What are you guys opinions on the eastwood 175 with spoolgun? I have access to a miller 251 with 30a spool gun that i can use anytime. Theres nothing like having your own equipment that being said i would like to buy a cheap welder that will be enough power to build a boat that way i can just doit at home versus staying late at work. I wont be using it everyday so i dont want to spend 2k on a machine. Any opinions?

Yea i dont want to deal with that during a build i have heard good and bad about them. I think i will just got with the handler 190 its not that much more but you have to buy the spool gun its not included.

How did the eastwood handle the 5356 wire? Was there enough wire speed?

I have an eastwood 135 and it's been a good machine for me. I suggested the 175 to med, and as he noted, he's had nothing but trouble with it. I wouldn't suggest it again.

I have a lincoln 180 with a spoolgun and it's been a great machine for me as well, but I have not done any real heavy duty stuff with it. I've not tried to run 5356 through it nor have I tried to build an entire boat with it. The lincolns can be found in and around the same price range as the hobarts. When I was shopping around, the millers required quite a bit more $$$ to get setup for aluminum. Don't remember exactly what it was, think they required an extra box or something. I know the total cost was close to 1k difference. That was 6-7 years ago though. Maybe I didn't know what I was looking at, and/or maybe they have some new models.

There is also quite a few older threads on this site about welders. If you search around, you'll find some more info.

10 4 thanks