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Edited December 1, 2021
at 12:47 PM
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MSRP: $499
Sale price: $440
Black Friday Sale Extra 20% OFF (worked for me today - Saturday)
Final Price $352
Seems to be a decent welder at a very good price. Small job / hobby welder.
Many real reviews and independent demo videos.
Yes Welder MIG-205DS 3 in 1 Welding Machine
110v/220v Dual Voltage
Gas MIG
Gasless MIG
Lift TIG
Stick 4 in 1
Synergic Controled MIG Setting
Ideal for 7018/6011 electrode
IGBT Inverter Welder
https://yeswelder.com/products/mig-welder-mig205
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I weld a good bit for stuff which has to stay together. If it's not Miller, Lincoln or comparable (if there is comparable) I'm not wasting my money on it. I've seen lots of "inexpensive" welders which either don't work long or have no parts/service. I look at these low priced things all the time seeking one which is modestly priced but still works. Haven't found that yet.
If you want TiG, budget about 3 grand for a start. You need a foot control high frequency welder, a GOOD gun, a dedicated grinder with a wheel used only for sharpening the
TiG tips and a work area clean of contaminants.
Now, MIG isn't nearly that demanding, but you still need grinders, cutting tools, aprons, GOOD helmet(s), gloves, etc.
110V welders are good for sheet medal and that's about it as they're limited to maybe 110-120 amps. You must have 220V and preferably 50 amp service if you're going to weld much. Otherwise you're better off finding a good welding shop near you and having them do it right. I still use a welding shop for heavy work or aluminum.
As an analogy, I have two lathes, two mills and two drill presses in my shop. But I still use a "real" machine shop for heavy work.
Welding can be fun and you can learn to do it well. But it's not entirely trivial and you will have to spend quite a bit more that $350 to even begin to do it poorly not to mention well.
Next up: "Bruh replaces R-134a in mom's car A/C and recaptures 100% BLINDFOLDED!"
Nobody can do anything to hurt Americans more than we hurt ourselves.
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I am a novice, never welded. I want to be able to make my own tractor implements, metal, steel, aluminum welds. I am an engineer and good with fixing mechanical, electrical, and fabricating wood.
From what I have read I think MIG is the best welder for me. Can someone recommend a welder for me, cost is not a concern, quality, durability is. This welder or something else? Thanks!!!
FWIW, I know tech has changed but not having option of DC / AC stick welding may be a limitation but in this price-range that's expecting too much I'm sure...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086SNKTTK
It's cheap, that's for sure.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086SNKTTK
It's cheap, that's for sure.
Lots of utube vids of that welder. This vid is what convinced me to get the 165DS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn4_dUP
For hobbyists or someone like me that has property and needs to occasionally make or fix things, these welders are great.
I am a novice, never welded. I want to be able to make my own tractor implements, metal, steel, aluminum welds. I am an engineer and good with fixing mechanical, electrical, and fabricating wood.
From what I have read I think MIG is the best welder for me. Can someone recommend a welder for me, cost is not a concern, quality, durability is. This welder or something else? Thanks!!!
Engineer here. Put down your buying wallet and pick up your training wallet. I took 5 days off of work* and took Lincoln Electric's intro class a couple of years ago. https://www.lincolnelec
You won't be proficient in a week, but you'll have a much better idea of what you want and need, and it's faster paced than a CC course.
*I'm a PE, so I need 16 hours of continuing ed every year; I used this to count for all of my practical training for the biennium, as it really is adjacent to my private practice work.
You won't be proficient in a week, but you'll have a much better idea of what you want and need, and it's faster paced than a CC course.
*I'm a PE, so I need 16 hours of continuing ed every year; I used this to count for all of my practical training for the biennium, as it really is adjacent to my private practice work.
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You also pretty much can't weld without having a good cleaner like acetone and an angle grinder to both clean and prep the metal before welding it, and to grind away any high spots after welding. I have 4 that permanently hang off the edge of my welding table with a grinding disk, a flap disk, a cutting disk, and a wire wheel on each one.
This is not a beginner level welder, for example it has induction control which is rare to find for under 2K, and the included instructions are next to useless, but I also prefer this over any Millers or Lincolns under $1500. This is also not a pro level welder, if I was counting on welding as one of my sources of income, I'd definitely spend the extra 2K and get whatever your local welding shop stocks and has parts for. What it is is perfect for a hobbyist like me that may need to do a roll cage for a race car every few years or make new engine or transmission or seat mounts, but already has experience and doesn't want to spend a couple grand to have something they consider useful at home.
If I don't see myself doing any more than flux core, is tis the right machine? appearance of weld is less important than quality of weld for me, as it will be for repairs and building basic deck railings etc. Also I've only ever used flux core on a professional welder friend's mobile setup. It was simple and worked fine for what I needed.
If tis is not the right choice for flux core what should I get instead?
Or am I being too clueless to know that I'll eventually want to do gas MiG with this machine?
You also pretty much can't weld without having a good cleaner like acetone and an angle grinder to both clean and prep the metal before welding it, and to grind away any high spots after welding. I have 4 that permanently hang off the edge of my welding table with a grinding disk, a flap disk, a cutting disk, and a wire wheel on each one.
This is not a beginner level welder, for example it has induction control which is rare to find for under 2K, and the included instructions are next to useless, but I also prefer this over any Millers or Lincolns under $1500. This is also not a pro level welder, if I was counting on welding as one of my sources of income, I'd definitely spend the extra 2K and get whatever your local welding shop stocks and has parts for. What it is is perfect for a hobbyist like me that may need to do a roll cage for a race car every few years or make new engine or transmission or seat mounts, but already has experience and doesn't want to spend a couple grand to have something they consider useful at home.
https://youtu.be/n39nwPrPGCE?t=3
(well, I'd jump on it now, if I didn't expect to kill/maim myself w/ this)
Also, all kidding aside, while videos are not the best way to learn a manual skill, getting a little practical experience at a class, then using videos and practice to improve is a very viable path, even more so if you just want to be able to build and repair things (As opposed to pursuing welding certifications).
Lastly, its electricity, DC in this case. That doesn't mean you should underestimate it, but as long as you understand how current moves through materials, and the basic concepts of polarity, you'll be fine with due caution.
Also, all kidding aside, while videos are not the best way to learn a manual skill, getting a little practical experience at a class, then using videos and practice to improve is a very viable path, even more so if you just want to be able to build and repair things (As opposed to pursuing welding certifications).
Lastly, its electricity, DC in this case. That doesn't mean you should underestimate it, but as long as you understand how current moves through materials, and the basic concepts of polarity, you'll be fine with due caution.
2 Things that I've always been pissed about not learning: 1) Soldering 2) Welding.
I'm huge into electronics and modding/tinkering.
There's been countless times when I've needed or wanted something welded, either for home use, or for automotive as I repair and maintain my own cars.
... Or even simply to repair something metal that separated, where the metal parts joined were welded insufficiently from the factory (the failures weren't automotive in those cases, thank god)
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The main reason is the better option and settings on the "pro" and less about the additional aluminum welding.
Assuming I will never use the 110v function what do you guys think?