So what's the deal with ESAB??

MetalMan23 · Feb 16, 2017

I've heard some different things from different welding supply stores about what's going on with ESAB, one guy told me that they might be shutting down some of their products? And it seems like the 161 is not easy to get, I was looking to buy another one a couple months ago and that was when I realized. Are they stopping manufacturing certain products?

Seems like they get bought out every few years too.

92dlxman · Feb 16, 2017

i bugged the crap out of them yesterday and know no more than you do. some reps told me the 161 is discontinued. some reps didn't know what it was. they all mentioned a merge of some sort but i never got any details.

i do believe they own victor, thermal dynamics, and tweco, and im sure im missing somthing, which means they have gotten somewhat redundant in their lineups, which means some of those lines are to be killed off.

i never got any hints of esab being bought, and i dont know who could anyway.

Oldendum · Feb 16, 2017

Colfax Corporation, having purchased ESAB and the Victor group, is no doubt streamlining and reducing redundancies.

The 161 inverter they sell here is different than the equivalent welders they sell in Europe. The European units are very much like the Thermal Arc 161/201. I believe they are made in China by the same company, but Thermal Arc probably had an exclusive back when. Perhaps ESAB will eliminate the older 161 and continue with the T/A type.

MinnesotaDave · Feb 16, 2017

Oldendum said:
Colfax Corporation, having purchased ESAB and the Victor group, is no doubt streamlining and reducing redundancies.

The 161 inverter they sell here is different than the equivalent welders they sell in Europe. The European units are very much like the Thermal Arc 161/201. I believe they are made in China by the same company, but Thermal Arc probably had an exclusive back when. Perhaps ESAB will eliminate the older 161 and continue with the T/A type.

View attachment 1615091

I've been using the Thermal Arc 161 lately.
It welds very nice and is power factor corrected - the ESAB version is not but also welds very nice.
The supplied cables, clamp, electrode holder, power cord are all very good and a little upgraded from the ESAB version.

MinnesotaDave · Feb 16, 2017

Canoecruiser said:
I just called Bakers Gas and they are out of stock on the stick only and stick with tig package. They expect to have stock in the first week of March for both. They said they have heard rumors they would be discontinued for a few years but nothing ever came of it.

Stick only $515.00 http://www.bakersgas.com/ESA0558011934.html
Stick/Tig $685.00 http://www.bakersgas.com/ESA0558102202.html

Free shipping in the U.S.!! Operators are standing by!!

Ah yeah? Cyberweld is cheaper

$481 (likely without case)
http://store.cyberweld.com/esmi161lts05.html

MetalMan23 · Feb 16, 2017

Well it seems like their sales structure is really lacking, and finding info online about the products seems really hard, idk if it's just because it's a foreign company?

Brand X · Feb 16, 2017

MetalMan23 said:
it's just because it's a foreign company?

Buy some stock, and it will be your company.. Unlike Hypertherm/etc...:laugh:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colfax_Corporation

XMilitary · Feb 20, 2017

There are 6 different brands under the ESAB umbrella, some have been absorbed into the ESAB name, needless to say this company has gone through a musical chairs merger that would make the heads of some folks spin. So the internal structure of the company is a mess.

Oldendum · Feb 21, 2017

MetalMan23 said:
Well it seems like their sales structure is really lacking, and finding info online about the products seems really hard, idk if it's just because it's a foreign company?

Yeah, some of the European companies puzzle me. Different way of doing business. And I was a technical salesman for many, many years.

My guess is that they call their local rep and things work out somehow. Ever try to find a particular equipment manual on their web site? I've managed a time or two, but it's a re-learning experience every time. I made an email inquiry (twice) about some older Allstate electrodes a couple months ago. Operators are NOT standing by. No one is home.

However, now ESAB is owned by an American company, so we'll see how it goes. COLFAX also bought the Victor companies, who seemed to be floundering as well.

Jawslandshark · Feb 21, 2017

I think I found the problem, turned on the TV and Diesel Brothers got all the ESAB products got dropped off there. Jeez worst looking welds done on a frame I have ever seen. Maybe they thought all the new ESAB swag would make them them better welders.

