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R-Tech 181 Digital MIG Welder (240v)
R-Tech 181 Digital MIG Welder (240v)
R-Tech 181 Digital MIG Welder (240v) R-Tech 181 Digital MIG Welder (240v) R-Tech 181 Digital MIG Welder (240v) R-Tech 181 Digital MIG Welder (240v) R-Tech 181 Digital MIG Welder (240v) R-Tech 181 Digital MIG Welder (240v)
This is maximum weld with 1 pass, if you do multiple passes you can weld up to 15mm

6mm Max Weld

This is maximum weld with 1 pass, if you do multiple passes you can weld up to 15mm
This will weld ALL steels including stainless steel

Weld Steel

This will weld ALL steels including stainless steel
You can weld aluminium with the optional spool on gun, you will need PURE argon gas.

Aluminium

You can weld aluminium with the optional spool on gun, you will need PURE argon gas.
Optional spool gun makes MIG welding aluminium easy, wire reel is held on torch.

Spool Gun

Optional spool gun makes MIG welding aluminium easy, wire reel is held on torch.

R-Tech 181 Digital MIG Welder (240v)

4.95/5
CODE
MIG181
In stock
0% Finance Available - Select pay by finance in checkout - Instant decision
Order in for UK Mainland delivery on 11/10/2024
£648.00 £540.00

Order by 3pm: 

Next-day delivery
Improving upon our best ever selling welder, this is the new MIG181 Digital MIG Welder. Featuring Easy Mode setup, it's never been easier to lay down professional looking welds - provided in a portable package that will run on a household supply.
  • Crystal clear LCD Display - See all settings on one screen. Get welding quickly!
  • EASY SETUP MODES - Professional weld settings built in for 0.6mm and 0.8mm wire - Get great results
  • EASY MMA/STICK modes for 6013 and 7018 rods
  • Simple to use - Easy navigation - no complicated menus
  • Full manual mode with burnback control.
  • Spool on gun - ideal for aluminium - easy welding of aluminium with optional spool on gun.
  • Metal wire feed assy - Consistent weld bead
  • Low splatter weld due to inverter technology
  • Infinite control of welding amperage
  • High duty cycle - 60% @ 150 amps, 35% @ 180 amps
  • Euro style MIG torch
  • Heavy duty earth / MMA connections
  • 5 year collect and return UK warranty
  • Easy welding of aluminium with optional spool on gun - See the MIG Welder Spool Gun Videos


    Book a welding demonsratation
    Want to try before you buy? Book a demonstration at our Tewkesbury HQ - Available 5 days per week 9am-12pm and 2pm-4pm.
 Amperage Range MIG  30A - 180A
 Input voltage/amps  240v 16A 
 Duty cycle  35% @ 180A
 Amperange range MMA  20 - 160A
 Wire reel size  5KG
 Wire diameter  0.6mm , 0.8mm
 Roller size fitted  0.6mm , 0.8mm
 Net weight  15KG  
 Dimensions  320 x 210 x 420 mm (H x W x D)
 Euro style torch  Yes - Easy fitment of torch
 Gasless wire  Yes - Easy reversal of polarity for gasless wire
 Max Thickness Steel  6MM Single Pass
 Max Thickness Steel  15MM Multiple Passes



5 year collect and return UK warranty - What is this?in the unlikely event of machine failure, R-Tech will pay to collect, repair and return the MIG welder to you quickly- No quibble warranty

Generator Friendly - Generator must be minimum of 6KVA 240V and fitted with AVR (auto voltage regulation)

Package Includes: R-Tech MIG181 MIG Welder, 3M MB15 Air Cooled MIG Torch, Earth Lead, Gas Hose, Mains Cable, Gas Regulator, Owners Manual

The R-Tech MIG181 carries the following warranty:-

  • MIG181 - 5 Year Warranty
  • Regulator - 1 Year Warranty
  • R-Tech MIG Torches - 3 Month Warranty
  • Earth Lead - 3 Month Warranty
  • Optional Spool Gun - 1 Year Warranty

R-Tech machines are designed to be robust, easy to use and highly reliable but in the unlikely event that your welder or plasma cutter requires attention, R-Tech promise to:-

  • Arrange collection via next working day UK courier [48hr offshore]
  • Quickly repair the machine at our Technical and R&D centre in Gloucester
  • Deliver back via next working day UK courier  [48hr offshore]
  • All costs covered by R-Tech - Yes, Collection, repair and delivery!

