Thanks: 0
Likes: 0
Needs Pictures: 0
Results 1 to 12 of 12
Thread: which tig welder
-
19th Mar 2023, 04:15 PM #1Senior Member
- Join Date
- Jul 2014
- Location
- melbourne
- Posts
- 110
which tig welder
hi all, as a retired qualified welder boilermaker i have an australian made 250amp mig and arc 140amp running off 240v for home workshop use that all work well ,never giving any trouble after many years usage
i have an interest in restoring vintage motorcycles and an ac/dc tig would be a great for ally repairs
not wanting to spend mega thousands on a Lincoln or Frounis
has anyone bought one of the cheap ebay Chinese ac/dc tigs on ebay,
any brand that has worked well and been reliable
i have my eye on a boswell 200amp inverter pluse tig for just over a grand comes with foot pedal sell has sold many with 100% feed back
i know its only cheap by industrial standards
but i just want something for the odd jobs at home, something that welds half good and will last more than a few years
so anyone that has any experience with an ebay tig , any recommendations would be great
i dont want to throw my money away on a useless machine that welds like crap or blows up after an hours use
thanks all
-
19th Mar 2023, 04:53 PM #2Most Valued Member
- Join Date
- Aug 2009
- Location
- Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Posts
- 1,844
Unimig seem to be the leader in Australia for quality Chinese machines they do a 10amp regular power point ac/dc tig
I owned a Unimig Razor 200 mig and it ran faultless awesome machine, i also have owned a Unimig ARC 180 stick welder i use it for stick welding and dc tig welding i built a 6.7 meter aluminium trailer with the stick welder, i have owned the stick welder for 5 years never broken down
-
20th Mar 2023, 03:09 PM #3Senior Member
- Join Date
- Jul 2014
- Location
- melbourne
- Posts
- 110
-
20th Mar 2023, 04:38 PM #4
Bought one of the china bay 200P specials, eg one of these different brand and painted red:
Tig.jpg
Used it a few times but never had good success as a Tig.
Bought a Unimig Razor 200
https://unimig.com.au/product/razor-...dc-tig-welder/
No problems and would buy again.
Would not recommend the china bay machines
-
20th Mar 2023, 05:55 PM #5Senior Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2021
- Location
- Adelaide
- Posts
- 212
I would be interested to know if this is the opinion of a Unimig owner or if there are statistics to back it up.
Is this the machine you are looking at? https://dynaweld.com.au/product/boss...0x-tig-welder/
I don't have one and I haven't used one but it looks pretty similar to the Unimig Razor 200 AC/DC but cheaper. They both have one of those crappy optional pedals that look like they come from ebay. BOC uses something similar.
As I have no direct experience with this, I can only suggest that it all comes down to after sales service. The Boswell has a 3 year warrantee (like the Unimig) but that is only useful of there is someone to honour it. For that reason I would not buy online or from eBay and I would avoid anyone who knows nothing about welding and welding machines. That leaves a few tool shops but no dedicated welding shops (not uncommon).
I think I'd prefer a shop I can walk in to - I don't like the thought of being put on hold for the duration, waiting for email responses or, worst of all, shipping a machine at my own expense to who knows where for repair.
The bottom line is, even the best can fail, the question is, what then?
Jack
-
20th Mar 2023, 06:37 PM #6
For many years I had a Cigweld Brumby, but when I started on panel work it did not have the adjustments I needed. Bought a Unimig 182
https://unimig.com.au/product/viper-...-stick-welder/
Sold the Cigweld as the Unimig covers the panel work as well as the heavy stuff I used to do.
Was so impressed with the mig that I splashed out on the Razor 200 as I linked above.
No formal welding experience, just a self taught hack. I am sure a Fronius or Kemppi may improve my welds but cannot justify the expense.
