It’s time to invest in a new welder. Your hunt for the top MIG welder and quality TIG welders has brought you to several Vulcan Omnipro 200 reviews. Who makes Vulcan welders? Should you buy a Vulcan TIG welder or a Vulcan MIG welder? The good news is that the Vulcan Omnipro 220 multiprocess welder is extremely versatile.
This article is a thorough review of the Vulcan Omnipro 220 welder. By the time you finish reading, you will know all the features, who it’s designed for, and how it compares to 2 of the most popular competitors on the market. This will leave you in a great position to make the right decision.
Why Should You Buy the Vulcan Omnipro 220
One of the biggest reasons to buy the Vulcan Omnipro 220 Multiprocess Welder is because it is a multipurpose machine. Professionals will find it more useful than having to swap back and forth between multiple heavy welders to do a job.
It’s also extremely user friendly. The Vulcan Omnipro 220 is built solidly enough to stand up to professional use and it is intuitive and gentle enough for beginners to use.
Portable and Lightweight
The Vulcan Omnipro 220 welder weighs just under 50 pounds, so it’s significantly lighter than the typical 75-pound welder. This makes it a great option for outdoor shops where you have to carry things around.
The Vulcan Omnipro 220 also has the ability to use either 120 or 240-volt connections, so you can plug it into whatever grid is available and work wherever you are without adapters.
Sturdy and Powerful
The Vulcan Omnipro 220 welder uses industrial grade aluminum on its drive system, so it’s really powerful and durable, which is critical in a welders.
The Vulcan Omnipro 220 maximizes your power and efficiency by harnessing inverter technology to deliver superior performance and faster cutting and welds. The Vulcan 220 wire feed speeds between 50 to 500 inches per minute depending on the job requirement.
Who is The Vulcan Omnipro 220 Product Designed for?
The Vulcan Omnipro 220 tool’s user base is as versatile as its operation and features. Professionals love the Vulcan Omnipro 220 welder because it’s got an insanely high quality design and is multi-functional enough to handle a lot of different activities without needing multiple devices.
Beginners also love the Vulcan Omnipro 220 welder, though. It’s got tons of preloaded programs, the buttons are intuitive, and the LCD screen guides you as you work. This makes it insanely easy to handle just about any task.
Versatile and User Friendly
The Vulcan Omnipro 220 is a 3 in 1 machine that utilizes DC MIG, DC Stick, and Flux-core capability with a bright LCD screen to toggle back and forth between jobs. You won’t need to buy multiple devices to switch between stick and MIG welding jobs.
The Vulcan Omnipro 220 also has a 4.3-inch LCD screen with preloaded programmable job options and a memory capacity. You can learn the controls quickly instead of having to experiment to find the best settings. Just load the program that fits your product and go!
Features and Advanced Features of Vulcan 220 Welders
The Vulcan Omnipro 220 can handle MIG, Flux-core, DC TIG, and DC stick welding jobs. It is compatible with 110 and 220 volts with 123 preloaded programs.
The minimum output on the Vulcan Omnipro 220 is 30 amps, the wire feed speed range is 50 to 5000 inches per minute. It includes thermal overload protection.
The 120-volt welding capacity on the Vulcan Omnipro 220 is 24 GA 1/8 inch for steel and 22 GA 1/8 inch for aluminum. The 240-volt capacity is 25 GA at 3/8 inch for steel and 22 GA at 3/8 inch for aluminum.
One of the great features of the Vulcan Omnipro 220 is that it comes ready for spool guns. You won’t have to buy an adapter to get ready for MIG welding work. It also supports aluminum welding as well as steel.
The industrial grade aluminum drive system feeds the wire to the torch flawlessly. This makes an incredibly durable, strong welder while keeping it lightweight. It also holds around 15 feet of wire.
This helps to ensure the Vulcan Omnipro 220 is a long lasting & powerful tool
Power Rating of Vulcan Welders
The Vulcan Omnipro 220 Power rating is a critical aspect when comparing welders. Your power needs will determine what you can do.
Vulcan welders use fault-free inverter technology. It lets you run DC power.
