500.00 More Of My Dollars Going To China.

CarMichael Angelo · Jan 26, 2015

Well I did it. After poking around for the last several days, I finally committed to retiring my poor old tired 110 v Lincoln and replaced it w/ one of the Chinese units currently available.
Behold:

This blue box is an upgrade to what I've been using as a MIG for the last 12 years. It needs 220v, and has a 175 amp rating. The main selling point for me though was it comes with a spool gun for welding aluminum. I've been wanting some way to weld aluminum for quite some time now. Had I had it back then, the valve cover on my engine would not be "glued" together, and I probably would've built the intake out of aluminum instead of sheet metal. It also comes w/ a regular MIG gun, as well as the regulator for the gas, the ground cable and clamp, and a worthless hand held mask.

For 497.53 and free shipping, it was too good of a deal not to take. The nearest priced piece was an Eastwood unit @ 489.00 (also Chinese) but they wanted 50 bucks to ship it.

But now I got one. Yea me. The perfect addition to my Chinese TIG/Plasma cutter.

Now I can reweld the bumpers back together that I've cut the ends off of to section an inch out of the total width,

Anybody wanna buy an old Lincoln 125 MIG? Cheap?

CarMichael Angelo · Jan 26, 2015

ANNDD....get this:

While I'm writing the above, I notice my email just gets another update from the seller. He tells me that I coulda bought it cheaper on Amazon for 20.00 less, and because were prime members get it in two days ...free.

Well hell yeah I'm interested but I ck, and paypal had already drafted my account. The guy instantly refunds my money, and it shows back up in my account just that quick. I go to Amazon, use his promo code, apply the discount code he gave me, and BOOM! it drops to 479.00 w/ free 2 day shipping.

95BlueStallion · Jan 26, 2015

So come Thursday, we should be seeing consistent new updates, eh?

RangerJoe · Jan 26, 2015

Wish I had the money for the mig, I would swing over and get it. I did just buy a cheapo harbor freight flux welder. I know, I know......

But I am going to Use it for a Few small jobs and hone in some skills before I think about blowing $1k on a nice mig setup.

Joe

f8tlfiveo · Jan 26, 2015

Is this welder better quality than harbor freight? I've never heard of that brand before, is your TIG and plasma made by the same company?

CarMichael Angelo · Jan 26, 2015

RangerJoe said:
Wish I had the money for the mig, I would swing over and get it. I did just buy a cheapo harbor freight flux welder. I know, I know......

But I am going to Use it for a Few small jobs and hone in some skills before I think about blowing $1k on a nice mig setup.

Joe

f8tlfiveo said:
Is this welder better quality than harbor freight? I've never heard of that brand before, is your TIG and plasma made by the same company?

I'm thinkin maybe 100.00 for the old reliable.

But for the record:

I bought the TIG from a company called Longevity back in '08. It uses a different method to create an arc as opposed to the conventional square wave machines that are out there from the likes of Miller/Lincoln/Hobart. Whatever they do to make that work, they eliminate the gigantic power inverter that typically makes those machines weigh so much.Conversely, my TIG/Plasma cutter weighs about 30 lbs. At the time, it came w/ a 3 yr warranty, as does this Lotos brand now. I'd bet that they are one in the same company as is some of the HF stuff.
For a build shop that's beating on one of the machines daily, it might not be the long lived solution, but for me at the intervals I use it they're perfect.

As for these "no name" Chinese machines? Where else can you buy a 200 amp tig/plasma cutter for 899.00? (or a 175 amp MIG w/ a spool gun included for 479.00?) I think I paid 699.00 for my combo machine back then and the difference between mine and the new one is extra amperage (mine's only 180) and the new one will TIG aluminum whereas mine wont. That's why the new MIG was bought today.

Shoomakan · Jan 26, 2015

madmike1157 said:
I'm thinkin maybe 100.00 for the old reliable.

But for the record:

I bought the TIG from a company called Longevity back in '08. It uses a different method to create an arc as opposed to the conventional square wave machines that are out there from the likes of Miller/Lincoln/Hobart. Whatever they do to make that work, they eliminate the gigantic power inverter that typically makes those machines weigh so much.Conversely, my TIG/Plasma cutter weighs about 30 lbs. At the time, it came w/ a 3 yr warranty, as does this Lotos brand now. I'd bet that they are one in the same company as is some of the HF stuff.
For a build shop that's beating on one of the machines daily, it might not be the long lived solution, but for me at the intervals I use it they're perfect.

As for these "no name" Chinese machines? Where else can you buy a 200 amp tig/plasma cutter for 899.00? (or a 175 amp MIG w/ a spool gun included for 479.00?) I think I paid 699.00 for my combo machine back then and the difference between mine and the new one is extra amperage (mine's only 180) and the new one will TIG aluminum whereas mine wont. That's why the new MIG was bought today.

Congratulations! Wish I knew how to weld. My uncle was supposed to teach me this summer but he passed away a few months ago. Ah, well.

Nothing wrong with the good Chinese stuff. I work in a plastics factory, and the Chinese machines we have operational there have proven to be nothing but reliable and operate exactly like they should. Excellent customer service as well. When something critical goes wrong, Kai Mei send their engineer over. From China or Taiwan. To LEBANON. Insane!

1/2 the price of an equivalent German/Italian machine with better customer service. What's not to like?

Noobz347 · Jan 27, 2015

Mike, my question about your new welder is this:

I've been looking at Mig welders as well but haven't pulled the trigger yet. Last winter I was looking hard for one and I was also working in a shop that builds industrial fans. This is a shop full of welders, in other words. The thing that I kept coming back to with many of the welders that found I was a problem, was the availability of parts and supplies for lesser known machines.

