Hobart 500570 Stickmate 160i

Great unit. Bought to learn stick welding. So far have run 1/16, 3/32, and 1/8 rods in 6011, 6013, 7014, 7018, and 7024. All run well! Also bought 3/32 and 1/8 Aluminum rods....works but requires a lot of practice and skill to get them consistent. Aside from running many practice beads on various thickness steel, also used this to repair my Jeeps' steering knucles with great success. Used to add metal where the disc brake pad ears wear nothches in the knuckles. Add weld metal then grind flat. Those contact points are like new and pads slide smooth on knuckles. Very happy with this machine! No complaints here! Bought this almost 2 years ago. Highly recommend!

Easy starter, burns a 1/8 inch stick with an excellent arc. Duty cycle for smaller amp sticks is excellent and can push up to higher amps with appropriate cooling. Hardware is robust and working lines are long enough to stretch to your work and keep the power using out of the way.

Very simple to set up and very good quality rig. I just started welding and decided to learn stick welding first opposed to MIG. Very happy with this decision. I have been able to see progress after three days of messing around placing beads on 1/4” metal. So far I have only used 6011 rods with 110 v but will have 220 v hooked up shortly. It has been a lot of fun.

I have been welding off and on for 40 years and bought this unit when my 40 year old arc welder stopped functioning. I have used this unit for a month now and find it is excellent. It weighs less than 1/3 of my old welder and is easy to pick up and place near the job. It is compact and takes up about 1/3 the space of my old welder. The welds I am getting are as good as with the old unit. The amperage of this unit may be a bit more than my old unit. By this I mean the dial setting seems to need a lower number than my old unit. I use 230 volts and reverse polarity. I took 1 star off for two reasons. The first is the electrode attachment at the machine. These are screw in with a tab that is suppose to secure the electrode into the socket. The working electrode frequently unscrews as I flip the cord to get a new position. I find myself ready to weld but no arc occurs. I find that the working electrode end has disconnected from the machine. There is no way to fix this problem and it is becoming very annoying. My old welder had friction attachments and these never came undone. The second reason is the on off switch. It is located on the back of the welder. Many times I have the unit against a wall so it is out of the way, but I have to pull it out and reach around to the back to turn it on. My old welder had the on off switch on the front and this made for quick on and off. I find myself leaving this unit on so I don't have to pull it away from the wall to reach the switch. The actual functioning of the unit is excellent and I highly recommend it for the home welder.

I've only had it for a few days but used it abit buring 6011 and 7018. Handles both those rods with ease. Starts well and burns the rods great. I like that is it small and easy to move around. I've only used it on 240 v power but I think it will burn great on 120v also. I'm glad I went with this purchase. Just like the Miller but cheaper.

Been retired for 18 years and wanted to tinker around welding again. Couldn't believe the output of this little box. Only used it on 220v and am impressed with it's ability to run 6010 and 7018. Great for use around the garage or on the farm.

I welded on junk metal pieces experimenting on various thicknesses of steel. It welds great and the arc is very easy to start even if I’m welding sheet metal flashing at 18 amps. Very satisfied however I have only used it on 220 volts thus far.

So far so good for the price it while it’s small it is lightweight and works pretty good the 3/32 welding rod

Used for home repairs Same as the Miller thunderbolt 160 but cost less Great buy

Good