Eastwood 175 MIG Welding Machine Review

Written By: Liam Bryant

The Eastwood 175 MIG Welding Machine is a reliable and versatile unit. It offers easy setup, is suitable for both beginners and professionals, and provides smooth, clean welds on different materials. However, it is a bit heavy and lacks a gas gauge.

Eastwood 175 MIG welder
7.3
  • Welds Aluminum, Stainless Steel, and Mild Steel
  • 30-175 Amp Welding Range
  • Precise Welding Control
  • Spool Gun for Welding Aluminum

Summary

Power:

69%

Cost:

15%

Weight:

40%
Eastwood 175 MIG Welding Machine Review

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 14 x 9 x 18
  • Weight: 35 pounds
  • Max Output: 175 amps
  • Output Range: 30-175
  • Polarity: DC
  • Duty Cycle: 30% @ 130A

I rate this as medium powered welder. This is an inexpensive welding machine. It can weld up to 5/16 inch steel. This welding machine is impressively lightweight, tipping the scale at just 35lb. This makes it highly portable and convenient to use.

You can download the manual here.

Pro Tip: The Eastwood 175 MIG is ideal for MIG welding. Always clean the surface before welding to ensure superior results. Use the chart inside the wire feed compartment to set the correct wire speed and power settings based on the thickness of the material. Practice on scrap metal before starting your main project. Remember, safety first - wear protective gear to shield from intense light and heat.

What is Included?

  • Spool Gun with 9 ft cable (works with a 4 inch wire spool only)
  • MIG Wire 0.030
  • Aluminum Wire 0.035
  • Gas Regulator with hose
  • 8 ft Ground Clamp
  • 8 ft Gun Cable

Pros

  • Superior Penetration
  • Capable of MIG and Flux Core Welding
  • User Friendly Interface

Cons

  • Limited Power Output
  • Not Suitable for Heavy Duty Welding Tasks

Features

1. Infinite Voltage Control

The Eastwood 175 MIG welding machine features Infinite Voltage Control, allowing the user to adjust the machine’s output voltage precisely. This ensures optimum control over the welding arc, improving your weld quality significantly.

It offers a range of operational flexibility, accommodating different types of material and thicknesses. It’s a game-changer for professionals and hobbyists, allowing them to adapt to various welding conditions and demands. This feature makes the Eastwood 175 MIG welding machine versatile and user-friendly.

2. Spool Gun Capability

The Eastwood 175 MIG welding machine features Spool Gun Capability, enhancing its versatility in handling different welding tasks. This feature allows the machine to effortlessly weld aluminum materials, a task often challenging for standard MIG welders.

The spool gun capability eliminates the risk of bird-nesting and wire feedability issues, ensuring clean and efficient welding. This feature makes the Eastwood 175 MIG welding machine an exceptional choice for professional and DIY welding tasks.

3. Good Duty Cycle

The Eastwood 175 MIG welding machine boasts a good duty cycle, a crucial feature for efficient and sustained welding. The device operates at a 30% duty cycle at 130 amps, giving users a long and reliable welding experience before it needs to cool down. This means that in a 10-minute period, the machine can weld continuously for three minutes at 130 amps.

This feature enhances productivity and makes it ideal for heavy-duty welding tasks, prolonging the life and performance of the machine while ensuring optimal results.

Eastwood 175 MIG Welding Machine Review

Field Testing

After testing the Eastwood 175 MIG Welding Machine, I was quite impressed with its performance. The machine is incredibly easy to set up and operate, even for a novice welder. I found the controls intuitive and the instruction manual clear and concise. The welds it produced were clean and strong, with minimal spatter.

The machine’s build quality is excellent, it feels sturdy and durable, which is a significant factor for a tool that’s likely to see heavy use. The 175-amp output provided more than enough power for all the tasks I threw at it, including welding 5/16″ steel.

One of the standout features was the spool gun capability, which made welding aluminum a breeze. However, I was slightly disappointed that the spool gun is sold separately, adding an extra expense.

The machine’s portability is another plus point, making it easy to move around my workshop. It’s a fantastic tool for both hobbyists and professionals.

Overall, the Eastwood 175 MIG Welding Machine is a reliable, high-performing piece of equipment that delivers on its promises. I would highly recommend it to anyone needing a versatile and powerful welding machine.

Results

Performance:

80%

Durability:

70%

Value for Money:

70%

Overall Score:

73%

This machine is suitable for professional welding tasks, including heavy-duty repair, maintenance, and fabrication jobs.

The Eastwood 175 MIG welding machine comes with a 3-year warranty. However, it’s always best to check the warranty details from the seller or manufacturer as it can vary.

Conclusion

After thoroughly testing and reviewing the Eastwood 175 MIG Welding Machine, I am quite satisfied with its performance. It scored 80% for performance, proving its ability to handle various welding tasks. Its durability score of 70% shows its capability to withstand continuous work and last for a long time. In terms of value for money, with a score of 70%, it provides decent features for its price range.

With an overall score of 73%, this machine is a solid choice for both hobbyists and professionals. The Eastwood 175 MIG Welding Machine meets expectations and provides reliable and efficient service.