Pick a machine, there you go.
My Lincoln 175SP+ is kaput. $75 an hour for diagnosis, circuit boards up to $400. Other repairs as needed.
I must first admit to my own stupidity, buying only on brand loyalty, and the situation at the time, which was an overabundance of cash. I must admit that if I had investigated it at all, I would have NEVER chose the 175. But, I bought it, then it sat and sat and sat, with heart surgery, traumatic brain injury, two year recovery, broken back, yada yada yada.
Now, I need the machine, and it won't work. Warranty expired, but the machine has been cranky since day one.
I called around, and located a Miller 175. My friend agreed to loan it to me, as he has used it about three times in the last five years. Or rather, someone has used it. He can't get his gloves on the correct hands. He'd probably sell it to me.
Anyhoo, I got it home, and WHAT A DIFFERENCE in construction and component parts. Metal components in the drive train. Drive wheels like the old Miller Matic 200. A nice metal tensioner with substantially more than the Lincoln wingnut. A very nice hub tensioner vs. the $.15 wingnut of Lincoln. A MUCH higher quality gun. A larger box, and heavier. Again, I must admit to stupidity, as if I had looked closer and compared side by side, Ronnie Milsap could have noticed the difference.
So, I'm back on track to finish my project.
Now, the interesting part. What Lincoln is willing to do to rectify the situation. I don't expect anything, a lesson I learned early in life. But we have an open line of communication, at least whenever this rep gets back from his announced time off, which was yesterday.
Somebody kick me. I deserve this one.
Steve