Stickweld 250 is back. Few minor issues

[deereman75]

Deereman,
A couple points.
Unfortunately, you've still got a lot of life lessons ahead of you about what you will and won't buy.
My grandfather was a Mechanic for nearly 50 years before he died. He had spent most of his life buying tools from Snapon and Mac. In the last 15 years or so, he discovered his error and SEVERELY regretted wasting all his money. He could do math in his head, and was a smart man, with limited education though. People had told him that the only way to go was Snap on or Mac. He lived and believed it, until one day the "truck" didn't have what he needed to do a job, and had to go down to sears to buy their "cheap" version to get him by. To his surprise, it did the job well, and did it repeatedly. Only difference was several hundred dollars. After that, he shopped smarter, and had more money in his pocket. He went back and estimated the money he had wasted in his life time on tools that he did not have to pay so much for...It would have made a nice retirement package for him. Instead, he worked up to the week he died because of EXACTLY what you just said.

I sure wouldn't spend new prices for them. I buy used when I find a good deal. If it is broken or worn out, the truck replaces it with a new one free. (even if they know you bought it used and broken) Some of the deals I am talking about are a snapon 1/2" ratchet for $20, a 3" starrett micrometer for $10 (checked out perfect on test blocks, 1930s, in original box, almost unused) Sabina Ohio MAC open ends for $1-$2 a piece, blueprint (when they were still american) adjustable wrench for $5... Ect.... I wouldn't buy most tools new... There are just too many good deals on used top of the line brands.

I have been taught the value of quality, and the value of letting someone else take the depreciation by buying used.

 

[Scooby074]

Deereman,
A couple points.
Unfortunately, you've still got a lot of life lessons ahead of you about what you will and won't buy.
My grandfather was a Mechanic for nearly 50 years before he died. He had spent most of his life buying tools from Snapon and Mac. In the last 15 years or so, he discovered his error and SEVERELY regretted wasting all his money. He could do math in his head, and was a smart man, with limited education though. People had told him that the only way to go was Snap on or Mac. He lived and believed it, until one day the "truck" didn't have what he needed to do a job, and had to go down to sears to buy their "cheap" version to get him by. To his surprise, it did the job well, and did it repeatedly. Only difference was several hundred dollars. After that, he shopped smarter, and had more money in his pocket. He went back and estimated the money he had wasted in his life time on tools that he did not have to pay so much for...It would have made a nice retirement package for him. Instead, he worked up to the week he died because of EXACTLY what you just said.

There was a time, likely when your grandfather was still working, that Craftsman was all or mostly all US made. They were an ok tool then for many things, mostly sockets. They have now gone chinese for their products and completely turned their back on US manufacturing. Lately, within the last couple months, they dropped Wilde as their prybar supplier (red hard handled model). Now it wil come from china and be grade A garbage, like all the other china pry bars.

Can you compare craftsman to Snapon or Mac now? NO. Not only in quality but warranty service. Ive heard where Sears has begun to ask for receipts in order to warranty, same thing that Crappy Tire has begun to do here. Who keeps a receipt for a "lifetime" so as to keep your warranty? I have many Snapon and Mac tools, and dont regret buying any of them. Very few people regret buying quality at the end of the day.

 

[deereman75]

Still haven't heard from longevity yet.... I would have expected something by now...
They turned what could have been great publicity into a big stain. Not at all impressed. You would think if they were sending extras to keep someone happy, they would atleast send usable ones... Same **** thing they did with Lanse.... I ain't shutting up so easy..... When Simon sent it to me he was clear he wanted my honest opinion. That will bite him now..... LOL

Normally if you try to buy someone's opinion, you send them the best you had, not whatever you have laying around the shop.... You would have thought they would have learned last time...... It was sent out well after that.

 

[MH8675309]

Those Snap on warranties might be better but there's a small chance I can find a truck right when I need it. I know right where the Sears store is. Some of the best buys on tools is at auctions. That's where most of mine came from and while they don't match they are just as effective.

