What should I buy?

[KML]

I'll address the FarmTrac and Montanna jab first. One was owned by out of country people (farmtrac) AFTER it bought out a company in business for more than 30 years (LONG). Montana had people that were former Wal-Mart Execs running them and they could not think of any other way to run a farm tractor company except like wal mart. But I can counter with a example of Mahindra, which started with fits and spurts in the mid 80's. My father was one of the first dealers outside of the state of Texas. Now look at them. They eventually got it right after about 10 years, but they were committed and determined to stay in the market.

With that said, we've been here since 2004. We're owned within the states, and we are multi-national now and have been since 2009. As far as parts, go try to find a part for a welder one of the major companies that was made more than 10 years ago. It's likely the part has been superceded, or just considered obsolete and limited to existing stock. It's happened to me, so I know about this part of it. Or for that matter try to get a part for one now, that you just bought. It isn't as easy as it sounds, because they don't break down their major components into serviceable sub components. If you need a resistor on a board, or an IGBT, you have to get the whole thing, which can cost more to replace than the cost of one of our new welders. As far as our part availability, most of our parts are off the shelf components...no specially made components with the names or part numbers hidden. We use Texas instruments, IXYS, Siemens, and many other "national" brands.

As far as welding knowledge, I make no claims of superiority to anyone, but I do hold my own.

Tombstones do give problems...as do any welder. I know of several that had fan issues, switch issues, or selector issues....or worse. And most were "just" out of their warranty period.

Mark, You have spent a lot of time on TBN along with some of the welding forums I frequent and I appreciate your investment of time to the online welding community! I am in the market for a larger multi-process machine right now and have been considering a few of your machines along with the Thermal Arc Fabricator 252i or a used Miller XMT 304. While similar in capability these machines cover a wide price range!

My take on the situation is that I would be much more interested in seeing you respond to threads like this:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/welding/266862-i-got-1-000-spend-18.html

than in reading posts like this one where you respond to perceived "jabs". I am not opposed to "offshore" macines in the slightest, more than a few of the current Thermal Arc machines are completely manufactured in China. There are almost NO electronic components manufactured in North America any longer so all manufacturers will have "globally" sourced parts in them. The big difference is that Miller, Linciln, Thermal Arc, HyperTherm, etc. don't have to have a big forum presence to convince people they will stand behind their products, no mater where they are made, because they have decades of industry exposure proving it.

I hope this doesn't come off as a bash as that is FAR from the intent! I feel that companies like your's are WHY we have the Thermal Arcs of the world entering the lower price point welder market. Competition is good for the consumer and you have put pressure on the big boys, and they're starting to respond! This is a win for us consumers and I thank you for that!

In short, you would move farther up my consideration list if you spent more time in Mark Cuda's thread SHOWING me that you take care of your customers and less time in ones like this TELLING me you're just as good as the big dogs.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have an old Miller 350 amp transformer style AC/DC (I only use DC) with CC/CV (which I dont use but it would run a wire feeder). I think these are the most bullet proof machines around, by that I mean the style not the brand although there is nothing wrong with Miller and I have used them and Lincoln all my life in heavy construction plus a few Hobart. I think the point about storing in open or unheaded shop with moisture etc might be a good point to consider when buying. Maybe the electronics are sealed against the elements and I would hope they are, but all the fancy controls also require fancy components to work them and the possibility of instant death should one diode or transistor go out is a very real possibility. The last job I worked before retirement, the contractor bought all new 200 amp inverter machines to use with 100% TIG welding and in the 1 1/2 years of use, they replaced/repaired over half of them. These were all top brand machines (no name bashing here well ok they were ESAB) but they just didnt stand up to the constant use, if you want to call it constant as most welders only made about 20 diameter inches of weld per day which equates to welding about 60 linear inches of 1/4" thick or less material in a 10 hour day @ 60-80 amps (this was in Nigeria so labor was cheap and Unions were strong so not much work got done). This has been my only experience with the new inverter welders but it wasnt a good one. THEY do work well when working though, very smooth arc, very low power consumption also.
I love the old school stuff for my shop, pretty much going to be working when my Grandchildren are old and gray.
Oh yes, I paid $350 for my machine 4 years ago from a shop in Dallas that had it for years and never used it, they used all wire feed so he was getting rid of the machine. I have seen them on Craiglist lately for more than double that price though so I guess I got a good deal.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Mark, You have spent a lot of time on TBN along with some of the welding forums I frequent and I appreciate your investment of time to the online welding community! I am in the market for a larger multi-process machine right now and have been considering a few of your machines along with the Thermal Arc Fabricator 252i or a used Miller XMT 304. While similar in capability these machines cover a wide price range!

My take on the situation is that I would be much more interested in seeing you respond to threads like this:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/welding/266862-i-got-1-000-spend-18.html

than in reading posts like this one where you respond to perceived "jabs". I am not opposed to "offshore" macines in the slightest, more than a few of the current Thermal Arc machines are completely manufactured in China. There are almost NO electronic components manufactured in North America any longer so all manufacturers will have "globally" sourced parts in them. The big difference is that Miller, Linciln, Thermal Arc, HyperTherm, etc. don't have to have a big forum presence to convince people they will stand behind their products, no mater where they are made, because they have decades of industry exposure proving it.

I hope this doesn't come off as a bash as that is FAR from the intent! I feel that companies like your's are WHY we have the Thermal Arcs of the world entering the lower price point welder market. Competition is good for the consumer and you have put pressure on the big boys, and they're starting to respond! This is a win for us consumers and I thank you for that!

In short, you would move farther up my consideration list if you spent more time in Mark Cuda's thread SHOWING me that you take care of your customers and less time in ones like this TELLING me you're just as good as the big dogs.

I think Mark will answer how I take care of customers himself...but instead of conversing on the forum on a weekend, I called him immediately...which was his request.

 

[Mike120]

Sorry Mark, but I don't engage in food fights. I merely asked two questions, because I was interested in what the hobbyist viewpoint was:

1) What is the real difference between stick welding, using DC on a tombstone or one of the new inverter machines? I don't think I have any real arc control issues, so what am I missing?

2)What could I use TIG for that I can't already do with MIG?

I didn't ask for brands but some were offered. I wasn't interested and stated why: "A warranty is only as good as the organization and balance sheet behind it." The unsaid reason is that I'm not interested in Chinese crap. I was just trying to be nice about it.

I did do a certain amount of research on your brand and others before I decided to ask on this forum. There is little information about your organization and even less about your balance sheet. For all I know you could just be a marketing shell peddling re-badged imported welders. I don't know, and I don't care....I never planned on buying one.
For me a welding machine is just another tool. But I rely on my tools and don't buy from Harbor Freight either.

I bought a Miller Thunderbolt and I'm happy with it as it will serve my needs. When I have time, I will take my 30+ year old tombstone apart and see what's wrong with it. I KNOW I can get parts for it. If it's worth fixing is a different subject, but I certainly got my money's worth out of it and expect the Miller will serve me well also.

 

[Mike120]

(this was in Nigeria so labor was cheap and Unions were strong so not much work got done).

Warri or Port Harcourt??? I was in both of them years ago....

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Mike, I don't know where you looked but there is plenty of information about our company. I can assure you, this year was another record year. If you had looked up our company, you would have found our forum, where we share "inside" views of our product, facility and policies. Heading to over 20k units in the field. We are about to expand our sales into Africa now, with sales hq's in 5 continents. While that may not be a lot to a company in business 50 years, it is substantial, if you figure out the growth curve. Yes, there is chinese crap. Ours is not. We are not HF either. Again, there's plenty of info out there about us and our product...and our factories that we use to produce our product. IF you are interested in balance sheets, you might want to take a close look at ITW and try to figure out why they've had continuing layoffs...and research the history of MIller and see where they were financially 20 years ago even before things went offshore.

 

[Mike120]

Yes Mark, there is plenty of information about your company. Unfortunately there is little information out there that wasn't produced by your company. I guess if you guys say it, it must be true. The Bay Area BBB gives you guys a "F" but I'm sure that's just a misunderstanding. I'm really not sure if Oleg has done a very good job of building up the company or just a very good job of providing misinformation. I really don't care because I'm not buying any of it.

You are awfully defensive for being the king of the site. It's very difficult to determine who are your elves and how many zombies you've managed to produce. You've done a reasonably good job on this one. Try not to totally screw it up like some of the other welding forums Everlast and Longitivity have ruined. If nothing else, you can write a book on forum marketing.

As I said previously "I don't engage in food fights". I dropped in to ask a couple of questions, I got my answers (sort of) and acted on it. I certainly did not stop by to converse with marketing trolls or their elves and zombies. To the legitimate posters thank you all for your answers.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

For someone not interested in food fights, your plate is awfully full of junk food. If you have read or monitored my activities here, you know we are not in troll marketing. You also don't know how the BBB works. Anyone that has run a business will tell you about it. It's the next best thing to organized thugs who come around selling you "insurance" so your place won't get broken into.
It's been taken to task lately because of it's pay up or else... tactics.

After being here for going on our 3rd year, (again if you'd take notice) you'd see the only problems we have are people that like to screw the forum up by coming by with their plates full of junk food.:confused3: Whenever you have a company that markets aggressively, your going to have someone that thinks it is a crime.

There's no king, prince or pauper on this forum. We help sponsor this forum...that's it.
NONE, I repeat NONE, of these guys comments about our product have been solicited, or paid for. I imagine the troll and elves, and zombies comment was directed toward them?
But if you are happy, I'm glad you got the answers you wanted.

 

[FredH]

Don't Own any Everlast Equipment , nor paid by Everlast , But seeing how Mark has Always been there for people , ( Customer Service ) Who do own the Equipment , I Don't See a Problem . In Fact Mark has even Helped People here Who have Other brands of Welding Equipment / Plasma Cutters on addressing their issue's / problems and trying to solve them . Don't Really see that type of Customer Service from Lincoln or Miller do You .

Also Really Agree With Mark on the B.B.B. , Use to be a Good evaluation of Companies , But any more , it is basically nothing more than a " Buy Your Rating " situation . I Know several companies around here that have Great ratings by the BBB , But the State Government Agencies show a whole different picture as do previous customers reviews , similar to Contractor Boards .

Fred H

 

[Gary Fowler]

Warri or Port Harcourt??? I was in both of them years ago....

I was in Warri for this job for 2 1/2 years. I have been thru Port Harcourt travelling to the Bonny Island facility. I spent a week there auditing the QA/QC of a project KBR had there about 7 years ago. NOT a fun place to be, not that Warri was fun either. Armed guard movement from camp to worksite and back and any travel to contractors offices had to be planned ahead by security and minimum of 2 vehicles full of AK 47 armed police escorts where ever we went. The money was excellent though and I bought 2 new tractors, a shop and a boat shed extension plus build my retirement house all free and clear from working there.