Everlast Welding machines

[Scott Young]

Think of the merger possibilities - Everlasting Longevity Welders.

I'm sure there are some decent welders made in China. But there seem to be scores and scores of small job-shops cranking them out. Who can you trust?

If I were to go with a off brand I would look at the Giant Tech guy. He has been stand up through out all the junk at WW. As I have watched him on a couple of boards, he seems to really know what he is doing and understands how to do business.

That said,

I wouldn't buy an off brand welder unless I was in a tremendous bind. I prefer to save and buy a welder with a reputable name behind it whether new or used.

[brimstone]

Ill have to put my 0.2 cents about these machines...stay away, far far away!!! I bought one of those longevity brand multipurpose plasma/tig/arc machines about a couple years ago. The thing worked fine on plasma mode for literally one week and then died. I double checked every connection, air flow, ground, etc, but the machine acted like I plugged it in a 9 volt battery. long story short, the guy stiffed me "free shipping" both ways which was about 125 dollars (853 chinese yuan) I now own miller

[Sberry]

This is a great subject. The Chinese make some great stuff, tools included. I would say one reason the welding machines haven't caught on is the vending. They want to keep the cost down buy for a dime and sell for a dollar. Pretty quick the only avenue is to keep cheapening the machine for this market. American machines are so well made that vendors are willing to sell with minimal markup as they don't have to be huge warranty return centers. As a guy at TSC said about their house brand units, 5 % of the sales, 95 % of the problems but the accounting types love the margins of 150% markups.
Its poorly thought out I think, they make a hundred bucks selling a Hobart they paid 500 for vs a hundred on a machine they paid 50 for but,,,, the guy that bought the Hobart also bought bottle, 2 rolls of wire, a new hood, tips, etc and the guy that bought the junk got one 2# roll of flux wire, last thing he ever bought for it.
TSC should toss the house brand and say, there is Walmart for that, we only sell Hobart, it would be a good move for them.
Until someone comes along and sells quality China machines at the right price USA stuff will hold its own. When you can get one that works well for 15 cents on the dollar they will move but when they are crappy at 60 cents and the Miller works so much better they lose their appeal.
Again China makes fine stuff, end wrenches 10 cents on the dollar, I am not so blindly patriotic to delude myself that they dont. I saw OTC hoist, looked like junk compared to the HF one my bud bought for 20% the price, OTC, welding sloppy, paint runs and fit nothing to write home about, HF model, flawless. 5 ton long reach floor jack, 200# @ dollar a pound. Nice unit, has had it for years, competitive unit here 1500$.
One has to consider price with quality comparisons. I hear it on other forum, Snapon is better that a Pittsburg wrench. I would hope so cause at 40X the price it should turn itself. Welding machines haven't hit that curve, probably wont.

[Scott V]

Carry,
If you look at a Thermal-arc 95s, you will see a high quality Chinese 120 volt tig/stick machine. Matches up with the Japanese and American machines. Price does too.

[wmgeorge]

If you truely want to find information on these Chinese welders, you are right, this is not the place. You should be reading the forum on their site.

It appears you are in reality trying to convince us that your Chinese welders are as good as, or better than American welders. Sorry, but most of us don't buy it.

Sorry again, I will never purchase a Made in China welder no matter what. I don't give a D**M about Global awareness. Whats wrong with this County today is we are exporting jobs right and left and now with Cap and Trade stupidity coming up next we might as well turn out the lights and lock the door as we will be taxed to pay for a natural climate change.

[Steve from Ohio]

A friend has an Everlast Power Pro 256. He wanted me to weld up a project he was doing and wanted it done right. He did not want to bring it over to me so I had to use his unit.

The Everlast PP 256 is a great welder/plasma cutter/stick machine. I used it for about a week and it welded as good as my Miller. My friend has had it for quite a while and never had a problem with heavy fabricating work at his shop.

Their main selling point is price.

Would I buy one?

I figure I must make a stand and buy only US made products as much as possible. I know Miller and Lincoln use parts made in Asia. Most of the electronics in the Everlasts can also be found in the Miller's and Lincoln's. But they for the most part are assembled in the US. And the companies are based here.

Got to start somewhere. If not now, when?

[B_C]

One of my young friends that owns and runs an automotive machine shop here in my town has state of the art CNC machines to machine engine blocks and cylinder heads.....His tig machine is an old beat up Ideal arc robot looking grey thing that he got for almost nothing.....BUT, He is a good welder and it does the job for HIM.....I ask him all the time...."Why don't you buy a trick new welder"? He says why?
I say he is your average welder and not on an ego trip.....What does that mean? I think you know.....

[brucer]

when i bought my thermal arc 185 tig welder 4 yrs ago i got the same thing, the die hard miller and lincoln guys said it was foreign junk.. they said it wasnt anywhere near as good as a miller or lincoln..

i like my thermal arc 185, i'll put it up against any miller or lincoln tig in the same amperage range even a 200amp machine, i'm very satisfied with it..

i own a lincoln 180c mig, its simply badass for its size.... the only mig machines i would buy would be lincoln or miller no exceptions..

[vwguy3]

I have been lucky enough to be able to buy US made machines,some new some used.I figure if a guy wants to buy soley based on price and asks my advice I would say that the inexpensive machines are fine as long as they run and you have consumables.
When(not if) you need support will there be any? If not the good deal turns sour real fast.
The bottom line is you get what you pay for.

[SidecarFlip]

....."I like Chinese...... cute, cuddly, willing to please"........

