I ordered this, unboxed and plugged it in, the fan started running but the display never lit up..... I reached out to ARC Captain but being the weekend was unsuccessful..... Hope they make it right. Update... They reached out to me with a video link and after I connected the wire going to display, the welder works as intended.... Great customer service! I am happy I went with this brand.... Read more

I come from a background of buying and using Miller, Esab, Fronius, and Thermal Arc welders. A few years ago I picked up a Primeweld Cut 60 plasma to use on my small Arcdroid CNC plasma cart, and that machine changed my mind about Chinese welding and cutting machines, at least to the point it wasn't a hard no any longer. So I was cruising YouTube one evening and saw NBS Welding running the ArcCaptain 205MP. It caught my eye since I had been wanting a smaller/lighter welder, and having a plama cutter, even if it's not pilot arc, would be handy at times, as long as I had access to compressed air. I pulled the trigger using a coupon to get it for $799 and upon receiving it, I liked what I saw. Make no mistake, it's not a Miller. But for the price, I found it to be of adequate build quality. One odd experience I had was shortly after ordering, I received an email from ArcCaptain telling me if the machine doesn't work, open it up and check the display connector. I cannot recall in my 48 years of ever having a manufacturer email me bad news before it even shows up. I figured, nah, I probably won't have that problem. Unfortunately, upon plugging in the 205MP, it didn't work. So I had to remove the four screws from the side panel and look for this small connector. Sure enough, it was pulled out of the display board's socket. It's a poor design by not using a locking connector, or any glue to retain it, in addition to them zip tying it to another wire bundle with a heavy ferrite on it, thus in shipping, it tugs on the display wire and pulls it out of the display board. So I got that issue fixed and the welder powered up correctly. Here's my two cents about the user interface - it's not the best. I think when OEMs get to the point of incorporating so many features into a machine, but then go with a non LCD screen display, trying to navigate every little option and having to click the same button multiple times to scroll through little sub-options isn't as straight forward as it could be. I have a much more expensive Fronius Transteel 2200, and it has a lot of options, but uses a similar basic interface. If you know what you're doing, it's not bad, but it could be better. So even welders costing 3-5x the price of the 205MP, can have the same or similar issue. Let's get into the actual use of the machine. I loaded it up with ER70S-6 wire, .030. I'm running C25 gas for MIG. Does it weld? Yes, it welds pretty dang nice to be honest. I have welded on everything from 1/4" on an Air-Tow drop deck trailer, to 11GA, 16GA, and some random things in between. It has not let me down either in synergic or manual mode. Welding 1/4" on a hotter setting, I can see the MIG gun as being a limiting factor, as it was starting to get pretty toasty, but it did the job. I think if you were to do a lot of welding in the 1/4" or above thickness, upgrading the gun to something like comes with the Yeswelder DP200, or a Bernard/BInzel based gun (or OEM if you're fancy), would be recommended. I cannot speak ot the longevity, but what I can say is NBS Welding seems to beat these machines up pretty hard, and they keep on trucking. I have also used the plasma cutting feature for two things. General cutting, and gouging. For gouging, I drilled out one of the tips with a 3/32nd drill bit and I have to say, it gouged out welds using around 30 amps beautifully. I was able to remove brackets from tubing without damage to the base tube. I was able to remove general welds without much fuss. You could also lower the amps and PSI and use a non-modified tip, but consumables for these cheap plasma torches are dirt cheap, so sacraficing some for different uses was fine by me. I don't run much stick, and have a Miller Dynasty for TIG, so I really didn't use those functions. If I did run stick, it would be mostly 7018 and I know the machine will run it just fine. I did like the TIG aspect and also purchased the foot pedal just in case I need a portable TIG, since my Dynasty is a full Tigrunner with a cooler, so it's anything but portable. If I get around to using TIG, I'll post an update to this review with my experience. If you can get over the goofy company name, some less than stellar design decisions, possibly having to open up your new machine to fix it before you can use it, then I'd give this machine a try. For thw two uses I purchased it for (MIG and Plasma), I wouldn't say it has exceeded my expectations, but it has certainly met them. On top of that you do get phone app control which isn't half bad, and thankfully I was able to turn off the annoying voice using the app very easily. But that reminds me, this welder is good for a relative beginner in that it helps you make sure you get things connected correctly. I think where a beginner may get a little lost is with the interface as I mentioned before, but if you stick with the basics, and don't try to tweak every little thing, I think you'll be just fine. For a home shop, it's a good all around machine. I think if I had two things that would make it better it would be improving the user interface, and having a pilot arc plasma. I'd pay a few hundred more for those features. In closing, it's a good machine for me. I did create my own ground clamp replacement, from buying a new dinse, USA made cable, and a heavy duty U style screw clamp that's longer. The ground cable and clamp that came with this machine felt VERY cheap, and I wanted a longer ground cable. I will probably add a 15' MIG gun at some point and hope the single roller setup will push wire through it reliably. Why only a four star rating? Well, having to fix it out of the box, even when minor, doesn't feel very reassurring. Especially when the fix on their part is so simple. With that said, you get a heck of a lot of value here in a singular machine, and for many, that's a big plus. Read more

