Thread: BOC Smootharc 200

Aussie,
I'm in a similar boat, comparing BOC smootharc 185 and it certainly appears the same as other ebay offerings except for colour. I suppose the only upside is that service from BOC for the $200 odd dollar increase maybe justified, also they offer 18 month warranty as opposed to 12 and it can be dropped off locally. Spares such as boards, for the Kemmpi if needed are expensive, so its almost a disposable end of the welder market. I would think the longer warranty the better, should translate to manufacturer confidence in their product. Alan.

That is a good point.

When I raised the issue of the BOC smootharc being made in the same factory as the stuff sold on EBAY the fellow said it very well might be - but, he said when BOC look to introduce a product like this, they go to the market with specs, get bids, pick a manufacturer and then slap their name onto it - so it has to be of a certain quality before they will do that (well that is what the BOC fellow said).

I am in Canberra and have a few local places that will sell me something like the $2k 200amp TIG AC/DC Inverter - but the only one that I can walk into and hand it over to them if something goes wrong is BOC, all the rest will hand me a business card of the Company I need to call and tell me it isn't there problem.

Then the particular company will fight like hell to try and avoid honouring any kind of warranty associated with the product )!

And the local BOC folks do seem pretty good to deal with compared with other local mobs!

BUT.............think the BOC one only has a 1yr warranty, like all the rest of them in that price range.

Be good to talk to someone who has flogged the hell out of one of these machines and get their input about the Smootharc!

Aussie,
Yes, I'm not sure on the 200 warranty, but the 185 brochure says 18 months. I think BOC have room to adjust pricing, I got a written quote 2 weeks ago and I checked again yesterday from the same outlet, getting ready to pay and the price difference was $91 more expensive, maybe the fellow didn't want to be working on a Saturday, so I passed. I did get a look inside the 200 amp AC/DC unit made by Jasic and marketed by many, while it was a bit agricultural at least everything was component level on the board and not potted, so in theory replaceable. Alan.

Hehehehe, same thing happened to me - the fellow told me the price and I produced a brochure that listed the BOC welder at $2079, instead of about $2250 that I was just quoted, the BOC looked a bit confused and then conferred with the boss and said they could do the brocure price, but it was no longer that price anymore )!

I am tossing up between this one and the UNITIG I think - was offered one locally for $1800 with a foot pedal and the salesman said they had installed a transistor (or something) that allowed you to use other electrical appliances in the house when you turn on the TIG as apparently most cheap Inverter TIG's don't have this???

Sorry that is a vague explanation - maybe someone knows what I am talking about?

But I am sure the UNITIG is mostly going to be just junk - BOC one to........maybe, always get what you pay for - well I have )!

I think I am better of just saving up $5200 and buying the Kemmpi MLS 2300!

Does really suck though!!!

Was quoted between $5900 to $8500 for this machine locally!!!

Invertec V205-T AC/DC One-Pak: Lincoln Electric Item #: K2350-2 - WeldingMart.com

115/230 Volts and 50/60 Hertz - so just change the plug so you can plug it into an outlet locally and your away.

No locally warranty of course, have to send it back to the States, which could be a bit tedious - but after conversion, adding some GST and Postage - still come out a couple of $K cheaper purchasing this machine overseas than in Australia.

Lincoln!!!

I got one of these 6 months ago. Superb to use and if you want a better price try Welders Supplies.

I think I am better of just saving up $5200 and buying the Kemmpi MLS 2300!

Are you talking about the Kemppi mate?

Yes.

Everyone I have spoken to who has used Kemppi's always say they are the best welder they have used!

The MLS 2300 is two and a have times the price of the BOC, but it does sound like the kind of welder you could use all day, every single day and it would last through the warranty period - and probably a fair time after that as well )!

If you are worried about warranty Token do 3 years on their store bought and web site machines. They also say thay they get their machines built to their specs, as do a couple of the other welding machine spruikers out there (weldsmart, national welding supplies etc). Myself and a couple of other punters on this forum have token machines, and we have all been very happy with them.

Originally Posted by aussie260z

Everyone I have spoken to who has used Kemppi's always say they are the best welder they have used!

The MLS 2300 is two and a have times the price of the BOC, but it does sound like the kind of welder you could use all day, every single day and it would last through the warranty period - and probably a fair time after that as well )!

There's the duty cycle, the components, the weight, the backup, etc, etc. And, as I purchased last year, I get up to a 50% tax break. Why quibble, get on with it.

There's the duty cycle, the components, the weight, the backup, etc, etc. And, as I purchased last year, I get up to a 50% tax break. Why quibble, get on with it.

I am not a sole trader or small business, so no 50% tax break for me - hence why I am "quibbling" )!

If you are worried about warranty Token do 3 years on their store bought and web site machines. They also say thay they get their machines built to their specs, as do a couple of the other welding machine spruikers out there (weldsmart, national welding supplies etc). Myself and a couple of other punters on this forum have token machines, and we have all been very happy with them.

Sounds like what BOC said to me about the Smootharc - ie, built to certain specs, must be of a certain quality before they will slap their name to it.

It is not so much the length of the warranty that concerns me, but knowing that the warranty is worth the piece of paper it is written on. Had issues with rather expensive items in the past that have died on me and then being told that particular component only has X amount of warranty - or that a particular part (the one that breaks) is not covered by the warranty at all can be pretty frustrating.

The local BOC folks seem pretty decent to deal with - just be good to talk to folks who have actually used one for a period of time to gauge their impressions of it.

But, I will check out the Token machine - thanks for that mate!

Ha ha ha. I can see some sort of comedic sketch on it now (warranty covering every part except the one that broke).

With token - I bought of ebay and got my welder for $1699. The same machine is on their website for $2250 or something. Difference is i get 1 year warranty, store is 3. From what I hear though, they are flexible on their prices at the store....so its worth giving them a bell and trying to strike a deal.

They are very friendly, very knowledgable salesmen and the fact they have a shopfront gave me a great deal of confidence. For me it was those things that got them over the line vs the other machines aimed at hobbyists like ourselves.

Ha ha ha. I can see some sort of comedic sketch on it now (warranty covering every part except the one that broke).

Hehehehe - actually pretty close to that - purchased a rachet with a "Lifetime" warranty, so when it broke 2 years later they said that there is only a lifetime warranty on certain parts of the rachet head, the 36 point, hardended steel cog has a lifetime warranty (doesn't need one because you would have to crush it in a press to kill it), but not the fragile little spring thing it pivots on - so the cheap and nasty part isn't covered - BUT.......besides SNAP-ON (I think) all rachet makers dodge you with that one

Worse still was a drill - I have broken the metal chuck 3 times now, $65 each time to get it fixed and of course it is not covered by warranty - I swear to go when I read through the warranty booklet it said something along the lines of "wear through ordinary activities not covered under warranty" - does that mean, unless I leave it in the box and it self combusts - then I have a valid warranty claim .

That is why I love dealing with Bunnings for electrical goods when you can make do with what they sell - they only sell the cheaper stuff (mainly) but I have a Ryobi 1000w 100mm angle grinder and I have killed it 4 times in about 18months, no questions asked, no - "Sorry mate, this isn't covered by warranty" - just go grab another one and away you go .

Noticed you are in Canberra 19Brendan81 - do Token have a dealer within the ACT?