4x4 North

To all the welding pros out there, what do you run for welders? You like it? Not? Brand comparison?

To me it looks like blue or red paint makes a welder cost more for less value.

I've been eyeing up ESAB and Everlast. It looks like you can pick one up for less than a used comparable Miller, or about the same as a comparable Lincoln.

Maybe ten years ago it would of made a difference. A lot of these smaller companies have really stepped up their game. It really comes down to just making sure your getting the options and features you want.
I’ve run red and blue with no preference. But I do take into account what is locally available for parts and consumables.

I’ve seen one of those esab multi process welders in action and it’s great but at that time the nearest supplier for parts was fours hours away

I’ve looked at the everlast plasmas cutters as they have great reviews. But by the time I get the one I want it’s the same price as a hypertherm/miller and the consumables are in stock locally.

Added bonus for me anyways is praxair will deliver to my door parts and consumables for any equipment they sell me

Just my two cents


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I’m a spectacularly shitty welder and I dont know much but looking around at different machines it seems like more money just gets you a bit more duty cycle, more gee whiz electronics and marginally better accessories , not to mention bragging rights on the facetube. The blue vs red vs whatever is pretty much a preference at this point. Theres too much bro science involved in the big debate between the big brands. For the home gamer and most 4x4 fabricators I don’t think it really matters all that much as long as it does everything you need it to and it doesnt cost an arm and a dick. I know since I bought my welder 7 years ago the prices have gone up astronomically, to the point where the orange chicken and lo mein specials are looking pretty good.


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Echoing the same as Poinstnorth, but saying that, I am a Miller Fan Boy.
I would go by what welding process you plan on using, or wanting to use and start from there. Stay away from the ching chong weldy wire machines and go with decent name brand ones. The multi-process machines like the ESAB Rebel have come a long ways and can now get one unit to do it all, find something that fits the budget and start welding.

I had a dilemma of the ESAB Rebel vs the Miller Multimatic. Feature/price wise they were fairly similar, the ESAB did a few more things that would be nice, duty cycle is similar, the Miller was actually less money due to rebates/etc.

Ultimately it was solved by just asking the KMS counter guy what they sold more of and what came back. He said they sold plenty of ESAB, although not as many as the Miller, but the ESAB came back for warranty or issues at a way higher rate than the Miller, and there was issues getting anyone to do the repairs. So I stuck with Miller.

That said, it sounds like Everlast has their shit together... Sounds like it at least.

Definitely phone around though and see what you can get for pricing before buying. Welders are an item where there is room for the dealers to work, and some of them will.

I don't weld for my day job but I've used all sorts of welders and I like my AD/DC Dayton enough that I have exactly zero-desire to re-assemble the DC tombstone I pulled apart for a switch replacement. I wouldn't worry about what color the paint is.