Tig

[Shield Arc]

BlacknTan I know exactly what you're saying! I'm blue collar too, I come from a long line of Iron Workers, Boiler Makers, and Carpenters. To a very large degree I think the American people have done a lot of this to them selves. I've worked in car manufacturing plants, airplane manufacturing plants, food processing plants, etc, etc, some of the laziest people on earth! What ever happened to 8-hours work for 8-hours pay?

 

[Jesse masterson]

I agree America hads done a lot to itself , poor quality, etc but it's never to late to change. I hope we have it in us, new generations seem like they just don't take pride in the USA. Like the older ones did. Just like the great gal some may have lost many years back, you won't miss it till it's gone . Thanks for all the input guys.

 

[BlacknTan]

I agree America hads done a lot to itself , poor quality, etc but it's never to late to change. I hope we have it in us, new generations seem like they just don't take pride in the USA. Like the older ones did. Just like the great gal some may have lost many years back, you won't miss it till it's gone . Thanks for all the input guys.

Yeah, I remember that gal also!

She still pops up in my dreams quite often, but hey, she wasn't good for me anyway..... But, she sure was fun!

 

[Jesse masterson]

Is she the only thing that pops up in your dream hahaha.

 

[weldermike]

I didn't know anything about inverters until I got to run a Dynasty side by side with a Syncrowave at Miller's testing facility in north west Chicago. One of Miller's techs spent 3 or 4 hours with me explaining the differences, and showing me how to weld with the Dynasty. When I got home I ordered a Dynasty 300! I've had it 7 or 8 years, not one ounce of trouble. Couple years ago I bought the PowerArc 200 from Mark, again not one ounce of trouble. About a year ago I bought the Lincoln V350-Pro, had trouble right out of the box. Loose wire inside. Most likely from being handled to rough in shipping. Question is, will these inverters last as long as transformers or generators, we'll have to wait and see. I for one am totally impressed with how much control these inverters have over the puddle! As impressive as my Dynasty is, I'm more impressed with the V350-Pro. That just might be because it has so many more options tho. Only way you'll be able to tell the difference is to get your hands on an inverter, I think you'll be impressed too!

My syncrowave just had its first major problem in 20 yrs. I was mad, but was also excited to finally get a dynasty after all the great things I heard about them. I never ran a inverter machine, but have talked with people and they got rave reviews. When trying to figure out what went wrong with my syncro, the tech guys at my LWS told me to fix my machine and hold out on the dynasty. I believe, and dont quote me, he said they have something like 5 boards in them, and theyre brought in for repairs like crazy. I was kind of disapointed as I was looking foward to a inverter, so I ordered the parts for the syncro, and gonna hold out for a while. I was gonna fix the syncro anyway, and keep it in the back burner, but looks like the old girl isnt going anywhere for a while! Man, I was really looking foward to a new sweetheart!

 

[Shield Arc]

That seems strange Mike! I must belong to at least 5 or 6 welding boards, very seldom do I see a thread where someone is having problems with their Dynasty. If anything they are generally operator error.

I should keep my big mouth shut, next time I go to use my Dynasty it will probably go up in smoke!

 

[weldermike]

That seems strange Mike! I must belong to at least 5 or 6 welding boards, very seldom do I see a thread where someone is having problems with their Dynasty. If anything they are generally operator error.

I should keep my big mouth shut, next time I go to use my Dynasty it will probably go up in smoke!

Theres a guy on millers forum that just got beat up pretty bad getting his 200dx fixed. I was torn shield trust me. Im gonna be building a new shop soon, and I think im gonna hold on the inverter for a while and go with a syncro 250 for the new shop. Hopefully spring time. Just in time for the new dynasty 280 to hit the showroom and have me crazy again. At least I got my parts for old betsy, just picked them up during lunch. High frequency transformer, and one capaciter. $200, hope im good, if this dont work its the board, $850 ugh. Should be good with the HFT. When I step on pedal I got voltage in and almost nothing coming out.

 

[Shield Arc]

Is that the guy who had to clean the dirt dauber nests out of his 200DX? If so that pretty much tells us about his maintenance program.

 

[weldermike]

Is that the guy who had to clean the dirt dauber nests out of his 200DX? If so that pretty much tells us about his maintenance program.

Yup, thats him. Im gingerboy on millers. Thats what my friends from the UK call me, (red hair) and now im stuck with it in the US. Even my girlfriend calls me gingerboy now. Trust me, its alot funnier with a english accent! LOL

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Though you won't find it on American machines, since they have in mind making money by putting large markups on parts for out of warranty welders, inverters are relatively inexpensive to fix and simple IF a problem does crop up. Lifespan for an inverter isn't predicted to be quite as long, but they ARE easy to repair by and large. Transformers are not cheap to repair typically because of the large "special" components made that can go bad IF they ever do go bad. They are weighty to ship and handle as well. Inverters typically use off the shelf, common electronic components. Think of it this way....IGBT's have been around since the 70's/80's. An IGBT from the 80's can be replaced by an IGBT from 2012 for about a buck or two. That transformer in the welder if the shellac comes off or the insulation begins to degrade was likely only made a few years by the company that built the welder and parts have been obsoleted...then it's time for a new welder. It might not be a transformer, but a huge special made power switch, or a very large and expensive capacitor that goes dry on a transformer welder (if equipped). I have both types of machines, including two engine drive welders that have their own list of expensive items to fix on them.