Design, Weight, and Dimensions
It measures 30.2 x 19.2 x 15.5 inches. It weighs just under 50 pounds, making it light and portable compared to other welders. It is designed with handles for either 1 or 2 person transport.
The major flaw we noticed is that, when compared to models like the Hobart 500559 MIG Welder, it offers very little outer body protection for the inner components.
The machine is surprisingly lean for a multi-purpose welder, offering very little bulk and weight. This is really easy to carry even without building a welding cart!
Vulcan Welder’s Anti-Spatter Technology
Vulcans are one of the most user-friendly welders on the market, thanks in large part to their arc welding technology. The Vulcan Omnipro 220 welder come with a spatter free start up so users don’t have to worry about getting hit by molten metal upon ignition.
They also require fewer cleanups after welding jobs. The technology eliminates nearly all spatters, for a nearly perfect finish to your welder.
How Does The Vulcan Omnipro 220 Compare?
It’s clear that the Vulcan Omnipro 220 is a great purchase, but how does it compare to our current favorite, the Hobart 550559?
Honestly, we still prefer the Hobart. While the Vulcan can handle steel and aluminum, the Hobart can handle both of these metals as well as iron, copper, brass, titanium, and even magnesium alloys. While the Vulcan is extremely flexible, the Hobart is pretty close to limitless.
The Lotos MIG Welder is the other common competitor to this Vulcan welder. While the Lotos is half the price on average, it is also not a multi-functional welder, so you would make up the cost difference and then some buying multiple welders. One of the things that the Lotos takes the edge over is with the number of safety features.
The Vulcan Omnipro 220 is more user friendly, but the Lotos has so many safety features that it’s a perfect learning welder. This trade off makes them both pretty evenly balanced for comparison.
Recommended Accessories
It is important to have some replacement parts for your welder, especially the nozzle, neck, and tips.
Beyond that, welders should always have some things on hand. Having an auto-darkening helmet is nice because you can start your weld on target. Use gloves to protect your hands against the heat when melting steel, but make sure they’re a good balance – too thin and you get no insulation, too thick and you can’t pick up smaller objects because of dexterity limitations.
Keep a fire extinguisher on hand in case of any emergencies and use safety glasses and hearing protection.
Angle grinders are pretty useful for a variety of things, including sanding to remove scale, prepping surfaces, smoothing welds, and chamfer corners.
Squares, levels, and tape measures will help you remain accurate when welding joints and miters and marking your cuts. Soapstone will mark steel well enough to see even when the metal becomes very heated.
Finally, don’t forget a nozzle dip to prevent spatter from sticking. Slag buildup will prevent your wire from unspooling and clog the hose that releases shielding gas.
These are important safety tips that all welders should keep in mind when performing any weld job. Regardless of the welding process you should always ensure your safety first.
FAQs
1. Is the Vulcan 220 A good welder?
Professionals will find it more convenient than switching between many heavy welders to complete a job. Additionally, it is incredibly user-friendly. The Vulcan Omnipro 220 is robust enough for professional use while remaining intuitive and mild enough for novices.
2. Are Harbor Freight Vulcan welders any good?
It's a good machine, and for $640 (open box), it accomplishes what no alternative can. I chose it primarily for its superior 120-volt performance, as my garage only has 120 volts, and there is no convenient access to 240 volts.
3. How thick can a Vulcan 220 Weld?
The OmniPro 220 can weld steel as thin as 0.02 inches (24 gauge) up to 38 inches thick, making it perfect for light industrial applications.
4. Can you TIG aluminum with DC?
Alternating current (or "AC") is almost usually utilized while TIG welding metal. However, aluminum can be TIG welded using direct current (often referred to as "DC"). Occasionally, DC welding aluminum is a better option than TIG welding.
5. Who makes Vulcan welders for Harbor Freight?
Canary Electricals Pvt. Ltd. Canary Electricals Pvt. Ltd.
Since 1980, Vulcan welders have been rolling off the assembly line at Canary Electricals Pvt. Ltd. With almost three decades of experience manufacturing welding equipment. The manufacturers are undoubtedly doing something right.
