Simadre CT5200 - good?, ok?, or steer clear?

[nsmithnd]

Anyone familiar with the Simadre CT5200 multifunction machine?
Seller hasn't posted pics yet so not sure what shape it's in, and claims it has only been used a couple of times.
Just curious if it's something that is worth checking out (I've got an old AC welder now and am curious to give a DC unit a try).

Thanks
-Neil

 

[Arc weld]

Never even heard of it. Where would go for parts or service would be my big concern.

I was curious so I looked...

"For over years, SIMADRE has been providing customers with highly stable and top quality products at competitive prices. Our machines are comparable to famous brands and much affordable to your economical needs."

Based on that attempt of a paragraph, I wouldn't expect their machines to be much better.:anyone:

 

[muddstopper]

There are 2 reviews for the machine on Amazon. One claims the best they have ever used, and another saying biggest waste of money they ever spent. The good review had bad grammar also so I say buyer beware. Might be a reason why your seller has only used the machine a couple of times. Also the importer only ships machines, they dont work on them, (according to their website), so If you do have problems with it, it might be SOL.

 

[rankrank1]

Well your old AC welder is likely to still be working when both of us are dead and gone.

That unit your considering might still be working after you power it up a couple times. Even if go with a more mainstream chicom machine that touts a 3 year warranty or even a 5year warranty by the time you pay $60-$70 to ship it in to them for warranty work and then also pay 60$-70$ to have it returned to you it often does not make sense on a $300 unit. So consider it a disposable unit when it breaks.

 

[muddstopper]

I have been thinking about getting a 110v combo stick/mig/tig for my basement shop for sometime now. It will probably be a chicom machine since I have a pretty good assortment (Lincoln and Miller) of welders in my main shop. In my basement shop, I dont do any serious work, but ocassionaly I have to carry a project out to my main shop to tack something together. Anything done in the basement shop would be small and thinner material so I dont need a ton of amps to do the job. I think an invertor welder would be ideal for this situation. Of course, welding in a basement shop presents all kinds of fire hazards, dont want to burn the house down.. Also you have the problems with fumes and smoke to consider. All in all, I think a small welder would be great to have in a basement shop that would see limited use, just have to decide if I want to spend the money for the convience or just keep doing what I have been doing in the past.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Simadre is a Chinese guy who sells product from CA or his Uncle's factory (ies?) in China. No warranty to speak of...read it carefully. Much of his information is cut and pasted from some of Everlast's stuff and other websites, and isn't even correct for the machine.

 

[nsmithnd]

Thanks for the comments, I won't waste my time with it.
I was looking for feedback in case it was something worth checking into further.

Locally I've missed out on a few used machines, a $275 Lincoln AC/DC, a $300 Lincoln AC/DC, a $300 (old style) Hobart LX AC/DC, a $300 Miller AC/DC (Hobart's twin), and an all but brand new $400 Hobart LX AC/DC (with lots of extra goodies). If nothing else shows up in the near future, I'll probably be leaning towards an Everlast PA200 (or maybe the 140ST) and hang on to the Forney.

Thanks
-Neil