The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Eastwood 175 welder

I've been looking at buying a welder for at home. My Dad, who is retiring, has a 120 volt Silver Beauty that I was going to buy until I saw the deal on Eastwood 175's.

I was going to buy the Silver Beauty and pick up a Lincoln 225 for heavier welding. I'm thinking the Eastwood would be a smarter move and will be able to do everything thing I want.

Anyone have experience with the Eastwoods?

My understanding of Eastwood stuff is a whole lot of it is useable but low quality, intended for entry level hoby type folks.
If you really want whatever tool it is you can likely find the same cheaper somewhere else or you can spend the same or a little more money and buy a better quality tool that you'll be happier with for a lot longer.

I don't have any first hand experience though I have browsed the catalog over the years.

Spool guns will limit what position you can weld in, and I would think that the aluminum welds would be dismal.

Its also 30% duty cycle.... not good. But 100% cycle will add a few 0's to the price.

If you stray from Lincoln/Hobart and need parts then you are out of luck. Does eastwood service these?

Upon doing some research. Home Depot has a Lincoln Weld-Pak 180 for a decent price also. It doesn't have a spool gun with it, but I don't see myself using one anyhow.

The bonus is that it's American made, and I can pick it up on my way home from work.

I may also stop by the welding supply store and check out the 210 MP. It's a little more money, but alot more versatility.

I have the Linclon Pro-Mig 175 and its been a workhorse.

Just watch the duty cycle... you get 3 minutes.

Sheet metal work, shock mounts, engine mounts, etc... is all I'll be doing, nothing that would require a continuous weld.

I've always had the luxury of being able to borrow/use a welder, never had the need to buy one.

With my Dad retiring, he's selling basically everything out of the shop. Plus I don't really like using other peoples tools. I don't want to have to replace something if I screw it up.

I bought one of them about 3 yrs ago. Welds okay, but I've already had to replace the gas solenoid which the local welding shop did not have. Had to get it from Eastwood to get one. Made in China welder. I've never tried the spool gun that came with it yet.
John

Eastwood does provide much in the way of service and parts. The welder didn't even come with a schematic, heck even the HF ones have a schematic.....
They do have tips, nozzles and the replacement gas solenoid (mostly from what I've read a common problem with it).

John

Yeah but unless you are close to Eastwood (they are about an hour from me) you gotta mail order parts.

A Lincoln or Hobart welder needs service you most likely can find a service center close.

Personally the spool gun is the biggest issue. To big, to heavy, and would get in the way.

Well, I pulled the trigger on a welder. Instead of the Eastwood, I bought a Lincoln 180.

I stopped at Home Depot one night and saw all the extra consumables and parts they carry and I decided that was the way to go. Not to mention, the Lincoln is American made.

I ordered an auto-shade Welding helmet also. I had been to HF to see their helmets, I wasn't impressed either. I'm hoping the Lincoln helmet is much better quality.

I did buy a mig cart at HF. They had a coupon in the paper for $34.99, couldn't go wrong for that price

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lincoln-...Helmet-K4071-1/205364508?N=5yc1vZc8ljZwp

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lincoln-...ed-Welder-K2515-1/100670932?N=5yc1vZc8ls

The HF auto masks are highly rated but since you paid the same price for another one its a wash.

I don't know of anyone who likes spool guns.

Get your supplies at HF. The welding stuff is highly rated.. esp tips and wire. With 20% off you'll save a ton.

The Welder and mask showed up on my doorstep today.

Haven't even opened the box yet. My first impression is that this thing is pretty heavy.

I've used a Hobart 140 and a Miller shoulder pack at work. This 180 out weighs them by quite a bit, I don't think I'll be lugging it around.

I'm going to have to add a couple 240 outlets in the garage. Thank goodness my sub-panel has 2 open spaces.

Buy used I have been low on money and trying to sell stuff I can't hardly get 50 cents on the dollar if I was going to buy and inexpensive welder I would definitely buy it used go to a welding shop and see what they've got used it will be checked out and refurbished and probably half price of new