Eastwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

[TerryH]

I just saw this deal and wondered if anyoone had one or had any direct experience. Seems too good to be true. Has awesome reviews, 60 of them, on Eastwood's site.

Eastwood 175 MIG with spool gun

If only I could spell Eastwood in the title...grrr....

 

[dmeadow]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

I have the 135 and I've been very pleased with it. I've also seen good reviews for the 175 on sites besides Eastwood's.

It is built to a price, though. The internal wire feed mechanism is mostly plastic, not metal on the 135. It may not be the right choice for commercial use, but for a hobbyist it seems fine.

Eastwood is very internet savvy, btw, and will won't hesitate to join this or any other forum discussion about their product, particularly if they believe there is misinformation being thrown about. Perhaps by misspelling their name this thread will get under their radar.

 

[TerryH]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

dmeadow...

Interesting. Perhaps someone at GJ can correct my stupid mistake in the title. I'd love for Eastwood to come and participate in the discussion. The deal that Eastwood has on the welder right now is amazing. $500 with the spool gun and free shipping. Specs seem fairly comparable to the Hobart 190 which is quite a bit more and no spool gun. Both have 30% duty cycle @ 130 amps, Weight is about the same etc...

 

[gapfast]

I was looking at the eastwood as well. This will be my first machine. Very cheap price, that's what scares me

 

[DonnyT]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

Make no mistake about it there is a BIG difference in quality between the two. You get what you pay for. This is not to say that the Eastwood machine won't perform, it's just not a Hobart, Miller or Lincoln.

 

[gapfast]

This is what everybody at my work said, but they had never used one either

 

[IronTrap]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

dmeadow...
I'd love for Eastwood to came and participate in the discussion.

I am always on GJ reading and learning, I don't generally like to post in EVERY Eastwood related thread or spam the forums. BUT, if you have a technical question you'd like answered feel free to post, PM me directly, or call and speak with one of our tech guys. Thanks for considering one of our welders.

I've been on this forum a lot lately looking for inspiration as we're in the process of building up a new shop here at EW HQ right now and I need some ideas for DIY workbenches. Might even make a little build thread if we can get the time to stop and snap pics!


-Matt/EW

 

[agfisher]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

Thanks for joining in, Matt. Are you the same Matt that does the Video Blogs? If so, great job. Enjoy those a lot.

 

[TerryH]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

Matt,

Appreciate you chiming in. Sorry I didn't spell check the title before hitting post. I am intrigued by the price point especially considering the spool gun is included. It's really cool that you did the assembly and use video. What is the country of origin for the welder? It seems that several of the reviews stated that the welder was damaged in transit. You guys dealt with those cases well according to the reviews but are you considering different packaging or some other way to prevent the transit damage? I am super tempted to give one a try especially with the deal you have on the welders right now.

Terry

 

[CNGsaves]

Just tried the Eastwood site and first thing it popped us is 10% discount for joining Eastwood "club" program.

That would make this welder $499 less 10% or $450 - - - sounds pretty good for 220v MIG welder with a free spool gun.

Anyone actually using this welder . . . how does it compare to Miller, Lincoln and Hobart equivalents??

P.S. The OP might be able to Edit / Advanced Edit the original post and fix the type-o for Eastwood.

 

[TerryH]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

Can edit text. Can't edit title.

 

[fringeofinsanity]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

I'll be watching this thread. For this price I.ve been considering one to leave at my beach shack for odd jobs.

 

[CNGsaves]

Can edit text. Can't edit title.

Pretty sure you can. Go to the very first post. Click on Edit. Then click on Go Advanced and it opens up the original Title so you can fix type-o on Eastwood name.

BTW . . . thanks for post of this welder.

 

[TerryH]

Pretty sure you can. Go to the very first post. Click on Edit. Then click on Go Advanced and it opens up the original Title so you can fix type-o on Eastwood name.

BTW . . . thanks for post of this welder.

Thanks. I had no clue. Fixed it.

 

[TerryH]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

Well, one way or the other, good bad or indifferent, me or whomever only has until midngiht tonite to make up our minds. The $499 with free shipping deal expires tonite @ midnight.

