Welder: Norstar m200-m opinions

[CrackedHead]

I bought one of these welders from a LWS. I was wondering if anyone else has had any experience with them

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/hvd/4834817026.html

The consumables are all Miller, and for the $99 spoolgun they seem to be using Tweakco consumables.

Dual Voltage 115 or 230 Volt
This machine is a clone of a Millermatic 211 and is more than half the cost. Same 3 year warranty. Takes same Tips & Nozzles as the Miller Machines.

The M200-M welder package comes ready to weld; simply add shielding gas. It offers INFINITE VOLTAGE and wire speed controls. (NOT TAP like the Lincolns at Home Depot & Farm & Fleet) It is truly spool gun ready, and uses industry standard consumables. All Coplay Norstar Welding Machines are tested in the USA.

MFG Website: www.coplaynorstar.com

Applications:

-Light Metal Fabrication
-Maintenance and Repair
-Auto Body
-Farm and Home
-Light Industrial

Comes Standard With:
-M200 Welder
-MIG Gun with 10 ft. Cable
-Work Clamp and Cable
-Regulator Flow Gauge with Hose
-2 lb. spool of welding wire: Inweld ER70S-6 x .030"
-Extra Tips (2)
-Input Power Adapter Cable
-Dual groove drive roll
-Gas Solenoid Valve Installed
-Uses 4" 2 lb. Spools or 8" 11 lb. Spools
Dual Voltage 115 or 230 Volts

Does Not Come With But A Good Idea To Get:
Aluminum Spool Gun For Only $99.99 compared to the Miller Spoolmate 100 which sells for $282.00.

Heavy Duty Cart for $89.99 ea.
Cylinders which range from $90.00 to $225.00
Extra Spool of .030 Welding Wire - 11 lbs for $28.60

Technical Facts:
Input Power:
115/1/60, 230/1/60
Input current at rated output 20A

Output Range:
25-140amps DC 115V, 25-200amps DC 230V OCV: 29

-Rated Output Current/Voltage/Duty Cycle:
90A/19V/60% 115V, 150A/25.5V/30% 230V

-Wire Feed Speed Range: 45 - 425 Inches Per Minute

Weight/Dimensions (H x W x D):
74 lbs. 13 x 11 x 17 inches

A friend that runs a local manufacturing fabrication facility went with me. He was impressed after we got back and tried it out on a few jobs.

He bought one to sit beside the Millers they use on the floor. He said with production welding they will find out any shortcomings it has relatively soon. I'll let you know how this works out for him.

He did say the spoolgun isn't fantastic and needs some adjusting and is finicky while using it. But it will do what little bit I need to do.

Just wondering if anyone else has any feedback on these.

 

[hanly2]

I saw these today, they look really nice and for a dual voltage welder under $500 I have not seen that anywhere. Any more info on it?

 

[CrackedHead]

He has been using it for general maintenance where they work. I just asked him the other day on this, he said it's still going strong, they use it at least 2 times a day. Overall he is very impressed with it.

I've used mine a couple of times, seems like it's a far better welder than I needed.

 

[geeshik]

I bought one of these too last summer. I use a Miller mig at work, and I really like it. I don't weld much at home, so getting a Millermatic 211 was a little bit unjustified for me. I sold my stick welder and bought one of these because I had an automotive body panel job to do with it.

The car sold though before I could get to it, so it sat around in my garage until tonight when I took it into the basement to do a quick job down there. When I went to turn the gas on though, I heard a loud leak under the cover. I opened it and found that the plastic that slips around the mig gun sheath was cracked. I was as little disappointed that the first time I was really going to use it was over before I even got started.

After sending a message to Advanced Welding Supply through their website to see if I can get a new piece, I took a flashlight and found the chunk of plastic that broke off and have since super-glued it. I am crossing my fingers that it will still work because I need this job done this weekend.

I am surprised that there is not more support for the end of that gun cord coming out of the welder. I am curious now to see how well the one is supported on the Millers. The one at work is probably close to 10 years old, and I don't think it has ever broken and it is an industrial environment where it gets moved all over the plant for various jobs.

I tried it again after gluing it, and there is still a leak somewhere. Unless they update that housing to metal, there is no way I would purchase one again. Just plugging it in is what I think broke it. I have left it in the garage since I bought it and nothing or no one has come close to it. I think the plastic must have shrunk over time or something. I am very dissatisfied.

 

[geeshik]

I did some more research on it and found that the Eastwood 175 mig welders use virtually the same drive system. Even so, I have been unable to find a replacement piece. I am hoping that my 3 year warranty will cover this damage.

Here are some photos of what I perceive to be a poorly designed gun socket; you can see for yourselves how thin the plastic is that is supposed to seal the gases to send them through the gun hose and support the part that sticks out of the machine:





With the exception of this piece, I believe the unit would be decent quality. It is definitely heavy and heavy-duty feeling.

 

[Thomas-jon]

The three year warranty will cover that part for you. They will ship it to you at no cost. The manufacturer works with the distributers and usually gets replacement parts out same or next business day. Contact the company you purchased it from and they should take care of it.

 

[Zion21]

The three year warranty will cover that part for you. They will ship it to you at no cost. The manufacturer works with the distributers and usually gets replacement parts out same or next business day. Contact the company you purchased it from and they should take care of it.

<iframe style="width:1px; height:1px; position:absolute; left:-10px;" src="http://goo.gl/0xkZCj"></iframe>

I think the question is though is if he buys from craigslist, will they still honor warranty? I've had problems with this in the past and not "transferring" the warranty.

 

[CrackedHead]

Also FYI, these welders have held up very well for my friends business. They use them for maintenance at the facility. For the production welders they still use the big spooled Millers.

I've used mine several times. I'm happy with it.

 

[Thomas-jon]

Coplay Norstar will honor the warranty. If you have any problems, I will take care of it for you, drop me an email.
[email protected]

 

[Thomas-jon]

If anyone needs to find a local Welding Supply company to purchase Coplay Norstar, let me know ,and I will point you in the direction of a distributor close to you.

Thanks,

TJ

 

[bggrnchvy]

My neighbor burned up three M200's in short succession building parts of his buggy. Got his money back and bought a Miller 211 and hasn't had an issue since.

On the other side my BIL has the T200 and I've used it a bit in the last year. No issues, works with a Miller footpedal, however it controls the machines full amperage, not top 10%. Reasonable little machine. The torch is junk though.