emeraldcoupe
Well-known member
I have a Lincoln weld pak 100 , it's a great little machine. i'm looking for something with more power and the Vulcan mig max 215 is pretty tempting. any one here have one or used one? i'm just a hobby welder.
so does anyone have a HF Vulcan welder?
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So even at the high end, HF has the same problem; only extended warranty available for protection. We would be better off if they sourced their expensive stuff from a US manufacturer/importer like IMC, who handles problems with their 5hp air compressors. At the least, they should arrange with the maker of Vulcan to supply spare parts. This has always been the HF business model and it puts a limit on what I will risk buying there. Some people just don't think ahead or just don't care. Cheap can be expensive.
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Quite the contrary, for me.
If I ever need a part for it, I can buy a whole brand new welder and still come out money ahead over buying the equivalent Miller, which I believe are made in Mexico, so maybe it's good that they have spare parts available.
As an added bonus, I can throw the original welder in the corner and have (most) all the spare parts I need.
Meanwhile, I'll have an extra $675 in my checking account.
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Stooge
Well-known member
Miller welders, along with atleast some Hobart welders, are made in Appleton, Wisconsin. I've been to the plant /compound multiple times for work since we are both ITW companies.
That is what I have been fighting with in my head. I think its around 1600 bucks for the Lincoln Squarewave Tig and then 1000 for the Vulcan Protig 200 and about the same for the Eastwood Digital 200.... But I am thinking of still getting the Lincoln just because I have seen it really being used in welding video's and it has professional welders weldering (OK MR Tig but still) with it on youtube and giving informative feedback on it's use and shortfalls. Meanwhile all the "reviews on the Vulcan are either from people that are HF bashers ,or simply an unboxing video with a proclamation about how the vulcan comes with a couple of Tungsten's so they give it high marks for that. Also Kyle on Fab forums has given the Eastwood some high marks and feedback too so it's still in my budget bracket, lol
I was looking at the one that does mig/tig/arc but read that it doesn't come with the torch and foot pedal for Tig.
cptn_zippy
Well-known member
Good luck finding one (MigMax 215). I was all set to take the plunge but there was not one available for several hundred miles around Denver when I was looking a couple of weeks ago. Nor could they tell me when they would be available. I wound up buying a Hobart 210 MVP for about $150 more. Much better warranty and parts availability if needed. It misses a few features, but I’m not sure they are all that important. Did buy the HF welding cart though!
Jeff
Jeff
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The other side of the issue is it doesn't do AC so its not going to handle aluminum. Might as well just stick with a Mig welder at that point.
OP
emeraldcoupe
Well-known member
my two local stores always have a couple on hand. i'm also waiting for a coupon to come out for it.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Miller/Lincoln are often out of the DIY budget. The reviews I have seen on YouTube seem to say that the HF welder are not bad, but you can get much better welders for a few dollars more, including used used Miller/Lincoln.
hefnerconstructionlc
Well-known member
OP
emeraldcoupe
Well-known member
used welders around here are usually the giant old Lincoln / miller ones that take up half your garage.
OP
emeraldcoupe
Well-known member
I just saw your thread. how has the welder been holding up?
Stooge
Well-known member
Im almost always in the buy a miller, hobart or Lincoln camp, but for the price of the Vulcan welders, and if it really is a 1 yr risk free trial to buy it, I'd say its worth a shot. 1 year is a good enough amount of time to figure out if its going to hold up for a while or if its a piece of junk and you can get your money back after a few months. Looks like you can atleast get replacement consumables relatively easy https://www.usaweld.com/Replacement-Gun-Parts-for-Vulcan-MIG-Welders-p/vulcan15flexparts.htm
hefnerconstructionlc
Well-known member
For our needs I think it is fine. We probably fab up framing brackets every other month. If used everyday who knows. But for my business at half the cost, If we do one medium sized projects it will have paid for itself vs our Lincoln stick in labor time. So I am not real worried, plus you have the one year trial. Break it in good, and then see. Can I get parts unlikely, do I care, not really. Considering it will pay for itself in one to two projects.
jonesg
Well-known member
If you want chinese at least go with an established name.
