Ordering Kemppi MMA welder from UK

admin

Looking at ordering a Kemppi Miniarc Evo 180 arc welder (~$1300 Cdn) from ebay.uk (Oxford Welding supplies) into Canada. Has anyone else ordered from Oxford Welding? If yes,Any problems dealing with Oxford Welding?Was there any problem with how the item was packaged for shipment or with the shipper chosen that lead to the item being damaged?Any issues at all with any European targetted Miniarc using our 240V 60Hz power source (it is supposed to automatically handle both 50Hz and 60Hz)?The specs don't indicate, but given the Miniarc 180 is auto power adjusting, I am assuming it does a good job with 6010 rod. Is this true in your experience?Did you ever need service on a Kemppi in Canada (or USA) - if so, how did you handle this?And in case you were wondering why, I like to use quality tools (i.e. I am not that good and need all the help I can get  ). Besides, in this price range, I don't see much difference in quality or features in inverter based welders, expect possibly for 6010 support which the Miller/Lincoln inverters in this price range apparently handle poorly according to the reviews.Thanks
Reply:Since they don't seem to have a sales or service network for North America I would be hesitant to purchase one.ESAB has a MiniArc 161  about $700.00 USDhttp://www.esab.ca/ca/en/products/in...Code=819&tab=135% dusty cycle 230v  160amps. ( kemmpi is 35%170amps)Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Thanks for the comment Ed.I had looked at the Esab 161 LTS. The product documentation indicates it supports hot start and arc force, both of which I want. But it says nothing further about supporting a stable arc while running a bead irrespective of rod height (within reason, of course). For me this is a killer requirement - I really am not that skilled .The Kemppi and similar Fronius arc welder marketing materials highlight electronic circuitry to maintain a stable arc (esp. the Fronius with its "resonant intelligence"). This is a highly valuable feature and I can only assume that because Esab does not feature it, the Miniarc 161 LTS does not support it. I know they do highlight this feature in their higher end models, as do Miller and Lincoln.In the mid-range, I don't know of another stick welder besides the Kemppi and similar Fronius (TransPocket 1500) that have electronics supporting a stable arc. Are there others in this range? I am not too interested in Chinese knock-offs that make this claim - maybe in another 10-15 years when, like the Japanese, they have pulled up their socks and produce better quality products. I am dating myself here, but I remember as a kid when remarking on a poorly made item we used to joke "Must be made in Japan", so I think there's a good chance the Chinese manufacturers will eventually get it right.
Reply:Originally Posted by barfarkleThanks for the comment Ed.I had looked at the Esab 161 LTS. The product documentation indicates it supports hot start and arc force, both of which I want. But it says nothing further about supporting a stable arc while running a bead irrespective of rod height (within reason, of course). For me this is a killer requirement - I really am not that skilled .The Kemppi and similar Fronius arc welder marketing materials highlight electronic circuitry to maintain a stable arc (esp. the Fronius with its "resonant intelligence"). This is a highly valuable feature and I can only assume that because Esab does not feature it, the Miniarc 161 LTS does not support it. I know they do highlight this feature in their higher end models, as do Miller and Lincoln.In the mid-range, I don't know of another stick welder besides the Kemppi and similar Fronius (TransPocket 1500) that have electronics supporting a stable arc. Are there others in this range? I am not too interested in Chinese knock-offs that make this claim - maybe in another 10-15 years when, like the Japanese, they have pulled up their socks and produce better quality products. I am dating myself here, but I remember as a kid when remarking on a poorly made item we used to joke "Must be made in Japan", so I think there's a good chance the Chinese manufacturers will eventually get it right.
Reply:Thanks for the reply stiv9.My understanding of Power Factor Correction (PFC) was that it really wasn't required for the non-industrial type of welding I will be doing (nice to have though). I could be wrong (would not be the first time, nor the last), but I thought both the Kemppi and the Fronius had a microprocessor and that the "automatic arc dynamics control" Kemppi talks about, or the  "resonant intelligence" from Fronius, were actually mostly software functions provided by this processor (with maybe some interface hardware to sensing devices as well as interface hardware to drive the components handling the level of current supplied). That's the reason I was attracted to these two models - I don't think the Esab 161LTS or lower end Miller and Lincoln inverters, for example, have such a processor. Please correct me if I'm wrong.Last edited by barfarkle; 08-24-2015 at 09:07 PM.
Reply:Good lord... Any of the big name inverters weld fine - I've had the miller maxstar 150s and currently have the ESAB 161.Both weld almost identical.Do you really have to get the special, fancy, computer-save-your-butt, wizz bang technology for you to be able to weld correctly?Or could you just buy any decent one and practice a little more....Good luck on your search - btw, everyone has to practice no matter what they buy. Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Interesting reply MinnesotaDave.Why bother? Let me ask you a question - you already know the answer. What is the one thing even Donald Trump with all his billions cannot buy? You know, of course, that the answer is time. The only thing you can do is use it more efficiently - you cannot buy more of it. That is why it matters to me whether I am using tools that allow me to use my time as efficiently as possible. I don't have time to learn every skill to a master's level, and god knows my wife has enough projects for me to do around the house, so spare time is at a premium. That is why I try to get good tools that either allow me do a task with less skill than otherwise required by someone at my level, or to do the work faster, all while maintaining an adequate level of quality. And yes, I know, even with the best of tools, you still have to put in time practicing.I contrast this with my father, who was a general contractor. He always bought just about the cheapest tools he could get. Why? Because he was highly skilled at his job - he didn't need all the fancy whiz bang technology to do an adequate job. I too am highly skilled, but not in welding, and I'm hoping the whiz bang technology will make up for my deficits in this area.
Reply:I have a 250amp Kemppi tig inverter, i bought it second hand from a welding supplier for $750It runs on 3 phase 400 voltsGreat little machine, a lot of equipment rental company,s in Europe have Kemppi machines in their "fleet".They would not do that if the machines were unreliableBut i a have to agree with the other posts, if there is no Kemppi support/service in Canada (or the US) don,t buy it.
Reply:Thanks for the reply bluemoon.There is no Kemppi support in Canada. You are probably right, it's best to go with another brand. Fronius just recently added Canada as one of their supported markets but I have avoided them because their prices, especially for replacement parts, are very high. Maybe time to reconsider.
Reply:I very highly recommend a fronius machine, ive had the plesure of using a few different models, and they are by far the best i have ever used, they may be expensive, but its for a reason
Reply:Originally Posted by barfarkleThanks for the reply stiv9.My understanding of Power Factor Correction (PFC) was that it really wasn't required for the non-industrial type of welding I will be doing (nice to have though). I could be wrong (would not be the first time, nor the last), but I thought both the Kemppi and the Fronius had a microprocessor and that the "automatic arc dynamics control" Kemppi talks about, or the  "resonant intelligence" from Fronius, were actually mostly software functions provided by this processor (with maybe some interface hardware to sensing devices as well as interface hardware to drive the components handling the level of current supplied). That's the reason I was attracted to these two models - I don't think the Esab 161LTS or lower end Miller and Lincoln inverters, for example, have such a processor. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Reply:Great - thanks for the info stiv9. I did not realize the Maxstar 150 also has software control - will have to re-check this machine.