I am trying to find reviews in Thermal Arc 161S. Is this American made. Are parts readily available for this. Do they have repair centers? How well do they hold up.
Reply:I have a thermal arc arcmaster 185 TSW. I love it for a water cooled tig welder. Had it 5? years no problems. I make money with it. Never had the hot light come on. I think its rated 160 amps for stick. Not my best stick welder. David Last edited by David R; 11-13-2011 at 03:23 PM.Real world weldin. When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:I have the 161stl and like it alot along with the arcmaster 185. The 161 is made on china but it isn't chinese junk. I have had mine apart and it is very well made. I have used it enough to pay for it several times with no issues. Thermal arc is great company. In my area many industrial places have thermal arc machines. The 161stl has adjustable arc force and it is nice. I don't know for sure how the regular ones stack up but I have read they work great as well.Millermatic 252Lincoln 175 plusTA 185tswTA 161stlhypertherm pmax 45Victor torchHenrob torchAn S10 for each day of the week