OP
emeraldcoupe
Well-known member
dnschmidt
Well-known member
I think that remark was to a degree helpful. Everlast and AHP have been around for quite some time now. For TIG I simply do not believe you can do better than the AlphaTig 200X for anything less than 2X it's price.
For MIG Everlast has several machines that have been used commercially for a long time. But the new player in this space is the 200i from HTP. For $1100 you get a no pulse version of the ProPulse 200 that is the best welding value on Earth.
For MIG Everlast has several machines that have been used commercially for a long time. But the new player in this space is the 200i from HTP. For $1100 you get a no pulse version of the ProPulse 200 that is the best welding value on Earth.
trackwelder
Well-known member
Me personally I would stay away from them. Stick with Miller, Esab or Lincoln. Parts and service are abundant for the big names. I can go to my LWS and get a set of drivers rollers or consumables if needed. There is a reason the others are cheaper. They have little to no parts or service to offer.
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
I agree 100%. I don't care what brand/color it is as long as it's a major manufacturer with known support. To me, a $1,000 tool is considered a "life-time" tool investment, so I want to know that I can get decades of use out of it. I'd be more inclined to buy a used name brand than a new Chinese machine. The bottom line is you get what you pay for. If it makes more sense to you to just throw the thing away, or buy another unit for parts, then that is your prerogative. The cost of my $2k tig welder or $2k mig welder is long forgotten, but every time I need to make/fix something I'm glad I spent that money 10yrs ago.
I agree the new HF machines probably weld fine, but in 5yrs from now when "Vulcan" welders are now being branded "Niller" or "Cheesab" how are you going to feel about throwing a broken $1,000 welders in the trash? I'm not a HF hater as they have some great values, but I'd rather have a name brand welder sitting on a HF cart.
That is a good point. I think we can all see it on the HF shelves now, they are rebranding stuff like crazy, trying to create confusion in their own market place I suspect. I noticed the built of some of their Bauer items are the same as the old Chicago Electric, and then they also have the Warrior branded stuff, which I think is supposed to be the "upscale" professional grade, but of course you never really see that product on sale. Like you said it makes you wonder what will happen with the product line down the road and what they have done there has been done in only a year or so.
I thought Vulcan was made in India?
deberly12
Well-known member
Check out Chucke2009 on YouTube. He is a self-employed welder and has reviewed some of the vulcans. He has used everything up to fronius but understands that budget machines are better for some people.
HTP makes several parts to replace the Vulcan stuff. Mig guns and such so there are some parts that can be sourced.
I am currently saving up to pick one up but it is a ways out.
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HTP makes several parts to replace the Vulcan stuff. Mig guns and such so there are some parts that can be sourced.
I am currently saving up to pick one up but it is a ways out.
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You can do DC TIG on aluminum with straight Helium...it isn't ideal, but will still work. That being said, if you are welding a lot of aluminum, you need AC (unless you go with a spool gun and have a capable MIG machine).
As I said, some don't care. You are willing to buy it as a throw away.That's fine. It just doesn't work for me.Quite the contrary, for me.
If I ever need a part for it, I can buy a whole brand new welder and still come out money ahead over buying the equivalent Miller, which I believe are made in Mexico, so maybe it's good that they have spare parts available.
As an added bonus, I can throw the original welder in the corner and have (most) all the spare parts I need.
Meanwhile, I'll have an extra $675 in my checking account.
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Loscaldazar
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Assembled in the USA now. They haven't been made in the USA for quite a while. Not sure what the actual % foreign and domestic content is though.
So, going back to your original question. I have one and have used it. I had a Hobart 140 and replaced it with the Vulcan Mig Max 215. It welds really nice. I bought different wire for it than the Vulcan brand because I had good results using it in my Hobart. It does a great job and is a nice welder with no concerns so far. I have one year to try it out and if it doesn't work out I can return it and get my money back. I have another two years for a full replacement. I am just a hobby welder as well. I only weld for my own creations and repairs. This Vulcan can do everything I need a welder to do and does it well. In my opinion on the 220v settings it welds just as nice if not better than the Hobart 190 and 210 that I have used on several occasions.
I am amazed by the number of people who are speaking out against it without any experience with the machine. If you look into the experiences of those who have used these machines you will find a lot of satisfied welders.
