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Just bought an AHP AlphaTig 200x

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#21 · (Edited)
That Guy There said:
Terry: think one of these China Welders could hold up in your shop for a week?
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No support so forget it. :realmad:

Yeah, typical scenario;


"Hello? Chinese welder maker?"

"Yes, what state do you live in?"

"Who cares, my welder don't work"

"Let me transfer you to customer service."

"Customer Service."

"Hello, my welder don't work."

"Is it still in warranty?"

"Yes, I just recieved it"

"Yeah, well get your MultiMeter out, pull the cover off, and check voltage at terminal blah, blah."

"F-you customer service!"

"Well we can't help you then."

"Ok fine, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz damit!

"Ok checks out fine."

"Check your points"

"How do I do that? I don't have those tools."

"Ok, we can't help you then."

"F-you customer service!"

"Ok then here is a return authorization #. Pack it back up and send it back to us for weeks of diagnostics."

"F-you customer service!"



 
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#23 ·
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#24 · (Edited)
shovelon said:
No support so forget it. :realmad:

Yeah, typical scenario;


"Hello? Chinese welder maker?"

"Yes, what state do you live in?"

"Who cares, my welder don't work"

"Let me transfer you to customer service."

"Customer Service."

"Hello, my welder don't work."

"Is it still in warranty?"

"Yes, I just recieved it"

"Yeah, well get your MultiMeter out, pull the cover off, and check voltage at terminal blah, blah."

"F-you customer service!"

"Well we can't help you then."

"Ok fine, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz damit!

"Ok checks out fine."

"Check your points"

"How do I do that? I don't have those tools."

"Ok, we can't help you then."

"F-you customer service!"

"Ok then here is a return authorization #. Pack it back up and send it back to us for weeks of diagnostics."

"F-you customer service!"
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LOL that is exactly how it will play out with the exception of more time wasted on the phone, then no answers from the customer service line. Once you get fed up with that end up posting a bad feedback on the forums. Then all of sudden a miracle happens customer service calls back and says we will either send you a new machine or you pay this much and we will replace it...

Some will say I am biased and so be it, although there is absolutely no way that these cheap welders are as good as a reputable companies product, the china specials may weld just like them right out of the box and maybe 2-3mths after. What about the long term report? How are they holding up in the field?
 
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#26 ·
soutthpaw said:
Terry, I'm gonna get an AHP and sneak to your shop and swap it out for your Dynasty when you are not looking.
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Julie's is right in front. Take that one DJ. So when she finds out you took her machine she will de-gonad you. :eek: :laugh:
 
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#27 ·
I never meant to incite a firestorm, it just pains me to see that the Big three dont make a smaller "affordable" welder for guys starting out. Cause lets face it, a lot of us dont have 1500+ to shell out on a unit we may not use daily. Trust me, I would love to have a beast Syncro in my shop. Hands down, if I could afford it, and knew it would always get use, I wouldnt have any problem dropping the money. Im not a salesman for any company in particular. I saw the AHP, and thought I'd try it. At worst, its backed by Amazon, and Id of just returned it if it failed. I know its not as easy as that, but I digress. I just think it would be cool it they offered a cheaper product for entry level guys. Then as they outgrow them, they can craigslist/yellow page their machines, make a good 50-75% of their money back, and buy bigger. So dont take what Ive said as a mere punch in the face to american made welders. As far as support and rep goes, they are #1. But for the little guy, it can be daunting to say the least to see most prices in the near 1k range for decent machines. I know I was a little skeptical when I bought mine, but I cannot complain. It does the job I ask it too, every time. All the issues I have with it are my own, as I am not on a level like Zap or ZTFab. Though that is going to take a couple decades to be there.

So my appologies if someone took my comments to heart, thinking I was more concerned on.price than quality.

The world keeps turning....the rod keeps burning.....
 
