- Thread starter duc748
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marknotgeorge
Doing sums for a living since 2009.
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Call me cynical, but maybe the bean counters at Portamig Towers have worked out it's cheaper to buy more 12 position switches than 12 and 9 position. Cheaper to build + more money for an extra feature = more profit! 
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Call me cynical, but maybe the bean counters at Portamig Towers have worked out it's cheaper to buy more 12 position switches than 12 and 9 position. Cheaper to build + more money for an extra feature = more profit!
With a 12 position switch wouldn't you have 3 extra wires going into the transformer so that must be different too or am I talking out of my @rse?
TurboShed
Member
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- 115
With a 12 position switch wouldn't you have 3 extra wires going into the transformer so that must be different too or am I talking out of my @rse?
Welcome to life on earth
JML
Member
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- 103
Im glad these "Portamigs" are so popular. These are what I carry about on the off-chance that a customer's machine is beyond repair and they want a quick replacement. I don't get them with the Portamig name on though(* see below), I just pick them up from the guy who builds them who Ive known since he set up on his own years ago. As a Yorkshireman I like to buy a product built in Yorkshire!
I don't bother with the 181 now because it doesnt have a separate contactor, just a relay on the pcb which is asking for trouble when you do a lot of fast spotting like I encounter. The last few Ive sold were 211's but I've now started asking for them with smoothing capacitors as I'm up against some unbelievably smooooth operators in my business.
The specs may be slightly different from the Portamig brand, that's the beauty of one-off manufacture - you can choose the colour and you can even have the machines in a larger case if you want, but that's Cebora-style kidology.
I don't attempt to sell them via carrier like Weldequip, they're too bloody heavy!
It's great watching them being made - a bit like the way the robots are assembled in the film "Westworld"
They do a mean plasma cutter as well, they take an imported machine and give it a Cosworth upgrade (so that it works!)
* For your info, I can't bring myself to use the Portamig name on something I sell. The guy who nows builds them used to work for Portamig until they closed down then bought the name. I used to repair them, and I hated them. They seemed to be "hand made" - if you changed a pcb you had to drill new holes.
The new Portamig is a completely different animal, but I still have nightmares from those days
I don't bother with the 181 now because it doesnt have a separate contactor, just a relay on the pcb which is asking for trouble when you do a lot of fast spotting like I encounter. The last few Ive sold were 211's but I've now started asking for them with smoothing capacitors as I'm up against some unbelievably smooooth operators in my business.
The specs may be slightly different from the Portamig brand, that's the beauty of one-off manufacture - you can choose the colour and you can even have the machines in a larger case if you want, but that's Cebora-style kidology.
I don't attempt to sell them via carrier like Weldequip, they're too bloody heavy!
It's great watching them being made - a bit like the way the robots are assembled in the film "Westworld"
They do a mean plasma cutter as well, they take an imported machine and give it a Cosworth upgrade (so that it works!)
* For your info, I can't bring myself to use the Portamig name on something I sell. The guy who nows builds them used to work for Portamig until they closed down then bought the name. I used to repair them, and I hated them. They seemed to be "hand made" - if you changed a pcb you had to drill new holes.
The new Portamig is a completely different animal, but I still have nightmares from those days
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The Buddah
I'm using phone for internet.
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Hi English steve,
I also bought a 185 portamig that was packed the same as yours.
When i turned the power on there was a sound which resembled something rubbing against the fan so i double quick turned the power off, left it for a couple of minutes and restarted. This time there was no noise so i carried on, iv'e used the welder twice to try welds and on the second atempt i got the same loud noise.
If you don't mind me asking what does your fan sound like? is just a swirling type sound?
You see its my first welder and im not sure. I've tried to phoning supplier but no reply.
Mike.
I also bought a 185 portamig that was packed the same as yours.
When i turned the power on there was a sound which resembled something rubbing against the fan so i double quick turned the power off, left it for a couple of minutes and restarted. This time there was no noise so i carried on, iv'e used the welder twice to try welds and on the second atempt i got the same loud noise.
If you don't mind me asking what does your fan sound like? is just a swirling type sound?
You see its my first welder and im not sure. I've tried to phoning supplier but no reply.
Mike.
Do the checks as discussed earlier on the phone Mike & if you've no joy give us a shout back; should be fine. If you can't get through on the phone leave a message (or send an email) & somebody will always get back to you Might have to think about installing another line, sods law it either hardly ever rings, or is none stop so permantly engaged!
Might have to think about installing another line, sods law it either hardly ever rings, or is none stop so permantly engaged! If the fans rubbing you will probably find you need to remove the case and unbolt the fan and gently using your palm bend the case out where the centre of the fan goes i had to do this on mine, either that or stick a packing piece that sits between the case and fan, they come pretty well packed just a shame they dont put any packing material at the back of the welder
Weldinator
Astalavista baby....
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Nothing like getting a new Portamig as your first welder.
