Thread: Weldsmart

Hi and welcome to the forum. One of the most important things, I always suggest is what is the duty cycle. That is the time you can weld continuously, before having to stop to let the welder cool down. This is always represented in % Duty Cycle, the higher the percentage the better. Most welding is done around the 120-150 amp mark, this ideally would be around the 75% or better mark, meaning you could weld continuously for 45 min, out of the hour before having to let it cool down.
Kryn

Welcome. I have a weldsmart mig/stick 135 and have had it for a good 3 years now and have only ever had one problem where the LCD screens stopped working and the company replaced the whole welder (still under warranty) other than that i have not had a problem with it. Very good welder for the price i paid.

Thanks for the replies. I'm tossing up between the weldsmart and the mig160x from Trade Tools,
which seems like a decent machine as well. I'll give Weldsmart a call and ask them a bit more about it,
duty cycle etc.

cheers, Brian

I don't have a Weldsmart Mig, but do own a Weldsmart 200A ac/dc Tig machine. Until recently this went very well using it in the Tig ac and dc modes and also stick welding. A few days ago I lost the High Frequency start function used for TIG. Have been in touch with Weldsmart Support and received help and info which concluded the HF board has developed a fault and needs replacing. I have had this machine for about three years so out of warranty. Weldsmart don't have a HF board in stock so I am waiting to get a price of delivery of an imported board. After I bought this machine other events happened which meant it was packed away for more than a year, so the lesson I learnt is to use a new machine asap so any problems occur in the warranty time.

Now I have decided to get another TIG machine as don't know yet when I can get my Weldsmart Tig fixed, then decide what to do with it. It is still ok for stick and scratch Tig. After reading some favourable mentions of Token Tools and its owner, Pete in these forums I called them and had all my questions answered very satisfactorily by Pete so I ordered this: Metalmaster AC DC Digital Pulse Tig Welder Alupulse 210 PRO.
They also have MIG and Multi purpose welders so I suggest you look at their welders.

Concerning Trade Tools range I have bought quite an amount of tools etc from them over the years and have had no bad deals. All my purchases have been by mail order but you would be able to find a store close to you to look at their welders and ask questions.

Hope this is some help.

Originally Posted by Normanby

I have had this machine for about three years so out of warranty.

If a welder failed after 3 years, I'd be expecting the unit to be repaired under the statutory warranty. I believe it's reasonable to expect a welder to have a longer life than 3 years.

Originally Posted by RustyArc

If a welder failed after 3 years, I'd be expecting the unit to be repaired under the statutory warranty. I believe it's reasonable to expect a welder to have a longer life than 3 years.

I agree with you and I had this thought after the fault occurred. I have been trying to find the paperwork and receipts ever since but so far not found. I recall that I didn't buy it directly from Weldsmart but I think from an agent in Melbourne. What is worse is that I recall seeing some paperwork only a few months ago but now I have no idea where it was then.Will keep looking.Regards

Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore

Hi and welcome to the forum. One of the most important things, I always suggest is what is the duty cycle. That is the time you can weld continuously, before having to stop to let the welder cool down. This is always represented in % Duty Cycle, the higher the percentage the better. Most welding is done around the 120-150 amp mark, this ideally would be around the 75% or better mark, meaning you could weld continuously for 45 min, out of the hour before having to let it cool down.
Kryn

Be a bit careful with duty cycles. Very few units are rated on a 60 minute cycle and most are rated on a 10 minute cycle meaning 7.5 minutes welding to 2.5 minutes cooling for your 75% example. Normally 60% is good enough for all but the most determined stick welders with home mig users possibly reaching the 75% mark. Some low end units are even rated on a 5 minute cycle.

This brand seems to crop up fairly often.

The pricing of this genre of machines means that they are basically disposable welders.

At three to four hundred bucks purchase price, electrical labour rates would be close to a hundred bucks an hour so
an hour or two of dis-assembly and inspection/assessment will eat up any viable economic repair.

Warranty action for the cheapies usually consists of supply of a replacement welder.

Better machines are warrantied for two and three years. Better vendors have their own repair shop set up or referral to electrical repair experienced with welder repair and access to anticipated spares.



I have posted many times over ten years here about buying lower end welders.


Ask lots of pertinent questions beyond price because after 2 or three years and the welder goes leg up and can't be repaired it is no longer cheap.

You pays your money and takes your chances.


Grahame

Received a reply earlier this week from Weldsmart Support with the cost of a new replacement HF board is $175 delivered. As I have now bought another welder which I am happy with (new Thread soon) I am considering what to do about the Weldsmart 200P ac/dc Tig. I have been searching for the original Weldsmart receipt but can't find yet but during the search indications appear that I have probably had this welder for between four and five years not the three years I had thought. This leads to two observations:
1. It may be difficult to pursue a remedy under the statutory warranty provisions of Australian consumer law, given the length of time since purchased.

2. Is it worthwhile spending $175 on a machine this age as other faults may occur any time. Also Weldsmarts equivalent current model sells around $750. However I won't be buying one of these.

Maybe I will just keep it, someone with more electronic knowledge than me may offer a cheaper fix sometime.
Any how it still works as a stick welder and probably as a scratch Tig but how many do I need!!
Comments and observations welcome.

Regards, Gerry