Blog posts tagged with 'mig welder review'

"I purchased the Eastwood 135 from your company, because I first saw it on Craigslist. Did some research, and found good reviews. Received it in a reasonable time and assembly and setup went well. My previous welding experience is with a large 230 Amp AC/DC unit and a Harbor Freight 90 Amp flux core. Currently, my projects are with thin round and square tubing, so I needed a controllable, stable arc. The weld appearance and quality went up dramatically with the Eastwood MIG! I thought my welds ( A certified welder friend called them "dirt dobber welds") with the Harbor Freight Flux Core were due to poor skill. With the MIG, I got a much smoother, better weld. Unfortunately, I am working outside, with wind, so that isn't optimal. but still light years better than the H.F. I went thru two of their units, and about 10- 2# wire spools... Wish I'd had this unit 15 years ago! Currently, I am building firewood racks, using scrap pipe and tubing. I have a plan for wind protection: use a section of scaffolding, with a tarp wrapped around 2 or 3 sides. When I need to weld heavy stock, I have the big welder, but the Eastwood 135 is so convenient and fast, it is my first choice. Thanks for placing ads in a place I look. Bet owners wanting to sell used, more expensive units hate to see this ad pop up!" -Jim, Mobile, Alabama

I have done a couple of small repair/fab projects since getting it.  Maybe 15 minutes total operation time.  I am not what I would remotely call skilled at welding, by the way.  Sometimes I get a good bead, but mostly it is bubble-gum city, albeit functional.

For the past 25 years or so I’ve only used a 220v buzz box and a 110v flux core wire feed welder so this is the first time in a long time that I have used 220v wire feed welder and the first time ever running flux core through one. 

Right out of the box everything set up quick and easy; the settings chart got me quickly into the ball park:  My eyeglasses were nearly useless under the helmet (couldn’t see the puddle) but I was able to make some of my best welds ever.

Smooth operation, consistent results, predictable performance.  I am currently using .035 flux core and am looking forward to trying the .045 for a large truck bed rebuild I’ll be doing in a few weeks.

Summed up, I should have been using one of these from the beginning.  It would have made my previous projects much nicer and easier. Lastly, I couldn’t have asked for quicker shipping than you folks provided.  It is too bad I’m never in that part of New Hampshire during the work week, otherwise I’d stop by and pick up some more goodies!"

-Richard, VT