 

[DonnyT]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

They go on sale often. Check EBay also. They have them on sale there as well.

 

[TerryH]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

Thanks Donny. I did see them on Ebay for $499 with free shipping.

I researched a bit more an found that there are lots of threads both here and on the assorted welding forums about these welders. Seems to me that overall most are happy with them. A few issues here and there but Eastwood customer service dealt with them well as far as I can tell. I'm still on the fence but leaning toward getting one.

Here's one GJ thread in particular that's pretty informative.

Eastwood welder thread

 

[CNGsaves]

Thanks. I had no clue. Fixed it.

Actually "my bad" as this Go Advanced method just fixes that particular post and not the entire thread.

Looks like it takes a Mod of GJ overall to fix type-o in the initial post that would update them all.

Still interested in what users think about this affordable welder. If it were 110v/220v like the Hobart MVP or Miller 211, then that Eastwood price would be a steal.

 

[DonnyT]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

I'm also interested. I was considering the Hobart 190 originally.

 

[Angelfire]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

For that price, if you get a few years out of it, it's probably worth it. Personally I went with miller as I really don't want to have to buy again. I am guessing the Eastwood is probably no if different than any of the other Chinese welders like everlast/longevity etc....probably made in the same factory.

 

[TerryH]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

I think the Eastwood is probably plenty good for what I want a welder for and I've debated for days trying to convice myself that I should just buy it but I've come to realize that it's not what I really want. I have the little HF now and my heart is really set on the Miller 211. I'll just wait until I save enough to get one. I know that will likely be the last welder I will ever need or want.

Thanks to everyone for thier input and thanks to Matt from Eastwood for posting in this thread. In the end this purchase is a luxury not a need so I'll just wait.

 

[gapfast]

Terry, why the miller 211? I haven't done much homework on miller units. Mainly read about hobart 190 or 210

 

[TerryH]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

Terry, why the miller 211? I haven't done much homework on miller units. Mainly read about hobart 190 or 210

The 211 is really the perfect fit for me. It's dual voltage so it can run on 110v or 220v so if I needed to fix something away from my shop I could just plug into a regular outlet but I still have the power of a 220v welder so I can fabricate just about anything in my shop. The Miller 180 and Hobart 190 are 220v only with less output than the 211 for only a couple hundred less. The 211 is about the most powerful of the compact size welders so I can have good power and still easily take it with me to whatever is broken if need be plus it has infinite current output adjustment. The Hobart 210 is dual voltage but doesn't have infinite output which would probably be ok but I'd rather have the infinite like the Miller. I've looked at literally all of the mid-sized welders and I just don't think there is really a better buy than the 211. I can get it for $1075. Double the price of the Eastwood with no spool gun but I think it's worth the extra money in the end.

 

[gapfast]

Thanks for the informative answer. I will check the miller out.
What is infinite current output?

 

[TerryH]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

Thanks. I research this **** to death.

The Miller has infinitly adjustable power output. The Hobart has 7 predetermined settings to choose from. Probably not a big deal but the Miller can be fine tuned where the Hobart can not. Here's the Miller. Check the knob. It can be set anywhere. I assume it's on a rheostat.

The Hobart has a knob that just clicks to the different output settings instead.

 

[DonnyT]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

Terry, also I think the Miller 211 has the "Auto-Set" feature. Thats a couple hundred more right there. I think the Hobart 210 MVP is the better deal. Just my .02. Good Luck.

 

[gapfast]

^^^^^
I think your right about the miller and the autoset.
You still pick the hobart 210 why? I'm collecting all the opinions I can before I purchase.

 

[DonnyT]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

^^^^^
I think your right about the miller and the autoset.
You still pick the hobart 210 why? I'm collecting all the opinions I can before I purchase.

Both are very good machines. The Hobart is a little cheaper and the autoset feature is just one more thing that could break.

 

[dandan111]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

Hey the Hobart says USA on it! +1

 

[Modifieddriver]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

I have always been leery of purchasing a welder that's not a major brand name.

I doubt I would even consider an EastWood welder, like I never considered a Daytona Mig or a welder from HF or Northern.

