my esab 161 tig/stick unit works very well.
i did have a problem with my 1st unit. local esab dealer was slow to get the
unit fixed, so i emailed the chiefs at esab corporate in SC and within two
days they phoned me, and i had a new unit 4 days later.
To cut to the chase.
They suck.
By a Miller or Lincoln MIG and you will be much much much happier.
You can pull up my past posts on the subject.
I am tired of typing the same things over the years.
The 250 plus is a nice machine.If I didn't have my 300 powermig I
would own one.Try all three,and make up your own mind.The only real
thing wrong with it is that it has the same crappy gun like on the
Miller 251.
Sorry you are wrong.
They may be aboutthe same size and shape as Lincolns or Millers, but
inside they arena't even close in quality.
For god sakes man just look at the wire feed drive motors in an ESAB
260 versus either a Miller 251 or Lincoln 255.
There is no comparison.
ESAB just uses cheap parts.
I am not saying their machines won't weld, but they are just not built
anywhere close to as well as Lincolns or Millers.
Hell even Thermal Arc's Fabricator MIGs are built much better.
If ESAB charged accordingly I wouldn't be complaining so much, but they
expect you to pay the same price as a Lincoln or Miller, but get 20%
less machine.
I am not mmaking this stuff up guys.
I have been watching this industry like a hawk for 20 years now.
I have 2 very good friends that have both been working in welder repair
for about 15 years each.
They work in different shops in Seattle.
Both of them will go off at length about ESAB's junky parts.
Their only complaint about Lincoln is a slight inconsistency in wiring
and assembly.
Miller gets better marks for quality of machine assembly, and they both
agreed that Panasonic Gunslingers are the best Built MIG machines on
the market.
> > wrote:
> >
> > > My local Airgas guy speaks highly of these guys (made in Florence, SC).
> > > Specifically, the 250 model...any opinions?
> >
> >
> > To cut to the chase.
> > They suck.
> >
> >
> > By a Miller or Lincoln MIG and you will be much much much happier. > >
> > You can pull up my past posts on the subject.
> > I am tired of typing the same things over the years.
>
>
>
>
>
Ernie,
i hear that ESAB really has "2" markets, US and oversees, but i hear from
others that it's the US made units that suck, but the oversees units are of
much better quality. is this true ??
> >
> > ESAB has a line of single phase mig macines that are equal to any out there.
> > Chevy vs. ford
>
>
>
>
> Sorry you are wrong.
> They may be aboutthe same size and shape as Lincolns or Millers, but
> inside they arena't even close in quality.
>
> For god sakes man just look at the wire feed drive motors in an ESAB
> 260 versus either a Miller 251 or Lincoln 255.
> There is no comparison.
> ESAB just uses cheap parts.
> I am not saying their machines won't weld, but they are just not built
> anywhere close to as well as Lincolns or Millers.
> Hell even Thermal Arc's Fabricator MIGs are built much better.
>
> If ESAB charged accordingly I wouldn't be complaining so much, but they
> expect you to pay the same price as a Lincoln or Miller, but get 20% > less machine.
>
> I am not mmaking this stuff up guys.
> I have been watching this industry like a hawk for 20 years now.
> I have 2 very good friends that have both been working in welder repair
> for about 15 years each.
> They work in different shops in Seattle.
> Both of them will go off at length about ESAB's junky parts.
> Their only complaint about Lincoln is a slight inconsistency in wiring > and assembly.
> Miller gets better marks for quality of machine assembly, and they both
> agreed that Panasonic Gunslingers are the best Built MIG machines on > the market.
>
>
>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > My local Airgas guy speaks highly of these guys (made in Florence, SC).
> > > > Specifically, the 250 model...any opinions?
> > >
> > >
> > > To cut to the chase.
> > > They suck.
> > >
> > >
> > > By a Miller or Lincoln MIG and you will be much much much happier. > > >
> > > You can pull up my past posts on the subject.
> > > I am tired of typing the same things over the years.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
In article
,
Kryptoknight wrote:
I have heard the same thing.
The European machines are made in Sweden, the land of the Volvo and
SAAB.
The American units are made in what was Linde's plant in South Carolina.
>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > ESAB has a line of single phase mig macines that are equal to any out > there.
> > > Chevy vs. ford
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Sorry you are wrong.
> > They may be aboutthe same size and shape as Lincolns or Millers, but
> > inside they arena't even close in quality.
