Review My New Oxford Migmaker 240-1

[johnyev]

Nick dv

Have you used it anymore these last weeks?
Are you still pleased?
J

 

[Nick DV]

Last week before Xmas was very busy at work, so didn’t get a chance and since then.............. Used it just before that and now that I’m used to it, it’s so easy to use. In answer to your question, yep extremely pleased

 

[johnyev]

I’m going to get one

 

[Nick DV]

I’m going to get one

Cool Give @Tom Orrow L on this forum a shout, he’ll sort you out

 

[GrahamGKD]

Instigated by this thread - I'm going to order an Oxford MIG soon - question is, should I go for the Migmaker as Nick did or the iMIG like @Learning? The iMIG comes with a 4 roller wire feed but I would lose the semi-synergic feature (which my current Portamig also has). Would I miss the semi-synergic feature - presumably it means I would need to tweak the wire feed every time I change the power setting? Does anyone know why they drop the semi-synergic from the higher powered machines? I'm thinking that this might be the last MIG I buy so I want to make the right choice.

Nick DV should be on commission.

 

[a111r]

I think one would want a machine that's either properly synergic or not synergic, rather than the so-called 'semi-synergic'.

'Semi-synergic' is an attribute, made into a feature.
On basic transformer machines, feed motors are powered directly by the welding voltage. So as one ups the power setting (Dc volts) the motor increases speed. Almost certainly the wire speed will still need adjustment. But maybe Tec-Arc have fine tuned this, I wouldn't want to do their fine machines down?
Better machines have a separate power supply to the wire feeder. I believe, as I've owned none.

If you're familiar with all the old DIY threads on modifying SIP MIGs, that is one of the goals.... using a laptop SMPS to make their junk wire feeders and PCBs behave / work like a proper machine should. A goal usually missed.

 

[a111r]

Here's another brand of theirs (that I'd never heard of) for a local York distributor:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mig-Weld...1525d1e:g:cFgAAOSwhrRf7e6h&LH_ItemCondition=4

 

[johnyev]

Cool Give @Tom Orrow L on this forum a shout, he’ll sort you out

I’ve been in contact with a Tom from WeldingSD so I suppose it’s one and the same.
What is this welder which is not Oxford, Oriya or Tec arc ? ( abra weld)Which is spoke of?

 

[a111r]

[QUOTE="johnyev, post: 1736763, member: 21465"
What is this welder which is not Oxford, Oriya or Tec arc ? ( abra weld)Which is spoke of?[/QUOTE]

They are a nearby welding distributor.
https://www.abra-weld.com/products/mig-welders/mig-welder,-t-a-221-pro-compact,-abraweb-deal-detail

 

[a111r]

I know. My previous link, #30, shows a Tec-arc branded as an 'Abra-weld'

 

[GrahamGKD]

I wouldn't base my decision on whether the welder has or hasn't got synergc features.
They are a good starting point for beginners, or in the expensive welders for aluminium.
I've seen miller migs welding aluminium on a pre programmed setting, and I was very impressed.

I personally wouldn't require synergic settings for a mig, I learn the settings as the jobs come in,
I change the settings to suit, and tend to remember them for the future, or write them down if need be.

Have you looked into portamig, or technical arcs own migs, to me the portamig internals look neat.
Here is a nice one from technical arc,
https://www.tbws.co.uk/shop/tecarc-t-mig-321hd-industrial-mig-welder/
I like the two fans on the side approach, they pull heat off the transformer and the diodes
in what seems to be a more practical and efficient way.

Agree, the one you link looks good but I don't see that it has a capacitor bank? I have a Portamig already and specifically wanted to upgrade to a machine with capacitors (which the current Portamigs now also have). My main reason for preferring the Oxford over the Portamig is that the top loading wore would suit where I keep the machine better. Are you still using your iMIG @Learning?

 

[johnyev]

No, I lsold it.
It had lots of power and was smooth at high settings, but a lot of the work I do requires using lower settings too,
an I always had a cold start to the runs.
The oxford did not have a separate transformer for the feed motor, this causes issues, the main transformer
has a tap for the feed motor which means it effects the feed motor when engaged in welding.

That's why I went for a different mig this time around. I think they use capacitors in the tech arcs too,
email them and ask.

Go on, explain the issues, also what did you choose?

 

[johnyev]

[QUOTE="johnyev, post: 1736763, member: 21465"
What is this welder which is not Oxford, Oriya or Tec arc ? ( abra weld)Which is spoke of?

They are a nearby welding distributor.
https://www.abra-weld.com/products/mig-welders/mig-welder,-t-a-221-pro-compact,-abraweb-deal-detail[/QUOTE]

Thanks for that, I hadn’t heard of them before. Are they made by the same company as Tech Arc, Portamig and Oxford?

 

[a111r]

Yep. Tec-Arc is the UK Company that makes:
Oxfords, (Non) Portamigs, Their own brand (Tec-Arc), plus Abra branded machines.
There may be more?

 

[Nick DV]

Instigated by this thread - I'm going to order an Oxford MIG soon - question is, should I go for the Migmaker as Nick did ........

Nick DV should be on commission

Can’t answer your question re the differences, but from my experience, don’t think you can go far wrong with the Oxford.
Commission, hmmm I recommend @Tom Orrow L as I knew he supplied Oxford migs and when I spoke to him he couldn’t have been more helpful with his advice and supplying the mig. Good customer service and equipment means more than ‘discounts’

 

[Nick DV]

No, I lsold it.
It had lots of power and was smooth at high settings, but a lot of the work I do requires using lower settings too,
an I always had a cold start to the runs.
The oxford did not have a separate transformer for the feed motor, this causes issues, the main transformer
has a tap for the feed motor which means it effects the feed motor when engaged in welding.

That's why I went for a different mig this time around. I think they use capacitors in the tech arcs too,
email them and ask.

It would be useful to know what issues you had with the feed motor

 

[eddie49]

The Oxford did not have a separate transformer for the feed motor, this causes issues, the main transformer has a tap for the feed motor which means it effects the feed motor when engaged in welding.

I'm surprised that TecArc would take that cheap route and power the wirefeed motor from the main welding circuit. As a111r said, this is done on cheap machines, but the initial voltage drop when striking the arc and the voltage varying with the arc length causes stuttering variations in wire speed. Perhaps TecArc rely on the capacitors to stabilise the voltage?
Most Migatronics have this ( annoying ) "semi-synergic" feature, where the wire speed increases as the welding power is stepped up, but they do this by using the welding voltage steps to bias the speed controller, which does have it's own stable power source.

 

[MetalMonkey]

Yep. Tec-Arc is the UK Company that makes:
Oxfords, (Non) Portamigs, Their own brand (Tec-Arc), plus Abra branded machines.
There may be more?

They make the britarc machines too. It seems they will rebrand and tweak their standard models for resellers. The Oxfords are, as far as I know, unique in having the top loading wire feed, which does make them more compact. Their TECarc rebrands are side loaders and have a larger frame. I've posted a couple if times in the past the list of differences I could find between the various lines.

 

[GrahamGKD]

Found this from MetalMonkey back in May - very informative :-)

I looked into the ins and outs when i bought my 270-1

Apart from the colour, Portamig and Tecarc (also Britarc) are side loading machines, Oxford is a top loader - depends on which is more accessible and easier for your situation.
Oxfords include smoothing capacitors, Portamigs now have them fitted as standard, I think it is optional extra on the TecArc.

You can specify either 4 or 2 roll drives on the portamigs and tecarc machines but they are plastic ones until you get to the 285HD then you can get a metal 4 roll on the portamig and metal 2 or 4 roll on the tecarc.
On the oxford you can only have 2 roll unless you go to the I-MIG (330) range as the layout is too small to accommodate the 4 roll drive - however I believe the oxfords come with a better quality metal 2 roll drive than the portamig or tecarcs.

Any of the machines from the 270 and up have 16 voltage steps.
Duty cycles at 35% for the Portamig are better than the Tecarc, the Oxfords are lower until you get to the IMIG range. I think you can request special factory options for all of them to increase the duty cycle, but I can't remember the details.

Oxfords go down to a minimum of 20 Amps.
The new version of the portamig goes down to 15A on the smaller units and the 285HD and up are 25A.
The Tecarcs are 20A until you get up to the 285 and it jumps up to 35A

Tecarc and Portamig are the same size chassis, Oxford are slightly more compact (shorter).

I think that's right.

 

[Nick DV]

Happy New Year everyone.

Having seen the latest posts on this thread, I'd just like to say that I wrote this review for the following two genuine reasons:

1) To give my opinion and experience of the purchasing process as well as my early thoughts on using the Migmaker 240-1. Admittedly, I'm a relatively novice
'hobby' welder and the Oxford is my first professional mig, however it was an honest review based on my experience, and I have also answered anyone's
questions honestly.

2) To openly show my appreciation of @Tom Orrow L for his advice and assistance once I decided I wanted a new mig. He was always responsive and helpful,
especially considering my constant barrage of silly questions I was made aware of the long delivery time from the off, and there were no unwanted surprises
along the way.

However, it would seem from some of the recent posts on this thread, that there are certain 'issues' with this machine, which could have an impact on performance, machine quality and weld quality. I haven't noticed any issues with mine, and it's performed superbly - then again, I may be too much of a novice!

Following on from that point, I'd like to offer my apologies to anyone that I may have misled regarding the quality and performance of this machine, it was certainly not my intention. However I will say, that should I ever be in a position whereby I need a more powerful machine, I would 100% go for an Oxford again.

All the best to everyone for 2021