R-Tech Welders

[Richard.]

Who cares. It's high time you lot really just let this go. Rumor or fact this subject tends to separate people who want to chat with people who like to throw there weight around. I've said it a million times I'm not a lover of the product and have lots of reasons why but there is a market out there for direct selling, U.K. Supporting, cheap welders on possible finance and that market is probably relevant to more than 75% of this forum. Whether he,she,they tell a few porkie pies about it or not doesn't matter especially if like me you don't own one. The website and owners can say what they like about them the bottom line is that it's a product that gets people into welding at a low and possible spread out cost so i can only see that in a positive light. More people welding and wanting to share common interest. I have no clue to whether they test or update/uprate any of there products and like most people I couldn't care less. I take it with a pinch of salt.

 

[ukracer]

Not implying anything along the lines of "if they're tested, why are some not working on arrival", and this has nothing to do with welders anyway - just a convenient place to put it

A couple of weeks ago I bought a brand new dual fuel cooker. Inside was a stamped and initialled multipoint test card.

When we connected it, two of the gas burners didn't work. Also the oven didn't regulate temperature, instead just getting progressively hotter (up to 290c according to my thermo probe when set to 150).

These points were marked as tested and passed.

Jus' sayin' like.

Thats very convenient......lol

 

[ukracer]

I said "on this subject".

That's about a cooker, an entirely different subject altogether

Which might just make it off topic? LOL I am not a Mod so will stand to be corrected.

 

[NickyEng]

UK racer and pdg I think this the first time I have seen you both play nice on an R-Tech thread lol

 

[ukracer]

UK racer and pdg I think this the first time I have seen you both play nice on an R-Tech thread lol

Trust me I play nice on here all the time.....I felt my comment might have been worth modding actually.

 

[Mr Otford]

FWIW after a long conversation with Dylan I was on the point of buying an R-Tech MIG unit with spool gun, spare torch, aluminium-suitable nozzles and all manner of other stuff so that I could weld steel and ali when I saw a used TIG161 appear on their offers page for the same price as the new MIG plus bits bundle. I decided that I couldn't pass the opportunity to buy a TIG so duly splashed the cash. Deep joy when it arrived swiftly became sadness when it refused to function. It was swiftly retrieved by R-Tech, tested and found to have a dead main power board. This was replaced and the unit returned. It's been as good as gold since. It was reopaired rather than replaced because it was a used unit. When I was discussing the fault - not with Dylan but can't remember whom - I commented on the one year warranty that used units have and the bod agreed that it feels short but said that they don't abandon their customers. Obviously that is worth the paper it isn't written on, but I'd rather have short warranty and a repair path that is only as far away as Gloucester rather than a short warranty and a repair path that involves a return to China at my cost.

 

[Mee]

Testing is a very subjective issue, and for what its worth most manufacturers have to import a proportion of components, to ensure quality and consistency as most batch test and this can be any number of machines selected from a batch, unless you know how many machines from a batch are tested, and how large the batch is you can never know what percentage of machines are tested, let alone their testing procedures.

 

[Richard.]

Testing is a very subjective issue, and for what its worth most manufacturers have to import a proportion of components, to ensure quality and consistency as most batch test and this can be any number of machines selected from a batch, unless you know how many machines from a batch are tested, and how large the batch is you can never know what percentage of machines are tested, let alone their testing procedures.

Going with a reputable company means this isn't a problem as good backup with decent warranty is part and parcel.

 

[Mee]

Very true Richard.

 

[Charliefarlie]

I said "on this subject".

That's about a cooker, an entirely different subject altogether

Both produce heat. Both can make us look fools if we can’t operate them...

As a prospective R Tech purchaser nothing on this thread has put me off in the slightest. That said I’m a begginer so wouldn’t know ace quality from junk. Yet

 

[skotl]

Both produce heat. Both can make us look fools if we can’t operate them...

