Chinese Welders


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    Default Chinese Welders

    Hi All,

    I have recently started a with a welding course and I need some advice on buying a welder(Tig).

    Are the Chinese Welders worth it. They are really avoidable and the specs tend to look really good.

    Do any of you have some of these machines and what do you think about them?

    I also see you can get a three in one machine with Plasma as an extra.Can they be used as a cheap plasma cutter for a CNC plasma cutter?

    Any advice are welcome.
    Thanks.
    B

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    With welders it seems you get what you pay for... IF you get lucky and get a good chinese welder that dosn't need repairs it will probably be fine. The problem with the import welders is getting parts and support when needed. If you get a Lincoln or a Miller the support is great, and they are decent machines. If you want a starter machine get one of the small suit case inverter models from Lincoln or Miller, true they are a scratch start, but they give good bang for the buck (my dad just bought the Miller for stick, and really likes it). The next step up would be Miller's econotig, and for a little more omph the 185 from Lincoln (this is what I own).

    The 3 in 1 is probably a scratch start tig and a touch start plasma. Touch start plasma won't work all that well for cnc.

    I have yet to regret spending a little more money and getting a better tool. Even If you need to save up a little while longer, my advice is to do it and get the better tool.

    On all equipment there are 2 levers...
    Lever "A", and Lever F'in "B"


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    Quote Originally Posted by DSL PWR View Post
    With welders it seems you get what you pay for... IF you get lucky and get a good chinese welder that dosn't need repairs it will probably be fine. The problem with the import welders is getting parts and support when needed. If you get a Lincoln or a Miller the support is great, and they are decent machines. If you want a starter machine get one of the small suit case inverter models from Lincoln or Miller, true they are a scratch start, but they give good bang for the buck (my dad just bought the Miller for stick, and really likes it). The next step up would be Miller's econotig, and for a little more omph the 185 from Lincoln (this is what I own).

    The 3 in 1 is probably a scratch start tig and a touch start plasma. Touch start plasma won't work all that well for cnc.

    I have yet to regret spending a little more money and getting a better tool. Even If you need to save up a little while longer, my advice is to do it and get the better tool.
    Thanks for your reply...

    I have been doing research on the Chinese made welders and I get the feeling they are not as bad as everyone say. The welder I am looking at is a 160Amp Tig with HF start, pulse and a few extra stuff...

    Here are the specs:
    http://www.goodsdirect.co.nz/product...roducts_id=651

    It's actually good that you mentioned about the plasma cutter and the touch start. I will have to ask them about that. I know the Tig part of the 3-1 machine has a HF start.

    Thanks again.



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    I am sure the cheap imports are getting better quickly but they are a gamble. If the company that is selling them has been around for a few years and if they will provide you with a list of parts so you know that when the a particular circuit board dies a new one is available then that could work. The trouble shooting process is another issue. I am fortunate to have three Miller inverter machines and I am very pleased. I have gotten the service manuals for the the machines from miller. I would be pleasantly VERY surprised if the imports had service manuals available.

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    Now thats very true. Even a very expensive welder that's not serviced properly
    can welde worse than a properly serviced cheap welder.

    Interesting now that you mentioned the service manual. I am not sure if the
    welders I am looking at have one but I will ask the people.

    But I must say I have made a really good discovery thanks to you. Most of
    the really good welder making companies will have their service manuals on
    line. I looked at Hobart Welders and they real put some effort into there
    service manual. luckily most of the topics in the manual are related to
    the welding process and not just the welder it self.

    The things you don't get is the settings of how to set your amps for different
    sizes material you want to weld. luckily I am busy with a Tig welding course
    so I sort of know what the average setting should be.

    Nice thing about the one I want to buy is that it has a 1 year warenty making
    it a bit saver and they service the welders after the year if something should
    go wrong.(I also made sure that all of the consumables are easy to get and
    that all the fittings are up to local standards.)

    I also noticed that the welder is CE approved. Does that say anything?

    Thanks for every once input...
    B



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    I see you posted a link in NZ. There are a lot of junk welders sold in NZ, and european/american welders are expensive here. I am going to ship a miller tig welder from the USA, this will save about $NZ1500, and the parts are available here.

    Even with a brand name welder, there can be delays in getting parts in NZ. I shudder to think what might happen when a welder goes south that does not even have a brand name, and you need service from a company that is not a welding supplies specialist.

    Go through boc, weldwell, or one of the other real suppliers, at least. Ask their reps for colourful stories about chinese welding machines..

    Also watch out for 3-in-1 machines. Only the very expensive ones are truly 3-in-1, the cheap ones have nice tricks like giving you 1/3 of the rated power into each.. nice.

    Edit - I was told by a rep (call it marketing bs if you want, but the twitch in his eye looked authentic) that he would quit on the day they made him sell chinese welders. Also, your school should be able to get you a nice educational price on a welder. Last thing, if you will ever be using the welder for commercial purposes, register for GST and claim back the 12.5% tax.

    Last edited by hammers; 03-26-2007 at 08:44 AM. Reason: Adding info


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    The CT series 3-in-1 machines are quite reliable, do stay away from the ac/dc 3-in 1 machines!
    The tig is HF start.



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    You will not regret buying a made in USA welder. Miller or Lincoln both make excellent proven welders, with superb online support, and a global parts supply chain.

    regards



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    I buy nothing from China and I hope everyone wakes up and discovers we are cutting our own throats to save a few dollars.Most of the products made in China is garbage.



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    If you buy a Chinese welder use the money you save to buy a really good grinder...

