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If you’re looking for a TIG welder, one of the best rigs around is the Hobart EZ-TIG 165i. It’s an outstanding performer for both beginners that are just starting to learn the art of TIG welding and professionals. It’s easy to set up and use, can weld anything from stainless steel to aluminum, and offers infinite adjustments to fine tune the set up to your exact specifications. Read on this Hobart EZ-TIG 165i review to find more about its features, advantages, and downsides.
Everyone values simplicity, no matter if you’re a novice or professional welder. And you’ll be happy to know that this Hobart welder was designed with simplicity in mind.
It features a simple interface that offers 3 options:
Power: On/Off switch.
Amperage/Thickness knob: here you just need to choose the thickness of the material and based on that the amperage will adjust itself.
Power output: AC/DC switch.
AC and DC Output
This TIG welder offers the capabilities of both AC and DC welding. This gives you the ability to weld a bigger range of materials. Using AC output, for example, you can weld aluminum or magnesium. DC, on the other hand, can be used to weld mild and stainless steel.
Infinite Amperage Control
The welding amperage range for this welder is 10A to 165A. The infinite amperage control means that you don’t need to round up the amperage to 5 or 10 increments, but instead, you can adjust it to your specific needs. With more precise control of the amperage, you can more consistent welds.
High Frequency Start
The EZ-TIG 165i welder features a high frequency start, which is a non-contact arc start. It starts the arc without the tungsten coming into contact with the workpiece. You just need to hover the tungsten over the workpiece at a distance of about ½ inch, then by pressing a foot pedal, you can initiate the arc.
The advantage of the high frequency start is that since there’s no contact between tungsten and material, it helps to eliminate contamination in the area.
It’s an important feature for any welder. This technology works by turning on the fan only when so required. The benefit of this is that reduces energy costs, reduces the amount of noise in the workshop, and prolongs the life of the machine in the long run. Without this feature, if the fan would be constantly running, this would cause debris and dust to be sucked into the welder. Over time, it would start to overheat and not work properly.
Overheat Protection
One of the safety features of this welder is the automatic high temperature shutdown. When the unit reaches a certain temperature limit, this Hobart will automatically shut down and will stay off until it’s cool enough again.
Duty Cycle
The duty cycle is rated at 20% at 150 amps, which we have to admit is a pretty short duty cycle and can become a hassle if you work on a tight schedule.
Inverter Based Design
There are two main benefits of the inverter based design. The first one is the much smaller size in comparison to cumbersome and heavy transformers. The inverters are designed for portability.
Another advantage is the efficiency of the inverter, as it packs a lot of power into a small unit, using special technology to store and disperse the energy. So the result is more power and a more stable arc.
Auto-Post Flow
This feature provides the weld pool with optimum shielding gas, which it determines based on the amperage used. This helps to reduce waste and time for adjustments.
Hobart EZ-TIG 165i Pros and Cons
The Good
AC and DC output for versatile use.
Infinite amperage control for more consistent welds.
A simple interface and easy to use features.
High frequency start, providing better weld quality with reduced contamination.
Fan-On-Demand technology for prolonging the life of the unit.
Inverter design that combines compact size and efficiency.
Auto-post flow.
High temperature shutdown.
Great weld performance.
The Bad
TIG only.
High price tag. However, for the price, you get a high quality rig from one of the best brands in the industry.
Hobart EZ-TIG 165i offers impressive versatility for a wide range of applications and welding processes. It would make a great welder for both beginners and professionals. A novice welder will enjoy the simplicity of the unit, and a more seasoned welder will like all the features it has to offer for making the best welds. However, keep in mind, that this machine is not designed for heavy duty welding. It’s good for light to moderate welding work. If quality and performance are what you’re looking for in your TIG welder, the product mentioned in this Hobart EZ-TIG 165i review is definitely worth considering.
Everyone values simplicity, no matter if you’re a novice or professional welder. And you’ll be happy to know that this Hobart welder was designed with simplicity in mind.
It’s an important feature for any welder. This technology works by turning on the fan only when so required. The benefit of this is that reduces energy costs, reduces the amount of noise in the workshop, and prolongs the life of the machine in the long run. Without this feature, if the fan would be constantly running, this would cause debris and dust to be sucked into the welder. Over time, it would start to overheat and not work properly.
