Anything welding

Shopping for deals at 3am is no bueño for my wallet...



I was waiting for a killer deal on a Hypertherm Powermax 30 Air but at this point I’d never use it enough to justify the upfront cost even with the savings on consumables on the back side. Less upfront with this Hobart made more sense for me...especially since I’m not doing much and what I would do would all be within this cutters abilities.

Looking forward to playing with it tomorrow.

 

I have a Lincoln Squarewave TIG 200 and I doubt this is true. My machine was made in Mexico while the Vulcan (the comparable is the ProTIG 200) is made in China. Now certainly some of the guts could and probably did come from China in the Lincoln. Second, the controls on my Lincoln have a more substantial feel to them. But there again, I was twirling dials on a floor model at Harbor Freight and so that they were broken (the process select was completely broken) may not be surprising. Things are laid out in similar places but not exactly. I think Vulcan/HF copied the 210MP and SW TIG 200 rather than them being identical.

ETA: I think the ProTIG specs are 50 to 200 Hz, 0.5 to 200 PPS and 50 to 90% balance. My SW200 does 60 to 150 Hz, 60 to 90% balance and 0.1 to 120 PPS. So the detail specs aren't really that similar to think they are the same even though the current and duty cycles are sort of close.

 

we were talking tig rod and mig wire not machines.....the machines are definitely made in China. As is at least some of the wire

 

Copy that, 10-4. My mistake.



FWIW, I just bought a 12.5 lbs spool of Lincoln L-56 0.030 that said made in U.S.A., on the box at least. Just checked, the spool itself doesn't say anything.

They say on the website that list some of the parts numbers are definitely made in America.

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-u...WWires-SuperArc-SuperArcL-56(LincolnElectric)

The Hobart they had was made in China. This was at a LWS.

ETA: Nevermind, the box probably said "Processed in USA, raw materials from blah, blah".

 

Yeah some of the Vulcan wire was listed as being made n Mexico and was performing similar to Lincoln. Which was why it was rumored to be the same.

Yeah I hate the whole "Made in USA" stuff when you look into it and its actually Made in USA with parts made overseas. Basically means they just got all the parts and bolt them together. Hardly "made in usa"

 

It's a global economy, not really anything you can do if you're just trying to get something designed and built. The U.S. makes it tough to mine anything domestically but we don't adjust our demand for stuff that needs minerals. Other countries are more than happy to oblige, so Lincoln and all of them have no choice but to get raw materials from China and India. That's who's still extracting it.

 

O I have no problem with the global aspect of it. I just hate when companies try to jump on the made in usa bandwagon when really all they do is pretty much box things in the USA. Just be honest and say it smade globally and packaged in the USA, not that its made in usa

 

Totally in agreement @velillen. They are forced on cars to put a percentage content foreign and domestic but for most products doing anything constitutes making it here. They can't just box it but say you're making angle grinders bring in an assembly 95% done and you put on the power cord here, it becomes made in U.S.A.

 

not really welding related directly, but I have a craftsman bench grinder and the capacitor burned out and Ive ordered it 2 times through this other company and they cancelled it 2 times without notification. So I called them up and trying to figure out why I dont have the part yet and they said its cancelled. I told them this time Im ordering from somewhere else. Now waiting for the 3rd time on this part. hopefully this new company gets me the part.

 

If its old it might be they dont actually have the part. I had similar happen and when i finally called they told me the computer showed it as available but it really wasnt

 

I got bored and wanted to try a weave. Wasn't sure how to do it but it was fun trying.

 

There is never a reason to ever do that unless your just playing !!

Maybe in the first weeks of welding school just getting used to electrode manipulation .


Stringer beads

Over the years I have had parts orders canceled with no notice as well

Only to find out when the expected part failed to show up .

Some vendors just cancel orders with no notice they get dropped rather fast

 

So for someone that doesn’t know anything about welding but wants to be able to do some small projects around the house, I’ve been considering the Miller Multimatic 215......seems like something that is user friendly and has the option to grow into it. Any other suggestions? Older used welder off Craigslist perhaps that is a model or two above in terms of duty cycle or is it better to buy new so you have warranty to fall back on (I have no idea how robust welders are or the common problems getting a used unit might bring)??

 

Mig units are getting more user friendly every year.

That 215 unit will do everything you want. There are other brands that compare, like Hobart and Lincoln.
I've only dabbled checking CL, but every time I check for welders, all I find are huge industrial antiques or craptastic Chicago Electric units from HF.

I end up telling anyone that asks to just buy new. You will have the welder the rest of your life.
The 3 brands above will serve you perfectly.

There presently is a dark horse brand that I've been eyeing closely lately. The Vulcan brand from HF has really got my attention. I've looked the machines over closely and am very impressed with the fit and feel of these units. The quality of materials are every bit as good as my Miller machines. The Vulcan Warranty is pretty nice, too.

 

Good to know thanks. That’s one tool I don’t have. I keep breaking deck brackets on riding mower and am tired of keep having to order new ones. I taught myself on an old tombstone looking stick welder years ago that was my friends.

 

The Vulcan 215 is around $800. You can get a Spool gun to weld aluminum for it as well.

Shit! I paid $1300 for just my spool gun alone!

 

I was looking at Tractor Supply. Nothing else nearby.

 

They sell Hobart I think, which is owned by Miller. The Handler 210 MVP would be a solid welder that will serve you well. American-made as well.

 

Good to know thanks

 

I just might be buying a Vulcan shortly. One year money back guarantee? Worth a shot