In Brief: Review of Klutch ST80i
Klutch ST80i is an excellent entry-level Stick welding machine. It is easy-to-use, lightweight and portable welding machine that offers the freedom to weld anywhere you want. Apart from this, its affordability and power make a great tool for beginners.
Klutch is an American power tool brand, currently owned by Northern tools and equipment.
The company produces a wide variety of handheld tools and welding tools including screwdrivers, rachets, hammers, wrenches, pliers and welding machines.
The Klutch St80i is a 12 inch DC Stick Welder that also has an option for TIG welding.
The Klutch ST80i is small, lightweight and portable making it the perfect tool for those for have to carry it to various worksites.
It is also an excellent welding machine that can be used to weld a variety of materials including mild steel, stainless steel, cast iron and hard surfacing.
And the best thing is that the welder operates on a 120V power supply and weighs only around 12 pounds which means you can carry it anywhere and everywhere.
Watch an overview of the product here>
Contents
Key product specifications of the Klutch ST80i
The Klutch ST80i has a powerful 80 amp DC output that can weld materials up to 1/8 inch and a duty cycle of 20% at 75 amp.
It also features an inverter technology that requires less input power, a compact, built-in hot start, anti-stick, and arc force feature for quick and easy arc start and restarts, thermal overload protection, and removable weld cables for easy portability.
Major Specifications of the Klutch ST80i
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Klutch |
| Welding Processes | Stick, TIG |
| Welding Amperage Range | 20-75 DC |
| Phase | Single |
| Volts | 120 |
| Amps | 20–75 DC; 90 DC peak |
| Duty Cycle | 20% at 75A |
| Range Selection | 20-75 A DC |
| Electrode Size (in.) | 1/16, 5/64, 3/32 |
| Welds Up To (in.) | 1/8 |
| Weldable Metals | Mild steel, stainless steel, cast iron, hard surfacing |
| Electrode Cable Length (ft.) | 10 |
| Clamp Cable Length (ft.) | 6 1/2 |
| Power Cord (ft.) | 6 1/2 |
| Dimensions L x W x H (in.) | 15 x 4 ¾ x 10 ¼ |
| Product Weight (lbs.) | 12.98 |
| Manufacturer's Warranty | 3-years |
Warranty/Repairs
- The manufacturer provides a 3-year limited warranty for Klutch ST80i welding machine.
- The manufacturer also provides a Service Protection Plan (SPP):
-
- Product replacement coverage for a year after the manufacturer’s warranty.
- Coverage for accidents such as drops, spills and falls from the date of purchase.
- Manufacturer’s warranty and service protection plan means up to 4 years for product protection.
For more details please call: 1-877-304-0294 or visit https://www.northerntool.com/
Consumer Reviews
Let’s have a look at what the customers say about this product.
Most customer comments about this product are positive. They find the small, compact and light-weight design of the welder to be quite helpful to carry it around to different job sites. It works flawlessly while doing small duty welding jobs.
Most of the consumers using this welding machine for their DIY or home purposes were satisfied, and consider this tool to be a great entry-level tool and highly recommend it to first time users.
On the other hand, some customers have faced a few issues with the quality and durability of the welding machine.
Based on the overall customer ratings and reviews it can be said that Kutch ST80I was successfully able to achieve the goal of customer satisfaction.
Pros/Cons of the Klutch ST80i
After reading up on consumer reports and expert comments, we drew the following pros and cons:
Pros
- Great performance
- Great power rating
- Inverter based technology: gives the machine a far higher power rating
- Easy setup
- Easy teardown and polarity changes are possible
- Welding aluminum is fast and convenient
- Automatic thermal overload shut off
- Stick welder can handle metals up to 1/8th of an inch thick
- Can be used with or without shielding gas
- Compact
- Lightweight
Cons
- Low power rating
- low duty cycle
- Does not have a flux core for doing flux welding
Recommended accessories with the Klutch ST80i
Customers who bought Klutch ST80i, also bought:
Gravel Gear TIG Welding Gloves
Hobart Welding Apron
Hobart Welding Stick Cable Set
FAQs
TIG welding aka Tungsten Inert Gas is a welding process where non-consumable tungsten heats up the metal and melts it, whereas in stick welding a shielded metal electrode not only heats and melts the workpiece metal but also itself, and thus protecting it from contamination.
We don’t recommend this machine for heavy-duty auto body part welding, we suggest you get a welding machine specially meant for TIG welding.
The ST80i welding machine can be used for light-medium duty welding jobs like small car fixing jobs, welding bolts into places or for making a DIY project at home.
Our Recommendation
If you are a beginner and looking for a welding machine, to begin with, then Klutch ST80i is a great option. It is small, lightweight and also has sufficient output power to give you a good clean weld and the 120V input means that you can use it anywhere you want.
The ST80i stick welder is perfect for light to medium welding jobs. But, if you are looking for an industrial-grade welding machine that can be used to perform heavy-duty task, then you might want to opt for other more expensive machines.
Finally, it can be said that Klutch is one of the most affordable stick/TIG welding machine in the market and it is a great tool that does everything it is meant to do for a fair price.