic reliability so far?
I'm still more inclined towards a transformer machine as they're pretty much totally rebuildable, unlike the new crop of nice but expensive to fix boxes.

I haven’t had one break down yet, and a fair few have gone out the door.
They’re not a French made set, they’re made in GYS’ Chinese factory but the stuff that’s coming out of there seems to be doing very well.