H HZXVOGEN Aluminum MIG Welder, 250A Welder Machine 110V 220V Gas, Flux core MIG, Pulse, Lift TIG, Stick, 5 IN 1 Multi process Welder Machine With LED Display

When the welder arrived I noticed it was dented in on the back at the gas inlet. The inlet sticks out quite far and there is no foam in the packaging on the backside to prevent this when it is dropped directly on the backside during transit. A quick check inside and nothing appeared damaged. All electrical connectors were also secured with RTV to prevent them loosening during transit--a plus.I plugged it in immediately on 110V with some 0.030" flux core and had trouble making any good beads. I got a 220V extension cord and worked quite a bit with it on both the manual and the synergic settings over the next day. It really spattered quite a bit and I was not yet happy with it. I was getting beads sitting too high, or else I would be burning too deep. After checking and rechecking settings, I finalized realized I was a dummy and had installed the wires with the wrong polarity for flux core wire. The front of the machine is very clearly labeled, so I completely messed up in my excitement to get it set up.After getting the polarity set up correctly, it started off really sputtering the arc using the Synergic mode. I dialed the current way back and it started welding like a dream. I was using 1/8" steel and a current setting of about 75-80A made that nice sizzling sound. I finally laid down a great bead within just a few minutes of setting it up on the right polarity.On the Synergic mode, you set your wire size and type and the voltage is automatically set. You can dial the voltage up or down + or - 3V to your liking. Your main adjustment in this mode is the current knob in the middle to adjust for your steel thickness. The default voltage will vary automatically as you adjust the current. I just left the voltage at the default and dialed the current until it hit the sweet sizzling sound. It was as simple as that. The third knob is to adjust impedance once you develop a feel for that.On the manual mode, you set the voltage and the wire speed to your liking with the first two knobs. The current is dictated simply by wire speed. So you need to know a little more about your desired voltage for the thickness you're welding.On the Synergic setting the penetration seemed really good, so I think I will be using that quite often. I'm moving up from an old 110V MIG/flux welder that only had 4 volt/amp settings using two switches. It just couldn't do much thicker than 1/8 to 3/16. This welder should making welding 1/4 inch very simple and easy even with flux core. I haven't tried stick yet and I don't yet have a gas bottle to try the MIG option but I plan to now with this welder. It definitely seems well suited to a beginner.--Update after two years. I only use this once a month or so, but it is still amazing performance for the price. I now have a 10 lb CO2 bottle and enjoy the less splatter versus flux core. I usually do 0.030" or 0.035" steel wire on 1/8" or 1/4" steel and the performance is great. I've also done 6013 and 7018 stick at 3/32 and 1/8". It performs great on all those things. I helped fix a steel dock for a friend of mine who only had an old tombstone stick welder, and he immediately went home and bought this welder while it was on sale. I just welded some 3/8" weld-on chain hooks to an axle tube. They were almost 3/4" thick steel. I did the first pass at about 180A with CO2 and it had no problem penetrating a small hook that thick. It was way easier wrapping around the hook with MIG versus stick after practicing that as well. I'm sure it would have trouble on plate steel that thick but the small hook heated quickly. I highly recommend this welder.

I needed a small portable mig welder with the capability to weld thin sheet metal with 0.024 wire. This HZXVOGEN welder is rated to 250 amps but I think that might be a bit optimistic based on the voltage/amperage load diagram included in the instructions. I haven’t cranked it up that high yet so don’t take my speculation too seriously. The auto (SYN) function works very well and it lays down some very nice beads on 20 gauge steel sheet with great penetration and no blow throughs. Manual overrides are available for the more advanced users. I haven’t even scratched the surface of this little welder’s capabilities nor have I tried out many of its more advanced functions. I have yet to try the tig or stick functions but it’s nice to know I can use them if I want. Since it’s a DC machine, tig welding aluminum is out but I have an AC capable welder for that. It does tout the ability to mig weld aluminum but I haven’t tried that out yet.I have a large 255 amp Lincoln Electric welder but the thing’s a beast. It’s too large and heavy to transport easily, and while it’s great at welding thick steel stock its capabilities with thin sheet metal is limited. This HZXVOGEN machine will fill that need nicely.The positives for me was capability to run 0.024 wire (a must for me) I was surprised to see many welders in this price range won’t run less than 0.030 wire. This machine was priced very reasonably but has a sturdy cast aluminum wire feed mechanism and the mig torch seems of nice quality. I didn’t know if I’d like the euro style connector but I’ve really warmed up to it. Changing torches by simply unscrewing the connector makes it much easier than my Lincoln. The portability of this welder will make it very handy.The downsides are just little gripes that cost a star but are by no means deal breakers. The suppled drive rollers aren’t sized for 0.024 wire. I had to buy a drive roller separately for that. Fortunately, it appears that this machine uses a relatively common design so a suitable roller was readily available. The control panel could be a little more intuitive as I’ve seen on competitor machines, yet it’s not too difficult to get used to. The ground cable is only about 4’ long, and the torch cable is 10’. They should be of comparable lengths IMO. I’m going to upgrade this soon.As others have mentioned, this machine comes with a minimum of consumables so buy some spare tips and nozzles. You’ll need a gas regulator too if you intend to run shielding gas.

The media could not be loaded. I was looking to an around-the-house welder for hobby projects. Ideally flux core, but with the options to add gas later. And 120/240 capabilities. I don't currently have a 240 outlet but will add one later, so I can run this in low power mode until then. This fits that bill and more. The nice to haves are the included stick welder, and the ability to switch polarities for stainless, etc. As a hobbyist I'm not going to pretend to understand all the features, but I can tell you this welder will be able to grow with me and do all I need and more for a long time to come.

I bought this after I retired since I no longer had access to the welders we had at the plant. It does a fantastic job. It even has features that my 5000 dollar Miller didn't have. Really incredible value.

Very prompt delivery