PORTAMIG 2 Year Warranty

Despite my best efforts of offering (hopefully!) good advice, and being available in the forum after hours virtually 7 days a week, it seems that people still can't resist saving a few quid!! I have quoted quite a few people on the PORTAMIG machines & lost out to MTA for the sake of 15 or 20 quid! They may have overlooked the fact that I supply a good quality 4 metre torch assembly & quality British made industrial gas regulator, put still plum for the 'grab the sale' cheaper MTA machine!
So, I have done a deal & now offer an exclusive 2 Year comprehensive warranty on all PORTAMIGS.
Covers everything, no quibble, anytime after-sales support.
And they look better in red
This warranty will be honoured for everybody that has already purchased a machine.
weldequip

I'm surprised your deal isn't cheaper anyway once you've factored in the nice torch and reg. Didn't think MTA included a reg with their version.

Why not do what the car manufacturers do and offer a base package and offer the cool reg and torch as an options pack. Gives people an idea of how much the extra bits contribute to the cost, and anyone feeling cheap can save money by buying the base spec rather than a base spec from someone else.

Longer warranty is cool though - thanks for that.

It's an idea Malcolm but I've always been one who hates the old extras thing!
What use is a welder without a torch & gas regulator?
I prefer the 'what you see is what you get' approach.
weldequip

Thats great news Steve.

To be honest I can't see why people would go for the MTA unit over the Portamig given the quality reg and torch, seems a false economy to me, but there you go.

The machines are very high quality.

One of this months classic car magazines reviews the MTA / Portamig 181 and gives it a glowing review decribing it as a true professional unit. I think it only lost out to the review winner (a Butters 170) because of the higher price. As others have said though in this case you get what you pay for, and the extra settings and quality of things like the wirefeed motor are well worth it.

Cheers,

Chris

I'd be interested to see that review Chris. No way the butters is a better machine, perhaps it's because it is £130 or so cheaper than the Portamig, or Butters bunged the reviewers! (as tends to happen with these magazine reviews; all depends on who has the highest advertising spend with them annually).
weldequip

Steve,

I am going to buy this mag tommorow, it is 'Classic and sports car' I will let you know.

Thanks for that, I will try & get a copy myself.
weldequip

Its the Feb 2007 edition of Classic & Sportscar. Don't get too excited though, its only a one pager on all the models (7 on test in total).

The Butters they review is the 170C and they list price as 279GBP inc VAT, and it scores 9/10. Best Budget choice is a Sureweld Monomig 152 Turbo @ 257 GBP scoring 8/10.

They review the MTA 181 (Same as Portamig 181), and its the only other machine to score 8/10. Price is listed as 399GBP, but doesn't include reg and the torch is different to the Portamig.

Here is what they say about the MTA 181 (Portamig equiv):

"This welder is pro quality and may be too large for some, but its easier to use than the hobbyist machines. The wire drive is significantly stronger and has a finer degree of adjustment, while the spool accepts up to 15kg. It welds smoothly and is powerful yet has a superb amount of fine control with excellent slow feed. There is also an electronic burn back facility, allowing softer settings for use on thin materials. Construction feels strong."

Other machines on test with scores were:

• Butters AMG 170C 279GBP 9/10 [Best Product]
• Sureweld Monomig 152 Turbo 257GBP 8/10 [Budget Buy]
• MTA Compact Mig 181 399GBP 8/10 [same machine as Portamig 181]
• Clarke 151 TE Turbo 223GBP 7/10
• ERP Mig 150 Turbo 220GBP 7/10
• Cebora Pocket Turbo 130 351GBP 5/10
• Telmig 130 Turbo 211GBP 4/10

An odd selection of machines to my mind, I guess broadly based on price? The power varies considerably from 130A - 185A.

The Butters feature they seems impressed with was the transformer overload lamp to tell you when the duty cycle has been exceeded... which seems strange, but there you go.

I would scan the article in, but my scanner is MIA at the moment. You could probably read the article in the newsagents in a few mins, so I wouldn't bother buying just for that review as its not that comprehensive imho.

Cheers,

Chris

An odd selection of machines to my mind, I guess broadly based on price?

Click to expand...

Coincidently, seems to be all the models MTA offer for sale?!
weldequip

CEBORA Pocket Mig 130

Also note that the Cebora machine only scores 5/10. In my write up "Which Hobby MIG Welder To Buy" I score it 7/10.
The magazines review scores only 'on the day' performance, mine on overall performance/reliability. You will note that I say "not the best performance on thin sheet & CO2" & that is true, however, overall, considering long term longevity etc. the Cebora 130 still rates 7/10 .
weldequip