>>> AUTO-DARKENING WELDING HELMET ??<<<

mjncad · Jan 8, 2011

Mark:

At the risk of starting a food fight here on FFBN, I've stayed quiet concerning Everlast for the most part until now.

I've read time and again in various threads you touting how good these products are, and if I were an Everlast dealer I'd be doing the same thing; but how come we never see pictures in any of your threads of anything made with Everlast products by you and/or satisfied Everlast customers? As you know, we tractor forum guys love pictures.

I went to the Everlast web site to see if there were any Colorado dealers...not one for our state, just a 1-800 number to call. I know Colorado is a Podunk state; but I'm not about to plunk down hard earned cash on an unknown commodity whether I'm a professional welder or a hack hobbyist like me.

I'll stick to Miller and Lincoln for my welding needs, and when I see "Made in China" on their components, I send them a snottygram to let them know that at least one customer is sick of seeing inferior crap from China, even if its a component on a high end machine.

Just calling it as I see it.

Willl · Jan 8, 2011

mjncad said:
I have no idea; but would it surprise me to see China on them? No. Would it piss me off to see China on them? Yes.

Would I buy Harbor-Freight or Everlast's Chinese made crap? No.

I guess i don't SEE your point. :laughing:

Mark @ Everlast · Jan 8, 2011

mjncad said:
Mark:

At the risk of starting a food fight here on FFBN, I've stayed quiet concerning Everlast for the most part until now.

I've read time and again in various threads you touting how good these products are, and if I were an Everlast dealer I'd be doing the same thing; but how come we never see pictures in any of your threads of anything made with Everlast products by you and/or satisfied Everlast customers? As you know, we tractor forum guys love pictures.

I went to the Everlast web site to see if there were any Colorado dealers...not one for our state, just a 1-800 number to call. I know Colorado is a Podunk state; but I'm not about to plunk down hard earned cash on an unknown commodity whether I'm a professional welder or a hack hobbyist like me.

I'll stick to Miller and Lincoln for my welding needs, and when I see "Made in China" on their components, I send them a snottygram to let them know that at least one customer is sick of seeing inferior crap from China, even if its a component on a high end machine.

Just calling it as I see it.

No problem, but...
You'll be spending a lot of time writing if you open up any of their units.
If you haven't seen the threads by guys here on this site, then I guess its too late for the helmet.:thumbsup:

I have a few items I am working on now, but the weather hasn't been cooperating with my free time and the objects are too large to get inside the shop. But, I have a couple of videos posted on line of them in operation.

dcyrilc · Jan 8, 2011

mjncad said:
I'll stick to Miller and Lincoln for my welding needs, and when I see "Made in China" on their components, I send them a snottygram to let them know that at least one customer is sick of seeing inferior crap from China, even if its a component on a high end machine.

Matt,

I wouldn't be suprised at all if Miller and Lincoln are made in the same plants that make the HF junk. China and other countries are at the point that they are quite capable of making quality products and they build to the customers specifications. If their customers (our suppliers) order junk, they build and supply junk. If they order it to be built to quality specifications, that's what's built. If they don't, the customer will go to the next supplier down the street. Most of the problem, as I see it, is that Americans have been willing to trade quality for price for a long time. To a large degree, we get what we pay for. As long as we as a consumer nation insist on receiving cheap products, that's what we are going to receive. Cheap junk.

Stop and think for a moment about the people you know. How many of them are willing to spend the extra money for a better product vs going to large volume chain stores (IE: Wallmart, HF, etc.)? Most of the people I know trade value for quality every day. I don't agree with it and I don't subscribe to it, but most do.

Milwaukee, Miller, and other companies who have always provided quality tools have to sell a certain quantity to stay in bussiness. As consumers turn away from them for cheaper products, they are forced to lower their quality standards in order to compete and keep their sales quantities up or risk folding and going under. The fault for the lack of quality we see in the stores today is our own fault as a nation.

My 2 cents worth.

EuropaChris · Jan 8, 2011

^Wut he sed^ :thumbsup:

Spot on! Americans piss and moan about all our jobs going to low cost countries but we are the very ones causing them to go by supporting the process by buying junk.

On the flip side, the pursuit of lower cost is a prime function of a market driven economy. People will always shop for a lower price, so you either have goods to sell at the lower price or go out of business. Pure capitalism and competition.

Unfortunately, Americans have taken it to a level beyond where it is reasonable, and happily gobble up absolutely horrid products so long as they are cheap. Just throw it away and buy another, fill up our landfills, and keep the Chinese employed stuffing us full of crap.

Seriously, I remember looking at a $9 toaster at Wal-Mart once. It was a joke, and maybe would last 6 months (or burn your house down). My parents have the same toaster today from the '60s and it still works fine. I think it's a Proctor-Silex.

4shorts · Jan 8, 2011

mjncad said:
Mark:

I know Colorado is a Podunk state; but I'm not about to plunk down hard earned cash on an unknown commodity whether I'm a professional welder or a hack hobbyist like me.

I'll stick to Miller and Lincoln for my welding needs, and when I see "Made in China" on their components, I send them a snottygram to let them know that at least one customer is sick of seeing inferior crap from China, even if its a component on a high end machine.

Just calling it as I see it.

