My neighbor bought?

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A rebranded 50amp Plasma - 200amp Tig/Stick Inverter machine for $500.Anyone have an opinion?Good or Bad?I want a Heads Up so when I go over there to do a welding project for him, I'll know if I should still haul my Welder over there.Here is the Craiglist photo
Reply:Cheap plasma combo units have a very bad reputation of going "Boom". They my work just fine for a bit, them let out the magic smoke and not work with no warning, often with very little time on the machine. If the project is time sensitive, pack a spare unit. You may not need it because you don't, but Murphy's Law says when you don't that will be the day it fails..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:OK, Thanks!Its Sunday morning, hence I had time to GOOGLE research it!Rebadged "LOTOS" apparently?Most reviews say to open it up, check the connections and change the air hose for the plasma.Strange but it seems, there are good ones and bad ones?Wonder if it is the old made on Friday(slap it together) or the made on Monday(hung over) syndrome?Anyways, he is in Florida for 2 weeks, bet the shop is locked so I can't go check it out while he is gone.
Reply:A lot of those machines were Mofset based and the electronics had issues. Newer units use IGBT's instead. One of the electronics gurus can probably explain the reasons behind those issues and why one had more issues than the other. One thing about inverters, when one thing goes, it usually fries a ton of other parts when it happens so it's not a "quick fix". Everything's often fried.I know quality control on many of those units were spotty at best, Stories of having loose screws in the case, stripped screws making things tough to put together or take apart, connectors unplugged, wiring routed to the wrong places abound, and were fairly common for a while.I hope he's one of the guys who never has any problems with his unit..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Yea, the Canadian LOTOS website made it a point to state that the new improved unit had IGBT's and Siemen's technology.He is the type that will sometimes send things back (in this case I hope he does) and sometimes not, just chalking it up to "should have listened".Thanks for the Info!
Reply:The notable thing about Chinese equipment is the inconsistency.One may last a long time and another will blow up on the first power up.Whatever they say about warranty is usually vague at best. If someone gave me one, I would open it up and inspect the connectors and look for loose bits of metal and washers in it.I wouldn't bet my life on one being reliable,unless I was tired of living.
Reply:But.... BUT ! It's red and that thar rytin spails Milwackee ! It's murkin ! Gawd Blass murka !Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:This here message were posted wiff a Chicago computer key klicker !!!Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)