I have read almost every post concerning welders, plasma cutters.I now have information leaking out my ears. Has anyone purchased a welder from the Longevity brand? I watched this video and was impressed. What are your thoughts? Ken
Welders
- Thread starter Kenskip1
- Start date
bobcatdan
Well-known member
Buy Miller.
Why buy a Miller? Have you tried the Longevity brand? Why not, buy a Lincoln! Give me a valid reason for your statement. I do not require an expensive welder as I am at this junction but just getting ideas, Thanks, Ken
ZRX61
Well-known member
Never heard of them, that's enough to stay the hell away from them.
Buy Miller.
Buy Miller.
Askme42
Well-known member
I have a hobart that has worked great and is plenty machine for me. Couldn't justify spending double on a miller.
purplezr2
Well-known member
Miller, Lincoln- These are typically what you will see in industry.
Hobart-Hobby version of the Miller series welders. Still great machines.
I personally have a Miller, I believe in buying the best I can afford so saved for couple years. it has been flawless for the 4 years I have owned it.
Hobart-Hobby version of the Miller series welders. Still great machines.
I personally have a Miller, I believe in buying the best I can afford so saved for couple years. it has been flawless for the 4 years I have owned it.
RedneckWelder
Well-known member
Longevity is a Chinese importer. Some of their stuff might be OK, but it is a gamble and you are depending on their warranty for support as there is no such thing as spare parts/service, just warranty exchange. Same goes for the other Chinese brands such as Everlast or Eastwood.
Some have had good luck with them others not so much. Your money, your gamble.
Me, I'll stick with the proven Lincoln, Miller/Hobart, and ESAB brands. There are some excellent "budget" brands such as HTP and Thermal Arc. HTP is not Chinese made, but most if not all of Thermal Arc's stuff is these days, but at least they actually care about the customer support. HTP's customer service I know is outfrickinstanding.
Miller/Hobart and Lincoln are both US companies with US production and have been in the business for a really long time. Good people.
Also, if you're looking into buying a Plasma, Hypertherm is THE answer. OUTSTANDING company.
Some have had good luck with them others not so much. Your money, your gamble.
Me, I'll stick with the proven Lincoln, Miller/Hobart, and ESAB brands. There are some excellent "budget" brands such as HTP and Thermal Arc. HTP is not Chinese made, but most if not all of Thermal Arc's stuff is these days, but at least they actually care about the customer support. HTP's customer service I know is outfrickinstanding.
Miller/Hobart and Lincoln are both US companies with US production and have been in the business for a really long time. Good people.
Also, if you're looking into buying a Plasma, Hypertherm is THE answer. OUTSTANDING company.
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Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
Hobart Handler 140 is working great for me. I THINK it was $400 used.
RedneckWelder
Well-known member
Hobart makes some excellent welders. Being owned by the same parent co. as Miller much of their lineup is a budget version of the miller equivalent. They make several 110v MIGs and even a kick *** 110v/220v dual voltage MIG and a nice 220v MIG machine.
They would be one of my no. 1 choices for a "budget" machine.
ZRX61
Well-known member
brianpgriset
Well-known member
I agree with above. Buy from ITW (miller/Hobart parent company). Both are renowned for customer care and service.
Eric Commarato
Well-known member
Buy Miller
Murphy4570
Well-known member
Can't go wrong with Lincoln or Miller. I own both brands, and like both.
Remember, the pain of poor quality will be remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. Quality hurts up front, and is pleasure forever after.
Remember, the pain of poor quality will be remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. Quality hurts up front, and is pleasure forever after.
bcradio
Well-known member
My vote is for Miller
fatboyf150
Well-known member
Miller Multimatic 200. Does it all but cut.
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/multiprocess/product.php?model=M00361
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/multiprocess/product.php?model=M00361
I would visit your nearest authorized repair center and talk to the guy who actually does the repairs. Look around and see which brands and models are tagged for repair. In looking at new equipment, I'd more than likely run with Miller, perhaps a model that's been in production for a while. That said, If Hypertherm built welders, I'd be very interested in purchasing one.
Good luck,
Motoretro
Good luck,
Motoretro
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Tejaas
Well-known member
Maybe buy a USED Miller, ESAB, or Lincoln?
Maybe that will alleviate some of the sticker shock/justification issues for you...?
~Tejaas~
WTB: Snap-On Orange Hard Handle SSDP63 in Very Good Condition!
Maybe that will alleviate some of the sticker shock/justification issues for you...?
~Tejaas~
WTB: Snap-On Orange Hard Handle SSDP63 in Very Good Condition!
Longevity has failed to impress me multiple times over. They're cheap, low quality products sold by another flash in the pan importer who won't stand behind them. They pay off a few "Internet weldors" to get some good press in front of Joe Homeowner who ends up with a welder that they don't make parts for anymore once the next crate of new ones arrives from china.
