Hit 2,000 weld test coupons without a single rejection last Friday

I've been keeping a tally on my workshop whiteboard for the last 4 years, and last Friday I hit 2,000 weld test coupons without a single rejection. The number itself surprised me, but what really got me was the last 200 were all done with a used Miller Dynasty I bought off a retiring guy in Gary for $1,200. That old machine has been more consistent than any brand new unit I've touched, and it made me wonder if we chase new gear too much. Anyone else keep a personal pass/fail count, and what's your longest streak?

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grant9181mo ago

Three years ago I would have told you that buying used was a gamble you take when the budget's tight, and that was it. But hearing about that old Dynasty holding up for 200 straight coupons makes me rethink every machine I've written off as past its prime. I had a similar thing happen with a 20 year old Lincoln that just wouldn't quit, so I get why you'd trust it more than something fresh out of the box. That consistency over 4 years and 2,000 coupons is no accident, that's real proof the older stuff can be just as good if it's been cared for. It's wild how much we get sold on new models when the real workhorses are sitting in some garage for a grand.

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