Welding Tips and Tricks

First thanks to everyone for the vast amount of information on this site.

I recently bought an ESAB 235 ci. I chose the rebel despite being Chinese because it hit the Amp ratings I think I need for a farm and ranch welder. Am I wrong?

It also came with a $450 cart. Total bs. This is a $99 cart. It hasn't shipped yet but I had a chance to play hands on one recently. I contacted ESAB customer service and offered to spend even more money for something other than this flimsy Chinese cart. Unable to do anything.

I'm returning the welder. Don't advertise a$450 benefit then deliver something vastly less valuable. I'm going back to blue.

Esab owns Miller. They make a very good machine. Not so with their cart. But if you want a deluxe cart, check out ZT Fab for a very high quality unit. Or, make your own as it’s a right of passage when getting a new welder anyway.

Esab does NOT own Miller. Miller and Hobart are owned by Illinois Tool Works (ITW). Esab is owned by Colfax and Colfax did buy Victor/Thermal Dynamics in 2017 I believe.

I recently bought an ESAB 235 ci. I chose the rebel despite being Chinese

Well, there's Chinese and then there's Chinese. I would much rather buy an Esab welder than some of the other welders made in China. Esab provides a very good warranty and a broad network of LWSs and service centers to support their products. Lincoln and Miller are less and less made in the USA anymore. Miller uses parts made in China and then does final assembly in the USA. Lincoln makes welders in something like 26 different countries. Their popular powermig 210 MP and powermig 256 units are made in Mexico. I have heard nothing but good reviews of the Rebel. I would give it a try and just return the cart if you are not happy with it.

Esab does own ThermalArc and Thermaldyne. It goes back to the early 2000’s. Depending on exactly what brand your talking about.

Louie1961 wrote:Esab does NOT own Miller. Miller and Hobart are owned by Illinois Tool Works (ITW). Esab is owned by Colfax and Colfax did buy Victor/Thermal Dynamics in 2017 I believe.

Yes, my mistake, was thinking of Victor (had been in the shop all day with my oxy rig and just blew through their site. Apologies, old man with a tired brain and dyslexic mentality

Quigly wrote:First thanks to everyone for the vast amount of information on this site.

I recently bought an ESAB 235 ci. I chose the rebel despite being Chinese because it hit the Amp ratings I think I need for a farm and ranch welder. Am I wrong?

It also came with a $450 cart. Total bs. This is a $99 cart. It hasn't shipped yet but I had a chance to play hands on one recently. I contacted ESAB customer service and offered to spend even more money for something other than this flimsy Chinese cart. Unable to do anything.

I'm returning the welder. Don't advertise a$450 benefit then deliver something vastly less valuable. I'm going back to blue.

While it doesn't have SMAW, the HTP ProPulse 200 is also a serious contender that happens to wear red.

Oscar wrote:

Quigly wrote:First thanks to everyone for the vast amount of information on this site.

I recently bought an ESAB 235 ci. I chose the rebel despite being Chinese because it hit the Amp ratings I think I need for a farm and ranch welder. Am I wrong?

It also came with a $450 cart. Total bs. This is a $99 cart. It hasn't shipped yet but I had a chance to play hands on one recently. I contacted ESAB customer service and offered to spend even more money for something other than this flimsy Chinese cart. Unable to do anything.

I'm returning the welder. Don't advertise a$450 benefit then deliver something vastly less valuable. I'm going back to blue.

While it doesn't have SMAW, the HTP ProPulse 200 is also a serious contender that happens to wear red.

That ProPulse looks like a helluva machine, Oscar. Very versatile, full featured, and HTP appears to have a stellar Customer Service reputation.

Definitely, I love using both of mine, whenever I can. It's got a nice sweet arc. If the Pro Pulse 200 did SMAW, it would then make it stupid good!

I've most used has powered welders and a Lincoln mig machine we have. I also have an old 295amp century. This Rebel 235 welds better than anything I've ever used. I burnt some 6011 and 7018 and ran some.035 wire thru the mig. It welds beautifully.