No questions, no hassle, just honest and reliable service - A true no quibble warranty

Most of our competitors only offer return to base [RTB] warranties - you have to pay and arrange to get it back to them which can be a hassle. Many others offer warranties that have clauses and if you don't have it serviced yearly by them, at your cost, the warranty will be void.

Other benefits of owning an R-Tech machine include:-

  • Free friendly and knowledgeable technical advice via phone and email
  • Free machine setup help always available - We want you to get the best from your machine
  • Ten year Duty-of-Care on all our machines, giving you piece of mind that spare parts will be available if needed
  • Video's to show how to use and setup your R-Tech machine.
  • 2 year extended warranties available at a minimal cost.

Don't just take our word for it - see our customer reviews page to see what real customers say about the R-Tech products and our service & support.

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Owners manual R-Tech MIG181 MIG Welder
Download
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Excellent

R-Tech 181 Digital MIG Welder (240v)

product reviews 105
product rating 4.95/5
product experience

calculated from 105 customer reviews

positive
99%
Neutral
1%
negative
0%

latest reviews

  • 19 days ago
    Product works well and is very easy to use
  • 07 September 2024
    Very good
  • 04 September 2024
    Used at home for a car restoration, I would recommend to anyone and the quality is superb
  • 03 September 2024
    Easy to set and get going with and. 5 year warranty is brilliant can?t be sniffed at. I would recommend this to any hobbyist and welder alike easy set up And boom great welds. The product it self looks stylish and simple to use with little added touch?s like the wire reel locker door lock instead of just sitting there closed
  • 02 September 2024
    Great mig hope it lasts as long as my last mig 22 yrs lol
  • 01 September 2024
    Hobby welder. Quality product
  • 01 September 2024
    Absolutely brilliant. the machine is used for automotive repair and so far I cannot fault it. Straight out of the box it's so easy to use. It's faultless
  • 30 August 2024
    As usual excellent . So good in fact I have this mig welder . A tig welder and a water cooler by Rtech .
  • 22 August 2024
    Great product. I use this for light dabrication work for motorcycles. Would recomend to any one looking for a high quality compact mig welder
  • 20 August 2024
    Fantastic quality machine. Really easy to use and gets straight to work
  • 19 August 2024
    Unfortunately, I have not used the product to date, so, to be fair I cannot comment on the quality of the equipment, but, on inspection it does look to be of good quality build. On reading the reviews, I am certain it will be a good purchase for me. I will be using it to repair Land Rover chassis and bulkhead in a domestic setting. I have only heard good comments on the ease of use and the quality of the equipment. It has been many years since I have held a welding torch, so, I am hoping it will be a breeze to get back into with this equipment.
  • 19 August 2024
    Great Welder
  • 18 August 2024
    I have only used the 181 a couple of times so far to weld stainless steel. The result was excellent.
  • 15 August 2024
    Use mine in my home workshop. The welder is easy to set up and good quality had one for six years and still working fine upgraded to a nw one but still use the old one .
  • 15 August 2024
    Used to weld with gas many years ago but never used MIG before, seems relatively easy to use and the welder features give you a good starting place to get going. Will be used for general fabrication work and car repairs etc. Looks like a very full features welder for beginners and low volume industrial users. Looks like a well designed and built bit of kit.
  • 13 August 2024
    New mig welder to me ,I guess I'm classed as home user (car repairs ,gates etc) but would be suited to business use so far the quality is very good , I chose this machine and company over chinese import. Great choice for me highly recommend
  • 12 August 2024
    Love this welder I restore classic car and also salvage
  • 01 August 2024
    Had a Clarke hobby welder before purchasing this and the step up in quality is unbelievable. The machine puts out incredible welds and so simple to use with the screen and pre loaded settings for thickness and feed rates. Would recommend anyone to purchase! Easy setup and support with YouTube videos and instruction manuals. 10/10
  • 31 July 2024
    Product is for welding car body material for hobby use. I am very impressed with the ease of setup and results achieved so far.
  • 31 July 2024
    Looks and works very well
  • 31 July 2024
    Nice and portable for workshop or if mobile, industrial machine for all from enthusiasts, colleges to professionals. Great quality product at good prices.
