Welder purchase advice...

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Hello I am new here. I run a small fabrication shop here in East Tennessee. I have a small CNC mill. a couple lathes, bandsaws, grinders, benders, etc... I also have a large industrial L-tec tig unit. I do a lot of custom fabrication of all sorts. I have been having some issues with the remote control on my L-tec 250 HF.  I think it is a board but not sure. It does not have any problems welding via the panel or using stick arc. I am still using it daily and wondering about who I can get to look at it without breaking the bank.    Anyways, I have been looking at getting a newer Tig unit here. I am looking at an AC/DC inverter machine and want to get the most bang for my buck.  I do not have a fortune to spend and have been looking at some of the smaller millers. lincolns, everlast, even the eastwood machines.... Not sure what to do as this machine WILL get used daily and run a lot altho most of what I do does not require a ton of heat. My L-tec is running well for me off a 50 amp circuit and I have never had an issue in many years of using it.  I would like arc starting and as much adjustability of control as possible and would like to try a pulsing tig.  I know that the chinese machines are not well thought of but the Everlast 250EX seems a good value and has everything I want feature wise. Is there another machine out there for a reasonable price that can compete with this machine?  Does anyone here have one and use it A LOT?  I know they have a decent warranty but I have read some good and bad reviews online...  I would like to get into a good Miller or Lincoln or even an Esab like my L-tec here but I am on the fence about it. I really want to be able to continue doing aluminum and stainless as I do a lot of that here so going to a DC unit is not an option.  I make my living with my machines and while I do a lot of hobby stuff in my shop as well I am using my machines to make money daily.  I do not think the L-tec is going anywhere and I will try to troubleshoot it myself but I would like to have ANOTHER good tig here as a backup in case this bad boy fails me. It is getting older now so who knows right. It has been an AWESOME machine so far tho.... I love it. Just need to figure out what the hell is wrong with the foot control setup. It acts like it has no power no matter where you put the dial on the machine but the dial seems to still work as the arc gets even less bright when you turn it down. All the time it is not enough to weld with tho and is really annoying. It is not always not working either. Sometimes it works fine and sometimes I just have to set the amperage and flick it to panel control and just deal with it. Frustrating.....   Anyways, nice to meet all of you and any and all input is welcome.... PeacePete
Reply:Personally I'd suggest you avoid the import tigs. Being new here you don't know the history that goes along with them. Quite a while back they bought their own sections here and all most all threads related to thier machines get moved there. As soon as they do threads dealing with bad machines, poor customer service and so on get deleted ASAP so there's not "bad" threads for new guys to look at. HAving been around a long time and having seen this happen repeatedly, I wouldn't trust one of those companies for a machine I counted on to make me money day in day out.In general customer service that's been reported is generally poor. Machines show up DOA from time to time and customers have trouble getting in touch with the company to get any resolution to their problems... I could go on and on, but I don't want to open that can of worms again. Just a basic heads up to make sure you understand there are issues that you can not longer get access to because the companies have deleted the threads.Personally if I needed a new tig, I'd be looking at Miller, Lincoln and Thermal Arc for the most part and avoid machines like Eastwood, Everlast, Longevity and so on. The ability to get the machine repaired years down the road if issues occur would swing me that way even at a higher initial cost..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:Originally Posted by PetefromTnI also have a large industrial L-tec tig unit. I do a lot of custom fabrication of all sorts. I have been having some issues with the remote control on my L-tec 250 HF.  I think it is a board but not sure. It does not have any problems welding via the panel or using stick arc. I am still using it daily and wondering about who I can get to look at it without breaking the bank.  I do not think the L-tec is going anywhere and I will try to troubleshoot it myself but I would like to have ANOTHER good tig here as a backup in case this bad boy fails me. It is getting older now so who knows right. It has been an AWESOME machine so far tho.... I love it. Just need to figure out what the hell is wrong with the foot control setup. It acts like it has no power no matter where you put the dial on the machine but the dial seems to still work as the arc gets even less bright when you turn it down. All the time it is not enough to weld with tho and is really annoying. It is not always not working either. Sometimes it works fine and sometimes I just have to set the amperage and flick it to panel control and just deal with it. Frustrating.....   Anyways, nice to meet all of you and any and all input is welcome.... PeacePete
