Review Oxford MIgmaker 180 240 v single phase

[Andrew Robson]

Apologies for not updating my post regarding issues with my Oxford magmatic 200.
I decided since I was going to have to box the thing up and ship it back to them for the repairs that rather than risk damage and incur the costs in time and lost income I would live without the use of Spot weld timer and just use it as it was. I was really very annoyed about it as it had been a pretty big expense for me. Fast forward
Despite only being a month or so out of warranty and the fact that they were told right away that the spot timer had failed within minutes of turning it on

Whats the latest then?

apologies for the delay in updating my rant. I ended up taking the PCB out and sending it back to them, turns out that a switch on it had failed, £65+ shipping costs and it is now working as it was supposed to, including the spot timer. (I like that function as it stops me from getting carried away and trying to run a weld along very thin bar body work, which almost always ends in tears).
Ultimately if a product is sold as being UK made it should be just that, if it is either built here using Chinese parts or a combination of UK and Chinese products it should be labelled as such. Not doing so is deliberately misleading, its a matter of principal for me. To take the trouble to have the transformer wound here in the uk and then surround that with cheap chinesium electronics rather defeats the object. Had I known that I would have certainly have made a different purchase decisions.
As to the axle thing, c'mon, if you are selling what is supposed to be a higher end machine it is the attention to detail that makes products stand out from the crowd and shows that you care about what you do, the use of pre galvanised tube for the axle would not add any significant cost. it's just penny pinching cheapness

 

[arther dailey]

the axle is a bug bear to most every one that buys one , strange oversite on such a good tool, they rust quickly , but obviously it doesnt affect the machine.
I have noticed they dont state fully made in uk , again its down to price I suspect .

 

[a111r]

apologies for the delay in updating my rant. I ended up taking the PCB out and sending it back to them, turns out that a switch on it had failed, £65+ shipping costs and it is now working as it was supposed to, including the spot timer. (I like that function as it stops me from getting carried away and trying to run a weld along very thin bar body work, which almost always ends in tears).
Ultimately if a product is sold as being UK made it should be just that, if it is either built here using Chinese parts or a combination of UK and Chinese products it should be labelled as such. Not doing so is deliberately misleading, its a matter of principal for me. To take the trouble to have the transformer wound here in the uk and then surround that with cheap chinesium electronics rather defeats the object. Had

UNIVERSAL REPLACEMENT MIG PCB - 23 - 58Vac INPUT, FOR HEAVY DUTY APPLICATIONS | eBay

TEC ARC is a leading manufacturer and repair centre of arc welding machines. THE PCB HAS THE FOLLOW SPECIFICATIONS PCB Size L=175mm W=100mm H=40MM.

www.ebay.co.uk

UNIVERSAL REPLACEMENT MIG WELDER PCB - CAN BE FITTED TO VARIOUS SMALL MIGS | eBay

THE PCB HAS THE FOLLOW SPECIFICATIONS PCB Size L=95mm W=75mm H=50MM.

www.ebay.co.uk

Both of their boards for sale here state "THIS PCB IS DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED IN THE UK, WITH FULL TECHNICAL BACK UP, DOWN TO COMPONENT LEVEL".
The QC mark top left suggests otherwise?

 

[arther dailey]

I think that if you sent in a board for repair at component level , lets say a resistor had popped , you would get charged £80/90 anyways , it is all a matter of costs , business rates are extotionate in this country ,along with premises and everything that goes with, before you lift a finger, so its understandable that companies have to charge a minimum just to stay in business.
If the manufactory of anything in this country was subsidised like china /america ect things would be differant. but best not get into the polatics of it eh.
I really like(own) techarc/oxford migs , old style transformer based yes, but for a part time user it can be left in a shed for months and work straight away again when needed(wire permiting) ,if looked after great re sale value, so lets support a british firm before they are lost like lots of others...dont get me wrong, yes I have a second hand kemppi 180 inverter as well, horses for courses.

 

[mechman]

Migatronic was £200 for recon PCB a few year back so had mine sorted locally.

 

[tom2207]

65 quid and up and running isnt something i would complain about ,, in fact Id be shouting about how great the service is , a lot of folk want 65 quid for even looking at things and then charge on top .

 

[arther dailey]

washing machine call out, £65 just to arrive..

 

[angellonewolf]

washing machine call out, £65 just to arrive..

if its a £300 quid mechine or less look over your self cheak the basics water tap, water is flowing from mains electrics getting power
then a few basic cheacks from goolge fault codes etc

then if not fixed bin it by the time you add the cost of motor or pcb then the person call out and then time for fix its over half the cost a new mechine

 

[arther dailey]

c

UNIVERSAL REPLACEMENT MIG PCB - 23 - 58Vac INPUT, FOR HEAVY DUTY APPLICATIONS | eBay

TEC ARC is a leading manufacturer and repair centre of arc welding machines. THE PCB HAS THE FOLLOW SPECIFICATIONS PCB Size L=175mm W=100mm H=40MM.

www.ebay.co.uk

UNIVERSAL REPLACEMENT MIG WELDER PCB - CAN BE FITTED TO VARIOUS SMALL MIGS | eBay

THE PCB HAS THE FOLLOW SPECIFICATIONS PCB Size L=95mm W=75mm H=50MM.

www.ebay.co.uk

Both of their boards for sale here state "THIS PCB IS DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED IN THE UK, WITH FULL TECHNICAL BACK UP, DOWN TO COMPONENT LEVEL".
The QC mark top left suggests otherwise?

View attachment 280539

Couldnt agree more , its the principal if Made in GB obviously shout it out , But if parts are bought in from the eu or china etc it should state what parts on the sales blurb and a sticker to machine to say so, this should apply to everything not just welders

 

[addjunkie]

c

Couldnt agree more , its the principal if Made in GB obviously shout it out , But if parts are bought in from the eu or china etc it should state what parts on the sales blurb and a sticker to machine to say so, this should apply to everything not just welders

I think we are well beyond a time when every component is british made, to market as british made.

 

[arther dailey]

I think we are well beyond a time when every component is british made, to market as british made.

maybe so , a firm that just specialises in the electronics incuding the million pound plus kit to set up and manufacture boards are going to do a better job than several peoples with a soldering iron station in a drafty shed, so quality can come at lower cost along with quality in some cases. And any firm that intends to stay in business should/will realise this.

 

[Nick DV]

And any firm that intends to stay in business should/will realise this.

Couldn't agree more, but most seem to be only interested in making a quick buck or two and don't look at long term investment