I recently picked up the cheapest (gasless) MIG welder (that I could find) on Amazon for $47.99 after coupon (40D3IP48). I know, it feels weird referring to a flux core wire feed welder as a "gasless" MIG, but it seems to be the accepted shorthand for what these things are. I haven't welded in years, but I have some projects I need one for, so I planned to use it to knock those out, and then and write a review here for it. However, when the "GZ GUOZHI MIG-140" arrived a couple days late, I immediately knew something was up. The box had too much tape on it, and it smelled like a used welder. Inside the box, the welder looked mostly OK, however the feet were dirty, and the stick holder was gritty and scratched up. Whoever sent it back, either used it for a project and sent it back (without bothering to clean it up), or it had a problem, and the welder was somehow placed back in the mix of new products. Either way, it's not my problem anymore. I just took some pics, boxed it up and drove it back to UPS. Dealing with whatever caused the last person to use it and then return it, is not worth the hassle.
It sucks a bit though, since I still need a welder. As for the "GZ GUOZHI MIG-140", it actually seemed pretty nice on paper and mostly OK in person (it's an inverter with synergistic wire feed). I didn't bother to turn it on or test anything, since it was going back. So about all I can say about it is that it's compact and lightweight, it has the same MIG torch as all the other lower end MIG welders, the ground clamp looked OK, and the label inside the side cover (for the wire spool and feeder compartment) had some recommended settings, but it was very small fine print, and difficult to read. The settings table also did not make much sense, based on the settings shown on the knobs. The used stick holder was beefy, and would definitely do the job (and probably did, LOL), but it was nothing special of course. There were a couple spare tips, but I did not see any wire drive rollers (aside from the one already installed). There was also no spool of wire, which I don't think was supposed to be included, but seeing how it was used, the last person may have forgotten to put it back in the box.
I think the settings could be deduced from a bit of educated guesswork, and some trial and error fine tuning, but it would be nice if they included a copy of the settings in the manual (which did not have a table for them). For less than one portrait of US Grant though, it was probably a bargain, if it were actually a new welder. But I don't feel like rolling the dice again, even though it's unlikely I would get another used welder. So I'm back to searching for a decent (and cheap) MIG (gas or gasless) inverter welder. Normally "decent" and "cheap" would not go together, but there seems to be plenty of imported inverter MIG welders out there in the sub $100 to $160 range.
The Bestarc MIG145 is at the top of my list right now, but I have yet to find any info on it's warranty (I emailed them to ask, and will update this post with what I find out). The Bestarc MIG welders seem to be heavily promoted to YouTubers lately, which is not by itself a negative, but it does make me a bit skeptical. I have yet to see one review which mentioned anything negative, or mentioned what the warranty is on the units. A few of the videos are a bit comical as well, with some of the folks who received free welders, clearly not bothering to skim the manual, and struggling because of it.
Most of the cheaper MIG welders are limited to 2lb spools, which is plenty for small projects that I'd use it for, but notable since they do cost more per pound of wire. The very low end welders are also gasless (so they require flux core wire). Flux core is a bit nasty and more expensive, but fine for running outdoors (with a mask). A gas setup is cleaner, but also expensive and heavy. It would easily cost as much, or even double the cost of the welder, to use gas, depending on how the tank is sourced. For me, gas is a "nice to have", but not worth more than 30-40 bucks to have the option, since I will likely not use it. One small downside (in my opinion) of the Bestarc MIG145 (and the "GZ GUOZHI MIG-140"), is that they have non-removable MIG torches. The "GZ GUOZHI MIG-140" is also missing any strain relief for the torch. The torch is one part that I'd like to be able to swap out if needed, without tearing down the machine. But that is more of a "later on" problem, since the included torches seem OK.
Update 9/26/2024: I contacted Bestarc about the warranty on their MIG welders and they got back pretty quickly. They said that the warranty is for one year, and support is provided by the seller. I was also advised that if there is a "quality problem" during the warranty period, the buyer and seller would negotiate how to repair the welder or return it (which may be an expensive proposition if the buyer has to foot the shipping bill - though also sadly typical). They noted that outside the warranty period, the seller "can" provide technical support. I asked them if I purchase the welder from the Bestarc Store on Amazon, would I be able to work directly with Bestarc on warranty or technical issues, since it would seem they would be the seller. I'm waiting for confirmation on that question, and will update here when I find out.
