Should have known better

[Jack shouse]

Hello.I bought a lotos 200 tig welder used it three times
It blew up and it's on its way back to California hopefully I get my money back
Want to start my own small business I have been welding and fabrication for 34 years .I should have bought a miller tig machine but couldn't swing it maybe later.

[Aeronca41]

Hope you recover the $ !

[ryanjones2150]

Jack...you silly man...you've paid the penalty of buying cheap, junk tools. Keep an eye on your local classified ads, should be able to pick up something used and good at a reasonable price. <br />
<br />
Where on this planet are you located? <br />
<br />
I have no idea how much a lotos doofloppy whatever it was you bought cost, but down time is generally more costly. If you're near me, you can come weld your whatever it is you're welding up in my shop until you get your new machine.

[aametalmaster]

My place and machines are avail also. My buddy wants a TIG and said he can get an Alpha at Home Depot for 650 bucks are they good. I said I don't have a clue let me know. But here is what I sell and the price...Bob

[H80N]

If you are starting business..... do yourself a favor and INVEST in a Dynasty 210DX or 280DX.....

Buy Quality.....You will be ahead in the long run.................

[Stefen7]

Ouch. I am currently in the process of starting a business myself, so I know there are too many things you need and not enough money. It is a tough call what to buy new or used; top quality or roll the dice on cheaper stuff. If you are going used, you are in the right place as the posters above have already helped me several times.

You may have done this already but to help you narrow down what used machine to look for, search past posts, and read anything concerning operating problems or failures of that type of unit.

Also the ability to download a manual from any unit Miller built since the 1970's is a huge bonus. (Miller home page. Support. Manuals and Parts. Have an older model or don't know your serial number?) I have a PDF of every Dialarc manual ever printed. There is lots of information there, and it is available immediately, in case you need to move quickly on a used unit.

If you are starting a welding business, the portability of an inverter to work on a customer’'s site is important, so you would be looking at a relatively new unit. Like me, you may also need a ‘power machine’ in your shop for the big stuff. Some of the older welders are incredible, (just ask Ryan about Helga), and are available at a relatively low price. Miller has the manuals for the pre-1970’s units, just not in the ‘Manuals & Parts’ download. I simply looked online for a similar unit with a known serial number and called Miller (920-735-4356) and they emailed me a manual within a few hours. It provides the major information for that series of welder, and that can help make the decision.

Great service and a forum with real information, not just ‘spitting matches.’ A major reason I switched from Red to Blue.
Good Luck.

[Olivero]

I got an older Dynasty 200 DX. I do anything with that machine, absolutely love it. I Don't do MIG so it never was a concern but you can TIG and Stick with it, AC DC, balance control, the whole 9 yards. I do fabrication and repair work and get tossed all kinds of weird stuff and projects but my Dynasty never fails me, anything from a 5 minute job to a week long job, 2" seams to 8 ft seams, always delivers.

Definetley worth it, especially if your doing business and not just small projects. Machine can take a beating; I have dropped it down the stairs had it rolling around in a truck bed, still runs every time.

Word of advice is to not carry it on your shoulders going down the stairs in a dark stairwell at 1 AM. Very easy to fall with it, still runs good after though, only thing I have ever had to replace on it was the rubber feet, been welding with it for 2 years at least once a week and sometimes every day, all day.

I could go on for a while, its a great machine, worth every penny.

[OscarJr]

Yup, even though anything can go wrong at any time with any brand, the service is there to back it up.

[Can You Weld This For Me?]

Hello.I bought a lotos 200 tig welder used it three times
It blew up and it's on its way back to California hopefully I get my money back
Want to start my own small business I have been welding and fabrication for 34 years .I should have bought a miller tig machine but couldn't swing it maybe later.

If the loss of an inferior $600 welder is going to make or break your welding business, you might want to rethink your entire business plan.