Thanks for checking my video out.. I have not used it a lot the last few months but I have ran several rolls of wire through it along with a couple of bottles of 75/25. I have had no issues with the machine. It runs as well as some of the bigger machines on the market. Not had the chance to do a lot of stick or tig mostly just wire. I still think this is an awsome little machine, esp for the money.
That's a great review for the Thermal Arc 181i, liked it so much and very informative specially for us end users in search of good, portable and reliable weld machine. Thanks so much for sharing and it sure is very helpful.
The cart is one I built. I had the Husky box. It is a bottom chest roll around that I removed the casters from and mounted to the cart I build. Gave me a nice platform to sit my machine on and it also gives me storage area.
Great video review from a real down to earth person. I also think the 181i is great welder. I have only used it to stick weld and flux core wire weld. Stick is great. Flux core I think the settings are wrong. 650 wire speed , 25 volts and inductance is 5 on the door chart for 1/4 steel. I am using Lincoln .035 wire mp. The wire speed to me is very high for welding 1/4 steel. I am not a welder but welding 1/4 inch using 350 wire speed, 21 volts and 5 on the inductance gets great penetration. So if I am thinking wrong let me know. Thanks again for the information,
Got one now for 5 years now - more for hobby use in garage and light work on farm. Works very good with 8kv generator . Tig torch given in the box bit useless, got myself a pro one mouch easier to use. Mig super easy to set up - like wow, so easy. Been welding mainly car bodies and chassis with it - work like a charm. With plate it gets little tricky, surfaces have to be throughly cleaned as you cant get away with welding over rust like with transformer machines. Would I buy one of these when time would come up to an upgrade? If I could find one of these that could weld aluminium I would give it a try no problem as much cheaper to miller machines. But then - havent welded much aluminium so far so dont know what would I like at the end.
thanks Mr. Hardy! I'm in the market for a MIG and was looking at the Miller 180. The ability to do TIG was an attraction to me though and your review helped with my decision. I'll give CyberWeld a call next week. Looks like I need to win lotto this weekend...
Mine on the 35 amp and #8 wire has never had any problems. I really cranked it up once and ran a little bit. It never tripped the breaker and there was no heat in the cord. I usually have no need to run it that high.
Thanks for the response, I was shocked at how little information there was available that wasnt corporate sponsored. Thats why I made the video, so others may gain a little perspective from and end user,
Good review. Much nicer machine than my Lincoln. Worrisome that there's so little information on Thermal Arc, but I might take a chance and try the same setup you have. It's going for a little over $900 off ebay with the Tig gun.
Its a 220 only connection for power. As far as thickness I am really not sure what its rated at for one pass thickness but I have welded 1/2 plate using a root pass and filler passes.
I appreciate your time and effort in making a realistic video on this machine. I placed my order for one today. $809 shipping included with the Mig gun, Stinger, and Ground, with Victor Gas valve. One question I have for ya. (Did you put a 50amp breaker in your box to run the machine?) Would like to have the power source ready when the 181i Inverter gets here.
Hi I just bought the same Machine. can you tel me how to adjust the Arc Force and delay? I switch to Tig and slope reads 0. I turn the knob and nothing. Same for stick for Arc Force. Dial rads 64.3 but not adjustment. Thank you
I had one back when they came out, great little machine. Sold it a year later to fund some stuff now I need another one but I'm probably going miller now as I've hear tweco took over thermal Arc and re-liabilities taken a hit.
The entire purpose of this video was to give a review as an end user. It is supposed to be all talk. Not an action video. The main point I was trying to get across is the controls and functions.
I own the 211i and love it, nice low price for high quality not to mention the versatility mig,tig,stick all in a 220/110 volt machine (181i is only 220, 211i is both)
Yeah I would most definantly buy it again. It is not the top of the line but it is a good start for someone going into the field but does not have the money or the need for a much bigger machine. I have been welding for some time now and I see myself upgrading in a few years and investing several thousand in a top of the line welder that will last the rest of my life sense I am only 18 but for the time being I have had it over a year or so and it works great.