Go search around on welding web and read how the longevity rep has handled some warranty claims. Right underneath an ad for a model that says "Five year warranty" he says there is no coverage on a two year old machine. I think I saved some screenshots of one of the threads, I'll have to look when I get to a computer.
Stick with the big three, Lincoln, Miller or Hobart. Esab builds a good machine as well.
Go search around on welding web and read how the longevity rep has handled some warranty claims. Right underneath an ad for a model that says "Five year warranty" he says there is no coverage on a two year old machine. I think I saved some screenshots of one of the threads, I'll have to look when I get to a computer.
Stick with the big three, Lincoln, Miller or Hobart. Esab builds a good machine as well.
Buy Lincoln just to piss these "buy Miller" people off. I don't know much about the Longevity stuff, but Eastwood welders seem to have great reviews and are basically the same. You do get what you pay for so keep in mind when the $300 welder breaks it is probably trash. Good news is you can buy 3 or 4 for the price of one Miller. 
If you can find a cheap deal on a Miller, go for it. I've been looking for that deal for years and havent seen it. Meanwhile, I'm happy with the Lincoln I have. I don't use it much though.
If you can find a cheap deal on a Miller, go for it. I've been looking for that deal for years and havent seen it. Meanwhile, I'm happy with the Lincoln I have. I don't use it much though.I love my Lincoln. I looked at the
Longevity. I would like to have a
dedicated machine that I can haul
around. I do lots of little jobs for
friends. Brackets, mounts, header
reducers etc. I use .030 flux core
for all that of course on 110V in
their garage. IMHO I would by one
from HF. At least you could take it
back. The advice about buying a
good machine is right on the money. A so so welder can take a
good machine and run a good weld. Even used you can replace
all of the wear items on a quality
machine.
Sent from my SCH-S720C using Tapatalk 2
Longevity. I would like to have a
dedicated machine that I can haul
around. I do lots of little jobs for
friends. Brackets, mounts, header
reducers etc. I use .030 flux core
for all that of course on 110V in
their garage. IMHO I would by one
from HF. At least you could take it
back. The advice about buying a
good machine is right on the money. A so so welder can take a
good machine and run a good weld. Even used you can replace
all of the wear items on a quality
machine.
Sent from my SCH-S720C using Tapatalk 2
BD1
Well-known member
Miller , Lincoln, and Hobart are PROVEN products in the industry. Look for trucks with welding machines on them when driving around. You will see ALL MILLERS or LINCOLNS . You get what you pay for. It may cost more initially, but you will only buy it once and it will work when needed. Service available local too if required. Get the import and you'll be sending it out for repairs and waiting for ever. If a import is all you can afford choose wisely.
RedneckWelder
Well-known member
If the original poster would tell us what kind of welding process he wants to do (mig, tig, stick, or a combination) we could probably suggest some cost effective ones that would eliminate the price attractiveness of an import pile of ****.
09zkrankin
Member
- Joined
- May 11, 2014
- Messages
- 23
I would also stay away from the longevity, everlast, etc type welders. Some love them but some hate them. I recently purchased a new millermatic 211 and I love it. It has the multi voltage plug which is great if you need to run to a buddy's house who doesn't have 220v. One of the biggest reasons I went with a miller was parts availability. This machine replaced a 1996 model millermatic 130 I had, and even with the machine being 18 yrs old I could get any part I needed for it and usually one of the local suppliers would have it in stock. That means a lot when you are buying a machine that will see heavy hobby use and you would like to last for a while. I have no gripes against Lincoln as I'm sure you would have the same availability with them, just always preferred a miller.
Also if you are looking at plasma hyperthermia is the way to go. I bought a powermax 45 right after my welder and it is great. Consumable life is great, simple setup, cuts amazing, very little dross and very fine cuts once you get used to it.
If I was unable to afford a miller welder, or a hypertherm plasma, my next choice would be the thermal dynamics machines. I have heard great reviews on them and the price point is pretty good as well, but I have not had the chance to use one. Thermal dynamics also offers some combo machines that may fit the bill for your uses
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Also if you are looking at plasma hyperthermia is the way to go. I bought a powermax 45 right after my welder and it is great. Consumable life is great, simple setup, cuts amazing, very little dross and very fine cuts once you get used to it.
If I was unable to afford a miller welder, or a hypertherm plasma, my next choice would be the thermal dynamics machines. I have heard great reviews on them and the price point is pretty good as well, but I have not had the chance to use one. Thermal dynamics also offers some combo machines that may fit the bill for your uses
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purplezr2
Well-known member
I personally feel like welders are not an area to try a cheaper version to see how it works. I want to know it is going to work every time with little to no issues. I don't want to waste a bunch of money on a unit that may break in a few years, or at least has little to no reputations. I believe this is the reason that most are trying to steer you to a more recognizable brands.