  • 30 July 2024
    Upgrade to digital 180 mig gets lots of use Being mobile welder Always reccomend your products Good welder my kemppi minarc mig is slightly Better but not much
  • 30 July 2024
    Product is very good i prefer it off of auto mode but thats personal preference. Settings are very clear only thing i would change is your choices of welding trolleys I got mine from Amazon in the end as the selection was very limited
  • 29 July 2024
    Great bit of kit.
  • 26 July 2024
    Not been used in anger yet ,but so far it is by far the best machine i have owned . Only got it for home hobby use ,very well built
  • 22 July 2024
    Landrovers and other transport. Anyone. Very happy with welder and so easy to use.
  • 21 July 2024
    Great welder high quality and so easy to use would highly recommend
  • 19 July 2024
    Good quality; good price; good warranty.
  • 18 July 2024
    Fast delivery well packaged and good communication
  • 03 July 2024
    The welder is being used for restoration of a Morris Traveller and with a small amount of welding experience I have been able to produce strong professional looking welding joints. I would receommend the 181 welder to anybody working on repairs to car bodywork panels. The quality of the product is excellent.
  • 28 June 2024
    I recommend this product to everyone
  • 26 June 2024
    excellent machine welds very well
  • 25 June 2024
    for my personal use , I like to dabble in classic cars in my garage, and find the welder the best I have ever used, so user friendly. the quality is first class, only niggle is the plastic cover over the controls is very flimsy and have damaged it already, apart from that I can not fault the mig.
  • 24 June 2024
    The 181 is easy to set and easy to use. With it being light and compact we only need to send 1engineer out to do minor repairs on gates and automation equipment. Will definitely recommend as you were recommended by a friend and colleague
  • 23 June 2024
    I use it for car restoration and other fabrication work
  • 21 June 2024
    Welder seems great quality, haven't had a chance to use yet, but quick set up and I'm impressed
  • 21 June 2024
    Excellent kit , easy to use
  • 19 June 2024
    Very easy to use. Great quality. Unbeatable for the price.
  • 19 June 2024
    Excellent
  • 14 June 2024
    Car repair and maintenance and general DIY metal work.
  • 12 June 2024
    Car repairs Brilliant machine
  • 10 June 2024
    This is being used to replace my old mig to restorw a classic mini. The quality is amazing. The easy weld function is a brilliant starting point for a novice like me.
  • 10 June 2024
    Classic car restoration and hobby welding. Ideal for all home welders, as it is idiot-proof. Extremely well constructed and built to last, unlike China sourced units which cannot do everything well and come with limited warranty (normally 1 year). Worth the money on quality alone, you get what you pay for!
  • 08 June 2024
    I have been very pleasantly surprised at the quality and specs of both TIG and MIG machines (I own one of each). Both of these machines have exceeded my expectations in both function and reliability. I am ex welder and college lecturer.
  • 07 June 2024
    Good quality welder ideal for home work shop.
  • 05 June 2024
    Night and day difference to my old transformer Mig. Frying bacon every time
  • 05 June 2024
    Not used it yet so can?t comment
  • 04 June 2024
    Home use.
  • 04 June 2024
    I have not used the product to date but to plan to carry out some work with it at the weekend.
  • 02 June 2024
    I purchased the Rtech mig 181 in an emergency as I had to weld up a car in a short space of time. I initially wanted the 180 for the lower cost and more traditional controls but this was not available so went for the 181 as I really wanted Rtech. I had little time to familiarise myself with the machine and am only an amateur diy welder but the Rtech 181 made it as easy as possible, and am very pleased with it so far. The machine is much smaller than I was expecting which makes life much easier and the long leads means you dont need to move it much if you are working your way around a car. The only minor fault I had was leakage from one of the gas pipe unions which I just crimped the band a bit tighter and all was fine then. Would recommend to anyone wanting to carry out car repairs and sure it will be capable of much more but I haven?t yet tried.
  • 30 May 2024
