nowtype

http://www.patmedia.net/sta1173

I ordered this about 2 weeks ago from China. It cost me signifcantly less money than a Miller, Lincoln, or Thermal Arc in a similiar category. Click on the picture for my actual pictures, as I just threw that website together really quickly. I will say the communication wasnt the easiest in the world, but it wasnt horrible. They were supposed to send me an argon regulator and MMA(stick welding) torch. Neither made it which is pretty upsetting. Also I never got a tracking number and they gave me a bunch of lame excuses why they couldnt send one. Regardless it made it here in one piece.

I need to wire up a 220V outlet in my garage tomorrow and get some misc welding supplies(argon, new helmet, and some consumables). Hopefully some pictures and a more full review later next week.


Modified by nowtype at 8:59 PM 5/24/2006

godofcheese

How much did it cost?

Mugencrxsir1

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by godofcheese &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How much did it cost?</TD></TR></TABLE>

And from where?

nowtype

I ordered it directly from China so I got it for significantly less than it retails. Retail it would be in the $1000 range + shipping(roughly $50). Its a Chiry brand welder. There are quite a few companies in China that make very similiar looking welders. I'm not sure if they are all the same, or there is one plant and different companies have different hardware. I f'd up changing the picture.html site and deleted all the pictures so I will have to retake them. Overall I think its a good option for the hobbiest.

nowtype

http://www.patmedia.net/sta1173

I fixed the pictures.

Importordomestic

how much did it cost you total to have it shiped from china and where did you order it from.

jaydmcrx

You really do get what you pay for when it comes to tools and supplies for fab. Check this out. It will burn up in 2 months, you will then spend more money on a quality machine like lincoln, or miller, you now have spent the intial cost of the chinese piece of ****, and then on top of that buy the good machine. Should have done it right the first time man. Sorry to rain on your parade, but that thing looks like a piece of garbage.

beepy

It does have the ever-important oh-en-oh-eff-eff switch.

BarBQ

I belive most of the Miller internal parts are sourced from China anyway and just assembled here. That came out on the Ask Andy Forum on their own site lol.

Does it have an adj balance?

nowtype

Do you enjoy talking out of your *** or you're just so good at it that you can't help yourself? Where is your factual basis on this machine is a piece of garbage? Have you tested this machine? Have you used a machine like this? Do you seriously believe they import Millers and Lincolns to do welding in China? You don't believe they have their own manufactures they use? I mean really, use your freakin head. Look what people said about Thermal Arc 185's. People said they were pieces of ****. How can they sell an inverter for $1800 when the Dynasty is $3000. Its made in China, OMG it can't be any good!!!! Do you seriously think there is more engineering involved in one of these machines vs a $15,000 TV? Where are they made? In way shittier conditions. Again, give me a break. Go troll else where because there has been A LOT of success with these Chinese brand welders. Go troll the hobart board and ebay. look at the feedback. if people buy **** that breaks it finds its way to google. I couldn't find one person complaining about these machines. Not one.

I bought this machine as a test for a business move. There is a market for a welder of this type for a low cost. If it works out nicely, I may concider selling them. If I don't like it or don't think its a good business move, I still have a TIG welder I can put on ebay and sell, or just use it for a while. Either way my risk is relatively minimal. People can think what they want, but we are in a Global Economy now. Places in the US have to compete with the rest of the world just like these Chinese Welders need to compete with brands like Miller and Lincoln. Open your eyes troll boy. Open your eyes.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BarBQ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I belive most of the Miller internal parts are sourced from China anyway and just assembled here. That came out on the Ask Andy Forum on their own site lol.

Does it have an adj balance?</TD></TR></TABLE>

It has pre flow(0-2s), post flow(2-10s), Wane time(0-5s), Amperage(10-200A TIG; 20-200 stick), and Space Rate(20-80%).

They use slightly different terminology so:
Wane Time is basically when you let off the pedal/HF button it will back the amperage off slowly over a set time period.
Space Rate is basically the amount of time the welder stays on DC+/DC- while doing AC welding.

What the manual says "
3、 Clear width switch:
In AC TIG welding, the current exchanges between positive and negative directions，when
Current is from tungsten to work piece, its positive direction and tungsten heats little,
Convenient for welding; while if current is from work piece to tungsten, it’s negative and
good for removing the oxidization coating on the surface of the work piece, but the tungsten
may be easily damaged because of overheat. This switch is for adjusting the current time
between positive and negative. When it’s at the middle，the proportion is 50% ；at the maximum is 80%;
at the minimum，20%.If in clockwise direction, the positive current time turns longer and negative
one shorter; and vice versa.
Re：Big current, low clear width；e.g.≥ 200A, the clear width ≤ 30%.
Little current, high clear width; e.g.≤ 100A, the clear width ≥ 50%.

Last Edit:

The price I paid reflects me going straight to the distributor. This is NOT an option for most as its very high risk and you need to fit certain qualifications. Suggested retail of these machines is $2000 but in actuality they'd sell for just around $1000. This is not a for sale/advertisement post. I'm simply documenting what I've found as some people may be interested. If you are not, click away please.

