Thermal Dynamics from IOC via ebay

[Spook2]

The Purchase

Late wed night (in the A.M.) I bought a TD-82 from IOC (Indiana Oxygen Company) along with some misc. consumables. Thursday I got a ship notice via email and today it hit my porch about 5:00pm. The whole purchase experience was the best I've ever had on ebay, by such a large margin it defies description. When I bought it I bought two of a particular consumable because it wasn't clear which one was actually for my model. I left IOC a note to ship only the one I needed, which they did, and they even credited back the amount of the extra part already. I'd venture to say that it was more painless than going to my local supplier and buying equipment. It was dang sure a boatload cheaper. I went to my local to give them a shot and they quoted me a price on the TD52 of $1900 and change. I told them it could be bought all day long from IOC for $1400 and change. The sales droid told me that that was actually cheaper then they paid.


The Cutter.

Packaged for WWIII and arrived without a scratch. The cutter itself has more plastic than I expected but it doesn't seem cheap. It seems like "rugged" plastic if that makes any sense. The gun seems fairly stout but the cable is rather stiff. Maybe it will relax in time. I haven't had time to really give it a go yet but there seems to be some nice features. There is a bank of LEDs on the front to indicate your air pressure setting, a "purge" selection that allows air to flow through the lines without having to trigger the gun (and start an arc), fast arc restart setting, and a lock setting that once you trigger the gun keeps the arc going even if you release the trigger. There is also a bank of LEDs to indicate various faults I think but I can't remember what faults at the moment. I left the manual out in the shop and I'm currently too comfy to go fetch it.

The self starting arc is just the bees knees compared to the scratch starting arc on my Chi-com cutter but being used to the scratch start I naturally blinded myself stupid the first time I triggered the gun.

If it performs half as good as it looks and appears to be built, I should be a happy camper.

The only downside to the whole deal is I can't imagine WHY UPS has no hesitation what-so-ever about leaving a $2000 piece of equipment on a front porch, after dark, and in plain sight of every John Q Public that happens to walk or drive by.

[1990notch]

Glad to hear you like it so far. It's definitely quality equipment.

The air purge setting is also good for testing your air compressor for sufficient air delivery. Seems like I read in my TD 51 manual that it's partly intended for that. It's like running the machine except without an arc. That way, if your compressor can't keep up with it you'll know before ruining tips with insufficient air delivery. I use mine with a small twin tank nailer type compressor and though it's running more than I'd like, it still keeps up just enough for my needs.

I also like the expanded metal setting on the 51. Does the 82 have that?

[crawler]

Good to hear about your experience at IOC. It is hard to ignore the price difference of over $500 dollars on a new purchase. Santa must like you.... :D

[hankj]

A 1-1/2" max cut is kinda peanuts compared to what you're used to, eh?:)

Enjoy.

Hank

[Spook2]

A 1-1/2" max cut is kinda peanuts compared to what you're used to, eh?:)

Enjoy.

Hank


Hehe, yeah but I'm guessing the plasma will do a whole lot neater of a job on that 1 1/2" cut. Cooler too. Those cuts I make get hooooooot.

[Hotfoot]

Pretty much mirrors my experience when I bought my TD from them, and also my HH180 on a second purchase. Unbelievably fast! Perfect condition. IOC are Good folks.:)
ALso, could not beat their price at the time, Cyberweld was close, however.:)

[Spook2]

Pretty much mirrors my experience when I bought my TD from them, and also my HH180 on a second purchase. Unbelievably fast! Perfect condition. IOC are Good folks.:)
ALso, could not beat their price at the time, Cyberweld was close, however.:)


There was only one thing that seemed a bit odd and that was when I called the contact number in the ebay listing to ask a question, the guy on the other end said "gimmee a call back in about 20-30 minutes, when I'm done with dinner, and I'll get the answer for you". That portion of the deal seemed very Mom & Pop if you know what I mean, but the follow through was beyond first class.

[Hotfoot]

Perhaps, but they are plenty big. They used to have a knowledgeable (very) that answered seven days a week, so the "on call" duty in the shop might be who carries the cell phone that day.

Merry Christmas!
http://i10.tinypic.com/6xt6hox.jpg

[Berniep]

I have been to the IOC store that runs these auctions and they are very nice there, I drive a truck and deliver to them, I find you can tell a lot about a company at least the smaller ones, by how well they treat people like me. I was under the impression that one guy runs the Ebay stuff, if you can call and not get a voicemail box when a guy is eating his lunch that is great in my opinion.

[Jeep07]

I also like the expanded metal setting on the 51. Does the 82 have that?


Yup its the quick arc start setting. I used it on my TD101 a few days ago.. Worked great.

Spook you will love the arc start feature along with pretty much everything else on the TD82.. Also that cable will loosen up a little. (Or you get used to it one) I complained about the cable on my torch at first too, but now I don't even notice it.



Merry Christmas!

[dawgfan25]

I just bought a Cutmaster 52 from IOC last week. I went to three local welding shops and they all laughed when I told them I thought the price was too steep.

Airgas - $1800
Air Liquide (local store) - $1850
Independent local - $1895

None of the stores had any in stock, and they only had order books with the 51's. I had to tell them about the new 52's. It was like pulling teeth for them to call and get current prices. $1400 was cheaper than the they claimed their cost was. I would have bought the machine locally if they would have sold it for $1500 + tax, but they don't want the business. No sales knowledge, support, or reasonable pricing - all I needed to know.

Wes

[Pumpkinhead]

Spook2,
You're welcome, it was a pleasure to be of service.

[Berniep]

$1400 was cheaper than the they claimed their cost was. I would have bought the machine locally if they would have sold it for $1500 + tax, but they don't want the business. No sales knowledge, support, or reasonable pricing - all I needed to know.