    I was recommended R-Tech by a friend, well truth be told I was sent a link to a doubleboost YouTube video reviewing the R-Tech MIG181, I immediately knew this was the welder i really needed in my life, for many years I?d used an SIP migmate 150 and never been able to get the settings just right, I couldn?t believe how the MIG181 was so compact and user friendly, once you get it and start playing it?s even better than the reviews say, so easy to set up, in fact there?s not really any setting up you just punch in your preferences and away you go, work right first time everytime, I took it to work to help out with some fabrication and vehicle repairs and it?s flawless, I haven?t even used it with gas yet, The order process is outstanding, I couldn?t afford to pay outright for the welder so was going to save up as I normally do, however since there?s interest free as an option and I wanted to take advantage of the sale I thought what the heck and I?m so glad I did, My friend has just purchased the XL true colour welding mask which he let me use, I was blown away with the clarity and decided this is the next item I will be purchasing from R-Tech once I?ve saved up, Thank you so much R-Tech, I really appreciate everything you?ve done for me.
  • 29 May 2024
    Really pleased with my new Mig, would highly recumbent R-Tech customer service is first class.
  • 03 May 2024
    I have only just unboxed this but quality looks to be up there with my tig welder ordered last year.
  • 01 May 2024
    Very size portable MIG. Small size belies the available power. Terrific! Particularly like the 'Easy Set' mode. Spot on! Welded 1.5/2mm wall 25mm x 25mm box section steel with 'Easy Set' settings & 0.8 wire straight out of the box> Amazing! Would recommend this set to any welder, DIY or Professional.
  • 30 April 2024
    Just finished my first project using the new R-Tech 181 Digital MIG Welder. I can't believe how good the welds are on 3-4mm thick box and angle. For the price it is great value for money.
  • 24 April 2024
    Easy interface, doddle to set up and produces lovely welds. Used for fabrication and car repair.
  • 16 April 2024
    As a retired carpenter, having never welded before, I was looking for a new challenge and welding was where I was heading.Having trawled the market I settled for the G-Tech mig 181. It appealed to me for its good value and simplicity in its ease of use! I have made a gate and fence panel, and as a high quality product I have already , and will again highly recommend it to the serious , or the hobby welders out there
  • 15 April 2024
    Great machine, easy to operate and fantastic results. Best mug welding machine I?ve ever had.
  • 11 April 2024
    Absolutely cracking welder. Easy to set up and use and top build quality. As an amateur car restorer this unit makes welding great fun and results look totally professional on the factory settings.
  • 28 March 2024
    I?m a hobby welder, this welder is the easiest welder I?ve ever used. It?s literally plug and play, the settings are near perfect with just minor adjustments due to personal speed. The welder is exactly as described if not better! Highly recommended to everyone.
  • 27 March 2024
    although I have not used mine I have used one in the training course, and its a fantastic bit of kit, for a novice, the ease of set up to use is great having the automated and digital control is great for someone learning. the welder itself seems to be more than capable for the primary reason of purchase, I will guess as my welding skills improve so will the creativity and the things are possible to do with the welder will certainly be far and above what my original aims were for. I am currently using to develop my skills before I start on the project at hand, restoring an old classic car. I would highly recommend the welder for people undertaking this kind of jobs, as I mentioned the welder is more than capable of performing these tasks, and will undoubtedly out perform my welding skills currently. but a great piece of equipment to learn with. The product seems to be well put together with quality materials, however as with a lot of things, only time will tell on long term efficiency and quality.
  • 25 March 2024
    QUALITY LOOKS GOOD, WILL BE USED ON CAR BODYWORK, RECOMMENDED TO US BY A FRIEND.
  • 25 March 2024
    This welder is far superior to the Clark welder I previously had. I am only a novice but find it much easier to put down a good run of weld. Highly recommended.
  • 24 March 2024
    Excellent machine for newbie, good range and great results
  • 24 March 2024
    Love it - I?m a beginner to welding and I?ve had a go and apart from holding the torch all the working out is done for you. Brilliant welder love it - I went on a days course to learn how to weld last year and worked with the Rtech 180. I vowed to get myself one and got the 181 which is even better You have now brought out the Rtech 181
  • 23 March 2024
    Absolutely amazing product
  • 23 March 2024
    The R-Tech 181 is an amazing upgrade for my old welder. I was struggling with settings on my ancient Clarke 151te being somewhat of a welding beginner but this thing works incredibly well on the auto settings. It?s given me an enormous amount of confidence to continue on my project car with consistent, strong welds. I no longer have to check for penetration on every weld I do knowing that the settings are bang on every time. Welds super smooth, very forgiving! I?m extremely impressed!