Well what ever you are your NOT a hack welder and I agree with your thoughts. You are good at EVERYTHING you do. Although I don't consider myself a professional welder I've made a good living with the help of Miller welding equipment so why should I change? I'm not.

dcyrilc · Jan 8, 2011

4shorts said:
Well what ever you are your NOT a hack welder and I agree with your thoughts. You are good at EVERYTHING you do. Although I don't consider myself a professional welder I've made a good living with the help of Miller welding equipment so why should I change? I'm not.

'Morning Paul,

Good to hear from you.:thumbsup: I have to agree. You and Matt both do killer work. You guys may not be professionals, but I know some professionals who could learn from you.

I don't know what the quality of Everlast's equipment is. A lot of people are knocking it with the assumption it comes from China, and it probably does. My point was that just because it comes from China doesn't mean that it's junk. It all depends on what was specified to the manufacturer. I like Miller, they have a known quality. I think they are over priced, but I also understand that they have to charge a certain price to provide that quality and stay in business.

I want to learn to weld and am slowly buying the pieces to begin that endevor. At this point I am looking at buying a Miller Elite helmet. I have considered one of Mark's welders in leu of Miller due to cost. One of my advantages is that I won't be buying it today. If I'm lucky, it might be late this year. I have been following several welding threads closely since there are a few TBNers who have bought one of the Everlast units. So far they are happy with their purchases.

If, and this may be a big IF here, Everlast is having a quality machine made. And if they mandage to break into the market and make a name for themselves. I expect their price would begin to go up to provide a profit margin for the company.

I just got an emergency call out for work. Got to go.

4shorts · Jan 8, 2011

dcyrilc said:
'Morning Paul,

Good to hear from you.:thumbsup: I have to agree. You and Matt both do killer work. You guys may not be professionals, but I know some professionals who could learn from you.

I don't know what the quality of Everlast's equipment is. A lot of people are knocking it with the assumption it comes from China, and it probably does. My point was that just because it comes from China doesn't mean that it's junk. It all depends on what was specified to the manufacturer. I like Miller, they have a known quality. I think they are over priced, but I also understand that they have to charge a certain price to provide that quality and stay in business.

I want to learn to weld and am slowly buying the pieces to begin that endevor. At this point I am looking at buying a Miller Elite helmet. I have considered one of Mark's welders in leu of Miller due to cost. One of my advantages is that I won't be buying it today. If I'm lucky, it might be late this year. I have been following several welding threads closely since there are a few TBNers who have bought one of the Everlast units. So far they are happy with their purchases.

If, and this may be a big IF here, Everlast is having a quality machine made. And if they mandage to break into the market and make a name for themselves. I expect their price would begin to go up to provide a profit margin for the company.

I just got an emergency call out for work. Got to go.

I know what your saying and I agree with you. I have a Chinese tire changer here that's been flawless. I'd buy another one tomorrow if I had to but when it comes to welding equipment I just got to have the Miller stuff. My Dynasty DX200 got over two thousand paid welding hours on it with no issues and warranty repairs needed. As a matter of fact none of my Miller gear has ever needed warranty repairs done on it. When I go to upgrade I sell the Miller gear on one or two phone calls so I doubt I could ever do that with Everlast around here.

If I were Mark with Everlast I'd get a few sample machines out to guys like myself that's posting all the time and using this stuff and that way we would all get an opinion on just how good this stuff is.

Marks on here and a great contributor to the site but as they say "Proof is in the pudding" If the Everlast gear is good show us what it can do. Give us examples. What about the guys who purchased some of it on here? Were are they

I post as often as I can and when I do I show and tell the equipment that I use because I hope that some will get something out of it. I trust my Miller gear and when I need it to work it will.

I'm not financially benefiting from this what so ever. I've never made a dime posting this stuff on here. If I was in Marks boots trying to sell this stuff I'd be posting a project each week. That's my opinion of it.

Chilly807 · Jan 8, 2011

I'm in the same boat as Cyril and Paul. I think in a few years the guys who have bought welders in general will get a chance to put some hours on them, and I suspect we'll get feedback. Until then you take your chances with whatever you buy.

Neither of my Millers gave me any problems, nor has the old Sears (Century) AC/DC stick I bought this summer. When they do, you'll hear about it.

Cyril, I don't know how much difference there is between the Miller Performance Series hoods and the Digital Elite. I do know there is a price jump. I have the Performance series and have been happy with it. No flashes yet, and it's always "on" as far as I can tell. Very comfortable, fairly light weight.

I'm getting so used to having the auto darkening feature, one of these days I'm going to dig out the old manual helmet and have a go. I suspect it'll be as it was then, not great for positioning the job and the rod at the same time. All it gets used for now is if someone else wants to watch.

Sean

dcyrilc · Jan 9, 2011

Chilly807 said:
Cyril, I don't know how much difference there is between the Miller Performance Series hoods and the Digital Elite. I do know there is a price jump. I have the Performance series and have been happy with it. No flashes yet, and it's always "on" as far as I can tell. Very comfortable, fairly light weight.

Sean

I took a quick look for the brochure before I posted and didn't see it, but the Elite name stuck in my head. Without going and looking it up I can't say for sure which model I was looking at. It was their mid-line helmet. Not the top or bottom of the line. Of course, it could be the eagle, stars, and stripes which got me too.

Hope you had a good Christmas and New Years. Ours has been pretty tight financially. Seems like every time I think I'm caught up and going to get ahead, something goes south and I'm behind again. I thought I'd be caught up from Christmas pretty easy and then did a count in the barn tonight only to find that I've got 26 days worth of hay left. So much for getting caught up.:laughing: