I recently bought a BestArc (gasless) "MIG 145", which I have only used one time so far, but it seems to be a nice welder for the price. I bought the flux core only version, but they have another very similar welder with the gas valves for "real" MIG welding. As I noted in my earlier post about buying a welder (and finding the BestArc), I found that my welding skills went to crap after not doing much to begin with, and then having a many years lapse in practice where I never had a welder. No big surprise there. So I'm not the best person to make a recommendation on these things, but I will say that this welder, which is an inverter welder with "synergic" control, would have been a much easier welder to learn with. I still need to get used to the synergic control, but from what I understand, it automagically controls the current and wire feed speed, and from what I could tell it worked pretty well. The only recommendation I can make with some degree of confidence is that anti-splatter spray is awesome stuff (but read the warnings). I just sprayed the part I was welding, and the tip, and it seemed to keep the boogers down quite a bit (though it didn't make my welds any better).
There are a few things I feel need some improvements with the Bestarc MIG 145 though. One issue, which I went into on the earlier post, is the lack of written warranty info, which I feel is pretty necessary these days. Still, a wise man once said "Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will. I got spare time." In any case, I hope to not need to use their warranty (they told me it's got a 1 year warranty for what it's worth). The second issue, which is more of a general problem I have with tools that have lots of cables permanently attached, is the cable management. Why make a nice, compact welder, and then attach a big ole cable to it for a MIG torch - permanently? I know the answer is cost, and to be honest that's why I bought it.
I knew cable management would be an issue when I bought it, so I modeled some parts that would help me to keep everything a bit more tidy, while also providing a place to stow some extra nozzles and tools. I liked the way it turned out, and it seems like there should be little in the way of downsides to the setup. I wish I had moved the power cable spool a half cm forward though, but even where it is, I think the shoulder strap would still work. I also managed to attach a chipping hammer under one of the Velcro straps, though with a MIG welder, a wire brush is more practical. There is a place to hold a tip wrench (which snaps in place), and four small compartments with latching lids, which can hold spare nozzles, wire feed rollers, tips, and tip holders. The attachments add some bulk, however it is much more organized and easier to manage, without cables flopping everywhere. I'm considering adding a couple more items, like a clip to hold a welding helmet, maybe some way of attaching a brush, and a flashlight holder - or I may just keep it like it is.
There are a few things I feel need some improvements with the Bestarc MIG 145 though. One issue, which I went into on the earlier post, is the lack of written warranty info, which I feel is pretty necessary these days. Still, a wise man once said "Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will. I got spare time." In any case, I hope to not need to use their warranty (they told me it's got a 1 year warranty for what it's worth). The second issue, which is more of a general problem I have with tools that have lots of cables permanently attached, is the cable management. Why make a nice, compact welder, and then attach a big ole cable to it for a MIG torch - permanently? I know the answer is cost, and to be honest that's why I bought it.
I knew cable management would be an issue when I bought it, so I modeled some parts that would help me to keep everything a bit more tidy, while also providing a place to stow some extra nozzles and tools. I liked the way it turned out, and it seems like there should be little in the way of downsides to the setup. I wish I had moved the power cable spool a half cm forward though, but even where it is, I think the shoulder strap would still work. I also managed to attach a chipping hammer under one of the Velcro straps, though with a MIG welder, a wire brush is more practical. There is a place to hold a tip wrench (which snaps in place), and four small compartments with latching lids, which can hold spare nozzles, wire feed rollers, tips, and tip holders. The attachments add some bulk, however it is much more organized and easier to manage, without cables flopping everywhere. I'm considering adding a couple more items, like a clip to hold a welding helmet, maybe some way of attaching a brush, and a flashlight holder - or I may just keep it like it is.
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