Anyone try one of the combo tig plasma cutters?

[Paul H]

I know, I know, beware the far east imports, but some of those combo tig plasma cutters are very attrictively priced. As a unit that would only see occasional use, I figure it's worth what I'd save over hack saw blades ;)

Just looking for some real world feedback.

[torker]

I've owned a lot of welding machines over the years...mostly new ones...all domestic.
Spent a ton of time at the local college...testing and trying new machines that I may want to buy.
It's not uncommon for even good quality new machines to have bugs so the machine has to get sent back for warranty repair. I've seen it and had it happen with my own...both red and blue.
So...when your new china tig craps out...where do you send it? Or who can get parts?
I have no doubt that some of these machines are capable...but I'd never buy one...see above

[EVguru]

Personally I'd steer clear of the combo machines.

The power supply characteristsics of plasma cutting are quite different from TIG and it's asking a lot for one power stage to do both.

I bought my Jasic TIG via an ebay trader in Hong Kong and have enough electronics knowledge to fix most problems.

In the USA I'd probably deal with www.rilandusa.com.

[macona]

PowCon used to make a Plasma/Tig/Mig machine. Did OK. But they had a tendency to fry their putput stages.

[Bill736]

Those combo machines are attractively priced at about $600, but they are apparently DC only, and won't TIG weld aluminum. They do advertise a high frequency start feature, but apparently it's not true AC high frequency, but merely pulsed DC. Is my impression accurate ?