Dabu Welding · Model buying guide
Dabu MIG160 LED Multi-Process MIG, MMA and Lift TIG Welder
The Dabu MIG160 LED is a 220 V welder that runs MIG, MMA and Lift TIG and takes a 5 kg wire reel. All three modes reach 160 A at 35% duty and hold 94 A at 100%. Settle the Lift TIG minimum current first, because Dabu prints two different figures.
By WeldOrigin Editorial · Sources checked
What the manufacturer publishes
Values as the manufacturer publishes them for this model, with the source for each line.
- Supply
- 220 V, 50/60 Hz [1]
- Maximum input current
- MIG 31 A; MMA 32 A; Lift TIG 21 A [1]
- Effective input current
- MIG 18 A; MMA 19 A; Lift TIG 13 A [1]
- Output range
- MIG 40–160 A; MMA 20–160 A; Lift TIG 25–160 A in the table [1]
- Duty cycle, all three modes
- 35% at 160 A; 60% at 122 A; 100% at 94 A (40°C ambient, ten-minute cycle) [1]
- Wire diameter
- 0.8–1.0 mm [1]
- Reel capacity
- 5 kg [1]
- Enclosure
- IP21S [1]
- Dimensions
- 45 × 22 × 31 cm [1]
- Lift TIG minimum current
- 25 A in the specification; 15 A in the description [1]
What the MIG160 LED is built for
Dabu sells the MIG160 LED as a multi-process workshop machine. It handles MIG wire welding, stick electrodes in MMA mode and Lift TIG, all from a 220 V, 50/60 Hz supply. The wire side takes 0.8–1.0 mm wire on a stated 5 kg reel, so it carries far more wire than compact machines built around one-kilogram spools. The case measures 45 × 22 × 31 cm and is rated IP21S.
Dabu publishes a single duty table for all three processes: 160 A at 35%, 122 A at 60% and 94 A at 100%, measured at 40°C ambient over a ten-minute cycle. Output runs 40–160 A in MIG and 20–160 A in MMA. Lift TIG appears as 25–160 A in the short specification and as 15–160 A in the product description. The machine belongs to the welding series shown on the Dabu factory page, alongside the company's other arc welders.
[1]Plan wire handling around the 5 kg reel
Buying guidance
A bigger reel means fewer stops to change wire on a long workshop job. You only get that benefit if your reel fits. Ask Dabu for the approved reel dimensions, the hub and retaining arrangement, and the drive rolls that ship for your wire. The listed range is 0.8–1.0 mm, so anything thicker sits outside the published data.
Tell Dabu the material and the wire classification as well as the diameter. The product page names several materials the machine can weld, yet it lists no complete aluminium feeding kit and no qualified procedure. For your consumable, ask which liner, contact tip, torch and shielding gas come in the box. Reel capacity is a handling feature. How long the machine can weld at high current is a separate matter, and the duty table answers it.
[1]Read the duty table against your arc-on time
Buying guidance
Few machines in this class print their test conditions so plainly. Every point in the duty table is tied to 40°C ambient and a ten-minute cycle, and the same three ratings cover MIG, MMA and Lift TIG. Keep those conditions attached when you set the MIG160 LED beside another welder. A rival figure taken at a cooler ambient, or with no cycle length, measures something different.
For steady production the figure to watch is 94 A at 100%. At 160 A the machine welds for 35% of each cycle and then needs to cool. Sketch a typical job for Dabu: how long the arc runs, how long fitting, repositioning and cleaning take, and the current you expect to use. Ask for the torch, electrode holder and return lead ratings as well, since each accessory has its own limit. A run on a representative part shows whether the intermittent rating suits your workflow.
[1]Size the circuit for the hungriest process
Buying guidance
Supply demand shifts with the mode. Maximum input current is 31 A in MIG, 32 A in MMA and 21 A in Lift TIG. Effective input current is 18 A, 19 A and 13 A in the same order. Send these figures with the 220 V specification when your electrician plans the installation.
If operators will switch between processes, size the circuit for MMA, the mode with the highest draw, and set the lower TIG figure aside. A plug photo or a domestic socket label tells you little about whether a circuit is suitable. Your installer should check protection, earthing and cable length against the manual for the quoted unit. If you plan to run the welder from a generator or through an extension lead, ask Dabu for those limits as a separate answer.