Reply:Originally Posted by PetefromTn I have been having some issues with the remote control on my L-tec 250 HF.  Pete
Reply:Thanks guys,    actually I was out there working on a stainless steel custom beer brewing stand and I had it happen again. I actually did play with the wires a bit and found that depending on how I move the foot control around it will work. SO I guess I have some sort of break in the leads or an intermittent break at least, that or the pot is going bad I guess. This machine works AWESOME and has been a great investment in my small company so far. I absolutely love it and if I found another one for a good deal I would buy it again.   The only reason I was really looking into another machine was because I want a backup in case this monster dies on me someday. Also some of the newer machines have the much improved freq control as well as the pulsing capabilities. I would like to be able to play with these when I am facing some of the thin aluminum jobs that I get from time to time. I have been able to do about anything I want with this old machine but it is very tempting to get into a newer machine today with the features available. Wish the Millers and Lincolns and Esabs were more inexpensive but I dunno.  I do have a couple chinese machines here, a 7x12 bandsaw that has been excellent for me so I do not mind looking at chinese made stuff but I would RATHER buy an american machine. Trouble is that these machines with the features I want cost several grand to get into.  Any suggestions on a real good reliable machine for say $1500-$2k?   Thanks for the help and comments. PeacePete
Reply:Originally Posted by PetefromTnThanks guys,    actually I was out there working on a stainless steel custom beer brewing stand and I had it happen again. I actually did play with the wires a bit and found that depending on how I move the foot control around it will work. SO I guess I have some sort of break in the leads or an intermittent break at least, that or the pot is going bad I guess. This machine works AWESOME and has been a great investment in my small company so far. I absolutely love it and if I found another one for a good deal I would buy it again.   The only reason I was really looking into another machine was because I want a backup in case this monster dies on me someday. Also some of the newer machines have the much improved freq control as well as the pulsing capabilities. I would like to be able to play with these when I am facing some of the thin aluminum jobs that I get from time to time. I have been able to do about anything I want with this old machine but it is very tempting to get into a newer machine today with the features available. Wish the Millers and Lincolns and Esabs were more inexpensive but I dunno.  I do have a couple chinese machines here, a 7x12 bandsaw that has been excellent for me so I do not mind looking at chinese made stuff but I would RATHER buy an american machine. Trouble is that these machines with the features I want cost several grand to get into.  Any suggestions on a real good reliable machine for say $1500-$2k?   Thanks for the help and comments. PeacePete
Reply:I just hate it when I see GOOD and Neverlast used in the same sentence.I will say, that after reading several of the responses from posters who did purchase the Chinese junk, they got what they deserved.Not sure that tech support at Miller, Lincoln, ESAB, TA, etc could deal with some of the boneheaded questions I see asked.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Regarding domestic support for service and parts, from experience I know that Miller, Linclone machines are good for at least 15 years from expiration of warranty. I can still get new or rebuilt parts for every Miller I have owned, and one of them is 25 years old.The offshore stuff looks to be discontinued after every new replacement model comes out. So once it out of warranty, you may as well as throw it away if it breaks.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:I don't delve much in the tig world, but I know Hobart has an ac/dc inverter out for around $1400ish.  I don't know where it's made or anything about it, maybe somebody else does.  It might make an excellent backup to the L-Tec.Lincoln SA 200Esab Caddy 160Thermal Arc 201TSMiller Dialarc HFI don't like making plans for the day because then the word "premeditated" gets thrown around the courtroom....
Reply:Elerlast is and oxymoron.Lincoln Weld Pak100Lincoln Weld Pak 140 HDLincoln Weld Pak 175Lincoln Precision Tig 185Miller Millermatic 210 mig.
Reply:Petefromtn you said it yourself. Your ltec has been good so that is what I would look for if not that than a similar one and cheap Chinese. Is not the same.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:Look at a used Thermal Arc 185.  They sell on eBay in the price range you're looking at.  I just sold mine for 1700 with a tank.  I have a Dynasty now, and others may disagree, but beside a higher AC freq range and possibly better arc starting, I don't see much of a difference in the machines.  DavidR is a pro here and has been using one daily in his business for many years.  This machine would be the best bang for the buck IMHO.They are made in Japan or Malasia.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum