YesWelder MIG-205DS 3 in 1 MIG/Stick/TIG Welding Machine Expired

Just a side note - I haven't seen so elitist comments like a few ones in this thread since I stopped visiting some ham boards where there has always been that one guy insisting that anyone without a transceiver worth $$$$ had no place on air and should've just abandoned the hobby right away if the only thing he had was a cheapo pocket radio bought off amazon. Kind of similar comments here that would just discourange young people from the hobby/trade... Sad.

On a somewhat serious note, any similar models to look at? A decade ago back in the other country (where 220v is a standard voltage) I had a small noname inverter stick welder that served me very good in a rural area with some minor backyard repairs/projects. Would this one be a good versatile choice or should I rather look at Harbor Freight's Titanium multi-process one (which is unfortunately closer to $900 in price...) to have MIG/stick/TIG?

Thanks!

I was welding before high school, now 75. Got stick, MIG and gas welders in the shop. It may not be rocket science, but it does take some attention to detail and to safety. I took an EAA TiG course several year ago taught by the Lincoln rep who made money on the side by welding up Inconel exhaust for INDY car turbo systems. Doing TiG correctly takes way more than just a $352 unit.

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.

Hey for you experienced welders I have a question: I frequently start a project but must hang it up for a period (sometimes over the winter), often times it's just tack welded to get the geometry right with the intention of laying the bead later when all is ok. Can you recommend your tips for "weld thru primer" or maybe another cheap trick that allows one to grind the surface clean, Prime, tack and then endure a long period of delay before resuming with the bead? I've seen copper or aluminum based specialty paints what do you recommend or are there other short cuts?

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?

I got 2 I highly recommend, in the youtube search bar type in "weldingtipsandtricks" and "weld.com"

Another worthy mention is this, it comes with everything except a gas cylinder and you can eventually get a spool gun. For the specs/value I feel it's a very unmentioned/underrated.
https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood...stick.html

I was welding before high school, now 75. Got stick, MIG and gas welders in the shop. It may not be rocket science, but it does take some attention to detail and to safety. I took an EAA TiG course several year ago taught by the Lincoln rep who made money on the side by welding up Inconel exhaust for INDY car turbo systems. Doing TiG correctly takes way more than just a $352 unit.

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.

I was welding before high school, now 75. Got stick, MIG and gas welders in the shop. It may not be rocket science, but it does take some attention to detail and to safety. I took an EAA TiG course several year ago taught by the Lincoln rep who made money on the side by welding up Inconel exhaust for INDY car turbo systems. Doing TiG correctly takes way more than just a $352 unit.

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.

For $350.00, you are not going to get a machine to build a pipeline or to fabricate a steel structure. The purpose of these low-cost machines is to offer a low-cost alternative to the higher price ESAB, Miller and Lincoln machines for performing utility work around the house or farm.

Thank you very much, this Eastwood model indeed looks very interesting! I wonder if it ever goes on sale. I want something for my garage, but I don't want to spend a fortune on it as most likely I will be using it once or twice a year for some weird repair.

Don't let some of the comments about all the required equipment and lessons scare anyone off from welding. If you have a place to plug this in, some flux-core wire, a helmet, and some gloves you can weld. If you have access to youtube you can learn to weld (at least enough to get started/troubleshoot...after that, it's just practice). Just pick up a bunch of scrap metal (I get mine from metal supermarket for .75/lb) and start laying some beads down.