Chicago Electric 200 amp Mig Welder Any good????

I just bought a 200 amp Mig welder from Chicago Electric. I'm waiting for it to be delivered. I'll try to attach a picture of it on here. Here are the specs for it, just curious if anyone had any experience with one and if they are any good, I know nothing about welders, I have a Miller Cricket 115v that I run flux core in but I wanted something that would run off of 220 to weld frames, roll cages etc.:
DESCRIPTION
30 to 200 amp welding range
Welds 24 gauge and thicker
40% duty cycle @ 150 amps
11-3/4''diameter spool; 220VAC, 60Hz; Output power: 200 amps AC; Welding current: 30 to 200 amps; Capacity: 24 guage and thicker; Duty cycle: 100% @ 120 amps, 40% @ 150 amps, 20-25% @ 200 amps;Overall dimensions: 27-3/4'' x 25-3/4'' x 10-1/2'',
"What did that all mean?"
Ok I can't get the picture to work, cuz its too big, so heres the ebay number I bought it from: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7511024741&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWN:IT&rd=1
Let me know what you think. Thanks guys.

 

Duty cycle = percentage of time you can actually weld. For example,
25% duty cycle means you can weld for 2.5 minutes in every 10 minutes.
This can be very frustrating if you've got a lot to do, 'cuz you have to wait for the machine to "cool off".

The bigger issue is that the thermo switches in these machines will, and are designed to, wear out after so many triggers, rendering it unusable. My Chicago Electric welder didn't come with a cooling fan, and the low duty cycle at the hotter temps was maddening! I went to a computer store, bought a 110v fan and installed it. The vent for the fan, and even the spade connectors on the switch were already there. (It was like the accountants ripped the fans out to keep costs down. Go figger.) All I had to do was take off the cover, drill a couple of screw holes for the fan, terminate the leads and hook it to the switch. My duty cycle went up. WAY up. I haven't tripped it since, regardless of the heat setting or how much I run it.

I STRONGLY recommend you do this if yours doesn't come with a fan.

HTH.

 

Well, then Chicago Electric is makin' a whole line of lemons. R)

Actually, I don't think they are a bad welder, they just cut corners to keep it cheap. Everything was in place for the fan design-wise. They just left it out. Saved 'em a whole $10 or so.

 

Yeah, I caught that.

And it's silly-smart when you consider how many more welders get sold that way. Guess they figger the if the customer's willing to take a gamble once, that they'll pony up for another hand once the first one dies. (Hmmm, the first one lasted me a couple of years...)

Just glad I figgered out how to beat their little system. :twisted:

 

For about $90 more you could have got a brand new Hobart 180. I hope it works out for you, but most of that Chicago electric stuff is real junk if you've ever used a good quality welder.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=45032&item=7511033795&rd=1

 

most of these "low cost" welders get bought by people that only use them 20 minutes a year and set on a shelf the rest of the time and that is who they are designed for. They work pretty good but are not designed for longevity. If you are really going to use a welder alot spend twice as much.

JB

 

GRRRRRRR I should've waited and bought the Hobart 180. I think
the quality would be definitely unmatched. I haven't received the other welder yet, but frustrated I didn't see the other one first. Once again, I should've talked to you guys first before buying one. Hopefully the Chicago 200 amp will be sufficient for what I need it to do. I also bought a few cooling fans for it so hopefully help out. Also, what was that about them having a certain limit and they're junk? Thanks,
Mike

 

Mike, I wouldn't sweat it just yet. I've put mine through some heavy paces and it's working fine. Not that the Hobart isn't a better welder, but it's about working with what you have. If you haven't had a welder before this, then you'll be able to do something you couldn't do before...Weld.

Look at it another way. Get good with this welder, take in a few $$$ jobs from the neighbors and friends, save up $$$ for the Hobart.

 

What Thad said, you will be able to weld, the Millers, Hobarts, Lincoln are all quality machines, but you can practice on the ole Chicago and get good, then afford a high end Welder!!!! thats what I did

 

Hey guys,

The welder arrived today, I'm about ready to go hook it up and see how it works. It did come with a fan in front, but I think I'm going to add a fan in back to help since the welder is pretty long. I already bought a fan so that should work out good. I'll let you guys know how well it works.

 

UWOP!!!

Pics yet?

How 'bout now?

They here yet?

 

The welder is nice, it works awesome. I don't think I'm going to have to add another fan, it sounds like a jet engine taking off when its turned on. I'm trying to figure out how to make a 220V extension cord. The cord on the welder is only about 3ft long and the whip is only about 5ft long. I think the pic loaded on my first post. Thanks for all the information guys.

 

I just wanted to say thank you for all of your opinions. I finally got to used the Chicago mig welder minus the argon. I ran out of flux cored wire for the ole Miller Cricket so I used the Chicago anyways despite not having the gas. I cannot begin to explain the differences in welding. I think I added a minimum of 10 years experience just by changing to a newer better welder that wasn't flux core. I had to fight to get a good bead with the Cricket, I didn't really even have to try much with the Chicago but I'm sure the welds would've looked a lot better with gas, but even without they looked nice. Just wanted to say, thanks again.

 

Dear friends

I like Chicago Electric 200 amp Mig Welder Any good very much.

Very useful for me.

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Rgs

 

had a Chicago electric welder for my first one lasted 6 months till it fried