Dewalt and Esab partnered together to produce a new FlexVolt-powered cordless welder.
The Esab Renegade Volt ES200i is powered by (4) Dewalt FlexVolt batteries.
When equipped with 12Ah batteries, the Dewalt-powered Esab cordless wleder can burn up to 33 (E6013) electrodes per single charge.
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It can deliver a output of 200A on 230V AC power, or up to 150A when powered by Dewalt FlexVolt batteries.
The welder features an AMP+ hybrid power mode for extra power. In this mode, the Renegade Volt welder supplements AC power with battery power, to “prevent nuisance trips on smaller breaker sizes,” or to “provide more output when welding on 120V input.”
It can be powered by 120V AC, 230V AC, Dewalt batteries, or AC + battery power in the Amp+ hybrid mode.
The welder is capable of GTAW (TIG) and SMAW (stick) welding, with a 5/32″ max electrode size.
Esab describes the new welder as having the “first power source with no limitations.”
The cordless welder is said to be 5X smaller and lighter than traditional welder generators.
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It weighs 26 lbs without the battery box, and 54 lbs with the battery box and 4x FlexVolt 12Ah batteries.
The battery box can be removed and carried separately for easier portability.
The package comes with the Renegade Volt power source, detachable battery box, 4x Dewalt FlexVolt 12Ah batteries, a 4-port fast charger, electrode holder, ground clamp, and shoulder strap.
Price: $3599
The new cordless welder is available at Esab welding supply dealers.
Dewalt previously launched a cordless welder in 2015, with that model being based on a Fronius design with built-in battery.
Greg
Now this is getting interesting!
MFC
YEAH! FINALLY!
Eliot Truelove
This is actually quite incredible. I love the idea of supplementing AC power with the battery.
James
Yeah that’s what jumped at me too!
Kentucky fan
I weld for a living. This could be convenient but one feature that they missed would be a standard 15a outlet to run a grinder off of. They shouldn’t be using 6013 as their example though because that isn’t something that people spending the $5000 to make this outfit functional are gonna be using. I’d like to see how many 1/8” 7018s it can run on a charge because if you could run 15 or so it could be interesting.
AllenN
If you are using a battery operated welder why wouldn’t you be using a battery operated grinder?
Dave
+1 I have the grinder but dropping 5k on the welder and batteries would be tough. The grinder is a bogo at Christmas. The grinder would be a requirement for my welding skills.
Kentucky fan
Because if you are actually grinding welds a battery grinder just doesn’t make sense a battery big enough to last is unergonomic to say the least. Brushing off slag is all I would use a battery grinder for in this application.
Troy H.
So, you want to reduce the capacity of the welder to do work so that you can run a grinder off of it?
If you can’t compromise, buy a welder-generator unit.
I haven’t heard any complaints about the flexvolt angle grinders. Bring two batteries if you don’t like running one big battery… It’s pretty simple.
Kentucky fan
That’s not how it works in the real world. This machine is to be used in situations where an engine drive isn’t useful or it just doesn’t make sense. Bring more batteries to carry in with my welder, grinder, abrasives, tools, hood, another grinder, 2 sets of gloves, all while wearing a jacked. Or put a plug on the welder so I can use the grinders I already own and don’t have to add more weight and complexity plus I doubt flexvolt grinders would do good laying in water and all the myriad terrible things welders do to their tools.
Josh Walters
The Flexvolt Grinder is a monster…. I love it
Lance
I love how everyone disagrees with the one who is actually a welder, lol!
This seems very expensive for what it is. I’m wondering if this is any better than my 2kWh Ecoflow battery inverter (20A outlets) and my PowerMig 210 which runs on 120v or 240v, which costs about the same as this kit? It sounds like it might do a better job on 120v with the batteries supplementing, but other than that?
Ct451
The wording “burn up to 33 (E6013) electrodes per single charge” would mean that to get the max number they would choose the thinnest electrode which is 1/16″ (and you can also find them in shorter lengths) but it’s not made in 7018. 1/8″ would probably be 4 times as hungry which makes me think it would empty after 8 electrodes.
Kentucky fan
6013 being a cold running rod anyway. Like I said the industry standard is 1/8” 6010 (which this machine isn’t gonna run well) and 7018s the 7018s will run a lot hotter than a 6013. This is the welding equivalent to saying a cordless saw runs 3x longer with no qualifier.
Ct451
You are right. I assumed the worst (33 6013, 1/16″, 8″ long) but it turns out Dewalt might not be as “evil” as I assumed.
Stuart
E6013: 33
E6010: 31
E7018: 26
3/32″ x 9.8″ electrodes, 12Ah batteries
The “up to 30 electrodes per charge” seems to be the average consumption, rather than max.