As a prospective R Tech purchaser nothing on this thread has put me off in the slightest. That said I’m a begginer so wouldn’t know ace quality from junk. Yet

You'll be happy with an R Tech

 

[Ian James]

Yep I am in the pro group now owning 3 RTec branded machines and I am not new to welding either☺

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Can't beat a 'slight' resurrection thread

 

[zeppelin builder]

I've got a R-Tech mig welder and had no problems with it it's the power modules that are not very good in eastern machines but R-Tech use Siemens one if not the best on the market
Dunno about the sales hype
Alongside my 1985 hobart cybertig precision control
Ac dc 350 dinosaur

ive occasionaly used ext 210 digital for about 4 years old now it has played up a couple of times but it always turns out to be a slightly loose connector on the top board
Which i have fixed myself it works fine the hf i find a bit weak but there is an upgrade for that
Its not a great stick machine comared to say a kemppi miniarc but you find most machines are not a jack of all trades
The standard tig torch is a big unwieldy thing i replaced mine with a wp 17 weldcraft one for fine work .the footpedal tends to fall apart if you drop it and i had to solder a wire that came adrift but again easy fixed
And the fan gets to ya after a while it runs all the time
Probably to get the duty cycle up but annoying if your doing a small weld
All that hz arc balance stuff dont realy compensate for a bad operator either
Good for light work .
If you want industial quality welding you must buy an industrial machine 3phase preferably
I think technical arc still do transformer units . Not any welders without chinese bits in them
Cant wait to try one of these ac dc tig mig stick units . ok when are r tech going to get a shipment

 

[zeppelin builder]

Its when the chinese connections dont make the connection these multipin jobs dont like being bumped around
Joe lucas syndrome

 

[skotl]

Its when the chinese connections dont make the connection these multipin jobs dont like being bumped around
Joe lucas syndrome

I don't understand your point.
We could have a whole thread on connection mechanics, whether these are UK, German, Chinese or whatever sourced, but even UK/US assembled kit will likely use Chinese sockets, cables or whatever.
So...what was your point that was specific to R-Tech?

 

[Ian James]

Just changing the RTec subject slightly having gone through previous posts on here and having don some of my own research I am fairy convinced the RTec branded machines are made by the same manufacturers that do the everlast sold in the states and very possibly available here and allso the metal master sold in Australia .
Ian

 

[Ruffian]

It's been stated before that they are chinese internals,

but buying through r-tech means a cracking pre and post sales bit also.

They go though the machines and make sure they work prior, (some turn up with dirty tip/tungsten to prove) and 3year pick up and delivery Warrenty + chance to extend also is great to have the back up.

Couldn't ask for anything more really as next day shipping on a heavy machine can't be cheap either and included in sales overy £50.

My first tig bought 2 weeks ago from them. And have been impressed.

 

[zeppelin builder]

I don't understand your point.
We could have a whole thread on connection mechanics, whether these are UK, German, Chinese or whatever sourced, but even UK/US assembled kit will likely use Chinese sockets, cables or whatever.
So...what was your point that was specific to R-Tech?

I bought a ext 210 4 years ago and have occasionaly have had to remove the case and fiddle with the main board connector the locking ears seem to slip and play havoc with the control display
I spoke to r tech guy who was very helpfull and was about to send it back when i remebered about that connection sure enough that was the problem again

 

[Ian James]

It's been stated before that they are chinese internals,

but buying through r-tech means a cracking pre and post sales bit also.

They go though the machines and make sure they work prior, (some turn up with dirty tip/tungsten to prove) and 3year pick up and delivery Warrenty + chance to extend also is great to have the back up.

Couldn't ask for anything more really as next day shipping on a heavy machine can't be cheap either and included in sales overy £50.

My first tig bought 2 weeks ago from them. And have been impressed.

I am actually a RTec fan having bought 3 of there machines over the last four months as upgrades and first time purchases I under stand that a fair few of the components used are made in the USA and Germany so they are not totally Chinese