[1]Settle the Lift TIG minimum before thin-sheet work
Buying guidance
Dabu prints two minimum currents for Lift TIG: 25 A in the short specification and 15 A in the description. Ask Dabu which range applies to the hardware and firmware revision on your quote. On thin material a stable low setting and a clean start count for more than peak amperage, so this one number can decide whether the machine fits the job.
The page names Lift TIG and mentions neither high-frequency start nor AC output for aluminium. If you need either, raise it before you request a price. Ask which TIG torch and gas-control arrangement are included, and whether a remote control can be connected. At the demonstration, have the operator start and stop on your actual joint and write down the settings used.
[1]What Dabu should put in writing
Buying guidance
Gather the open answers into one dated reply from Dabu before you accept the quote. That reply should give the Lift TIG range for your revision, the reel sizes and drive rolls that fit, and the torch, holder and return lead with their ratings. It should also say whether any wire ships with the machine and list every item in the carton by name.
Agree the trial in advance: your material, your joint, the process mix you will use, and a record of the settings. Judge the sample by the acceptance method your engineers choose. When you compare this offer with other suppliers, ask each of them for the same accessory set and the same duty conditions, so the prices line up.
Compare the complete configuration
Swipe the table sideways to read the quotation checks.
| Item | Published scope | Before accepting the quote |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous rating | 94 A at 100% duty, 40°C, ten-minute cycle. [1] | Compare it with the current your job holds over long runs. |
| Peak and mid ratings | 160 A at 35%; 122 A at 60%. [1] | Match the peak to your thickest joint and its arc-on time. |
| Wire feeding | 0.8–1.0 mm wire; stated 5 kg reel capacity. [1] | Get the reel dimensions, hub type and drive rolls for your wire. |
| Lift TIG output | 25–160 A in the table; 15–160 A in the description. [1] | Ask which minimum applies to your revision, then test it on thin stock. |
| Supply | 220 V, 50/60 Hz; up to 32 A maximum input in MMA. [1] | Have your installer size the circuit for the highest-draw mode. |
| Torch, holder and return lead | The published table gives no ratings for these parts. [1] | Request each rating and price each part as its own line. |
A useful brief for the supplier
Fill in each item. Ask the supplier to respond against the same specification so two offers can be compared.
- The joint, material, thickness, position and the process you will use most.
- Wire classification, diameter, reel format and shielding gas.
- Your 220 V circuit rating and the mix of MIG, MMA and Lift TIG work.
- Typical arc-on time per cycle and the current you expect to hold.
- The Lift TIG range for your revision, with the TIG torch and gas set offered.
- The torch, holder and return lead you need, each with its rating.
- How the sample will be judged, plus a named packing list.
Buyer questions
Can the Dabu MIG160 LED weld at 160 A continuously?
Dabu rates it at 160 A for 35% of a ten-minute cycle at 40°C. Its continuous point is 94 A at 100%, and 122 A runs at 60%. Pick the rating that matches how long your arc stays on. [1]
What is the lowest Lift TIG current?
Dabu gives 25 A in the specification and 15 A in the description. Ask for a dated answer for the unit you are buying, and test the low setting on your thinnest joint. [1]
Does the price include a 5 kg reel of wire?
Dabu states that the machine holds a 5 kg reel. Whether wire ships with it, and which reel formats fit, should be spelled out on the quotation. Ask for the reel dimensions and a packing list. [1]
What supply does the MIG160 LED need?
A 220 V, 50/60 Hz circuit. Maximum input current is 32 A in MMA, 31 A in MIG and 21 A in Lift TIG, so size the circuit for stick welding if you plan to use all three modes. [1]
Sources
Figures come from the manufacturer's published data, checked on the date shown. Before ordering, ask for a written, model-specific answer on availability, certificates, delivery and warranty.
- Dabu MIG160 LED official model page · Dabu official catalogue
Manufacturer publication · Checked 2026-10-11
Dabu's product page for the MIG160 LED. It carries the parameter table, the duty ratings, input currents per process and the feature description.
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