China welding machines

Steve welder said
After I got home from the Sunday morning cruise in, I was obliged to take my bride to Kohls, as she had some Kohls dollars
I dropped her off and went across the street to the HF store to waste some time.
HF is selling these stick and multi use welding machines. They have a two brands, one better than the other. The prices are a good amount cheaper than a Lincoln or Miller
I know a guy who just bought a machine named "Everlast". The company is based in the USA but the machine is made overseas. Ive read good reviews and this guy says it welds pretty good. Inverter technology has come far and is now more cheaply produced.
I think Lincoln and Miller sales will suffer. I think they will lose a part of the market that goes to the home enthusiast. I would think its foolish to buy one of these machines for commercial use but I'm now seeing for home garage use they may be adequate.
I recently bought a Miller 211 Mig welder for strictly garage home use. I like it and its a great machine, well made.
I also have a Miller XMT which is a 220/440 industrial CV/CC machine and I have the suitcase mig drive. Now its a 1990's model, manual controls. It welds perfectly and ive run 5/32, 7018 all day, rod after rod. Ive also run 3/16, 7018 and this machine never miss's a beat
Thats American technology made in the USA. Sadly I think American welders will have to resort more and more to making machines overseas to compete with these new brands

Can’t say I disagree with you, but I do think the American products are still a better choice if you can afford it. I bought a Miller 211 on sale mainly for the purpose of restoring my ‘65 Dart. The welder and the project will likely still be here when I’m gone. I also have a small Lincoln tig which I haven’t used much, but seems like a good, well, made unit. I also have a Lincoln 225 stick welder (AC only) that’s at least 50 years old and still works like a champ. However, I must admit that the Chinese stuff is very attractive due to its’ price. I have an Eastwood plasma cutter, and it appears well-made even though I haven’t used it much. A lot of the new units use aluminum in their transformers and won’t have the duty cycle of a copper wound unit, or the lifespan, in my opinion. That said, you need to buy what you can afford. Read the reviews online, and compare warranties and factory support. I’d also recommend that you look around for used stuff. I recently picked about $6,000worth of weling equipment at an estate sale for $1500. It was all new or barely used. I got a complete Miller welding table with all the accessories, a 130 Miller tig i intend to use for light stuff, and at our cabin, a plasma cutter that will cut over an inch of steel, several nice helmets, a really nice welding jacket, and a bunch of nice accessories. I see this stuff all the time in the local sale sheets and online sites. If you’re not sure what you’re buying, try to take a friend who is knowledgeable. Oh yeah, and if any of you need a 300A P&H with a water-cooled torch, I’ll make you a smokin’ deal. You pick it up.