Wes

1400 may well be lower than their cost. IOC sells enough of them that they may get a very significant discount. How many are your lws selling in a month? 2 or 3 maybe. Very conservatively I would guess that IOC can sell 2 or 3 a week. Thats gotta irritate the others.
Now where they should make up the difference is support, knowledge and courtesy. If they lack those things I don't feel a bit sorry for them.
Most of these guys bread and butter is local factories and they don't have a lot of time for individuals. When you have someone buying 3 tons of welding wire/rods at a time they tend to get the priority.

[Spook2]

Spook2,
You're welcome, it was a pleasure to be of service.


Don't flatter yourself and of service you were not.

[Spook2]

I just bought a Cutmaster 52 from IOC last week. I went to three local welding shops and they all laughed when I told them I thought the price was too steep.

Airgas - $1800
Air Liquide (local store) - $1850
Independent local - $1895

None of the stores had any in stock, and they only had order books with the 51's. I had to tell them about the new 52's. It was like pulling teeth for them to call and get current prices. $1400 was cheaper than the they claimed their cost was. I would have bought the machine locally if they would have sold it for $1500 + tax, but they don't want the business. No sales knowledge, support, or reasonable pricing - all I needed to know.

Wes



Pretty much my experience as well. Literature in the store was of the old models, sales droid was unaware of a new model until I told him, and the look on his face said I was either lieing or full of crap when I told him the IOC pricing. My interest in local support only goes so far.

[Spook2]

Good to hear about your experience at IOC. It is hard to ignore the price difference of over $500 dollars on a new purchase. Santa must like you.... :D


Santa nothin. I hauled in about 60 tons of scrap I had laying around gathering carbon arc dust. Playyyy money. Mmmm. Hehe. At least until the wife finds out then I'll have to spend it on boring stuff like, I don't know, the boring stuff wives like to buy.

[SavageSunJeep]

I have dealt with and purchased from IOC in the past and they REALLY are a company that many others should emulate. I have recommended them to friends who have purchased and the same great experience.

[1990notch]

All I can say is thank God, goodness, Al Gore :rolleyes:, or whoever that we have the internet. Without it the only alternative would be to shop mail order catalogs.

[SavageSunJeep]

All I can say is thank God, goodness, Al Gore :rolleyes:, or whoever that we have the internet. Without it the only alternative would be to shop mail order catalogs.
Whenever I hear Owl Hore and the internet mentioned at the same time I almost gag.

Being a retired military officer who spent many years in R&D, I can ASSURE you and everyone that Owl NEVER was involved in any way no matter how far we stretch the imagination.

In fact one of the engineers that did work on it, who had retired and gone back to work with a defense contractor was a member of the group that worked on the developemnt of it. He was a young engineer at the time and only played the role of a worker bee. But he was there and in the early 90's worked in my engineering group.

Off soapbox. ;)

[calweld]

Whenever I hear Owl Hore and the internet mentioned at the same time I almost gag.

Being a retired military officer who spent many years in R&D, I can ASSURE you and everyone that Owl NEVER was involved in any way no matter how far we stretch the imagination.


Not according to him ......:eek::eek:;):rolleyes::rolleyes::p:mad:

[Steve Crum]

I bought my Pak Master 100 XL from IOC 6 or 7 years ago, nice folks and knowledgable to deal with. Bought a new Cut Master 101 from an outfit in Maryland, also great to deal with AND free shipping. The local guys should be taking notice. Many of the local factories are closing or have closed. Smaller shops are popping up all the time. These local guys really should consider getting off their a$$ and pursuing the smaller shops, that's the future of their business.
IMHO you won't go wrong with a Thermal Dynamics unit. There are cheaper units out there, but you get what you pay for.

[1990notch]

Whenever I hear Owl Hore and the internet mentioned at the same time I almost gag.

Being a retired military officer who spent many years in R&D, I can ASSURE you and everyone that Owl NEVER was involved in any way no matter how far we stretch the imagination.

In fact one of the engineers that did work on it, who had retired and gone back to work with a defense contractor was a member of the group that worked on the developemnt of it. He was a young engineer at the time and only played the role of a worker bee. But he was there and in the early 90's worked in my engineering group.

Off soapbox. ;)

I know what you're saying. I remember it started with darpa as a private network. Al's a legend in his own mind. I just find it amusing that he gets any serious consideration let a alone a Nobel prize.

[mike6845]

I know what you're saying. I remember it started with darpa as a private network. Al's a legend in his own mind. I just find it amusing that he gets any serious consideration let a alone a Nobel prize.


See what happens when you are born into an elete family? His old man was a crooked senator from Tennessee for years and part of the Washington inside establishment. These guys even believe their own crap, amazing...........

[SavageSunJeep]

See what happens when you are born into an elete family? His old man was a crooked senator from Tennessee for years and part of the Washington inside establishment. These guys even believe their own crap, amazing...........

Well, sorta, kinda. And that is the tune the Hore's play and want you to beleive.

Owl Hore Sr, left congress and went to work in corporate. Sure many do, but its who he went to work for.

Occidental Petroleum. Now had he gone to work for Mobil, Exxon or many others that would be one thing.

Do you know who owns OP? OP was owned and was a quasi-government company, owned by...USSR. Can you say COMMUNIST company?

The Hore family are card carrying commies to the bone. The current Owl is as bad if not worse than his daddy. Owl Jr has hooks into many companies that sell "carbon credits", he is eyeball deep with the UN. Far as I am concerned the SOB should be run out of America.

They are NOT just a bunch of good'ole boys from Tennessee.