This is probably the most feature packed TIG welder you can buy for this price. You absolutely cannot beat this machine for the price, AND it comes with a 2 year warranty!
It is solidly put together, nicely and carefully packaged, and comes with everything you need to start welding except for the normal consumables.
I like the fact that the fans start running on HIGH as soon as the machine is on. Other inverter machines will wait to turn the fans on once the transistors start pumping heat into their heatsinks. I mean for reliability sake, why wait?? Fans are easier to replace than IGBTs :) This machine does just that and keeps its cool during high amperage output at all times.
I've purchased this machine primarily to weld thinner than 3/8" thickness aluminum and stainless steel materials for fabricating components on a track day type car, like exhaust and turbo charge air piping. The adjustable A/C duty cycle (if you want to call it cleaning or EN/EP bias), A/C amperage pulse, and A/C frequency are an absolute dream on aluminum. I've not used a machine that had this level of A/C adjust-ability before, how life went on before adjustable A/C frequency above 60 Hz I don't know... lol. DC works just as well, pulse DC works fantastic for thin material.
The level of adjust-ability through all parts of the process from start to finish (this is how the front of the machine is laid out, you know exactly which setting does what during which part of the process, courtesy of LEDs that move around with the arrow buttons) is something that I didn't know I would even appreciate as much until you realize how simple it makes menu navigation.
I've not stick welded with it yet as I also use a MIG for most other general projects, but I'm sure it works as intended as it is the power source that is the primary component, which works fantastic.
There was a note in the box that said the foot pedal that was supposed to come with the machine (no amperage knob on the pedal) was on back order. They provided a pedal-adjustable amperage knob type pedal with the machine to give me something to be able to use, AND THEN sent me the originally intended pedal in the mail a few weeks later. You want to talk about trouble, worry and hassle free service? This company goes above and beyond for this price, seriously it has been one of the best customer service experiences I've had ordering online to date. Everything so far has exceeded expectations.
As mentioned at the start of this post, this unit comes with everything needed to start welding right out of the box except for normal consumables. I would suggest picking up a set of torch gas lenses for cleaner stainless welds if stainless is what you are going to be doing. If you are a somewhat more frequent user of this machine, or are a pro who wants a good all around machine for home use, the ONLY thing you might want to add/change on this package is the length of the work clamp cable and installing a slightly smaller size TIG torch. The torch handle that comes with this unit is rather large, and is hard to hold with a traditional pencil/chopstick type hand position. If you have good gloves and a TIG finger, you will eventually learn to just work with it over time. The sheathing around the torch cables/lines is a decent quality silicone type substance, and the end of the torch has a swivel ball to remove the stress of the cables at the end of the torch body. It honestly is a well built torch for occasional use.
So far I've got about 8 hours of run time on this unit, and almost burned through a 300CF bottle of argon. I've laid about 150 feet of 4043 and 5356 aluminum 3/32 rod, and about 30 feet of 308L 3/32 stainless rod, literally just to lay beads and play with the settings to see how certain functions affect weld quality. You will find your sweet spots eventually! Already planning my pie cuts for my exhaust haha.
Overall: a great machine, great customer service, one happy customer. Thank you for making such a feature packed machine available to the public at this price!
| Manufacturer | W Weldpro |
|---|---|
| Part Number | opikll-530 |
| Item Weight | 53.3 pounds |
| Item model number | opikll-530 |
| Style | CK torch-2020 |
| Material | Steel |
| Power Source | AC/DC Pulse |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
