Multi-Function Inverter Welders

[steviec_lj]

I've been contemplating upgrading, or rather adding to, my small collection of welders. Now I've noticed these machines, MIG-MAG/TIG/MMA, on the market for some time and always thought that one would be nice to stick in the corner and have a go at TIGing some Stainless together on, as they seem more affordable and potentially useful that 3 seperate machines.

I have however, always thought that seperate machines would be far easier to work with and potentially repair / replace should anything go wrong, rather than purchasing an all singing all dancing machine and then only havinig 2/3's of it working 18 months down the line.

Machines I've taken note of in the past include;

Lincoln SpeedTec 200
R-Tech MTS210D
Thermal Arc Fabricator 211i

Although to be fair, now I look at it more, seperate machines for MIG/TIG/MMA would probably cost about the same as an all in one package, even the transformer machines which albeit are heavier, but I hear they are miles better.

Does anyone own an "All in One" machines?
What make and model do you have?
Out of curiosity, what did you pay for the machine?

Finally, how well does it perform?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[daleyd]

I have the rtech one and it's been great.

I say that from the point of view of someone who is an amateur welder, not someone who uses it to make a living from.

It has welded up a load of pens in a stable and a friends land rover roll cage with no problems. I love the fact I can do all 3 processes( none very well, mind buts that's me not the welder:/) without needing 3 machines. The arc and mig I've found particularly good, I've really only played with the tig so far.

I got it on the shop soiled deal they have, not a scratch on it when it arrived and paid about £700 all in, including mig and tig torches and a regulator.

 

[Jim Davey]

EWM Picopulse 180, it's a genuine synergic pulse mig with superb build quality and reliability. 3 year warranty, German manufacture, high duty cycle, and the arc energy in pulse mode makes it seem to weld more like a 220 amp set than a 180. The stick mode is smooth and easy to strike, the tig function is lift but you get adjustable downslope and post flow and I've sold loads over the last 4-5 years and have only ever had one back for repair.

(Synergic means two or more things working together. On a synergic machine, as you increase volts the set automatically increases wire feed speed to match based on a memorised chart of wire/volts calculations in the machines 'brain'. It comes with pre-programmed 'jobs' that cover mild steel, stainless, silicone and magnesium aluminium alloys, mig brazing and gasless flux cored in various wire diameters.
All you do is load up the wire, fit the right torch consumables, liner, tip and connect to the correct gas supply. Then it's just a question of selecting the relevant program for the wire/gas you have chosen, say 0.8mm wire and 5% co2 mix, then turn the knob on the front to the desired metal thickness setting and start welding. It's that easy. You can set up manually, and you always have the option to 'trim' voltage or arc dynamics settings to tailor the arc to just what you want but the off the bat settings really are good enough that you can pretty much set and go in seconds.)