Mig welder

-
BWDart

BWDart

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 25, 2005
Messages
1,382
Reaction score
270
Location
New Braunfels TX
Thinkin bout this one for body work on the Dart. From Eastwood should be good quality. Anybody bought Eastwood tools?
Price is $329 includes acc and gauges
p12011.jpg
 
Don't expect really good results without gas, but this is true with any welder. I have seen some people that can do it without ges but it isn't easy.
 
BWDart said:
From Eastwood should be good quality
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be sure about that. Eastwood marks up some of their stuff tremendously. I'm sure it is imported. Lincoln Electric, Esab, Miller, Thermal Arc are some of the name brands. If you're just doing the one car and will never need a welder again, it might be fine. On the other hand, Eastwood used to have a 30 day return policy.
 
They are a decent welder. One of the guys that works for me bought one and we took it apart to see how its built. It looks like they robbed some of lincoln and millers design and combined them
 
Demonic said:
If you're just doing the one car and will never need a welder again, it might be fine.
Click to expand...

I agree. It also might be a good entry level welder, so for around 500 bucks you can be up and running after purchasing a bottle, helmet, gloves, etc. I personally started out on a cheapo Harbor Freight machine. While the cheap ones do what they're supposed to do, it also becomes painfully clear that they are indeed inferior to the higher dollar units from Miller, Lincoln, or ESAB once you've worked with both. I'm partial to Miller, but everyone has their preference.

I say go for it. If you don't like it, return it. If you do you like it, use the heck out of it and upgrade down the road. No sense in dropping serious coin on a machine if you're just getting into welding.

**Edit: Forgot about Hobart!! Those are great quality machines and they're affordable.
 
I have found that there is usually a “sweet spot” for a lot of amateur hacks like me. Since I am not a pro who uses my tools to make a living, I don’t need the best. There is usually a budget minded option that will do what I need to do.

Often the best is a waste for me anyway, as my skill is usually the real limiting factor.
 
Mike69cuda said:
Often the best is a waste for me anyway, as my skill is usually the real limiting factor.
Click to expand...

I do agree with that. I'm not a pro, but the reason I like my Miller is because it's a multi-process machine which opens up my options to whatever I want to do, and it's got the MVP feature. That way you just set your material thickness and wire thickness, and it sets your amperage/wire feed speed for you.
 
BWDart said:
Thinkin bout this one for body work on the Dart. From Eastwood should be good quality. Anybody bought Eastwood tools?
Price is $329 includes acc and gaugesView attachment 1715503132
Click to expand...

I bought that exact welder almost a year ago and it has been flawless.
I have done not only body metal with it, but spring perches and steel up to 1/4 inch.
Nice machine for general purpose around the shop and house stuff.
I got two of the 25 foot super duty cords, the auto darkening helmet and gloves with it.
 
i picked up one of those welders last year
i think i might have paid 200 for it

I haven't broken down and bought a bottle for it, so so far I've only used fluxcore wire, and I have been very pleased with it

if I remember correctly, this model uses Miller consumables, which are widely available

keep in mind, I'm not a welder but I've used this on the dusters exhaust, to build a winch mount for my boys 4 wheeler, and even to build a grease trap on my griddle

20200403_144037.jpg


20200401_164234.jpg


20200401_160930.jpg



20190813_121430-jpg.jpg




20190813_121434-jpg.jpg
 
Last edited:
diymirage said:
i picked up one of those welders last year
i think i might have paid 200 for it

I haven't broken down and bought a bottle for it, so so far I've only used fluxcore wire, and I have been very pleased with it

if I remember correctly, this model uses Miller consumables, which are widely available

keep in mind, I'm not a welder but I've used this on the dusters exhaust, to build a winch mount for my boys 4 wheeler, and even to build a grease trap on my griddle

View attachment 1715503173

View attachment 1715503174

View attachment 1715503175


View attachment 1715503187



View attachment 1715503188
Click to expand...

If you hit those welds with a wire wheel for a sec, it'll clean em right up.
 
mopowers said:
If you hit those welds with a wire wheel for a sec, it'll clean em right up.
Click to expand...

i actually used a flapper wheel on them, but you are right, the fluxcore wire makes it looks a little dirtier
 
I'd strongly suggest comparing it to the Hobart. Hobart is made by Miller and uses Miller consumables. Their support and parts is very good and usually local rather than being mail order.
 
Last edited:
I really like my Lincoln 220v mig I bought at Lowe’s. I accidentally bought a 300 cu ft bottle of Craig’s list so it isn’t portable at all. Didn’t realize how big the bottle was till I got there, but drove a long way, so I bought it.

I kept my 110v Harbor freight flux core welder so I can take it places if I need to.
 
forgot to mention, after seeing the way those exhaust hangers got welded on i decided I'm confident I can use the Eastwood to weld in some subframe connectors in the duster...I just got to buy the metal
 
Mike69cuda said:
I kept my 110v Harbor freight flux core welder so I can take it places if I need to.
Click to expand...

That’s why I like the dual voltage machines. Simply swap out the plug end for whatever voltage you’re using, good to go. No need for two welders.
 
Looks like Hobart has a comparable for the same price the 125 model but doesn't come with gauges
 
Last edited:
I have the Hobart 140, work great for me. I use an argon gas bottle with mine. Had it for about 15 yrs. Cant go wrong with a Hobart.
Dave
 
C5299743-D05B-4464-B88B-1F554F9F9994.jpeg
I been using a cheap non gas flux core shock box welder recently, I bought it of market place for $60. It sucks, but it’s doing the job I need it to. I look at welders the same way I do torque converters. Will a cheap welder or stock converter work? sure, but you will get far superior results the more money you spend.
 
Mike69cuda said:
I really like my Lincoln 220v mig I bought at Lowe’s. I accidentally bought a 300 cu ft bottle of Craig’s list so it isn’t portable at all. Didn’t realize how big the bottle was till I got there, but drove a long way, so I bought it.

I kept my 110v Harbor freight flux core welder so I can take it places if I need to.
Click to expand...

We have one of those big a** bottles (about 5 feet tall) and I have to use a furniture dolly to move it.
Get a small bottle and a transfer hose to fill it with off the big one.
You'll almost forget where the welding supply store is.
 
I have a small Craftsman. 135Amp. 120V. It does everything I want so far and does a good job. But, when I upgrade.....and I will one day, I am going to get a Miller 211. The boss has one and it's the sweetest welder I've ever seen.
 
TrailBeast said:
We have one of those big a** bottles (about 5 feet tall)
Get a small bottle and a transfer hose to fill it with off the big one.
You'll almost forget where the welding supply store is.
Click to expand...

Great idea! Never thought about that. I have a little bottle I could refill. Can I buy a transfer hose?

Right now I have the big bottle bolted to the wall and hooked up with an air hose to the welder.
 
RustyRatRod said:
I have a small Craftsman. 135Amp. 120V. It does everything I want so far and does a good job. But, when I upgrade.....and I will one day, I am going to get a Miller 211. The boss has one and it's the sweetest welder I've ever seen.
Click to expand...

I loved my 211 until I got my Multimatic 215.
 
I've got a Miller Auto Arc from the 90's that still welds awesome. I have a 4 foot bottle and a baby bottle for on the go.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top