What owners do with it
How it is used12 owners said
Paid work42%
Hobby and home33%
Auto and fab17%
Farm and repair8%
Process used7 owners said
TIG71%
Aluminum29%
Specs
What it does
- Amperage
- 15-130A (120V), 15-235A (240V) MIG
- Duty cycle
- 205A at 25% (240V) MIG
The machine
- Weight
- 50 lb
Prices
34 owner reviews
I use.mine for field work. Dual voltage helps on these homeowner jobs like fixing a fence or gate etc. Yes not ideal but it works good. Its the golf cart, honda eu2000i machine.
Why so many haters here in the comments ? I own one and have had no problems except my finger trouble. Just look at the physical building quality, all high quality stuff including the Allen headed bolts; no cheap self tappers. It is what it is. If you doing production work you probably need a bigger.machine. For field use with longer leads get a simple flux core machine from Harbor Freight for cheap. It’s to nice a machine to be rolling around in the back of you pickup!
No issues as its as good as my Ewm but more portable , Does what it says on the tin
We'll I use 5m torch and earth on all mine without issues
@BakersGas the basic design of the machine is flawed. The mig gun will stutter if the whip is it is not perfectly straight. I’ve had to fab up a support to keep it that way where it connects to the machine. I also have to constantly move the machine around while working. I replaced the TIG gun because who ever assembled it, they connected it backwards. Meaning, I had to fight to keep it oriented properly while welding. Even in the proper setting, this machine does not like 6011 or 6010. In my 25 years of welding, I have never used such a poorly designed machine.
If anybody is here looking to buy this machine in 2025. This thing is the biggest turd I’ve ever had to work with. I’m stuck with one of these at work and I’m hoping that shutting it off while the loud fan is running will bring on premature failure (just kidding)
esab is good welding. machine iam working 5 years
no fronius yet. I do have a miller dynasty 280 multi process but have only done tig and stick with it so far. I have at least 20 videos using the CK mt200 ac/dc and its definitely a good machine. Esab rebel 205 ac dc is just ok in my opinion but at least it will do all the processes.
I have a Rebel 205, and absolutely love it. Granted i only use if for welding 16-22 gauge in automotive rust repair. But it has never let me down.
The Everlast "attitude" radiation might give you some pause (and I was told I asked too many questions after about 2 emails), but their tech is good. I just bought a Rebel 205 from a local dealer (who gave me a good deal), because it seemed like lot more for the money than the Miller 220 I was comparing to it, and though I am new to welding, it seems VERY solid. I'd advise against turning off any fan on demand welder with the fan still running; my Polaris has the same sort of fan, and I have gotten used to it. Your welder or motor will last longer if you baby that, yes, aggravating fan My Rebel owners manual says regularly cleaning the inside (opening the case) is OK if the user knows what they are doing. Definitely a GOOD idea, especially if dust and/or, worse, metal shards fly around in your shop.
I have the same. It will turn on when you start using it. It will then shut down when it is cooled enough.
Not a real world update but maybe an update how they are within your area. I run 5 and are hammered with no issues what's so ever so I guess your unlucky maybe. We all have opinions as my take is they have been lots better than the lincolns I have owned as 1 of those went bang within 10 mins with zero customer service. Maybe it is were you buy them from as you guys love the lincolns so who knows
what problems have you had with your unit, mine has functioned fine for the last 3 years, i was the first paying customer to get a 205ic in the USA so mine must be one of the oldest ones out there, i use it a lot and mine is out of warranty now so fingers crossed it doesn't give me issues. after running it for several years the only thing i really don't like about it is that the fans are really loud and they run immediately as soon as you start welding and stay on for a good 5-10mins when you stop. its fine when welding outside but a bit annoying in the shop. the only issue i had was it kept throwing a fault when running on 120v, in the end i turned out to be a bad outlet, i plugged it in to an outlet closer to the breaker box and then it ran fine. I have looked at millers loads of times but i have never pulled the trigger, at the time the esab beat out the miller on several features and having owned multiple esab's over the years i hadn't really had any issues so stuck with what i knew. i do agree with you that the North American esab service isnt good compared to the esab service in europe when i lived there.
Here’s a real world update! ESAB now builds and sells junk! I wanted to love the 205ic I bought brand new from cyber weld (which btw is great to do business with also) but this welder has been nothing less than junk, just like may other units they make! I’m on esab group on fb and owners are constantly having issues! The even bigger kick in the throat is ESAB has TERRIBLE Customer Service and support! I think they have very few employees in that department and they all are rude ass holes! I’ll never buy another Esab product! It’s Miller, HTP, Lincoln, Fronius or even a dang Everlast for me!
My esab welds nice, millers cool but esab is my go too
My Miller Fried Out after two years, it cost more to fix that to buy a new Welder. So I bought a ESAB Rebel 205ic. So far so good.
