Anyone have a Longevity 160PI?

[91bronc300]

I want and TIG welder and a plasma cutter to compliment my OxyFuel and MIG. Longevity is having a March Madness special, I've only seen it advertised over at pirate4x4 but it's 20% off plus free shipping. It's bringing some of their combo units down into my price range. I'm wondering if someone has got one and what they think. And how capable is it? I'm wondering how big a handicap only going to 160 amps on the TIG is going to be. Anybody? Thanks.

 

[nismomans13]

I guess their ok for the occasional user. I would never outfit a shop with them though. They list the duty cycle at 60% for rated amperage, but don't tell you the rated amperage. That rated amperage could be 40 amps which would basically make the machine worthless.

 

[91bronc300]

Thanks for the advise Nismo. I think I'll call Longevity and ask them some questions.

 

[StumpXJ]

I have the 256Pi here at my shop, awesome machine, and use it all the time.

~ Stump

 

[nismomans13]

I just watched a video for their new digital tig welder, which is rated at 50 amps, and 40%
(meaning, at 50 amps, you can weld for 4 mins with a 6 min cool down) duty cycle, which would say at 100 amps that machine has less than a 20% duty cycle, and at full output of 200 amps its likely less than 10%. I don't even know what you could possibly weld with that thing. If you had to weld anything over 16g aluminum you wouldn't even get a puddle started before it hit its duty cycle.

You can likely find a used miller or lincoln for about the same price their asking for these welders.

 

[Bigpigdave]

Check out www.weldingtipsandtricks.com. It has a lot of great info and some awesome video reviews. The fellow that runs it has some really interesting thoughts, that might surprise you, on import welding machines. He is a pro who seems to know what he is talking about.
Dave

 

[nismomans13]

His name is Jody. He's a great welder and gave an honest review on the everlasting machine. But he will openly say to get a Lincoln it Miller if you can afford it.

I have a 33 year old Miller tight that has never failed. There are plenty of info on these import machines breaking.

If you look hard enough you can find an AC/DC Miller tight machine for the same or less than these imports and parts will always be available.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk

 

[Ascinder]

X2 on weldingtipsandtricks-that guy is awesome! BTW I have the Longevity200PI and it's fantastic. Longevity has a great warranty and stands behind their products. I would go with the Weldall 360 right now-it's a no brainer- it's currently $80 more than the 160 right now(with 20% discount). You won't be sorry.

 

[91bronc300]

Yeah I've watched a bunch of Jody's videos already. He does really good work. He actually did a really good review of a Hobart mig and I later ended up buying one.

Ascinder, what do you usually weld with your 200PI and how is the duty cycle at higher amperages? Ever trip the thermal overload?

The Weldall 360 is 3 phase machine and I don't have 3 phase service. I wish I did.

 

[Ascinder]

I have welded mostly 1/4" steel and aluminum, and some lighter stuff too. I haven't tripped the thermal overload yet, but I'm only doing mostly brackets and tabs so not a lot of really long continuous welds and the machine has a chance to cool as I move off of one bracket and reposition and set up for the next. Damn, didn't notice the three phase part, but there's always phase converters BTW if you're doing aluminum you can knock the power requirements on the welder down and still maintain heat by running straight helium or a mix-the more helium the hotter it gets. I have only ever used what they call Gold gas which is a mix. Jody has a review of I think an everlast unit which he really liked and longevity is similar if not just about identical to those. IIRC the guys who started one company came from the other or something like that.

 

[jakeb]

Is there a 20% code or do you need to PM over at 4x4?

 

[91bronc300]

Is there a 20% code or do you need to PM over at 4x4?

The coupon code is 'march madness'. Gets you 20% off and free shipping. Good until the month is over.

 

[v7guy]

Bringing this one back up. For you guys that have a longevity machine,

How long have you had them?

How long do the consumables last?

I was looking at a hypertherm plasma and then noticed these machines over on pirate4x4. The 160pi is mighty tempting. The last couple years there seems to be very little feedback at all. I don't know if it's due to deleted threads or if this group of machines have largely had the bugs worked out.

 

[91bronc300]

I had some drama with Longevity when I placed an order with them this Spring. It was drawn out over several months but in the end things are OK. I've got a ForceCut 50i now, it works OK, and I would rate consumable life as probably 'tolerable'.