  • 22 March 2024
    Very good does the job
  • 21 March 2024
    I never welded before, this is my first new machine so fingers crossed i can finish my build.
  • 20 March 2024
    Very good welder
  • 19 March 2024
    Easy fast set up, for DIY use. Welded spot on from first weld.
  • 15 March 2024
    I bought the mig 181 and mike was simply the best I only use this machine at home fabricating projects 😉 I have recommended r-tech to lots of folk and i know they have bought The quality of the products is great not the usual rubbish,
  • 13 March 2024
    Easy settings are great welds as good as the previous 180 and easy to set up
  • 12 March 2024
    Scrap Metal artwork Anyone hobbiest and professional man and woman Fantastic quality and ease of use
  • 11 March 2024
    Totally recommend the MIG181, weld quality excellent, easy set up , quality regulator too. Use it for fabrication and sculpture. Highly recommend this company and super happy with it
  • 09 March 2024
    I'm a subaru enthusiast and this is the kit to have fir body repairs, to even mak8ng my own gates and shed frames.
  • 09 March 2024
    I?m a hobby welder, used it for small projects. I didn?t realised I came with MMA lead so I ordered unnecessary parts . Maybe it could be clearer that it came with all parts. Machine itself is awesome!!? I would strongly recommend. It?s on pricier side but worth it!
  • 29 February 2024
    R-Tech was recommended to me by an ex-colleague whose opinion I rate highly. I was going to buy a more expensive model from another brand but on his advice I looked at the 181 Digital MiG. I'm very glad I did, for an occasional welder like me this machine is spot on, so easy to set and on all the materials I've welded so far the presets have been spot on with no fine tuning required. I've used it with flux core wire as I weld outside a lot and I couldn't be happier. This machine replaces a 'hobby' type MiG which I never got to grips with, I was always disappointed with the results and doubted my ability to weld. This machine has restored my faith in my abilities! I ordered mid afternoon and the machine arrived the following day, easy to get set up and welding so all-in-all I couldn't be happier. I prefer to weld without the nozzle when using flux core so it would be nice to be able to find a nozzle to protect the gas diffuser but leave the tip exposed. I'm currently struggling to find one that works with the push fit fitting on the gun but that's a really minor issue.
  • 27 February 2024
    General welding, mostly decorative scroll work, gates etc, Would recommend this machine to anyone who appreciates a quality machine, having so many different modes, covers most types of welding.
  • 27 February 2024
    Use mig for classic car repairs would recommend to other classic car owners very easy to set up and excellant welder
  • 27 February 2024
    car body ,bike exhaust,hobby to pro,10/10
  • 26 February 2024
    This little monster eats through 4mm like it?s nothing. I thought it would be quite challenging to fuse stuff together properly because of it being so little but what a pleasant surprise! I?ve spent all day welding my fixture table and the machine made it a blast.
  • 20 February 2024
    I have had the welder for a week or so and have used it on both heavier gauge ( agri bedding machine) and light gauge mild steel (Castor wheel plates for a table). The welder is very adaptable and coped with both well. The "easy set" setting is very handy for a good starting point and additional adjustment is simple if needed. This would be a great product for both an experienced welder and someone who is learning. The welder seems well made, a simple clear screen is both easy to understand and read and all leads are a good length. Compared to my older mig this is definitely a step up in quality. Well recommended machine for any workshop be that either home or commercial.
  • 20 February 2024
    Great all round welder for home hobby and light fabrication work upto 5/6mm thickness would definitely recommend
  • 13 February 2024
    Very happy and impressed. Third R-Tech item and all very happy with.
  • 29 January 2024
    I use the welder for seat repairs etc, I?d recommend to anyone as it?s a fantastic product.
  • 29 January 2024
    I use it for car restoration, Motor bike modification and general fabrication, the quality and reliability of the equipment is really good I never had an issue with any of it MIG, TIG or Plasma cutter. If you got reason to want need and welding equipment you can?t go far wrong.
  • 28 January 2024
