Review on 125WFG Hot Max Ready Welder by Jerry Amos

I just got this welder and thought I'd share some observations with those who are considering it. Good.1. Very good value for money for a device in this power range that can be easily configured for use with or without gas and with or without a coil.2. First tests show that it really works, everything indicates that it will do what I need.3. It is well equipped including good long cords for the gun and a ground strap.4. It has continuously adjustable voltage (current?) and wire feed speed. Most other devices in this price range only have a fixed number of voltage levels. This product allows you to tailor the output to your exact work needs. Beautiful.5. All controls are clearly labeled and easy to use. The side cover snaps into place well, the internal installation of the spool and the wire feeder presented no difficulties.6. In case you need it, the extra external coil is really cheap and looks good. Not so good. Unlike most professional machines, this welder cannot dispense wire without powering the tip. This could pose a hazard if it unexpectedly touches a grounded surface. I've also found that after the trigger is released there is still a significant amount of energy left that must be manually discharged before touching the tip with the knife or you risk electrocution. 2. Leadership is vague in a few key areas. For example, if you're adjusting a gas flow regulator, the document doesn't mention whether you need to pull the trigger to adjust it. The professional gear I've used usually gives you the ability to momentarily turn on the gas flow to adjust the flow WITHOUT rotating the tip. As another reviewer mentioned, there are no instructions in the manual for connecting the AC plug (which isn't included). It's actually quite simple, but given the potential danger, it would be very easy to include a small diagram. Finally, the information in the manual is for a different welder and not a 175 amp one. Further investigation determined the need for a 240V circuit rated at 50 amps, not 22 amps as stated in the manual.3. I encourage the company (KDAR) to explore ways to improve customer interaction and responsiveness, particularly when answering technical questions before or after the sale. When I asked for help (more than once), the guy they put me in contact with stumbled on some pretty basic questions and ended up referring me to his "welder" or "warehouse manager". Maybe I'm reading too much, but I'm worried about what might happen if I have real problems with the product. I'll let you know when I can use the welder more. It could be a good surprise, we'll see. Update 07/01/2013: Found a similar product from Eastwood (search on Eastwood Mig), probably from the same manufacturer. Your manual contains the best description of how to set up the gas flow with such a welder. You can download the update from eastwood.com. 7/3/2013: Unfortunately, this will not be my welding solution. I'm kind of a safety mom and this welder is problematic for me. The problem is that MANY seconds after releasing the trigger (I checked after 15 seconds) there was still enough charge at the tip of the wire to create a spark of metal melting. The best welders from the likes of Miller, Hobart, Lincoln have a hefty drag to discharge the tip between welds. You get what you pay for. By the way, I had a chance to look "under the hood" and was dismayed to discover that at least 4 of the case's mounting screws had already been snapped off (cheap self-tapping screws into the just thick webbing) and that the vital plastic was the motherboard tray broke and the mounting screw was dangling in the air. Very patchy quality control!