RACEPAK

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by godofcheese &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How much did it cost?</TD></TR></TABLE>

nowtype

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nowtype &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I ordered it directly from China so I got it for significantly less than it retails. Retail it would be in the $1000 range + shipping(roughly $50).</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nowtype &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
The price I paid reflects me going straight to the distributor. This is NOT an option for most as its very high risk and you need to fit certain qualifications. Suggested retail of these machines is $2000 but in actuality they'd sell for just around $1000. This is not a for sale/advertisement post. I'm simply documenting what I've found as some people may be interested. If you are not, click away please. </TD></TR></TABLE>

How many times do I need to type it? It retails for around $1000 + shipping. You don't ask summit or jegs how much they buy their stuff for, do you?

Finest

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jaydmcrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">YCheck this out. It will burn up in 2 months, you will then spend more money on a quality machine like lincoln, or miller, you now have spent the intial cost of the chinese piece of ****, and then on top of that buy the good machine. Should have done it right the first time man. Sorry to rain on your parade, but that thing looks like a piece of garbage. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Holy fawking racist muthafawker. Just shut up now.

richeybrooks

import form bashing on the chinese LOL

jaydmcrx

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Finest &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Holy fawking racist muthafawker. Just shut up now. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Lol i'm not racist at all. I didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings. I just am curious to see if and when it breaks how well will the customer service be when it happens. You get what you pay for.

I'll leave it at that, didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings. He was bashing on the customer service before hand anyways.

Keep in mind there is a reason that it is cheaper.

JUST LIKE MY ROTA'S!


Modified by jaydmcrx at 2:18 AM 4/24/2006

k24em2

I probably wouldn't buy one.

JK_Motorsports

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by k24em2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I probably wouldn't buy one.</TD></TR></TABLE>


Agreed. I have the Mitec "Smiley" 120amp with plasma cutter. Works fine, but want something a little heavier and more professional in my shop. I'll keep it for the plasma and possibly for the portabilty but for 1000.00+shipping, I'll buy a few year old Miller/Lincoln/Thermal Arc for that ar a smidge more.

paulzy

iTrader: (1)

The reason why miller/lincoln/HTP/Thermaldyne gets good reviews is because of customer service and the fact that they have many distributors in the states that are local to many people. That way parts would be ewasier to source out than to wait 2 weeks for a part from China and lose a customer

nowtype

Just an update. I finally got a bottle of argon today. The machine works, but the foot pedal is worthless. It will turn on the machine, but thats about it. It does not control amps at all. In fact it does something completely wacky where it limits the amps. 200A with the button start blows through the material immediately. With the foot pedal, not even close. The amperage display moves with the button, it does not move at all with the pedal. I'll see what happens with the manufacturer and how they want to handle things....

Slebidia

You could have saved a few bucks. The Riland looks like the same machine.

http://www.rilandusa.com/

nowtype

How exactly would I save money? The Riland 200AC/DC is $900 without a foot pedal. You can't add one either. Also there is no stick welding option. I paid less than that with a foot pedal and a few other accessories and I can stick weld.

Slebidia

There are US distributors to deal with on the Riland.

nowtype

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Slebidia &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There are US distributors to deal with on the Riland.</TD></TR></TABLE>

And? There are Chiry distributors to deal with too. There is a service center in California just like there is for Riland. The problem is that after 7 days they don't pay for the shipping(which I was never informed of). So now I'm stuck shipping it out for $50-60 and then I have to pay another $160 for them to ship it back. I'd assume the Riland warranty is similiar. Even if its not $160 to ship back, its probably $60ish. So its still $120. So what would one gain? Not much. The problem is, as with most electronical devices, if its going to fail, its going to fail right away basically. Because I dropped the ball in regards to getting the welder tested ASAP now I'm stuck in this situation. There is someone willing to replace the machine. I'm just not willing to spend another $220 to have it done.

The problem should be resolved relatively easily as the foot pedal isn't the most complex thing in the world. It just will take time and is overall very aggravating. To be honest with you, id expect similiar things from Riland as I would this brand. They all look the same. They are all probably assembled by the same people. I'm sure the same errors could just as easily be made.

So is Riland really that much better of an option and says who? If you look closely at the pictures on my website you will see that Mitec was actually wiped off and replaced with Chiry. People have had great sucess with Mitec products so I figured I would be okay with this product. I guess I was unlucky. If anything, it should give people an understanding what one would have to go through if they did purchase one of these Chinese welders. Its always nice to understand what will happen if stuff doesn't work. Thats why I purchased a sample machine before I went out and purchased 10 machines for resale.

essex

edit: wrong post sorry


Modified by essex at 5:59 AM 5/5/2006

Slebidia

Easy there killer. I was looking at Rilands last month. The reason I suggested them is because of their US distributors.

Storts Welding & Supply Store (Demo available) / 860-663-4244 / stortsweldingco@sbcglobal.net Connecticut

Stort has been pushing Rilands on a few of the welding boards for a few months now. I'm sure he would gladly test a welder before shipping it out to a customer. I was commenting mainly to help others out. I wasn't trying to offend you.