Oh and something else, I just recently noticed esab witch I believe is the parent company of tweco and thermal arc came out with a new multiprocess welder that is similar to this one that is worth looking into. I believe it is called the esab 215ic or something like that, It even comes with the same accesories. It is a little more but looks to have more features but the thermal arc is a great unit as well
+Ethan Schulz thanks for the replies man, i ended up going for the new miller 211 inverter. i looked at the tweco and the lincolin 210mp and they seamed less refined than the miller... so i decided to get a dedicated 230 Amp mig and buy dedicated machines as i go. i think the miller should last a long time. i still like this machine, heard great things.
Awesome glad to hear it. They changed the machine to the Rebel now but I love the 181i. I did buy the spool gun as well! What a versatile compact unit!
Nice to see a review from a guy who uses a machine on a regular basis. Thanks, give us an update on how it's performed so far.
Thanks for checking my video out.. I have not used it a lot the last few months but I have ran several rolls of wire through it along with a couple of bottles of 75/25. I have had no issues with the machine. It runs as well as some of the bigger machines on the market. Not had the chance to do a lot of stick or tig mostly just wire. I still think this is an awsome little machine, esp for the money.
That's a great review for the Thermal Arc 181i, liked it so much and very informative specially for us end users in search of good, portable and reliable weld machine. Thanks so much for sharing and it sure is very helpful.
The cart is one I built. I had the Husky box. It is a bottom chest roll around that I removed the casters from and mounted to the cart I build. Gave me a nice platform to sit my machine on and it also gives me storage area.
Great video review from a real down to earth person. I also think the 181i is great welder. I have only used it to stick weld and flux core wire weld. Stick is great. Flux core I think the settings are wrong. 650 wire speed , 25 volts and inductance is 5 on the door chart for 1/4 steel. I am using Lincoln .035 wire mp.
The wire speed to me is very high for welding 1/4 steel. I am not a welder but welding 1/4 inch using 350 wire speed, 21 volts and 5 on the inductance gets great penetration. So if I am thinking wrong let me know.
Thanks again for the information,
Thank you very much for posting this video. Theres not much that explains it in detail.
Got one now for 5 years now - more for hobby use in garage and light work on farm. Works very good with 8kv generator .
Tig torch given in the box bit useless, got myself a pro one mouch easier to use.
Mig super easy to set up - like wow, so easy.
Been welding mainly car bodies and chassis with it - work like a charm. With plate it gets little tricky, surfaces have to be throughly cleaned as you cant get away with welding over rust like with transformer machines.
Would I buy one of these when time would come up to an upgrade? If I could find one of these that could weld aluminium I would give it a try no problem as much cheaper to miller machines. But then - havent welded much aluminium so far so dont know what would I like at the end.
thanks Mr. Hardy! I'm in the market for a MIG and was looking at the Miller 180.
The ability to do TIG was an attraction to me though and your review helped with my decision. I'll give CyberWeld a call next week. Looks like I need to win lotto this weekend...
Great video, this actually helped me decide to buy one. I am very happy with mine. Thanks for posting
Mine on the 35 amp and #8 wire has never had any problems. I really cranked it up once and ran a little bit. It never tripped the breaker and there was no heat in the cord. I usually have no need to run it that high.
Thanks for the response, I was shocked at how little information there was available that wasnt corporate sponsored. Thats why I made the video, so others may gain a little perspective from and end user,
Good review. Much nicer machine than my Lincoln. Worrisome that there's so little information on Thermal Arc, but I might take a chance and try the same setup you have. It's going for a little over $900 off ebay with the Tig gun.
Thank you for the review. I really appreciate it. I have the machine too and am learning to weld, so your video is a huge help.
I will have to look into the arc force. I am not sure if it works on setting other than MIG.
Do you need a foot pedal to run the the tig? I cant find anything about it. Or just use the trigger on the TIG Torch?
Its a 220 only connection for power. As far as thickness I am really not sure what its rated at for one pass thickness but I have welded 1/2 plate using a root pass and filler passes.
Edgunsuk
Thanks for the input.