 

[deereman75]

I got the snapon guys card. When ever I need him, I call him and he tells me his next few stops. We can meet at any one of them. I can call him and get my replacement the same day. And his stops are generally a lot closer than sears. My dad needed a kit for his 1946 snapon 3/8 ratchet. They didn't make the kit anymore. The driver took the closest kit he had, and took it home and on his own time ground and milled it to fit. Didn't cost him a cent. At sears if they don't have the kit, they take your American ratchet, and hand you a Chinese one. Snapon, if they don't have the kit, they custom make one for free.

 

[muddstopper]

At sears if they don't have the kit, they take your American ratchet, and hand you a Chinese one. Snapon, if they don't have the kit, they custom make one for free.

I have craftsman tools I bought 30 year ago that are as good as any snapon, mac or whatever you can buy today. I also have some modern day Craftsman tools that are just as good as the cheap chinese tools I can get at the local flea market. Sears has went to crap the last several years thats for sure. There is a sears store in my town too, but I seldom shop there for anything. Snapon also has their corporate headquarters located here in Murphy, so if I want Snapon tools, they are pretty easy to come by. Funny thing is, except for a set of anngular cutters, I dont think theres a snapon wrench in the shop, and if there is, its because I found it somewhere and picked it up. I have to agree with Mark of Everlast, a tools value is only as great as your need for that tool. A professional mechanic, or welder should have professional quality tools. As a hobbiest, it might not make sense to purchase the best tool money can buy if it wont be put to the fullest extent of its worth. While its nice to pickup a bargain on a quality tool, one should ask themselfs, Do I really need it, or do I just want to own it. I have a Lincoln ac/dc tombstone I bought new about 30-35 years ago. **** good welder and has served me well over the years. About a year ago I bought a Lincoln Idealarc 250/250 stick/tig machine. Got it at a bargain, but have never hooked it up and havent used it since bringing it home. I like my little tombstone for what I do and have burnt probably 50lbs of rods with with since buying the idealarc. A bargain aint a bargain if you dont need it or dont have a use for it.

As for most of the handtools in my tool box now, bought them at Wally world, Lowes, Homedepot and similar places. Some Japanese, some Tiawan and probably a few from mainline china. Maybe not the quality of a snapon, but they get the job done.

 

[FredH]

DITTO on What Muddstopper wrote .

I Bought the Migweld 200S from Longevity , have had it for several months now ( $430 there about's with shipping for a 60% duty cycle at 200 amp migwelder plus iit does stick as well ) . Has been flawless in its capabilities , only issue has been one knob has a lock nut holding it to the front panel that I had to remove the washer to get it to hold . Sending it back for that ?? NO , As S.A. wrote , UPS , Fedex could break a bowling ball , so why chance it . Was able to spec the drive roller , found a different brand that had the knurled drive grooves for flux core , replaced original drive roller and with a new .035 - .045 liner , it shoves .035 flux core like there is no tomorrow .

Fred H.

 

[Arc weld]

Having an Idealarc 250 and not hooking it up??? That machine will put your tombstone to shame! Probably the best (transformer/rectifier)single phase welder ever made!

 

[deereman75]

Up date, still havent heard the slightest thing from longevity......

Normally they would have been doing damage control weeks ago.....

Highly recomend against longevity. When the machines work they are great, but the company is far from good.

If something goes wrong again, Im replacing it with an idealarc250...

 

[LONGEVITYsimon]

Deereman,

Sorry i was in China and have not had a chance to go on the forums to check your status. I am back now. I see you have some issues with leads based on the thread. Let me take care of that for you and get you what you need. In the future, to start a trouble ticket email support@longevity-inc.com and this gets assigned to a rep.

Also, you can email me direct at simon@longevity-inc.com when something like this happens. We do not have the man power to monitor every forum for support.

I am in the office today and tomorrow. Will call you.