Stacking dimes does in no way mean a good weld. Pretty does not mean good!
Now you can have pretty and good, but just because it looks good does not mean it is good.
Some guys use a series of spot welds, to create the stacking of dies look.
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Remember thereās a huge difference between stacking dimes and ātackingā dimes.
A lot of these guys are ātackingā dimes. Which is a garbage way of welding. Can look amazing though.
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A person who can walk the cup or has hand-eye coordination welds will be excellent. Mastering that ability is critical to proper setup and knowledge. There is a difference between show-and-go welding and quality.
Verses some who have no idea how to weld.
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Original images look like someone was MIG welding in DCEN
Or stick welding with an old Lincoln buzz box. It set way too low on the amperage. But you are probably right; there are remnants of mig wire in that dog poop.
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The wire bits were my tell, on top of the poop-splatter with zero lay in. Just screams wrong polarity.
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That middle weld is beautiful and was also most certainly was done while being rotated on a rotary welding positioner.
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Looking at the pictures @Bigdaddy2166 used to start this thread my opinion on it. The welder was set way to cold for that thick of material. Then a attempt on a vertical weld with no experience.
I am not a expert by no means but I have had a lot of hood time in in my career. I still will make a bad weld every now and then. Thatās when I think if ol @ChelanJim grab a grinder.
I started to share a YouTube link last night of some nasty welds. Guys make educational how to weld videos with more slag inclusion than weld penetration.
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Where I come from we say looks like the tin man took a dumpā¦
Not you @TinWhisperer
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Well Iāve been having to weld stuff together since 2006, I guess I fall into that category I have no idea how to weld. Point being a reference to that second picture might be a little harsh, that will hold certainly better than the first pictures you posted. Oops wait Iām still not talking to you.
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Come on. Who else will talk to me at 4:30 am besides the Tinman? Iām home sick today. Head cold. I will be monitoring the forum today because Iām going nuts here. My phone is ringing off the wall. Oh well 
When I learned how to stick 2 pieces of metal together I was told 2 thingsā¦
- That looks like pigeon shit on it.
- If you have to grind your welds, then you are are not a welderā¦ you are a grinder or deburr person.
I donāt think I have turned on my miller 210 in 2 years. What are the opinions of the new Tig from Eastwood? that digital 200.
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You can get a better machine for a similar price to the Eastwood.
Miller 210 Dynasty is a bulletproof machine. The Eastwood would be a downgrade. Hell, they arenāt even in the same ballpark. Just my two cents
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I do 95% of my welding with a lincoln 350MP. Iāve grown to really like their pulsed MIG mode. Iām also very fond of the duty cycle of 60% at 300 amps. Iāve never driven it to overtemp and had to wait for it to cool. I was really lucky to find it used for $1400 many years ago, including a big cylinder of 75/25 gas.
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Cool thread!
I have the 210 mig machine and its about 12 years old. I think im good enough with it to stick 2 things together. I am looking for a budget friendlyā¦ NOT $4k machine cost ā¦ tig machine for small projects.
what is the best or reputable machine in the 1500 range? the dynasty is out of budget unfortunately. doubt I will ever do anything thicker than 1/4 so the 200 amp area seems to be best path.
Everlast?
AHP?
Eastwood?
???
I bought an Everlast PowerTIG 210EXT in March. Iāve been very happy with it, use it about once a week or so, first full argon tank is almost empty. No problems what so ever.
MIG, I still use the Harbor Freight Vulcan Omnipro 220. Been working good for five years now. Had their ProTig 205 since I had such good luck with the Omnipro and it was junk.
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Iāve been happy with my AHP alphatig 200, after replacing the crappy foot pedal that came with it.
I wouldnāt hesitate to buy the newest version and I think it comes with an improved foot pedal.
Everlast 210, etc., AHP 203 or 225xi or even the Primeweld 225 they will all work well for a budget welder. If you wanted something better I would opt for the HTP221.
I have the AHP 203 and 225, Primeweld 225 and the HTP 221 and like them all. The HTP goes down to 4 amps for doing real fine welding.
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