The Pitbull Ultra-Portable 100-Amp Electric Arc Welder is being marketed as one of the most portable arc welders today, but what else can it do? A portable welder is nice, but is it going to perform the welding projects you want it to?
Because it’s very easy for any welding tool to say this or that, we opted to give the Pitbull a thorough inspection and see what it’s really capable of.
The reviews suggest the Pitbull is good enough for beginners and even professionals who need a compact welder to supplement their main tool.
That’s a lofty claim so we decided to find out if it’s true.
Features of Pitbull Ultra-Portable 100-Amp Electric Arc Welder
- 110V voltage, and 60Hz frequency for reliable performance: with these specs you don’t have to waste any time setting up the welder.
If you’re new to welding, you probably want to get started as soon as possible, but other welding tools make it difficult for you. With the Pitbull, you can go right ahead and start off. - Single phase, 26 amp required current, 45 to 100 amp amperage control: this tells you what kind of power the Pitbull has.
It has more to offer features wise than other welders, but its power requirements are not as stringent.
Most home base welding jobs shouldn’t need special configurations, so this is a good feature. - Compact design: this is one of the highlights of the Pitbull, and it’s a boon.
It’s light and easy to carry around when you need to work in different locations.
The casing is ergonomically designed and the handle at the top makes it convenient to carry around.
Pros
• The Pitbull welds mild steel up to ¼ inches thick. Most welding hobby projects and repair work use ¼ inch thick or less steel, so it should work for most welding cases.
• Convenient to use: you can use the Pitbull on any 110 voltage, so there’s no need for you to arrange a special electrical outlet.
As the specs above indicate, you don’t have to worry about upgrading your equipment just to use it.
• Versatile: the Pitbull is built with versatility in mind. While it’s ideal for beginners, it has enough power to weld components rapidly.
Most beginners’ welding power supplies are only going to work for recreational projects. But the Pitbull is versatile enough to be used in garages, homes and even for business.
• The duty cycle is suitable for the starter to medium level welding. At 10%, that is just right for most novices. A frequent mistake made by first-time welders is going with too much power.
The Pitbull’s duty cycle is sufficient for starters and most welding jobs.
• Portable: Pitbull makes a big deal out of this and it’s true. Whether you’re a metal sculptor, hobbyist or run a small welding shop in your garage, portability is important when it comes to getting things done.
Not only is the welding of high quality, but its lightness allows you to work for extended periods.
Cons
• The power is limited, and you won’t be able to use this for large welding jobs.
But if you’re going to buy the Pitbull, you probably already know it’s not for heavy duty welding anyway.
• The short duty cycle is at once both its strength and weakness.
Since you’re just getting started there is little chance you’ll need to use this for long spells. But if you’ve got experience and need more power, the Pitbull may be insufficient.
Comparison of Other Portable Welders
When compared to the Campbell Hausfeld and the Zeny Arc Welder, the Pitbull does fine.
Arc Stick Welder, 115 Volt, 70 Amp (Campbell Hausfeld WS099001AV)
The Campbell is durable and does what it should, but it takes a long time to cool down. The Pitbull only takes a few minutes to cool off, while the Campbell takes up to half an hour.
With the Campbell, you have to wait a long time before you can resume. With the Pitbull, you just let it cool for 5 minutes and you can resume. If you’re doing a lot of work, the waiting time between can be tedious, and the longer the wait the more time is wasted.
If speed is of the essence, the Pitbull has the edge over the Campbell.
The Pitbull is also more versatile than the Hausfeld. You could, for example, use the Pitbull as your main welding tool. It certainly has the power to weld 4 x 6 trailers and car repair. But its versatility goes further, as you can use it for sculpting metal parts.
Compared to the Campbell, the Pitbull also cools down faster.
ZENY 200AMP DC Inverter TIG MMA ARC Welder Welding Machine
The Zeny doesn’t really have any major defects, except for those cases when customers said the product arrived damaged. But it doesn’t do anything the Pitbull can’t.
Since the Pitbull is cheaper, there’s no reason to get the Zeny. As far as performances go the Pitbull delivers.
One of the persistent myths is that small welder is only meant for practice, but that’s not true. As long as the unit is well-made it’ll be able to weld most of the metals you’ll be working on. The Pitbull, for instance, can repair a snow blower.
The other advantage the Pitbull has is the learning curve. As one reviewer said, he hadn’t been welding for 20 years but had no trouble learning how the Pitbull works.
Given these facts, it’s really the best choice for among the three, comparatively speaking.
Verdict of My Arc Welder Reviews
The Pitbull welder is indeed a portable welder, but it’s much more than that. What it lacks in size it more than makes up for in features and quality. Its duty cycle is just right for small welders, and the welding is pretty good. This isn’t the most powerful welder today, but those who buy this know that.
Bottom line: if you’re looking for a light welding tool with enough power for small and medium level welding, take a look at the Pitbull.
For novices, you get a taste of what welders can do. Even if you’re a professional welder, the Pitbull electric arc welder comes with just the right amount of features for small, quick jobs.
