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As I was searching for a Multi-task heavy-duty welder, I came across the Eastwood MP250I.
I was surprised that this welder offered many features found in higher-end models, yet it came at a reasonable price. If you want to know more about this welder, stick around!
In this article, I’m here with an in-depth review of the Eastwood MP250I to help you decide if it’s the one for you.
The Eastwood MP250I is a welder that can do it all. It can be used for repairing, decorating, and fabricating.
Each tool, power level, and attachment gives the ability to perform multiple types of welding at the same time. This would allow me to work with a variety of fabrics, like body panels and other automotive parts.
It would also enable me to join different materials like pieces of steel or aluminum without wasting lots of time or effort. The process of altering the power supply or voltage in other models is a bit chaotic. In the Eastwood MP250I, however, it can be done by simply flipping the switch with one hand.
The machine can shift between 30-250 Amp control, which allows you to weld up to 1/2″ steel at 220v input. This was an option that I didn’t find in the Eastwood 200 digital AC/DC welder. It provides 10-200 Amp and welds up to 1/4″ layers only but comes at the same price.
Welders, who work on full-scale metal fabrication, sometimes need to alternate between types of welding. The Eastwood MP250I welder allows you to weld panels, roll cages, auto work, and heavy-duty fabrication.
The front of the machine features an easy to read and use the control panel. It has high-frequency inverter technology and foot pedal control.
It sits on two large wheels below the gas tank and two small front wheels. The wheels and casters allow you to move it smoothly and store it easily.
Another great option in the Multi-task machine is that it features two duty cycles, a regular duty cycle of 60% at 250 Amps, and the other 100% duty cycle at 194 Amps.
The duty cycle is the amount of time the machine gives you to weld continuously. It has to shut-off after a couple of minutes, depending on the duty cycle capacity in the machine.
With a 100% duty cycle, the machine gives you an extra couple of minutes of steady penetration before it shuts down to cool off.
I don’t usually come across welders that reach this incredible threshold of the duty cycle. It came in handy with thick metal, as the full capacity duty cycle supports stable and strong metal penetration.
The Eastwood MP250I consists of an IGBT inverter-based power supply and operates on 240V or 120V with a supplied adapter cord to convert the power supply.
This technology enables the machine to allow speedy alternation between high and low voltage, without burning the machine. So, it combines high efficiency and fast switching.
In addition to that, it includes a square wave converter that allows a smooth alternation between DC and AC power.
The technology used in the machine makes it extremely versatile. It allows it to shift between MIG welding thick steel to welding thin sheet metal and stainless steel.
The Eastwood MP250I welder features a flip switch to alternate between the weldings. It can be used to scratch fabrics, or to weld a mild TIG. It can also weld stainless steel or Chromoly in less than 6 seconds. Plus, it can be used for welding stick to steel.
The cables are a generous 15 feet long. This would allow me to move between the welding pieces with more freedom and less machine movement.
It comes in a set of four cables, the Ground cable, the MIG torch cable, the TIG torch cable, and the electrode cable. All are the same length to facilitate your movement around the work area. You’d barely had to move the machine while working.
The gas bottle holder can store up to 330 CF gas bottles, but if you use a smaller one, it would still work just fine.
It features two metal chains, at the top and the bottom, to hold the gas bottle for extra security. And the stick loading feature is handy when you don’t want to use a gas bottle.
The gas bottle isn’t included with the machine, but it can hold gas bottles of any size and shape.
A few accessories come with the Eastwood MP250I welder, like the tungsten, cables, and other attachments.
It also comes with:
You can also add other accessories to you even better results. However, if the accessories are enough for most common welding fabrics.
The machine assembly process is extremely easy. All you’d have to do is install the machine on the wheels, hook in the cables, and switch on the power to start welding.
It also comes with a detailed manual to guide you through the assembly process. The manual contains information with visuals to help you install the cables and cords in the right places.
But before starting to use the welder, check the inside guide to know how to separate the buttons from each other. That way, you know the proper power supply and voltage for the fabric you’re using.
Once you open the machine maintenance door, you’ll find a neat schedule of the settings chart. It has all the information you need to operate the machine.
It really helped me navigate through the different options of the machine system. And I found the neat schedules clearer to read than the usual manuals.
The welder comes with a three-year warranty for the machine and its attachments.
I went through the machine reviews online, and I found that most of them indicated how versatile the machine is. Most people commented on how powerful the welder is and mentioned that it gives lots of options that aren’t found in similar models.
Other reviews compared the features of the machine to other heavy-duty welders, like Miller and Fronius, and remarked on how similar the machine operation level is to these models.
The Eastwood MP250I provides diverse welding potentials. It’s powerful and steady, yet it comes at a fairly reasonable price compared to other multi-purpose welders.
Besides the various welding options, it allows you to add many other attachments, to enhance your welding performance.
Plus, with the multiple layers that it can work with, the machine makes a fantastic combination for professional welders.
Click here to check out the Eastwood MP250I welder!
I needed a TIG & MIG welder, but the stick option was definitely a bonus because I knew it would certainly come in handy.
The Eastwood MP250I is more suitable for professional welders, who are looking for a versatile heavy-duty machine.
It’s designed to give you multiple options from welding simple restorations, to heavy-duty fabrication. So, if your welding tasks are more simple, like working on one material, you can opt for a more affordable machine that gives that sole option.
Eastwood MP250I comes on a four-wheel stand, which allows you to move it very easily. I was searching for a portable machine that I can easily move around my workshop and store. The Eastwood MP250I ticked that box
Many additional accessories and attachments can be added to the machine for better welding. Accessories, like the spool gun, are sold separately, though, so it’s a good idea to consider your primary welding method to decide the needed attachments.