Females that is. Tool wise, not in my shop by choice so long as a viable American made equal exists.

Lowes 'Kobalt" and Snap-On are made by the same company by the way....

[SundownIII]

Don't get me started on this Chinese crap on a Hobart board.

To the OP (Forge). You are full of the stinky stuff and demonstrate your lack of knowledge about the welding industry.

You're right, Neverlast and Nolongivity are American companies (run by a couple of naturalized Russians I may add).

They manufacture NOTHING. They design NOTHING.

What they do is find a manufacturer in China that will build a cheap copy (component wise) of an American designed product that can be imported and sold at a huge profit margin. The companies building these machines (in China) have NO respect for US Patent laws.

Product support for these machines (service centers, parts, etc) is nearly non existant. When you have a problem, you send the machine back and they send you another one. That's fine for awhile, but what happens when you have a problem and the importer has "moved on" to another manufacturer in China who will build a similar machine for less money?

When you have:

No R&D to be concerned with.
No observance of Patents.
No decentralized service support.
No long term parts support.
A product produced by the "low bidder".

You dang sure better be able to sell your goods for less than the name brand US manufacturers.

That's not even discussing the INFLATED CLAIMS and bogus advertising that these companies employ. They're going after the newbie/inexperienced welders and some of those guys have "taken the bait".

When I can pick up the phone and get parts for my 20yr old Miller Dialarc, or take my Syncrowave into a LOCAL repair facility and have it back running in less than a week, I know I invested in the right machine.

You're right about one thing though. The hobbiest may not be able to justify the cost of a quality machine. They're the same people who will never make the committment in time and effort necessary to become truly proficient in any of the welding processes. If you're one of those guys who want to say "well I've got a tig welder", (even if you can't tig weld for crap) then it just makes sense that you wouldn't want to invest in QUALITY.

BTW: Just for S&G, I've owned Miller Syncrowaves since 1977. During that time, when you factor in my initial purchase cost, maintenance costs (minimal), and resale of used machines it's cost me less than $125/yr to have a quality tig welder in the shop. Let's see how the Chinese imports stack up a few years down the road.

[B_C]

Don't get me started on this Chinese crap on a Hobart board.

To the OP (Forge). You are full of the stinky stuff and demonstrate your lack of knowledge about the welding industry.

You're right, Neverlast and Nolongivity are American companies (run by a couple of naturalized Russians I may add).

They manufacture NOTHING. They design NOTHING.

What they do is find a manufacturer in China that will build a cheap copy (component wise) of an American designed product that can be imported and sold at a huge profit margin. The companies building these machines (in China) have NO respect for US Patent laws.

Product support for these machines (service centers, parts, etc) is nearly non existant. When you have a problem, you send the machine back and they send you another one. That's fine for awhile, but what happens when you have a problem and the importer has "moved on" to another manufacturer in China who will build a similar machine for less money?

When you have:

No R&D to be concerned with.
No observance of Patents.
No decentralized service support.
No long term parts support.
A product produced by the "low bidder".

You dang sure better be able to sell your goods for less than the name brand US manufacturers.

That's not even discussing the INFLATED CLAIMS and bogus advertising that these companies employ. They're going after the newbie/inexperienced welders and some of those guys have "taken the bait".

When I can pick up the phone and get parts for my 20yr old Miller Dialarc, or take my Syncrowave into a LOCAL repair facility and have it back running in less than a week, I know I invested in the right machine.

You're right about one thing though. The hobbiest may not be able to justify the cost of a quality machine. They're the same people who will never make the committment in time and effort necessary to become truly proficient in any of the welding processes. If you're one of those guys who want to say "well I've got a tig welder", (even if you can't tig weld for crap) then it just makes sense that you wouldn't want to invest in QUALITY.

BTW: Just for S&G, I've owned Miller Syncrowaves since 1977. During that time, when you factor in my initial purchase cost, maintenance costs (minimal), and resale of used machines it's cost me less than $125/yr to have a quality tig welder in the shop. Let's see how the Chinese imports stack up a few years down the road.

But what do you really think of Chinese stuff......

[brucer]

i'm a proud american just like the next guy.. i'm a tool and diemaker by trade..

i can tell you from a tool and diemakers standpoint..
lincoln and miller better watch out, simply because of the price factor and versatility of these machines..

its just like back in the 70's when the japanese cars were priced cheap and considered tin can pieces of junk.. now look at the japanese car manufacturers now and look at the big 3..

if those everlast machines would have been around or i had known about them 4 yrs ago when i bought my ta185 i would have tried one for sure...

[gtcway]

I have a Thermal Arc 185 and plan to try a helium/argon mix for thicker aluminum. If it works out as well as I've heard it will, I'll be happy with what I have now. If not, I'll be seriously looking at an Everlast 250 or the 256 with plasma cutter. I've been looking for a used Thermal Arc 300 but haven't had any luck. I'd love to own a Dynasty 300 or 350, but until I win the lottery, it's just not in my budget.

[brucer]

I have a Thermal Arc 185 and plan to try a helium/argon mix for thicker aluminum. If it works out as well as I've heard it will, I'll be happy with what I have now. If not, I'll be seriously looking at an Everlast 250 or the 256 with plasma cutter. I've been looking for a used Thermal Arc 300 but haven't had any luck. I'd love to own a Dynasty 300 or 350, but until I win the lottery, it's just not in my budget.

there was a ta300 on fleabay yesterday..