I was told the same thing multiple times. I was told a customer fried 2 machines because he had longer leads. To me it didn't make sense. It doesn't make sense to take this into the field if you can only get as far as 12' feet from the unit. I have only been able to use this unit 10 times I'm the last 2 years. Restricted at 12' feet. Can't even go into a mixing tank or vessel. The leads won't reach. It's useless as far as field aspect. It's a good home use machine.
Thanks for the post, glad it helped you out👍. In the last few years I have owned Lincoln, esab, everlast, Miller, harbor freight, and a few other brands. I have also welded with most brands out there. There is a huge difference between miller/esab/Lincoln and say everlast. The fit/finish/quality of accessories are miles better with the name brand machines. In Comparing the everlast lightning to the esab rebel 205 (I owned both), the esab is better in every respect, same thing with the miller 220 ac/dc. From a welding perspective everlasts machines weld good. Personally I think their stand alone tig machines are worth buying. Stay away from the all in one machines from them. I have done a lot of welding with the new dynasty machine so far, and I have a new microphone and better camera so I will be doing a follow up review on the machine soon. Overall i think it’s a awesome machine. If you want me to cover anything more on it in the video let me know, I will be sure to cover it 👍.
So I have this machine. and I've welded some thick cast intake runners to the a plenum that is was about a .125 wall. I was maxed out but it did it with no preheat running pure argon.
pretty good welder, but it is a noisy sucker, and i dont like the mig feeder setup, 1 drive wheel in 2022. For the cost of this welder they could add a gear and a second wheel, and the thin plastic guide hose is to thin, if the wire bends you have to knock the guide out with a hammer and a thin rod, i use a stick rod. i have used ESAB for 30 years, it is always the same, the welder is good, but then they add a stupid thing on it. but they are getting better :-) EXEPT the plasma cutters they have always been usless, and now they seem to just use a diffrent brand. but im not sure, i gave up on them several years ago, and just used a hypertherm.
Your reviews are awesome, I have the AC DC 205 all of it we do a lot of aluminum handrails for condominiums and repairs it’s easy I can carry it out in the field it’s an awesome machine I have Welder with some of the Lincoln‘s and Miller’s bigger machines this one out welds them ,,
I have this machine at work it’s a beautiful machine , I love it
Great suggestion! We will try to show both power connections next time. It does run great on 110. Let us know if you have any other questions.
I use miller at work. We have Maxtar series welders, Millermatic series (2 different versions) Dynasty series, trail blazer series. Big blue, pipe pro series, suit cases, sycrowave , multi process by miller and the list goes on. If they make it, we either have it or had it. I bought this esab rebel 205ic. Only done a few small projects at home. I do like the machine. It's well built. If I was to use it in the field, I need to upgrade all the leads. Far to short. We use minimum 25' foot to 50' leads at work to avoid moving a machine every few couple hrs. As is it is good in a home or shop. For field work, longer leads.
I just notice the Voltage doesn't dial in to where I want it. I can set it to 19.3 and it will jump to 19.2 or 19.5. Can't fine tune by .1 because it jumps on its own. 🙈
Billy Famine I have the 205, the machine is amazing.
E A i thought that to but I just returned my rebel 205 it has lift arc but it only functions with the pedal .... it only works with the pedal and with the button on the torch ....I’m going to have to get a miller now .
Esab 205 all the way !! had it for a year now definitely glad I went esab the flexibility on Ac is killer castings to pop cans it will do it and make it easy..
Having used both, I found the Miller to be a better machine. With the ESAB, I would frequently get temperature faults, while TIG welding at low current thin material (on 220V), the fan is quite loud, and I found scrolling through the menu structure, to adjust parameters or change processes, to be time consuming and not super intuitive. Whereas with the Miller, there are less fine tune adjustments but I found that everything I needed to do had nice defaults and "just works." Caveat, I'm just a home hobbyist so YMMV...
Awesome welder, I have the 215ic emp
Работал и тем, и тем... Лично мне Эсабовский понравился больше... Хотя Миллер тоже достойный аппарат.
Love my esab machine now. Think they will get my business on 2nd welder as well unless I get an engine drive for portability
@ESAB machine is awesome! It was great to try it out! Part 2 coming soon! :)
actorzone I went to fabtech and welded with the new 205 it’s just as good as my older machines and better in some respects. Esab is a great company I have several of their machines and they have always been excellent.
Review videos
ESAB VS ARCCAPTAIN!! DID I SPEND TOO MUCH ON MY WELDER?!?Jun 15, 2024 · YouTube ↗
ESAB Rebel EMP 205ic AC/DC Demonstration / Review - AC TIG, Stick and MIGDec 25, 2018 · YouTube ↗
ESAB Rebel EMP 205ic AC/DC Quick ReviewFeb 27, 2025 · YouTube ↗
🔥 ESAB Rebel EMP 205 First Impressions and FABTECH ANNOUNCEMENTNov 5, 2018 · YouTube ↗
ESAB Rebel 205 AC/DC Updated ReviewAug 23, 2021 · YouTube ↗
ESAB Rebel EMP 205ic ACDC Review part 1Feb 26, 2019 · YouTube ↗