I appreciate your time and effort in making a realistic video on this machine. I placed my order for one today. $809 shipping included with the Mig gun, Stinger, and Ground, with Victor Gas valve. One question I have for ya. (Did you put a 50amp breaker in your box to run the machine?) Would like to have the power source ready when the 181i Inverter gets here.
Mr. Hardy, where did you get the Husky Welders Cart?
Shame thermal arc is not sponsoring more of the youtube guys out there to show how popular is this little welder.
Bought one of these and I love it! Real good quality, done a lot of welding. Good video.
how long have you had yours?
Had it for 2 years. Just did some lift tig. It's a good little welder.
Any stick?
I burned one rod with it but I use it primarily for mig. It's only 180 amp machine so it's not industrial grade.
I need something to practice with a lot. And you can use smaller rods.
In Oz its the Cigweld 175i , Thanks for the reveiw mate!
Hi I just bought the same Machine. can you tel me how to adjust the Arc Force and delay? I switch to Tig and slope reads 0. I turn the knob and nothing. Same for stick for Arc Force. Dial rads 64.3 but not adjustment.
Thank you
I used a 50 amp breaker. Then wired it with used #6 wire to the plugin. Works great. Awesome machine it does all I need it too.
Great Vid! How dose the 181i work in Arc/Stick use?? Looking for a do all machine, but want to learn and start with Stick.
Cheers!
I bought one in 2019 after watching your vid. I love mine want to get the spool gun. Was wondering how its holding up for you now being 8 years?
I had one back when they came out, great little machine. Sold it a year later to fund some stuff now I need another one but I'm probably going miller now as I've hear tweco took over thermal Arc and re-liabilities taken a hit.
how thick can it weld and nice job on your video
Hows the welder holding up? Any issues at all?
thanks
Actually, my machine is on a 35amp breaker and I have a 25ft drop cprd direct wired into the box. I think it is 8ga. wire.
will this welder run on 110 and 220 outlets
Is that just a 230v or a dual voltage ?
The entire purpose of this video was to give a review as an end user. It is supposed to be all talk. Not an action video. The main point I was trying to get across is the controls and functions.
Are you still using this unit, and if so, what's your current opinion of it? Or if not, why? Thanks!
Nice review. Helped a lot. Thanks
I think you will really like it.
I own the 211i and love it, nice low price for high quality not to mention the versatility mig,tig,stick all in a 220/110 volt machine (181i is only 220, 211i is both)
would you buy it again? I'm currently looking to buy one
Yeah I would most definantly buy it again. It is not the top of the line but it is a good start for someone going into the field but does not have the money or the need for a much bigger machine. I have been welding for some time now and I see myself upgrading in a few years and investing several thousand in a top of the line welder that will last the rest of my life sense I am only 18 but for the time being I have had it over a year or so and it works great.
Oh and something else, I just recently noticed esab witch I believe is the parent company of tweco and thermal arc came out with a new multiprocess welder that is similar to this one that is worth looking into. I believe it is called the esab 215ic or something like that, It even comes with the same accesories. It is a little more but looks to have more features but the thermal arc is a great unit as well
+Ethan Schulz thanks for the replies man, i ended up going for the new miller 211 inverter. i looked at the tweco and the lincolin 210mp and they seamed less refined than the miller... so i decided to get a dedicated 230 Amp mig and buy dedicated machines as i go. i think the miller should last a long time. i still like this machine, heard great things.
+Ethan Schulz that and my father in law has a bobcat miller 250 diesel i can borrow anytime haha
Thank you very much for the review.
Thanks for the review! Good job.
Good review! Thx.
pump it down ?
I have no issues or complaints with this little machine.
Awesome glad to hear it. They changed the machine to the Rebel now but I love the 181i. I did buy the spool gun as well! What a versatile compact unit!
good info. forget the negative comments. your a welder not a movie director, i get it
LOL, thanks. I am definitly not a movie director.
Good video!
Glad it was helpful.
this may be my frist
jus
mountain man!!
Yep.
brun it
to much talk not action