    Delivery isses with machine not ideal, but due to DHL, purchase add. MMA lead as was unsure that obe was supplied. the machine is used for general fabrication and repairs, more than capable of what we need it for Few loose screws on machine out the box, + slightly knock on threads on regulator but these were easy repaired Easy to set up and smooth welds Generally happy with purchase, and enjoy using it. Happy to recommend and will get a video on our socials soon FB / Tiktok - MM_PLANT_TRAILER_TOOL
  • 27 January 2024
    - Hobby user and repairing my old car - Recommend to anyone needing a MIG Welder - ~Quality so far is excellent
  • 25 January 2024
    Machine seems well built, and setup is a breeze with the sync function. Initial test welds were spot-on (as expected).
  • 16 December 2023
    I've only used the welder on some box steel to build a mezzanine, But I'm blown away! It's so simple to set up, no need to run through different settings, it just works!
  • 11 December 2023
    DIY Good quality for price.
  • 04 December 2023
    Hobby welder just starting out with mig. The easy settings will be a great help to begin with. A very competent and capable machine that will be there for me when I grow with knowledge and experience
  • 03 December 2023
    i use it for mostly car body repair, but also will make or repair steel gates railings . perfect for diy or professional light to medium work. Quality product don?t think you can buy better for price.
  • 30 November 2023
    Half way through my second 5kg roll in the first week of ownership.....cant fault thos machine for ease of use......5 star aint high enough, should be 10
  • 30 November 2023
    Would recommend the machine to everybody, its compact size with a sturdy trolley really easy to move around the workshop. Only time will tell about the longevity of the machine but have used it on both thick and thin plate easy to change from one to the other. the earth clamp has started to deform after two weeks !!
  • 27 November 2023
    Well impressed with the 181, Great quality build , really useful auto settings for someone like myself who hasn?t used a welder in a long time , straight outta the packaging and off you go, Super compact size also , big bonus when tight for space.
  • 26 November 2023
    I'm a DIYer and the quality of the welder looks tip top, my buddy has the 180 so I got the slightly better 181.
  • 13 November 2023
    Welder easy to use, does all I ask of it
  • 13 November 2023
    Bikersone Engineering - Custom Motorcycle Engineers. I've had the r-tech TIG Welder AC/DC 200 for a good few years now and it has performed perfectly so when my 35yr old MIG wheezed it's last breath it was a no brainer to look back to R-tech. The new 181 caught my eye and having used it now in anger for a week it has performed perfectly (touch wood ;-) ) , it comes with a 5 yr collect and return warranty which imbues confidence. It's well built, the feed mech is smooth as reliable. Based on my experience of the 210 I've recommended R-Tech to many, based on this MIG I will continue to do so , keep up the good work :-)
  • 11 November 2023
    Could not be happier. UK company, top quality, easy to understand and wonderfully versatile. For the cost of this machine, please do not waste your money on cheap imported, look at what your getting, the guarantee is wonderful. I know this is brilliant. One of the reasons I purchased from RTech, my friend had a challenge with his machine, the issue was resolved with no fuss. The starting settings are very very good. Better, the fine adjustments are icing on the cake. Purchased for, among other things, working on an old Citroen van. Paper thin metal, quite tricky. The 181 managed with very little fuss. Over the moon, very happy customer.
  • 11 November 2023
    Upgraded from an old Clarke unit - like night and day, and the ability to fine tune the settings is a revelation!
  • 11 November 2023
    It?s a really nice welder easy to set up ideal if you just learning and experienced welders. Excellent quality product as you expect from r-tech
  • 10 November 2023
    I was using the product on thin steelsheet while being teached by a coded welder who was impresed with it. It was very good for non professionals like me. I had dificulty feeding the wire and very much like the extra feed switch next to the wire drum, as on my tradesmig 160
  • 09 November 2023
    I purchased the 181 Model as an upgrade to my 180 model after watching the video on the R Tech Site. I am an amateur car restorer so welding mainly 1mm Mild steel sheet. For my first weld I used the Easy Set Mode - 1mm Material and 0.8 wire and I have to say the weld was perfect. I usual tack weld these joints and then join the tacks. with the 181 in this mode I can make longer weld runs with no problems of blow through. I am really impressed. Certainly for any amateur welder its really impressive. Having used R Tech products previously the 181 is very good quality and so far in Easy Mode a very impressive piece of Kit.

