Compact welder for giving Zubr SA-190K - what you need for a novice welder

At the dacha, it was necessary to weld a fence, a staircase to the second floor, a frame for a carport over the parking lot. I invited specialists, but they were very expensive. I had to cook several times before, it even turned out well. Therefore, I decided that it would be more profitable to buy a device and do the work myself.

Criterias of choice

It was not easy to choose a model - there are a lot of proposals. Initially, I defined the following requirements for the tool:

· Work with an electrode with a diameter of 3-4 mm without interruption;

· The presence of functions of anti-sticking, hot start;

· Compactness and light weight;

· Low cost.

Why is that? An amateur does not need to cook with a large electrode. Anti-sticking and hot start make work easier, especially useful for a beginner. The compactness allows you to work with the device on the shoulder and less storage space is required.

Advantages of the model

The bison SA-190K fully satisfied all my conditions. Very compact, weighing only 3.8 kg. You can work with electrodes with a cross section of 1.6-4 mm. Power 5.4 kW, which allows you to work from a regular network. The welding current is adjustable from 20 to 190 A. This is enough for the amateur. The welder is not afraid of fluctuations in the network - it works confidently at a network voltage of 160 to 250 volts.

The adjustment is very simple. The switch is only 1. For the pros, this is primitive, but it's easier for a beginner to work. There is overheating protection - the device turns off itself until it cools down. If the red electrode on the front panel is on, overheating has been triggered. Green light - everything is OK, the welder is energized.

The body is made of metal, the assembly is very solid. Everything was done conscientiously, although the model is produced in China. But they have long since learned to do decent things.

The unit is inexpensive - about 5500 rubles. I took it at a discount, so it cost me less than 5 thousand.

Experience of use

During this season he made the gate himself and part of the fence. I also welded a spiral staircase to the attic. Already these works paid for the goods in full and even brought a profit.

He worked with electrodes with a cross section of 3 mm with rutile coating. I advise you to start with them. They make it easier to hold the arc and the seam is better. At 60 A, the device does not overheat at all and can be cooked practically without interruption.

The arc is easily caught by the electrode; secondary ignition is also not particularly difficult. However, I only used rutile electrodes. The clamps are durable, this applies to both the electrode holder and the mass.

Disadvantages noticed

Do not lower the device to the ground. The fan draws in debris and dust through the holes. I advise you either to work without removing the unit from your shoulder (it has a comfortable belt) or to put it on a stand, at least on some box. Because of the large openings, it is better not to risk working in the rain and damp outside.

A little advice for beginners

Don't skimp on the mask. Take only a chameleon. With ordinary dark glass, it is extremely difficult for a beginner to catch an arc, while lowering the visor, the hand will shift. A normal chameleon costs 1200-1500 rubles, it itself shades the glass with a spark and greatly speeds up and simplifies the work.

I would like to hear feedback from other owners about the experience of using the Bison SA-190K. Maybe there are some flaws that I did not notice. Write in the comments.