So the warranty situation for Bestarc is not great, but it's probably about average for lower end imported welders (I should point out though, that the inexpensive "GZ GUOZHI MIG-140" also claims a 1 year warranty). For comparison, YesWelder states a 1-3 year warranty (1 year on their least expensive MIG welders, of course), and ArcCaptain offers a 2 year warranty on MIG welders . Those warranty terms appear to be for purchases from their own web storefronts however. For YesWelder I also found warranty terms on TractorSupply, which are similar. I could not find warranty terms for Bestarc, YesWelder or ArcCaptain on Amazon however. The warranty terms for YesWelder and ArcCaptain warranties are also oddly similar, for what it's worth. To their credit, YesWelder and ArcCaptain both provide their warranty terms on their site (for direct purchases from their own stores at least), which I could not find on the Bestarc site.
The requirement to deal with the seller could be a problem, since the warranty or technical support can only be as good as the seller the welder was purchased from, and who knows what their level of knowledge or ability will be. For what it's worth, I've seen Bestarc stuff on sale at AliExpress from multiple sellers (which I'd avoid, due to the warranty and tech support going through the seller). In my opinion, the manufacturer should provide the support directly to the customer, at least when bought from authorized dealers. Hopefully Bestarc will provide direct support to customers if they purchase a welder from their Amazon storefront, otherwise I will have to keep looking. I will update when I get a reply on that question from them.
Doh! And now I'm kicking myself for not asking Bestarc for their full warranty terms. Oh well.
Update 2 9/26/2024: Bestarc support replied, but asked for a copy of my receipt. Clearly there is a miscommunication, so I explained that I have not yet purchased, and asked if I buy a welder from the Bestarc Amazon Store, if the warranty and technical support will go through Bestarc, or some other party. I also asked for the full warranty terms for their welders, which really should be easily available for potential buyers to look at.
The problem with warranties which do not go through the manufacturer, is that they can end up being a game of finger pointing between the seller and the manufacturer, where the customer loses or is just worn down. It also looks like some companies put the costs of warranty and technical support onto the seller (who has already made their money from the sale). Hopefully buying from the "company store" will allow a customer to deal directly with the manufacturer, and avoid some of the hassles of dealing with middlemen. So "why don't you just buy the extended warranty through Asurion?" you may ask? Well, it looks like Asurion is going through some restructuring, and doing layoffs, so I'd rather not take the chance (more discussion about that on Reddit). Something that can help though, is to buy with a credit card that extends the warranty, since that is free(ish), and could give an extra year or two over what the manufacturer offers.
And now I see that there is a sale on the Bestarc MIG 145 gas and gasless welders. The gas welder is actually $5 more expensive than it was yesterday (after a $30 off coupon) at $145, however the gasless welder is a pretty decent deal at $95 (IIRC it was $125 after a $25 off coupon yesterday). I'm probably gonna pick up the gasless welder at that price, and hope that Bestarc does directly support buyers from their Amazon Store (which would make the most sense). Of course, I hope that I never need warranty support LOL.
Update 3 9/26/2024: Well I'm a sucker for a deal, so I bought the Bestarc MIG 145 (gasless) welder for $95 bucks (without any of the Asurion plans of course). The welder is on sale until 23:30 EST today, if you are interested in checking it out as well. When it gets here, and I can use it, I will post some pics and a review (for the MIG functions, since I don't have any experience with stick welding). I will also update on the warranty terms (at least when buying from the BestArc Amazon Store), when I get the info.
Edit - the sale is now over, so the gasless MIG 145 is now $105 (after $25 off coupon), but the regular (gas or gasless) MIG 145 is down to $140 after a $30 coupon (which is a better deal than yesterday's Lighting Deal).
Update 4 10/3/2024: I last sent Bestarc support an email on 9/29 (correction) to ask about the full warranty terms when buying from their Amazon storefront, but I have not received any answer yet, so I sent them another email. This should not be that difficult honestly, but I've bought the welder so hopefully I won't need their support anyway. I've not had time to test it yet, but I did check the box and everything looks good and they include a spare drive roller. IIRC the rollers are a 0.8 and 0.9mm and a 0.8 and 1.0mm, with both being knurled which is the preferred type for fluxcore. The packaging and the welder look really nice and compact. I'm hoping to be able to test it out this weekend.
The one issue I have with it (without testing it again), is the same problem that most small welders have - how to store all the cables? So I'm working on a possible solution to the cable management mess, at least for my welder, which of course will use 3D printing. If it works out, I will post some more info on that in another post probably.
