A viewer, Mark, just ordered a brand new welder and wants to know the best way to really test the machine before the warranty expires, just to make sure the machine is going to last.

Kevin is using an Everlast PowerARC 200ST stick welder (arc welder) and TIG welder to answer Mark’s question. While it’s not brand new, it probably has only about 2 hours on it.

Whenyou first get your new welder, take it out of the box, and inspect everything. Look at the stinger, look at the ground, make sure the ground clamp is in good shape and not dented. Just generally inspect the machine to make sure there wasn’t any sort of damage during shipping.

Then set it up. Get all of your cables hooked up the way they’re supposed to be, turn the welder on, and let it run. Whatever kind of machine you bought, you need to go through all of the functions.

This Everlast welder is digital, so Kevin shows how you need to go through all of the functions, both in 110 and 220. Make sure every button works. That’s the only way you’re going to make sure all the functions work. It also helps you to familarize yourself with the machine.

Then put on your safety and welding gear, and max out your welder. Turn it up to maximum amps, and do some welding. On this welder on the stick side, he’d use some 1/8 inch 7018 rod, which is a little warm at 120 amps on the 110 volt side of this machine, but it’s not quite enough for some 3/32 rod. He’s going to burn some 1/8 inch rod and then some 3/32 to push it a little.

And leave the welder running – for a few days! Let it sit idling. It’s not using electricity like you’re welding with it, but everything inside is now warm and up to temperature.

Every chance you get over the next month, burn some rod on the arc welding side. If it’s a TIG welder, run some beads. If it’s a MIG welder, just weld. Put some time on the machine at maximum amperage, both on the 110 volt side and the 220 side.

If anything’s going to fail on the machine, it’s going to happen pretty quickly. Get 5 pounds of rod, a chunk of steel plate, and make that stick welder sweat. Then run it hard on the TIG side, too.

If at the end of that month the welder is still welding, it’s going to last you a long, long time.

Kevin is ready to go back to work, but you might want to stick around for another moment to see him wrestle a rod container ….

See this video now ….