I walked into a welding supply store and they have pieces and parts for Lincoln, Miller, blah, and blah, that are maybe 'staples' of the welding unit business.

So what I'm saying is: find out what the wear items are and see if they're available at your local welding supply. If not, some pre-planned strategic parts ordering may be necessary.

hoopty5.0 · Jan 27, 2015

For just a couple hundred more, coulda had this:
http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/hobart-handlerreg;-190-mig-welder-spool-gun-ready

...Which I've had for a couple years now and can't say anything bad about. The reviews speak for themselves.

Noobz347 · Jan 27, 2015

hoopty5.0 said:
For just a couple hundred more, coulda had this:
http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/hobart-handlerreg;-190-mig-welder-spool-gun-ready

...Which I've had for a couple years now and can't say anything bad about. The reviews speak for themselves.

I had not seen this one before:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/sto...th-multi-voltage-plug-(mvptrade;)?cm_vc=IOPDP

That may be what I'm looking for.

Boosted92LX · Jan 27, 2015

So Mike, am I understanding this right? you have a tig/plasma machine that only cost 899.00? Can I get a link to this? I'd be very interested in that..

@madmike1157

Boosted92LX · Jan 27, 2015

Noobz347 said:
I had not seen this one before:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/hobart-handlerreg;-210mvp-mig-welder-with-multi-voltage-plug-(mvptrade?cm_vc=IOPDP

That may be what I'm looking for.

I own this one, and it's fantastic as well. A little more pricey here , but I've seen it much cheaper. I have a spool gun with it as well..

Amazon product ASIN B0012RQ9VYView: Amazon product ASIN B0012RQView: http://www.amazon.com/Millermatic-Welder-Thermal-Overload-Detection/dp/B0012RQ

Noobz347 · Jan 27, 2015

Boosted92LX said:
I own this one, and it's fantastic as well. A little more pricey here , but I've seen it much cheaper. I have a spool gun with it as well..

Amazon product ASIN B0012RQ9VYView: Amazon product ASIN B0012RQView: http://www.amazon.com/Millermatic-Welder-Thermal-Overload-Detection/dp/B0012RQ

...and parts are cheap and on the shelves. I'd have a Miller portable if money were no object. I've used a couple of really nice machines that are older than I am.

I probably shouldn't skimp on a welder even though I weld very infrequently. If I think about it a tic, that's even more reason to buy a good one.

hoopty5.0 · Jan 27, 2015

The only thing I'll say about owning a 110v welder vs a 230v is watch out for your electricity bill. As an example, I built a bicycle in college with a flux core 110v over a weekend and tripled our electricity bill for the month.

Noobz347 · Jan 27, 2015

Absolutely no doubt. It takes like 3 times as much current when welding with 110. If they charged by the volt then it would be different. lol

FoxMustangLvr · Jan 27, 2015

I love my Lincoln 140 mig. It was setup for flux when bought new and I didn't really like it so I hooked it up to C25 and love it. It was already plumbed inside to run gas. Welded my entire engine bay no problem. Next up my MM subframes. I can buy parts for it anywhere including my local Oxarc.

CarMichael Angelo · Jan 27, 2015

Boosted92LX said:
So Mike, am I understanding this right? you have a tig/plasma machine that only cost 899.00? Can I get a link to this? I'd be very interested in that..

@madmike1157

I was wrong. It's a tad different from 899.00
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Lotos-Pil...fault&beacon_version=1.0.0&findingMethod=p13n

Yeah, Even Walmart .com is in on the act. There are even MIG/TIG/Plasma combo units at around 1500.00

Boosted92LX · Jan 27, 2015

madmike1157 said:
I was wrong. It's a tad different from 899.00
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Lotos-Pil...fault&beacon_version=1.0.0&findingMethod=p13n

Yeah, Even Walmart .com is in on the act. There are even MIG/TIG/Plasma combo units at around 1500.00

THAT is remarkable! Would you recommend it?

CarMichael Angelo · Jan 27, 2015

Boosted92LX said:
THAT is remarkable! Would you recommend it?

All I know is that the damn plasma cutter works amazing, and Now that I have gotten halfway decent w/ the TIG, It works every bit as good as my friends $2500.00 Miller that doesn't have a plasma cutter.(with the exception of the inability to weld aluminum)
Between me buying the thing in '08 keeping it till 2012, selling it then buying it back last year, that thing has more than paid for itself time and time again. The Lotos brand that I linked you is the maker of that MIG/Spool gun combo that is the original point of this thread, so I must think it's worth a try.

Boosted92LX · Jan 27, 2015

madmike1157 said:
All I know is that the damn plasma cutter works amazing, and Now that I have gotten halfway decent w/ the TIG, It works every bit as good as my friends $2500.00 Miller that doesn't have a plasma cutter.(with the exception of the inability to weld aluminum)
Between me buying the thing in '08 keeping it till 2012, selling it then buying it back last year, that thing has more than paid for itself time and time again. The Lotos brand that I linked you is the maker of that MIG/Spool gun combo that is the original point of this thread, so I must think it's worth a try.

I will keep that in mind when my shop is built. Thanks Mike.

500.00 More Of My Dollars Going To China.

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

My assy trans to myself

I leave the horn on while driving

My wife likes my spool and blow-off valve.

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

Member

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

mechanicus terribilis

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

It's only an inch or two. What's the big deal?

It's only an inch or two. What's the big deal?

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

mechanicus terribilis

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

I love my Pimp

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

It's only an inch or two. What's the big deal?

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

It's only an inch or two. What's the big deal?

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