#28 ·
turismolover22 said:
I never meant to incite a firestorm, it just pains me to see that the Big three dont make a smaller "affordable" welder for guys starting out. Cause lets face it, a lot of us dont have 1500+ to shell out on a unit we may not use daily. Trust me, I would love to have a beast Syncro in my shop. Hands down, if I could afford it, and knew it would always get use, I wouldnt have any problem dropping the money. Im not a salesman for any company in particular. I saw the AHP, and thought I'd try it. At worst, its backed by Amazon, and Id of just returned it if it failed. I know its not as easy as that, but I digress. I just think it would be cool it they offered a cheaper product for entry level guys. Then as they outgrow them, they can craigslist/yellow page their machines, make a good 50-75% of their money back, and buy bigger. So dont take what Ive said as a mere punch in the face to american made welders. As far as support and rep goes, they are #1. But for the little guy, it can be daunting to say the least to see most prices in the near 1k range for decent machines. I know I was a little skeptical when I bought mine, but I cannot complain. It does the job I ask it too, every time. All the issues I have with it are my own, as I am not on a level like Zap or ZTFab. Though that is going to take a couple decades to be there.

So my appologies if someone took my comments to heart, thinking I was more concerned on.price than quality.

The world keeps turning....the rod keeps burning.....
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Many of the forum regulars weld for a living, and they have a hard time putting them selves in our (hobby weldors) shoes.
 
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#29 · (Edited)
cope said:
Many of the forum regulars weld for a living, and they have a hard time putting them selves in our (hobby weldors) shoes.
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I am in your shoes as a hobby Welder, my primary job is not welding. When purchasing a welder we should buy a good machine with the capability to grow into it.

As our skills progress we will naturally run the welder longer and push it harder. So my point is buy a good reputable machine from the jump or buy a good machine later and spend more money.
 
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Discussion starter · #30 ·
That Guy There said:
I am in your shoes as a hobby Welder, my primary job is not welding. When purchasing a welder we should buy a good machine with the capability to grow into it.

As our skills progress we will naturally run the welder longer and push it harder. So my point is buy a good reputable machine from the jump or buy a good machine later and spend more money.
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Some of this stuff holds up fine for years and years.

Like everyone else stated, while I would love to buy a good machine it doesn't make sense for me to pay $2,000 for a machine that's mostly gonna sit in my garage. I have a hobart 210mvp and I love it but I can't afford their tig, at least not the one I would want.
 
#31 ·
For me it doesn't make sense to buy a machine that will last for 30 years and miss out on the advancements that the newer machine have..

My 200 syncrowave is a great machine but it can't do half what the new ones can... (in my opinion)
 
#34 ·
I am seriously toying with the idea of investing in a #20 water cooled torch. HTP will make a water cooled CK20 torch for the AHP welder, for not a lot of money. I will probably run it off of tap water rather than a dedicated cooler.
 
Discussion starter · #35 ·
turismolover22 said:
The torch isnt "Bad" that comes with it but in all honesty cannot run the A/C in higher amps without destroying itself. Your best bet, when sticking with an air cooled #17 is to stick with a CK Worldwide. You cannot go wrong with a CK torch.
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What size would I want? LIke i said i know nothing about tig.
 
#36 ·
Usually it gets too hot to hold before it would destroy itself. As long as it's rated for the current of your machine you are good to go
 
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#37 ·
Just start with the torch it comes with and invest in a pair of Tillman TIG gloves. With the thinner TIG gloves you can feel when the torch begins to heat up. I wouldn't mess with a new torch until you have a little more experience. if you want a nice low cost upgrade, go with a gas lens kit. The torch that comes with your welder is a standard 17 series torch. Any 17 series accessories will fit it. I would get this kit: http://www.usaweld.com/Stubby-Gas-Lens-Kit-TIG-Torch-p/sr1711stglc.htm, as well as some 3/32 2% lanthanated tungstens. If down the road you want to upgrade your torch, they guys at USAweld (HTP) are the ones to go to for a new torch. They make models to fit the AHP welder and they can custom make any size or shape torch you want if you don't see it in their catalog.
 
#39 ·
I havent changed out mine yet, so I am not sure if the hose-torch ends are the same as all other brand tig's, but the torch you have is a "WP-17" series torch. Like Louie said, I want to upgrade to a water cooled setup. A/C gets that thing hot pretty quick past 120 amps, and thats at 70-80% dcen.
 
Discussion starter · #40 ·
Bah I already bought 1/16 filler rod. Can I still use that with a 3/32 tungston? I figured i should start with 1/16 tungston now you said that I have no idea...

Machine comes today but I can't unbox it
Until tomorrow.
 
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