It is a really good welder and has held up well. I bought mine back in February and have had no problems at all. I am not using it everyday therefore it meets and exceeds my needs for a machine. If I was welding everyday I probably could afford a bigger better more expensive machine, however that's not where I'm at.
Good luck on your choice, it has my vote for sure.
When it comes to an expensive purchase like a welder, machine tool etc. ,the cheapest **** is seldom if ever the most economical. I have over a dozen welders, most bought used but smaller ones were purchased new. There are a lot of lower cost options other than hf. Razorweld and ahp come to mind, I would avoid longegeivety and Everlast, due to shady business practices and sketchiness on warranty and doa machines. If buying used, always try out the machine and if not possible, pass unless it's dirt cheap.
Loscaldazar
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Just as an FYI, AHP and everlast are the same owners. Everlast is owned by Oleg, and AHP is "owned" by his wife (or maybe it's his mother) in name, but he runs both. AHP is the lower level/more budget oriented line.
As another interesting fact, the owner of Longevity is a relative of Oleg's (by marriage). The two hate each other though and there are some good fights on the internet between the two.
Razorweld is owned by Jasic, so it's not a small company. Never used the machines, so I won't make a recommendation on them.
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Loscaldazar
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After thirty days, you pay to ship the machine back for warranty work.
They will often ship out replacement parts to you if they can diagnose it over the phone and you feel competent enough to replace it yourself. Much cheaper and quicker that way, with obvious drawbacks though.
Yes jasic is a big company, but the razorcut and razorweld products are fairly new to the US. I have the razor cut 45 plasma and it's been excellent in the 1 year+ that I have had it. I am aware of the ownership of ahp, but it seems that they may have a little better business model. As for longegeivety and Everlast, shysters and flim flam men who are out for a quick buck and may only have improved their thier customer service because of increased pressure due to the internet. When it comes down to a few hundred dollars, many times 15-25 percent price difference, a person would be a fool to buy a cheap product with little to no customer support over a proven product. A one year warranty isn't much for a welder, that in most cases should last 10-20+ years.
OP
emeraldcoupe
Well-known member
thanks guys. not sure what the others don't understand about " does anyone HAVE a Vulcan" lol.
i'm going to pick one up
American Locomotive
Well-known member
Why even bother asking a question if you're going to ignore the advice most of the forum gives you? No one is saying it's a bad welder, but for how much it costs there are many better options with better parts availability, support, and warranty.
Eastwood Units have a 3 year warranty, Everlast has a 5 year warranty, AHP has a 3 year warranty. Lincoln and Miller have 3-5 year warranties on most of their machines. The HF welders have a 90 day warranty, which you can upgrade to a replacement plan.
I bought a little Lincoln 125 machine around 10 years ago, and wanted a gas valve for it (to upgrade from fluxcore to gas shielded). I emailed Lincoln support, and I got a response the same day with a part number for the valve, drawings of where it goes and even voltage specs to check to make sure I was getting the right part. Try that with HF in 10 years and they'll likely tell you that they've never even heard of the Vulcan brand.
For me, the long term support and service is worth the price of admission for Lincoln and Miller equipment. Even the other "discount" brands offer much better support and service compared to HF. I guess if you're like some on here, and swimming in so much money that a $500-800 welder is a "disposable" item, it doesn't matter.
Eastwood Units have a 3 year warranty, Everlast has a 5 year warranty, AHP has a 3 year warranty. Lincoln and Miller have 3-5 year warranties on most of their machines. The HF welders have a 90 day warranty, which you can upgrade to a replacement plan.
I bought a little Lincoln 125 machine around 10 years ago, and wanted a gas valve for it (to upgrade from fluxcore to gas shielded). I emailed Lincoln support, and I got a response the same day with a part number for the valve, drawings of where it goes and even voltage specs to check to make sure I was getting the right part. Try that with HF in 10 years and they'll likely tell you that they've never even heard of the Vulcan brand.
For me, the long term support and service is worth the price of admission for Lincoln and Miller equipment. Even the other "discount" brands offer much better support and service compared to HF. I guess if you're like some on here, and swimming in so much money that a $500-800 welder is a "disposable" item, it doesn't matter.
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