Update 10/5/2024: No response from Bestarc regarding warranty terms for a purchase from their Amazon store yet, and I'm starting to think they will not reply further. There is nothing about the warranty that I could find in the manual. I will try contacting the seller through amazon to see if they will provide the full warranty info.
In any case I cannot test the welder since the batteries in my auto darkening welding hood are dead. I ordered a 6v coin cell holder to replace them. Something interesting (or maybe not) is that the welder has a smell of black licorice, so I had to take it outside. If storing it indoors, I think I'd need to keep it in a case of some sort, otherwise the place would smell like a Harbor Freight (and also like black licorice). I'm sure it will off gas eventually and stop stinking, but it's notable.
Update 10/8/2024: I got an answer to the question of "can I get a copy of the warranty" by contacting the seller through Amazon (the Bestarc Amazon Store), and they explained that there is no written warranty, but they also said it has a 1 year warranty and they will try to assist with problems. I'm a bit surprised, since Bestarc has a following for their plasma cutters, and seem to be an established brand, but it is what it is. To keep things in perspective, it is a $105 welder, and a fair bit of kit for that price, so if it lasts a few years, it will be worth the money easily. I'm still waiting on the part to fix my auto darkening welding hood, so have not been able to test it out, but my initial impression is good, with the unit itself.
It sucks a bit though, since I still need a welder. As for the "GZ GUOZHI MIG-140", it actually seemed pretty nice on paper and mostly OK in person (it's an inverter with synergistic wire feed). I didn't bother to turn it on or test anything, since it was going back. So about all I can say about it is that it's compact and lightweight, it has the same MIG torch as all the other lower end MIG welders, the ground clamp looked OK, and the label inside the side cover (for the wire spool and feeder compartment) had some recommended settings, but it was very small fine print, and difficult to read. The settings table also did not make much sense, based on the settings shown on the knobs. The used stick holder was beefy, and would definitely do the job (and probably did, LOL), but it was nothing special of course. There were a couple spare tips, but I did not see any wire drive rollers (aside from the one already installed). There was also no spool of wire, which I don't think was supposed to be included, but seeing how it was used, the last person may have forgotten to put it back in the box.
I think the settings could be deduced from a bit of educated guesswork, and some trial and error fine tuning, but it would be nice if they included a copy of the settings in the manual (which did not have a table for them). For less than one portrait of US Grant though, it was probably a bargain, if it were actually a new welder. But I don't feel like rolling the dice again, even though it's unlikely I would get another used welder. So I'm back to searching for a decent (and cheap) MIG (gas or gasless) inverter welder. Normally "decent" and "cheap" would not go together, but there seems to be plenty of imported inverter MIG welders out there in the sub $100 to $160 range.
The Bestarc MIG145 is at the top of my list right now, but I have yet to find any info on it's warranty (I emailed them to ask, and will update this post with what I find out). The Bestarc MIG welders seem to be heavily promoted to YouTubers lately, which is not by itself a negative, but it does make me a bit skeptical. I have yet to see one review which mentioned anything negative, or mentioned what the warranty is on the units. A few of the videos are a bit comical as well, with some of the folks who received free welders, clearly not bothering to skim the manual, and struggling because of it.
Most of the cheaper MIG welders are limited to 2lb spools, which is plenty for small projects that I'd use it for, but notable since they do cost more per pound of wire. The very low end welders are also gasless (so they require flux core wire). Flux core is a bit nasty and more expensive, but fine for running outdoors (with a mask). A gas setup is cleaner, but also expensive and heavy. It would easily cost as much, or even double the cost of the welder, to use gas, depending on how the tank is sourced. For me, gas is a "nice to have", but not worth more than 30-40 bucks to have the option, since I will likely not use it. One small downside (in my opinion) of the Bestarc MIG145 (and the "GZ GUOZHI MIG-140"), is that they have non-removable MIG torches. The "GZ GUOZHI MIG-140" is also missing any strain relief for the torch. The torch is one part that I'd like to be able to swap out if needed, without tearing down the machine. But that is more of a "later on" problem, since the included torches seem OK.