I'd buy a used brand name welder before I would consider an off brand new one. I bought a new Miller Vintage MIG over 10+ years ago. Initially I had problems with it. The dealer repaired it and it's been great ever since then.

I finally have many of my buddies convinced that new isn't better.

 

[BD1]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

From what i read about the MILLER 211 it is the best bang for the buck. The auto set feature is only for solid wire using gas and not flux core. You can still set the machine to how you like it. There has been numerous postings
about the 211 on welding sites. Here's MILLER and the WELDING WEB if you want to do a search.
http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/communities/mboard/forumdisplay.php?3-Welding-Discussions

http://weldingweb.com/index.php

Here's a manual on the 211
http://www.millerwelds.com/om/o239988j_mil.pdf

Here's the 211 using outershield .035. neat
http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=63270

 

[IronTrap]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

Thanks for joining in, Matt. Are you the same Matt that does the Video Blogs? If so, great job. Enjoy those a lot.

Yes I am! I'm just another guy in his garage learning as he goes, just like a lot of you. I'm just lucky enough to work for a good company in the industry I love. Thanks for following.

Matt,

Appreciate you chiming in. Sorry I didn't spell check the title before hitting post. I am intrigued by the price point especially considering the spool gun is included. It's really cool that you did the assembly and use video. What is the country of origin for the welder? It seems that several of the reviews stated that the welder was damaged in transit. You guys dealt with those cases well according to the reviews but are you considering different packaging or some other way to prevent the transit damage? I am super tempted to give one a try especially with the deal you have on the welders right now.

Terry

Hi Terry,

I replied to your PM's just now, but I'm happy to respond publicly. Our welders are made in China. 99% of all welders out there are made or are assembled with Chinese components these days.. open almost any welder out there and the internal electronic components will be Chinese made..

Early on we did have a change in packaging that was insufficient and lead to a batch of welders getting damaged. We immediately changed packaging and those issues have almost disappeared. We now even put them through Fedex drop tests to make sure they are sufficiently boxed to their standards.


Thanks for the interest, back in the shop for me so I can finish some projects for show season.

-Matt/EW

 

[Tribalvision]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

I have the Eastwood 135 that i bought at their cruise night last summer. I've ran 2 - 2lb spools of flux core through it and it has worked very well. I had one issue with the tip falling off, but they sent me a replacement and it has been fine all year. I'm very happy with my purchase so far. The internals are plastic but so far have been problematic. believe it or not my biggest gripe is that when it's on the cart, the door wont open. you have to tilt it up to open the door.(it just bugs me)I guess I could put a board under it to raise it up a bit.

 

[ImportTuner]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

dmeadow...

Interesting. Perhaps someone at GJ can correct my stupid mistake in the title. I'd love for Eastwood to come and participate in the discussion. The deal that Eastwood has on the welder right now is amazing. $500 with the spool gun and free shipping. Specs seem fairly comparable to the Hobart 190 which is quite a bit more and no spool gun. Both have 30% duty cycle @ 130 amps, Weight is about the same etc...

Fixed ...

 

[TerryH]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

Hi Terry,

I replied to your PM's just now, but I'm happy to respond publicly. Our welders are made in China. 99% of all welders out there are made or are assembled with Chinese components these days.. open almost any welder out there and the internal electronic components will be Chinese made..

Early on we did have a change in packaging that was insufficient and lead to a batch of welders getting damaged. We immediately changed packaging and those issues have almost disappeared. We now even put them through Fedex drop tests to make sure they are sufficiently boxed to their standards.


Thanks for the interest, back in the shop for me so I can finish some projects for show season.

-Matt/EW

Thanks Matt. I didn't PM you so whoever did I'm sure appreciates the response. I wanted the responses to be public so everyone could see the same info. I'm glad that you guys got the packaging issues worked out. I do appreciate your participation here and on the other threads on GJ and the assorted welding forums that I found threads about the Eastwood welders. It is nice for a manufacturer to step up to the plate to answer questions about their product especially since someone might throw a rock at you in the forums.

terry

 

[TerryH]

Re: Esatwood welder...anyone with experience with them??

Fixed ...

Thank you.