> >
> > For god sakes man just look at the wire feed drive motors in an ESAB
> > 260 versus either a Miller 251 or Lincoln 255.
> > There is no comparison.
> > ESAB just uses cheap parts.
> > I am not saying their machines won't weld, but they are just not built
> > anywhere close to as well as Lincolns or Millers.
> > Hell even Thermal Arc's Fabricator MIGs are built much better. > >
> > If ESAB charged accordingly I wouldn't be complaining so much, but they
> > expect you to pay the same price as a Lincoln or Miller, but get 20% > > less machine.
> >
> > I am not mmaking this stuff up guys.
> > I have been watching this industry like a hawk for 20 years now.
> > I have 2 very good friends that have both been working in welder repair
> > for about 15 years each.
> > They work in different shops in Seattle.
> > Both of them will go off at length about ESAB's junky parts.
> > Their only complaint about Lincoln is a slight inconsistency in wiring
> > and assembly.
> > Miller gets better marks for quality of machine assembly, and they both
> > agreed that Panasonic Gunslingers are the best Built MIG machines on > > the market.
> >
> >
> >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > My local Airgas guy speaks highly of these guys (made in Florence, > SC).
> > > > > Specifically, the 250 model...any opinions?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > To cut to the chase.
> > > > They suck.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > By a Miller or Lincoln MIG and you will be much much much happier. > > > >
> > > > You can pull up my past posts on the subject.
> > > > I am tired of typing the same things over the years.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
Sweden: And the land of Absolut Vodka...
This will explain the differences. I've always wondered about
complaints of ESAB products, but have failed to note the plants
they're manufactured. I've lurked this group for 6 years and it took
this long to understand the basics.
There obviously are some differencies between plants, since I've been
a proud owner of the yellow machine, and have been silent because of
ESAB's reputation in this group. ESAB Sweden plant is in my neighbour
country, so my unit is made in there.
Finally, there must be quality, or other problems, depending on
manufacturer, or manufracturer, as I put side by side these two
plants.
Thanks for expanding my way of thinking,
Matti R.
> In article
> ,
> Kryptoknight wrote:
>
> > Ernie,
> > i hear that ESAB really has "2" markets, US and oversees, but i hear from
> > others that it's the US made units that suck, but the oversees units are of
> > much better quality. is this true ??
> >
>
> I have heard the same thing.
> The European machines are made in Sweden, the land of the Volvo and > SAAB.
> The American units are made in what was Linde's plant in South Carolina. >
>
>
>
> >
> > > > > >
> > > > ESAB has a line of single phase mig macines that are equal to any out > there.
> > > > Chevy vs. ford
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Sorry you are wrong.
> > > They may be aboutthe same size and shape as Lincolns or Millers, but
> > > inside they arena't even close in quality.
> > >
> > > For god sakes man just look at the wire feed drive motors in an ESAB
> > > 260 versus either a Miller 251 or Lincoln 255.
> > > There is no comparison.
> > > ESAB just uses cheap parts.
> > > I am not saying their machines won't weld, but they are just not built
> > > anywhere close to as well as Lincolns or Millers.
> > > Hell even Thermal Arc's Fabricator MIGs are built much better. > > >
> > > If ESAB charged accordingly I wouldn't be complaining so much, but they
> > > expect you to pay the same price as a Lincoln or Miller, but get 20%
> > > less machine.
> > >
> > > I am not mmaking this stuff up guys.
> > > I have been watching this industry like a hawk for 20 years now.
> > > I have 2 very good friends that have both been working in welder repair
> > > for about 15 years each.
> > > They work in different shops in Seattle.
> > > Both of them will go off at length about ESAB's junky parts.
> > > Their only complaint about Lincoln is a slight inconsistency in wiring
> > > and assembly.
> > > Miller gets better marks for quality of machine assembly, and they both
> > > agreed that Panasonic Gunslingers are the best Built MIG machines on
> > > the market.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > My local Airgas guy speaks highly of these guys (made in Florence, > SC).
> > > > > > Specifically, the 250 model...any opinions?
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > To cut to the chase.
> > > > > They suck.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > By a Miller or Lincoln MIG and you will be much much much happier. > > > > >
> > > > > You can pull up my past posts on the subject.
> > > > > I am tired of typing the same things over the years.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
PolyTech Forum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.