  • What is Easy-Set technology on the MIG181?

    Easy-Set technology takes the guess work our of setting up machine for your desired weld. You simply use two buttons to select wire size being used and material thickness to weld.

    The machine then sets the wire speed and welding power accordingly, you then just press the trigger and start welding - it is that simple!

    Easy-set is ideal for all users - the beginner / occasional / proffesional welder as you can get welding by the press of 2 buttons - no need for charts / remembered settings etc as it's all built in for you.

    You also have a trim for wire speed and welding power, so you can trim it +/- to suit your personal preference of travel speed / weld bead thickness.

    In image below, using 0.8mm wire, you have selections for 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0mm - Just select thickness and get welding.

    MIG181 Easy Setup Screen

    If you want to fine tune the weld characteristics to suit your personal preference.
    You can trim the wire speed by 1 m/min by turning wire speed knob.
    You can trim the welding voltage by 1V by turning welding voltage knob.

    MIG181 Easy-Set with trim

  • What settings are there in manual mode on MIG181?

    In MIG Manual mode, you have full control of machine settings including.

    Wire feed speed 1.5 - 12 m/min
    Welding voltage 13V - 23V
    2T/4T trigger options
    Burnback control 0s - 2s
    Spool on gun operation off/on

    2T - Press trigger to start weld, release to finish weld.
    4T - Press and release trigger to start weld, To finish weld press and release trigger.
    This is commonly know as trigger latching.

    Burnback is how long the welding power will continue after wire feed has stopped, this stops the wire from sticking to workpiece when weld finished

  • What is Meant by Duty Cycle on the MIG181?