Brand X · Feb 21, 2017

Jawslandshark said:
I think I found the problem, turned on the TV and Diesel Brothers got all the ESAB products got dropped off there. Jeez worst looking welds done on a frame I have ever seen. Maybe they thought all the new ESAB swag would make them them better welders.

What's next..Free S**T dropped of at Chuckie Cheeses? Then maybe they could change their new Cowbell for a Cow pie.. :laugh:YEEE-HAHAAA..

M J D · Feb 22, 2017

Brand X said:
What's next..Free S**T dropped of at Chuckie Cheeses? Then maybe they could change their new Cowbell for a Cow pie.. :laugh:YEEE-HAHAAA..

Out of the many brands chucky endorsed for$$$, I don't recall esab being part of it. He has a Miller Trailblazer painted green, so they must have dumped him. There's still neverlast tho.

Brand X · Feb 22, 2017

M J D said:
Out of the many brands chucky endorsed for$$$, I don't recall esab being part of it. He has a Miller Trailblazer painted green, so they must have dumped him. There's still neverlast tho.

I would paint my Esab's Blue if they gave him one..:jester:

Oldendum · Feb 22, 2017

Meanwhile me and JW are Makin Money.

WNY_TomB · Feb 22, 2017

Oldendum said:
Colfax Corporation, having purchased ESAB and the Victor group, is no doubt streamlining and reducing redundancies.

The 161 inverter they sell here is different than the equivalent welders they sell in Europe. The European units are very much like the Thermal Arc 161/201. I believe they are made in China by the same company, but Thermal Arc probably had an exclusive back when. Perhaps ESAB will eliminate the older 161 and continue with the T/A type.

View attachment 1615091

.
.
go into any big city in China and in a welding store you are liable to see a hugh selection of welding machines. even back in 2001 as picture shows a typical welding store in China. in my experience you find 10 times the amount of welding machines and selection compared to welding stores in the USA. never a shortage of welding machines to buy or hard to get any

MinnesotaDave · Feb 22, 2017

I still find it entertaining that I bought my Thermal Arc 161 from a picture of an ESAB using a Tweco (or Victor?) part number.

M J D · Feb 23, 2017

MinnesotaDave said:
I still find it entertaining that I bought my Thermal Arc 161 from a picture of an ESAB using a Tweco (or Victor?) part number.

You hit the jackpot on that deal. Nothing wrong with the esab161, but the TA is almost twice the machine.

MinnesotaDave · Feb 23, 2017

M J D said:
You hit the jackpot on that deal. Nothing wrong with the esab161, but the TA is almost twice the machine.

Jackpot indeed

$320 shipped including tig package

shortfuse · Feb 23, 2017

MinnesotaDave said:
Jackpot indeed $320 shipped including tig package

Dave, are the TA 161's really that good? Just curious in case my ESAB 161 takes a deep-six sometime (the new replacement sent to me under warranty has no extended warranty, so I'd have to get a new machine and ESAB may not have them then.)

MinnesotaDave · Feb 23, 2017

shortfuse said:
Dave, are the TA 161's really that good? Just curious in case my ESAB 161 takes a deep-six sometime (the new replacement sent to me under warranty has no extended warranty, so I'd have to get a new machine and ESAB may not have them then.)

I honestly believe it welds just a tiny bit nicer than the ESAB. But it's so close that I don't really consider it to be important.

It is power factor corrected though and I do find that to be important.
I believe the ESAB is around a .7 so the TA is more efficient and would therefore run on 115v better without popping the breaker as easily.

Also, the maxstar I had was PFC and miller said it did not need a low THD generator to run it.
The direct quote was "Any modern 6000 watt and above generator will be fine."
My opinion is that the PFC had something to do with that.

The TA came with better cables and electrode holder and the power cord is rubber instead of the hard plastic the ESAB came with.

I find the ESAB to have been a bargain and find the Thermal Arc to just be a little more of a bargain.

So what's the deal with ESAB??

MetalMan23

92dlxman

Oldendum

MinnesotaDave

MinnesotaDave

MetalMan23

Brand X

XMilitary

Oldendum

Jawslandshark

Brand X

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M J D

Brand X

Oldendum

WNY_TomB

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MinnesotaDave

M J D

MinnesotaDave

shortfuse

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