Going Rogue: In-depth Review of Esab Rogue Series

With increasing welding equipment costs, finding an affordable ESAB stick/TIG welder under $1,000 is a great value. The Rogue series machines offer versatility with their ability to operate in both AC/DC modes, making them suitable for a wide range of welding applications.

Whether you're a beginner welder or a seasoned professional seeking a portable option, the ESAB Rogue series offers an excellent choice. These versatile machines come with a variety of accessories and consumables to expand their capabilities.

The ESAB Rogue Series: An Overview

What Is the ESAB Rogue Series?

The ESAB Rogue Series is a versatile line of welding equipment designed to meet the needs of both professionals and serious hobbyists. This series includes a variety of machines that cater to different welding processes, such as MIG, TIG, and stick welding. Known for their high-performance capabilities, these machines are built to be durable and user-friendly, making them a reliable choice for any welding project. Whether you’re working on a small DIY project or a large industrial task, the ESAB Rogue Series has a machine that can handle the job with ease and precision.

The Rogue 130i Pro

The Rogue 130i is one of the most affordable welding machines sold by Welding Supplies from IOC. Despite its affordable price, the Rogue 130i Pro is far from cheap in terms of quality. You'll immediately notice its solid construction. Unlike low-quality, off-brand welders, the 130i has a sturdy frame and a reliable electrode holder.

The Rogue 130i Pro is a dual-voltage, single-phase unit with arc force and hot start settings to help you find the perfect welding arc. All the Rogue machines have consistent, stable arcs, giving welders an advantage. While other inexpensive machines are essentially just car batteries hooked to leads (resulting in significant arc fluctuation), the Rogue series arcs are regulated by a microprocessor.

The Rogue 130i Pro is ideal for beginners, as it's a stick welder that requires only safety gear and electrodes. Its stable arc lets you focus on mastering your technique without worrying about inconsistent performance. For added control, consider using a bottle of argon gas for your welding process.

The Rogue 130i Pro has a maximum amperage of 130 amps, which may be sufficient for some welders but limiting for others. If you anticipate needing more power, consider the Miniarc Rogue ES 180i for a small additional cost. Compared to older Miller models, the Rogue 130i Pro offers exceptional reliability and weld quality.

The Rogue ESAB 180i

The Rogue 180i, also known as the Miniarc Rogue, is a popular choice within the Rogue series.

The Miniarc Rogue is a stick welder designed to be affordable and portable. ESAB carefully selected the features to include and the problems to avoid, resulting in a well-made machine. The Miniarc Rogue has a metal frame and sturdy, secure working parts, yet it is still easy to use. Despite its high-quality components, the Miniarc Rogue weighs only 18.2 pounds, making it very portable.

For those seeking versatility, the Esab Rebel EMP 215ic is an excellent alternative. It can handle multiple welding processes like MIG, TIG, and stick, and features a lightweight design with built-in technology for automatic settings.

One of the biggest issues with cheaper welders is that the amperage setting doesn’t often match the actual output, making welding a frustrating guessing game. But with the Rogue 180i, you’ll find that it’s dead-on. Combined with features like a microprocessor for precise control, this results in a remarkably smooth arc.

The Rogue ET 200IP Pro

The Rogue ET 200IP Pro is a significant upgrade from other models in the Rogue series. While the 130i and 180i primarily focus on stick welding with limited TIG capabilities, the 200IP excels in both stick and TIG welding, earning praise from welding equipment reviewers.

The Rogue ET 200IP Pro offers a range of TIG settings, including pre-flow, start current, ramp up/down time, finish current, and post-flow. It also features a pulse function with a frequency of up to 500 Hz for precise heat control, delivering 200 amps at a 25% duty cycle.

This advanced functionality comes with a higher price tag, setting this machine apart from the rest of the Rogue series. Priced at about $1,849.00 through Welding Supplies from IOC, the Rogue ET 200IP Pro falls into a different category than other Rogue models, placing it at a similar price to Lincoln's Square Wave TIG 200.

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