
The Thermal Arc Fabricator 211i has some pretty big shoes to fill even if those shoes belong to its little brother, the Thermal Arc Fabricator 181i.
Ive put the latter machine through hell and simply couldnt be more pleased with its overall performance, quality, and value.
Im not sure about you, but for me the keyword is value, especially if its for a hobbyist rather than a professional. But just because Thermal Arc provides a great value, doesnt mean these machines arent up to the tasks that some of the bigger dogs can tackle I can tell you from experience that these smaller, more compact, multi-process machines have made serious strides in quality over recent years. Are you looking for CNC Machining service in Adelaide you can contact Attard Engineering.
So, as you might be able to tell, Im a little excited to get to put the new thermal arc 211i through its paces, to see if it continues the excellent legacy of ther fabricator line, that was started with the 181i. Something tells me it will.
First of all.. Whats changed?
- 210 Amps of maximum output power.
- 115 and 208/230 VAC input power for most welding situations
- Offers ultimate flexibility when it comes to spool size compatibility, accommodating 4, 8 and industrial size 33 & 44 lb.12 spools
- Accessory Ready: – Spool Gun, TIG Torches,Foot Controller
- Tweco #4 MIG Gun Connection
- Fast Control Response of only 13 micro seconds
OK.. If youre like me, you may be thinking that the 210 amps offered by the Thermal Arc 211i is only 30 amps more than what the 181i has. This is true technically, but let me tell you, after using the 181i for over a year now (I love that machine) I can feel a noticeable power difference when stepping up to the 211i welder.
It became even more evident as I i attempted to MIG weld 1 inch steel plates together.. the little brother couldnt quite handle this task, while the Fabricator 211i did it with complete ease.
Of course, this is hardly ever an issue as most of my welding done on my home shop where I keep my Thermal Arc, is almost always a light weight job in terms of how much welding power is needed. All the big stuff get welded in the work shop, where all the fun is and thats where I took the 211i.
Its one thing to rely on a non generator welder at home, but its another thing to try to replace a commercial grade, heavy duty generator welder and in reality, thats not what the 211i was designed to do, but after a weekend at the shop with the sub 54 pound multi-process 3 in 1 welding machine, I could be wrong about that..
Thermal Arc built a great machine here, no doubt. If I hadnt already purchased a Thermal Arc 181i, then I would most certainly be buying the Fabricator 211i.
Its a no brainer.
Thermal has taken what made the 181i so great and improved on it by by adding just the right amount of power, without making the machine too heavy. Fifty pounds? Thats nothing considering what this baby is capable of.
One of my gripes about the 181i was the lack of 110 and 220 volt compatibility, and Thermal Arc listened because Im happy to say that the Fabricator 211i is capable of both. This truly makes it the ultimate welding machine in power, flexibility, and.. heres that word again, value.
I simply couldnt recommend another welder at this price point that would provide more value than the 211i does. Its just a great freaking machine. If you want an all in one welding machine that does TIG, MIG, and stick welding, in a package that weighs less than 54 pounds and can be plugged in just about anywhere.. then you found your machine. Add the optional spool gun to give you the power to weld aluminum, and there wouldnt be too many times when you werent prepared. Buy a new Miller Digital Elite and youre all set!
The best part about it is Thermal Arc has kept the price at a reasonable range. All in all this is just about the perfect welding machine. Its got pretty much all the power and versatility you could ever need unless youre doing really big time jobs.
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