    Duty Cycle refers to how long a machine will operate for before it automatically stops the welding ARC to protect its components from overheating.

    A 35% duty cycle at 180 amps would mean that you are able to weld at 180 amps for a maximum of 3.5 minutes out of 10 before the machine shuts off to cool down.

    Higher duty cycles at higher amperage indicate a machine is made from more high quality components, built to withstand the stresses welding places on them.

    We believe on a minimum of 35% duty cycle, most of our machines are 35%-60% at maximum amperage. Built to last, ideal for all users -  Industrial, D.I.Y, Home workshop. 

    At R-Tech we believe in building machines to last, with minimum down time to our customers, so we fit the most reliable power modules and IGBT's available coupled with oversized heatsinks. Therefore our machines are able to work harder for longer! 

    We also quote our duty cycles at machines MAXIMUM amperage unlike some manufacturers who sneakily quote duty cycles NOT at maximum amperage which can be quite misleading! Duty cycle is very important, 20% is not an industrial duty cycle.

    I.E Competitors state on thier 200amp machine, 60% duty cycle @140Amps.. So what is the duty cycle @ 200Amps?? 

  • Can I Stick/MMA Weld With An R-Tech MIG 181?

    Yes you can, the MIG 181 is fitted with stick welding functionality and will comfortably burn rods up to 4.0mm smoothly. This makes the MIG 181 suitable for agricutural welding jobs such as digger buckets, railings and gates posts.

    With the Easy-Set function, you simply select rod size being used I.E 2.4 / 3.2mm and thickness of material to be welded, the machine sets required power for you, then just start welding, it is that easy! 

  • Can I Run The R-Tech MIG 181 on a Standard 13amp Plug?

    Yes you can.

    Thanks to its effiecient inverter technology, the MIG 181 will generate up to 140-160 amps smoothly on a standard 13A household plug.

    This makes the machine perfect for welding up to 4.5mm and very portable as you can use anywhere with a 13A socket.

    For full continued use at 180 amps, you will require a 16A supply, which is quite easily fitted to most workshops.

  • Why is a Euro MIG torch on MIG181 superior to a fixed torch?

    We fit Euro style torches on all of our MIG welder range.

    These have many benefits over machines with a fixed torch as found on the basic / DIY machines.

    They give consistent wire feed speed giving a more uniform weld.

    Easy fitment if torch becomes damaged - for fixed torches you will have to dis-assemble part of the machine.

    Easier to change liners if they become worn

    Better feel in the hand, Euro torches are generally better quality.

    You can easily select preferred style of euro torch and fit quickly and easily.

  • Which Are The Best Wire Diameters To Use In The MIG 181?

    You can use both 0.6mm and 0.8mm diameters in the R-Tech MIG 181. We get excellent results when we use the following - 

    For anything 2mm and below, such as car body work, we would recommend 0.6mm wire thickness. This is because the wire requires a much lower amperage to achieve briliiant penetration and prevents burning holes in the work piece. 

    For anything 2-3mm and above, such as chassis work, steel fabrication we would recommend 0.8mm wire thickness. This wire thickness is a fantastic all rounder as it suites many of the users requirements.  

    Our machines are fitted with a double grooved roller to suite both 0.8mm and 0.6mm wire. Simply unscrew the retaining screw from roller, turn the roller around to match the wire diameter and re-install the retaining screw. 

  • Which Gas Do I Need To MIG Weld on the MIG181?

    We recommend using a gas that contains 95% Argon and 5% Carbon Dioxide for any welding less than 6mm.

    Gas MIG welding will always give you the best results, the MIG181 also supports gasless MIG wire, this is ideal if welding outside or where gas is unavailable.

    Gas bottles can be purchased from many outlets and you have option of buying the bottle and gas, when bottle is empty - return bottle for a fully filled one, this is generally know as 'rent free bottles'

    For high / industrial use, you can purchase via a rental agreement normally paid by direct debit - more cost effective for high volume users.

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