3 in 1 welder Q

[xalky]

later today I'm going to pick up a stick/tig/plasma for $485 I found on craigslist, new, not opened. Asked owner why he didn't return it and he said he bought it for a project that didn't come about and it was past return a year or so later. It looks like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/LTPDC2000-Lotos-Plasma-weekend-special/dp/B004ZZRM5W/ref=pd_rhf_dp_s_cp_1_MJHY

I just wanted to get a sanity check before I go out there in a couple hours.

I'm aware that it's better to buy each machine separately (similar to not getting a mill-lathe-drill combo to use an analogy).

However, I'm cash strapped and about to get furloughed but need this to fix some steel furniture I have and weld some parts on my pickup truck (brackets holding exhaust, nothing safety wise should it fail)

and of course, I'll use this for a hobby welder as well. Maybe rig a kayak holder using bed frame and so on

iow, it won't be used continuously like a professional would be using.

looking forward to hearing from anyone with advice

thanks!

dave



(I had a previous thread on oxyacy, but the people who service the tanks in my area left bad taste in my mouth like they just want to assist contractors)

$485 is cheap for that unit if its new in the box. I would'nt buy any welder without trying it first though. If it works ,it's a bargain. I had a 3-1 longevity 256pi. The plasma worked great and the tig function worked great on ac and dc. I never used the stick function but im sure that worked fine too. With your limited budget, I'd grab that puppy with one caveat...make sure it works first. If it works out of the box, it should be fine. Those units retail for around $1200+. Hell at $485, if you get a couple of years out of it, your doing good. My 2 cents.

 

[Charley Davidson]

My story about 3 in 1 stuff,

I went to buy a new guitar I needed immediately after my motorhome burned up. I played and liked (actually loved) a Takamine with built in affects. Played it in the store for about an hour and was ready to plunk down the $1,000.00 plus when I decided to try another of the affects. To my dismay it did not work & I came to the realization that when I sent the affects in for repair the guitar would have to go with it putting me out of business. I remember this every time I think of buying an "All in one" anything.

 

[SE18]

I spoke to the fellow who wanted to sell the 3 in 1 to back out of the deal and was surprised to find his feelings weren't hurt as there were already some folks lined up to buy it.

I'm in contact now with Bob for assistance. Also, I'm selling my old Canon camera equipment to get enough money for a decent starter welding outfit. It's surprising that there's still a big market on eBay for film camera SLR equipment.

Also, I'll be needing a welding helmet. I tried one from Harbor freight that was sold for cheap and it darkened so much that I couldn't see what I was doing when I was playing around with MIG last year. I think I need one that adjusts.

 

[Steve M]

later today I'm going to pick up a stick/tig/plasma for $485 I found on craigslist, new, not opened. Asked owner why he didn't return it and he said he bought it for a project that didn't come about and it was past return a year or so later. It looks like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/LTPDC2000-Lotos-Plasma-weekend-special/dp/B004ZZRM5W/ref=pd_rhf_dp_s_cp_1_MJHY

I ordered a similar one three years ago. The first wend bang when I plugged it in. The second was DOA. Third worked great for a year then died. I found a guy who repairs these things and he found design issues and a number of cold soldered joints. He says he is losing money on the repair but is doing it as a prototype for future repairs of other machines. Paid $975 for the machine, $140 to ship the defective machines back, and will owe $400 for the repair plus a year warrantee. Definitely not a good deal. From what Iunderstand, it is the plasma function that kills these machines. Better to get a 3 in 1 without plasma and a separate plasma machine.

Steve