Kentucky fan
So I may very well be able to run 15 of them which is enough for most small jobs.
Jason Turner
It will never beat a 2700 hobart style. Gas powered. Is the only way to weld
John
This seems really well thought out, especially the way you can use both to avoid tripping a 20a breaker. I’m hope other companies go in this direction.
Lyle
I don’t know how to weld yet but I want to learn in the next few years. I’m planning on building a concrete bunker type of structure in my backyard so I don’t run the risk of burning anything down.
I like the idea of a portable welder that can be powered by batteries. However, since I wouldn’t be doing this very often, I’m hoping that it could run on less that 4 batteries or less capacity batteries. I have 9Ah FlexVolt batteries so I’d rather not spend a lot of extra money on batteries that would hardly get used, same for the 4 port charger.
MM
If cost is a concern for you then you might look at welders that run off car batteries. It is possible to stick weld directly off the batteries but there are also welders designed to run off them. This is common for farm repair and off-road trail fixes. Car batteries are much more cost effective than Flexvolts when it comes to dollar per watt-hour.
Lyle
It’s partially about the cost, but also about me already having a bunch of FlexVolt batteries and chargers. If it can run off lower capacity FlexVolt batteries (for a shorter amount of time) then I’m fine with that. I will have 240V power in the bunker. I like the idea of using the FlexVolt batteries because it gives me flexibility that I otherwise wouldn’t have. I know that the portability comes at a premium, I just don’t need all the extra batteries and chargers if I can use what I already have.
SamR
I love the idea that such a thing exists. I would never imagine myself in a situation where I might need it, but it would be cool to have one!
Plain+grainy
Right when I thought Flexvolt was riding into the sunset. It turns out it wasn’t a sunset at all, just sparks from a welder! Great to see new Flexvolt products. Nice that the batteries can be used on other tools besides the welder.
MM
There hasn’t been a huge amount of fanfare about them but there have been more Flexvolt tools released fairly recently. There’s at least two chainsaws–one a top handle and the other standard, the 7-9″ DCG460 grinder is finally out and it is a beast, there’s also a snow thrower, a breaker, hedge trimmer, blower, mower, pressure washer, and the 1000 psi “power cleaner”. Oh, there’s also the adapter to run the “PowerShift” line of tools off a Flexvolt battery. There might be others I’m forgetting.
Plain+grainy
Yes, I tend to forget those. Most seem geared toward the homeowner ( outdoor power) category, rather than the trades.
Troy H.
It looks like they were waiting to sunset their 40V line before they started releasing a full line of flexvolt yard tools.
Nate
Shame it can’t recharge ’em in the base while on 120v during the pauses between welding. Unlimited runtime, unlimited power, just not at the same time…
Correct me if I’m wrong, but most of these little welders can already run from a DC input, can’t they? An IGBT isn’t like a thyristor, it can turn itself off without waiting for a zero-crossing, right?
MM
I love the idea of the tool being able to charge its battery during pauses in work and then be able to generate extra power by combining battery + line. That same idea can be used for other tools as well, I think it would be excellent for a dust collector, chop saw, table saw, etc.
Frank D
I agree that that hybrid setup – and charging while idle – is something I’d love to see for other contractor tools, where it can run on battery, ac or both to not trip a 15A circuit … and it would smart enough to charge while idle. On small tasks you can just run on battery. In hybrid mode you don’t have to worry about charging batteries, …
Paul
This is really cool!
I’m glad to see welders starting to be battery powered. Even better that it’s a commonly used pack!
Steve
This is awesome! I could see it being used in offroad applications, recovery, fencing, etc. Definitely expensive but when you need it you need it. For comparison, an on-board welder for 4×4 applications looks to be about $1500 but you can’t take it with you.
paul
I run a crew of service welders. each guy has a Fronius Accupocket as part of their arsenal, its a battery machine that charges between welds. we’ve owned these machines for the past five years.
with the machine plugged into a 110v 15amp they can weld 4″ pipe all day long.
if the dewalt doesnt charge between welds it useless.
Scott F
This is very cool, and ESAB is a great name to be tied into it. Team yellow.
MFC
So I currently have been welding for about five years with my backpack DC mig welder and my Dewalt Powerstation. I can go out and repair fences in the pasture, or do quick jobs on my trailer with it, but it can only handle so much power since it maxes at 1800 watts. I can’t wait to see how this Esab welds because .035 flux core mig wire is just not big enough for some things…
Chris Ficken
I want to know how well it works to use the DCB1800 power station as the supplemental AC power for this welder…
Big Richard
I like the way you think.
Jared
This is awesome. A genuine innovation. I can’t afford or justify it, but I still applaud it as an option.