    I don't recall seeing a post yet where anyone with any welding exerience has used a Chinese welder and had anything positive to say about the machines...



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    Quote Originally Posted by hybidder View Post
    If you buy a Chinese welder use the money you save to buy a really good grinder...

    I don't recall seeing a post yet where anyone with any welding exerience has used a Chinese welder and had anything positive to say about the machines...
    Well its a good thing you revived this thread again!!!

    People,open your eyes!!!! Nobody could tell me if the welders were good or bad so I ended up buying one.

    Well to tell you the truth after buying the welder I ended up also buying a plasma cutter, Sieg C6 Lathe and 'n Sieg X2 mill... LOL (All made in China)

    I have had no complaints about any of the above machines and I have been using them a lot.

    I do agree the welder is not a Miller,but I can always upgrade when the welder has earned the amount needed for a better welder.

    These machines are perfect for the new entrepreneur trying to enter the market. Every penny not spent on expenses is money that goes to your own pocket!!!

    Every one is condemning the chines. I say give them some space...



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    Quote Originally Posted by Degrom View Post

    Every one is condemning the chines. I say give them some space...
    No offence, but China is buying your freedom. Mine is not for sale.


    I had an Italian welder, it was like $600 for an inverter type scratch start TIG and worked GREAT! Didn't last too much longer than a year, but if it means the difference of getting started or not it might be a wise investment to try to save some initial capital. If your just starting out, I would buy an import, perferably not Chinese, inverter type TIG and save money for the real deal, I.E. Miller, Lincoln. Once you own an inverter type welder, you will never go back to an old school transformer type, it's ancient technology plus inverters are a lot more power efficient. But I wouldn't buy a low end AC welder for aluminum, your going to spend atleast $2k for a good aluminum welder and there is no way around it. Good luck!



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    The welder I bought is an INVERTER Tig welder. HF start,rated at 200Amps DC and pulse as an extra feature. Can set the startup gas and everything. Same price as the Italian job.

    Times have changed.

    Why do you say China is buying your freedom?


    Quote Originally Posted by mc-motorsports View Post
    No offence, but China is buying your freedom. Mine is not for sale.


    I had an Italian welder, it was like $600 for an inverter type scratch start TIG and worked GREAT! Didn't last too much longer than a year, but if it means the difference of getting started or not it might be a wise investment to try to save some initial capital. If your just starting out, I would buy an import, perferably not Chinese, inverter type TIG and save money for the real deal, I.E. Miller, Lincoln. Once you own an inverter type welder, you will never go back to an old school transformer type, it's ancient technology plus inverters are a lot more power efficient. But I wouldn't buy a low end AC welder for aluminum, your going to spend atleast $2k for a good aluminum welder and there is no way around it. Good luck!




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    Quote Originally Posted by Degrom View Post

    Why do you say China is buying your freedom?
    It's just something we say here in the US. I don't want to get into a huge discussion, but it was a recorded conversation between Chinese military high brass that they will dominate America by cripling our manufacturing. So and and so forth. I have read so much CRAP on the subject it makes my head spin, I just don't buy Chineese, that is all. I don't want to start that topic, but China and US manufacturing is a touchy subject with any american who works in a shop, let alone owns one.



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    Actually, the quote being referenced was "Red China is buying your freedom" which was a popular "buy american" campain.



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    Quote Originally Posted by mc-motorsports View Post
    Actually, the quote being referenced was "Red China is buying your freedom" which was a popular "buy american" campain.
    Yes... Its scary at what rate they are growing and consuming.

    Yesterday we(New Zealand) signed a free trade deal with China.

    We gain plenty of things out of the deal but I see no significant gain on China's side.(Makes you wonder why they would want to do it).



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    don't shoot me, but I'm not farmiliar with New Zealands trade economy, but I'll be willing to bet you'll have a Wal-Mart on every corner next week!

    Honestly, the free trade agreement that Bush made with China screwed our economy and sent a lot of jobs over-seas. If it helps your economy that's great. But in America, I think our trade agreement with China only made the incredibly rich people incredibly richer and put a lot of people out of work. Oh well, it's time to bring the Democrats back...



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    Quote Originally Posted by Degrom View Post

    We gain plenty of things out of the deal but I see no significant gain on China's side.(Makes you wonder why they would want to do it).

    ALUMINUM! That is my guess!



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    Quote Originally Posted by mc-motorsports View Post
    Oh well, it's time to bring the Democrats back...
    I always thought Bush was a democrat just not labled as such.

    As for saving a few bucks in order to get into the business..... If you can't afford the right tools you can't afford to "get into the business", just stick to it as a hobby. I would be embarassed to have someone walk into my shop and see Chinese welders or plasmas or much else for that matter and a tuned in customer will know the difference as well. If I walked into a machine shop and saw Rong Fu mills and Grizzly lathes it would tell me the operator didn't know much about the quality of machines. If he scrimped on his machines he'll scrimp elswhere and I would expect my finished product from such a shop to be as subpar as his equipment and his attitude toward business.

    If you can't run with the big dogs stay on the porch.



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    Quote Originally Posted by hybidder View Post

    If you can't run with the big dogs stay on the porch.

    But if only the tools would make the machinist.... Your customers don't care what machines you used to manufacture thier parts or the parts your paying for, they don't care if you work out of a cave to a million dollor facility. They only care about QUALITY, CUSTOMER SERVICE, and PRICE and in that order.

    I'm sorry, I just think that comment is ignorant. I would give someone A LOT MORE CREDIT for turning out good work on some crap equiptment and wouldn't discourage anyone from chasing thier dream.

    That is all.



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