[Imperial Wheel]

The problem with Eastwoods stuff is that it is made offshore. Good luck getting parts when it goes Tango Uniform. Several outfits sell offshore welders for amazing prices. Can't think of the guys down in Florida that advertise all over. Their machines come from Italy. Parts take forever if they are still in production.

I'm partial to Blue...Miller. My first was their largest (at the time) 110 welder, a Cricket XL, 90Amps. Still have it although it hasn't been used in 10+ years. I immediately realized it was not enough welder for the chassis work I wanted to do.. I bought a Miller 210 (220V) and it was enough welder. Later I bought a 251 Miller and it is a magnificent machine. Flux core wire makes a real mess and you'll spend a lot of time cleaning up the splatter.

I've had my welders for years (Also have a Miller Dynasty TIG, and a Miller Plasma). In those years, I've run a business making metal shaping tools and the MIGs especially have had a hard life. I've had 1 failure on my 210 and 1 on the Dynasty and both times the parts were available and the repair was only 1 day down....also both were covered by warranty.

I guess the moral of this saga is that cheap welders are false economy.

Just my two cents....well, in this economy, probably 3 cents worth