Update 9/26/2024: I contacted Bestarc about the warranty on their MIG welders and they got back pretty quickly. They said that the warranty is for one year, and support is provided by the seller. I was also advised that if there is a "quality problem" during the warranty period, the buyer and seller would negotiate how to repair the welder or return it (which may be an expensive proposition if the buyer has to foot the shipping bill - though also sadly typical). They noted that outside the warranty period, the seller "can" provide technical support. I asked them if I purchase the welder from the Bestarc Store on Amazon, would I be able to work directly with Bestarc on warranty or technical issues, since it would seem they would be the seller. I'm waiting for confirmation on that question, and will update here when I find out.
So the warranty situation for Bestarc is not great, but it's probably about average for lower end imported welders (I should point out though, that the inexpensive "GZ GUOZHI MIG-140" also claims a 1 year warranty). For comparison, YesWelder states a 1-3 year warranty (1 year on their least expensive MIG welders, of course), and ArcCaptain offers a 2 year warranty on MIG welders . Those warranty terms appear to be for purchases from their own web storefronts however. For YesWelder I also found warranty terms on TractorSupply, which are similar. I could not find warranty terms for Bestarc, YesWelder or ArcCaptain on Amazon however. The warranty terms for YesWelder and ArcCaptain warranties are also oddly similar, for what it's worth. To their credit, YesWelder and ArcCaptain both provide their warranty terms on their site (for direct purchases from their own stores at least), which I could not find on the Bestarc site.
The requirement to deal with the seller could be a problem, since the warranty or technical support can only be as good as the seller the welder was purchased from, and who knows what their level of knowledge or ability will be. For what it's worth, I've seen Bestarc stuff on sale at AliExpress from multiple sellers (which I'd avoid, due to the warranty and tech support going through the seller). In my opinion, the manufacturer should provide the support directly to the customer, at least when bought from authorized dealers. Hopefully Bestarc will provide direct support to customers if they purchase a welder from their Amazon storefront, otherwise I will have to keep looking. I will update when I get a reply on that question from them.
Doh! And now I'm kicking myself for not asking Bestarc for their full warranty terms. Oh well.
Update 2 9/26/2024: Bestarc support replied, but asked for a copy of my receipt. Clearly there is a miscommunication, so I explained that I have not yet purchased, and asked if I buy a welder from the Bestarc Amazon Store, if the warranty and technical support will go through Bestarc, or some other party. I also asked for the full warranty terms for their welders, which really should be easily available for potential buyers to look at.
The problem with warranties which do not go through the manufacturer, is that they can end up being a game of finger pointing between the seller and the manufacturer, where the customer loses or is just worn down. It also looks like some companies put the costs of warranty and technical support onto the seller (who has already made their money from the sale). Hopefully buying from the "company store" will allow a customer to deal directly with the manufacturer, and avoid some of the hassles of dealing with middlemen. So "why don't you just buy the extended warranty through Asurion?" you may ask? Well, it looks like Asurion is going through some restructuring, and doing layoffs, so I'd rather not take the chance (more discussion about that on Reddit). Something that can help though, is to buy with a credit card that extends the warranty, since that is free(ish), and could give an extra year or two over what the manufacturer offers.
And now I see that there is a sale on the Bestarc MIG 145 gas and gasless welders. The gas welder is actually $5 more expensive than it was yesterday (after a $30 off coupon) at $145, however the gasless welder is a pretty decent deal at $95 (IIRC it was $125 after a $25 off coupon yesterday). I'm probably gonna pick up the gasless welder at that price, and hope that Bestarc does directly support buyers from their Amazon Store (which would make the most sense). Of course, I hope that I never need warranty support LOL.
Update 3 9/26/2024: Well I'm a sucker for a deal, so I bought the Bestarc MIG 145 (gasless) welder for $95 bucks (without any of the Asurion plans of course). The welder is on sale until 23:30 EST today, if you are interested in checking it out as well. When it gets here, and I can use it, I will post some pics and a review (for the MIG functions, since I don't have any experience with stick welding). I will also update on the warranty terms (at least when buying from the BestArc Amazon Store), when I get the info.
Edit - the sale is now over, so the gasless MIG 145 is now $105 (after $25 off coupon), but the regular (gas or gasless) MIG 145 is down to $140 after a $30 coupon (which is a better deal than yesterday's Lighting Deal).
