Eastwood 180 MIG Welder: up to 180 A, 240 V

What it welds

The Eastwood 180 MIG Welder is a MIG / gas with a maker-stated output of 30 to 180 amps on 240-volt input.

By Miller's rule of thumb of 1 amp per 0.001 inch of steel, 180 amps reaches about 0.180 in in a single pass. Amps by thickness.

The listing doesn't give a duty cycle with its amperage, which makes long beads hard to plan; the rating plate or manual should state it. Why it matters.

Wire sizes, per the maker: 023 -.035 wire. Miller's table puts.030 inch at 40 to 145 amps and.035 inch at 50 to 180 amps.

It runs solid wire under shielding gas for the cleanest wire-feed welds; most machines like it also run flux-core wire outdoors.

Plan a 240-volt circuit sized as the manual states before it arrives. What input voltage changes.

Use a lens of at least OSHA's minimum shade for the current: shade 10 or darker for typical MIG work here. Shade chart.

Also on the listing: a weight of 42 lb.

Is it the right machine for the job?

Buy it for

Clean steel welds indoors
Steel to about 0.180 in per pass

Skip it for

Steel much past 0.180 in in one pass

What it does well, where it falls short

Does well

Up to 180 A output

Falls short

Duty cycle not stated with amps
Needs a 240 V circuit

Power and setup notes

Ratings are the maker's own, stated under the maker's conditions. Follow the manual, wear eye protection of at least OSHA's minimum shade, keep combustibles away, ventilate, and have a licensed electrician install new circuits.

Rated output and specs

Every figure below comes from the source shown in brackets. Where the maker doesn't state something, we say so instead of estimating.

Model number	180	Retailer
Product weight	42 lb	Retailer
Size	180 Amp MIG Welder	Retailer
Output range	30-180 amp	Retailer
Input power	120 and 240 volts	Retailer
Wire sizes	023 - .035 wire	Retailer
Spool gun	Spool Gun	Retailer