After seaching around for a multi process welder to replace my old shop 120v welder I found the Mig 205MP from Arccaptain. Seemed to good to be true but the machine delivers on it all! MIG, HF DC TIG, Stick welding, Plasma cutting, and electrolysis cleaner. This machine comes complete (really, truly complete) and ready to work with MIG drive rollers for multiple size wires in solid and flux core and contact tips, Full Tig torch setup with torch switch, cups, collets, 2 pieces of gray tungsten, PT-31 plasma torch setup and extra tip and contactor, Stick welding stinger, Solid ground clamp, brass gas regulator with clamped hose, and electrolysis chemical cleaner setup. Got the Mig205MP setup and put to work extracting broken manifold bolts. Used synergy mode to get machine in ballpark setting and worked flawlessly. This machine is very beginner friendly and has green/yellow light across the top to visually let you know if welder is hooked up properly and ready to weld and voice prompt will tell you what to change if something is incorrect for selected device process. Then used TIG function to weld on some vband clamps and was able to dial machine in very quickly. This welder can accept a foot pedal to control Tig in place of the torch switch and I have ordered that. I used Plasma cutter to just cut some scrap metal as a test and again this unit just delivers. This machine is prefect for home use or shop short on space as you get everything an automotive or basic fab shop needs in one machine that is smaller and lighter than the old Mig it is replacing. Read more

This welder supports a wide range of welding methods including MIG, pulsed MIG, flux core, spool gun, DC HF/lift TIG, clean TIG, and stick welding — basically everything I need for various projects. It’s incredibly versatile and saves me from having to buy multiple machines. One standout feature is the iControl APP, which allows me to adjust welding settings right from my phone. This smart control makes the operation so intuitive and precise, boosting both my efficiency and weld quality. The built-in plasma cutter is another huge plus. It cuts metal sheets cleanly and effortlessly, eliminating the need for a separate cutting tool. The dual voltage design (120/240V) also means I can use it in different environments, whether at home or on a job site. The machine is compact and portable, perfect for mobile work. It runs smoothly with a stable arc and excellent weld pool control, delivering professional-level results every time. Overall, it offers outstanding value with its multifunctionality and reliable performance. Whether you’re a professional welder or a hobbyist, this is a fantastic all-in-one welder that I highly recommend! Read more

I've been using this multiprocess welding machine for about a month now, and it’s hands down one of the most versatile machines I’ve owned. I work on everything from home and garage projects to farm equipment and occasional outdoor repairs, and this welder has handled every job without breaking a sweat. What really impressed me is the 9-in-1 functionality. I’ve used both gas MIG and gasless MIG, tried my hand at DC TIG, and even tested out the plasma cutter. Everything worked flawlessly. The machine puts out smooth, clean welds, and the cut quality is surprisingly good; especially for a unit in this price range. The iControl app is a nice touch. I can adjust settings, monitor performance, and even save my custom setups right from my phone. It’s easy to use and perfect when I switch between materials or techniques. I also appreciate the large LED screen and how user-friendly the interface is. It matches settings based on metal type and electrode size, which is great when I want to work fast without second-guessing parameters. The dual voltage feature is also a big plus, giving me the flexibility to use it in different locations. Just remember to turn it off completely and wait for the fan to stop before switching power sources. All in all, I couldn’t be happier. It’s powerful, reliable, and packed with features you’d expect from competitor’s models. Highly recommended for anyone from hobbyists to seasoned welders. Read more