Update 4 10/3/2024: I last sent Bestarc support an email on 9/29 (correction) to ask about the full warranty terms when buying from their Amazon storefront, but I have not received any answer yet, so I sent them another email. This should not be that difficult honestly, but I've bought the welder so hopefully I won't need their support anyway. I've not had time to test it yet, but I did check the box and everything looks good and they include a spare drive roller. IIRC the rollers are a 0.8 and 0.9mm and a 0.8 and 1.0mm, with both being knurled which is the preferred type for fluxcore. The packaging and the welder look really nice and compact. I'm hoping to be able to test it out this weekend.
The one issue I have with it (without testing it again), is the same problem that most small welders have - how to store all the cables? So I'm working on a possible solution to the cable management mess, at least for my welder, which of course will use 3D printing. If it works out, I will post some more info on that in another post probably.
Update 10/5/2024: No response from Bestarc regarding warranty terms for a purchase from their Amazon store yet, and I'm starting to think they will not reply further. There is nothing about the warranty that I could find in the manual. I will try contacting the seller through amazon to see if they will provide the full warranty info.
In any case I cannot test the welder since the batteries in my auto darkening welding hood are dead. I ordered a 6v coin cell holder to replace them. Something interesting (or maybe not) is that the welder has a smell of black licorice, so I had to take it outside. If storing it indoors, I think I'd need to keep it in a case of some sort, otherwise the place would smell like a Harbor Freight (and also like black licorice). I'm sure it will off gas eventually and stop stinking, but it's notable.
Update 10/8/2024: I got an answer to the question of "can I get a copy of the warranty" by contacting the seller through Amazon (the Bestarc Amazon Store), and they explained that there is no written warranty, but they also said it has a 1 year warranty and they will try to assist with problems. I'm a bit surprised, since Bestarc has a following for their plasma cutters, and seem to be an established brand, but it is what it is. To keep things in perspective, it is a $105 welder, and a fair bit of kit for that price, so if it lasts a few years, it will be worth the money easily. I'm still waiting on the part to fix my auto darkening welding hood, so have not been able to test it out, but my initial impression is good, with the unit itself.
Update 11/13/2024: I finally had time (with good weather) to try out the welder for more than a quick test. Unfortunately it was getting dark and my welds were crap (yep, that's what I'm going with). To be honest though, I was holding a flashlight while trying to do the welds and there was a marked difference between the welds I did in the fading daylight and those I did under the flashlight. The welder however can make good welds in the right hands, I'm sure. But it has been years since I last welded, and I definitely need some more practice. I can say though that the setup was easy, and having a feed button is great, and saves some time. The feed mechanism is all plastic, but seems durable enough, and it comes with two drive wheels (IIRC they were 1.0/0.8 and 0.8/0.9mm). This is not a negative, but something worth noting, I found that the ceramic gassless MIG tips like these, were too tight to go on using the stock tip holder. I probably could have swapped the tip holder, but decided to just spray the tip with some anti-splater. The only actual downside I found so far, when inspecting the area where the wire feeds, is that there is an open area where the back of the display board can be seen when the lid is open. That should be closed off, and I may need to make something to cover it.
Speaking of making something for the welder, I already have some printed parts I'm gonna stick on it, to assist with cable management. Since the MIG cable is attached and not removable, the cable management is pretty haphazard, but I think I can fix that.
I'm not going to post pics of my welds, since it would not do the welder any justice, but maybe if I can improve my skills a bit during the daytime I will post some. The one thing that stood out though was, as bad as my technique is, there was very little popping, and the arc was nice and smooth. I "learned" on an older non-inverter welder, which was less forgiving, so this was a nice surprise. I do however need to re-read the manual, since I think it could have used a bit more voltage than what it was set for. The dial adjusts by +/- 3v, but it was close to the right setting based on the 16 gauge material I was using, so I went with it. But the upside of making crap welds, is that I get to practice my grinding skills.
Speaking of making something for the welder, I already have some printed parts I'm gonna stick on it, to assist with cable management. Since the MIG cable is attached and not removable, the cable management is pretty haphazard, but I think I can fix that.
I'm not going to post pics of my welds, since it would not do the welder any justice, but maybe if I can improve my skills a bit during the daytime I will post some. The one thing that stood out though was, as bad as my technique is, there was very little popping, and the arc was nice and smooth. I "learned" on an older non-inverter welder, which was less forgiving, so this was a nice surprise. I do however need to re-read the manual, since I think it could have used a bit more voltage than what it was set for. The dial adjusts by +/- 3v, but it was close to the right setting based on the 16 gauge material I was using, so I went with it. But the upside of making crap welds, is that I get to practice my grinding skills.
RSS Feed
