Reputable stick/arc welding machine?

[craigils]

I'm looking to buy a stick welder for hobby purposes, but everything I see online is just no-name-brand Aliexpress stuff.

I dont really have anything against Chinese stuff in general, but I need to know that its at least decent.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a decent stick welder. Not looking for something expensive, just a decent hobby machine

 

[storms1]

hi'

I'm using Pinnacle Gene Sp22 ' 2oo amp Arc welder server me well ...as a learning hobbyist i might add...Also get good helmet auto darkening function nonfood welding rods essential withing 2 to 5mm range ...I didn't do any classes just ask some buds for further dos en dnts...YouTube also for guides but dnt take exact word for it...

 

[Scrooloose]

Afrox sells their own branded welders as well as the excellent Miller brand. Matweld is decent, but the lower models have poor duty cycles (long cooling periods between bouts of welding).

That said, I bought a Fragram welder some 18 years ago. It's never been a great machine. That is, until I started using Afrox Arcmate electrodes. The Fragram sucked even with Vitamax electrodes, but with these new Arcmate units it has worked so well that I no longer wish to set it on fire.