-
21st Mar 2023, 01:14 AM #7Senior Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2021
- Location
- Adelaide
- Posts
- 212
I think any reasonable modern inverter welding machine will be an improvement on a 30 year old transformer machine with rough stepped voltage settings. I also accept that Unimig have done a pretty good job of lifting their game and supporting their users.
But to say Unimig is "the leader in Australia for quality Chinese machines" requires statistical evidence, not just happy customers.
Anyway, this is off the track.
Jack
-
21st Mar 2023, 05:50 PM #8
-
22nd Mar 2023, 12:29 AM #9Most Valued Member
- Join Date
- Aug 2009
- Location
- Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Posts
- 1,844
-
22nd Mar 2023, 01:02 AM #10Senior Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2021
- Location
- Adelaide
- Posts
- 212
-
26th Mar 2023, 09:35 AM #11New Member
- Join Date
- Dec 2009
- Location
- Brisbane
- Posts
- 6
Hi Jack,
I had a Mitech 200P Chinese red box 4 in 1, MMA, AC/DC tig, Plasma cutter for over ten years. I learnt to weld on it. Honestly I loved it. The control panel finally died and I tried so hard to get another but no parts anymore.
I bit the bullet and bought the new Unimig 230a 4in1 MMA, AC/DC tig, MIG machine. https://unimig.com.au/product/razor-...-stick-welder/
It's only been about a month but so far I have to say I am blown away by the machine. Compared to my old red box, it's a breeze to tig ally with. I don't have a foot pedal yet but even without it, I find it easier to weld than the red box with foot pedal.
The settings are out of this world and having everything in one, I am able to mount two bottles to my trolley and walk every welder around with me for whatever I am doing. As per my other thread you replied to, my only gripe is customer service. I have been trying to get an idea what spool gun I need for this machine from Unimig with no help. I rang a number of offices around Australia. One guy didn't know, another fumbled through paperwork for 2mins then said I don't know and transferred me but it was a dead line. I then emailed and it's been 5days without response. Pity.
-
26th Mar 2023, 09:38 AM #12New Member
- Join Date
- Dec 2009
- Location
- Brisbane
- Posts
- 6
Hi Jack,
I had a Mitech 200P Chinese red box 4 in 1, MMA, AC/DC tig, Plasma cutter for over ten years. I learnt to weld on it. Honestly I loved it. The control panel finally died and I tried so hard to get another but no parts anymore.
I bit the bullet and bought the new Unimig 230a 4in1 MMA, AC/DC tig, MIG machine. https://unimig.com.au/product/razor-...-stick-welder/
It's only been about a month but so far I have to say I am blown away by the machine. Compared to my old red box, it's a breeze to tig ally with. I don't have a foot pedal yet but even without it, I find it easier to weld than the red box with foot pedal.
The settings are out of this world and having everything in one, I am able to mount two bottles to my trolley and walk every welder around with me for whatever I am doing. As per my other thread you replied to, my only gripe is customer service. I have been trying to get an idea what spool gun I need for this machine from Unimig with no help. I rang a number of offices around Australia. One guy didn't know, another fumbled through paperwork for 2mins then said I don't know and transferred me but it was a dead line. I then emailed and it's been 5days without response. Pity.
Similar Threads
-
Novice welder - cheap MIG welder - 3mm RHS Butt joints
By mote in forum WELDINGReplies: 14Last Post: 26th Mar 2021, 12:09 PM -
WW2 welder
By morrisman in forum WELDINGReplies: 5Last Post: 14th Apr 2017, 05:13 PM -
wia 180 welder
By morrisman in forum WELDINGReplies: 9Last Post: 8th Jan 2017, 03:08 PM -
New Mig Welder
By Oldneweng in forum WELDINGReplies: 29Last Post: 29th Dec 2013, 10:30 PM -
QUEENSLAND Cig welder transarc tradesman HD (stick/arc welder) 3phase
By dkaoffroad in forum METALWORK - Machinery, Equipment, MARKETReplies: 0Last Post: 8th Jun 2013, 10:45 AM