Looking for feedback on Fabricator 211i - Mig/Tig/Stick

[drdoolittle]

Good afternoon. I've recently moved back out to the country (loving it by the way!) but have also recently had to do some welding. Prior to moving I could just borrow a welder from my brother - but he's now over an hour and a half away. Was looking at something like this set up to allow me to do most anything I would/could want to tackle on the farm. I like that it is dual voltage and multiprocess.

Welders Direct: Fabricator 211i - Mig/Tig/Stick

Any thoughts on this? I'm not a professional welder but I can generally get things to stick together... :laughing:

Thanks,
Eric

 

[Arc weld]

People that have them seem to like them. I'm sure Everlast has something similar for comparison.

 

[Rock knocker]

I have a 181i, and it's great

 

[mrmikey]

Ditto on the 181i, try 301 Moved Permanently and do a search there, a few guys have bought them and I don't think I've read of one complaint.....Mike

**EDIT**
don't know why my link to Welding Web was changed to --301 moved permanantly--- but it'll take you to the correct place...odd

 

[yomax4]

Best feature is Power Factor Correction. Not seen on small entry level machines. Add inductance control, burn back, hot start and arc force all in a digital pkg. I would do a gun upgrade sometime down the road. It's the only mig machine I have seen that will run wide open on an extension cord with out tripping a breaker. Would have been a killer machine if it was in the 181i box.

 

[Kiotikarl]

Have one, great allaround machine, i got the spool gun and cart too.

 

[drdoolittle]

I'm thinking about the spool gun as well. Any problems with yours so far? I like the idea if the short feed distance.

Overall I've only used the smaller Thermal Arc 95s in person, but it did good for the small "field" repairs I needed at the time. My brother has that and a larger Lincoln I've borrowed from time to time.

I looked at the Everlast models and the 200 is also interesting. I am still leaning toward the 211i overall though. It seems to be a good trade off between what I would like in the shop and still be able to use out in the field off of a smaller generator or inverter setup.

I do appreciate the responses to this question so far.

Thanks,
Eric

 

[mrmikey]

I'm thinking about the spool gun as well. Any problems with yours so far?

Only problem, a minor one, I've had with mine is that I've broke off the little button that you use to release the pressure when you load a new roll of wire. Keep in mind it's not an industrial gun like the 30A (only rated at 160A) is but I use mine a fair bit and no major complaints, it was CAN$300. It came in a nice, fitted storage case that you can actually use, it doesn't require a degree in engineering to put it back in. That may seem like a small thing but if you don't use it much it'll keep it together and away from damage. It's actually more comfortable to use than a 30A, angles are a bit different, shape etc, just my opinion tho

I originally thought that 3/64 5356 wire was the better running one but I've since changed my opinion, .035 4043 seems to work better. Problem was the 5356 wire being stiffer, required a bit more tension on the spool to prevent unravelling, the 4043 is softer I can leave the roll tension backed right off so there's no drag on the spool at all. 3/64 is above what the gun is rated at anyway ( I had a few rolls kicking around is the reason I used it) so I guess it's not a fair comment. Saying that, smaller size 5356 might work, give it a try.

A good thing to keep in mind also is that it uses the same consumables as the MIG gun, nozzle, contact tip and diffuser.......Mike

 

[Kiotikarl]

So far i find it to be a good machine, only thing i have replaced si the ground clamp. What i like is that the mig gun is pretty long, compared to my miller and lincoln models. I used the spool gun a few times to repare ski-doo stater casings and broken mag wheels, i use 0.035 4043 wire for the spool gun, and .030 for the mig . Have not Tig welded with it.
I did consider a MTS model from Everlast (have a Powerplasma 60S and love it) but since i live in a small town and most of my building/repair is local, i did purchase locally.

 

[camshawn]

I have had my 211i since last summer. So far no problems, at the end of my second bottle of 85/15 ( hope I can finish the project before running empty, 350 lbs left).
The only complaint is the length of the ground cable and the clamp. I like a little more length than it comes with as it seems that I am always getting the ground stretched tight and then tripping over it.
Cam