Help me choose a new welder!

[Colonel Monk]

Howdy ALL

I'm not a professional. I have been welding here and there for 20 years though, starting with stick, to a high end MIG belonging to the farm where I worked, and many little projects on borrowed 120v buzz boxes.

I've done enough of the latter to know that I don't want to rely on 120V for my projects, though it is nice to have a welder that can do small repairs off 120V. So because there are 120/240 welders I plan to go that route.

I'm looking at welders from both Miller and Lincoln. I don't have any tig experience, but would like to learn eventually. I'm not sure that figures in here, except for some of the multiprocess welders can do tig.

Main use will be fabricating implements for tractor and other hobby projects, though with my job right now I might also be doing some prototyping of my designs. I'd say that I'll never (and I never say never) be welding 1/2", 3/8 unlikely, but alot of 1/4" and below.

Millermaticï½® 211 Auto-Set Millermatic 211 Auto-Set with MVP - MIG Wire Welder - GMAW - Miller Welding $1160
Multimatic 200 Multimatic 200 - Multiprocess Welder - Portable Welder - Miller Welding $2000

POWER MIGï½® 210 MP POWER MIG® 210 MP Multi-Process Welder $1000
POWER MIGï½® 180 DUAL POWER MIG® 180 Dual MIG Welder $959 ($100 Rebate available too)

I'm thinking the Multimatic 200 is out of my price range, but thought I'd consider it anyway.

What do you all think of these?

Is the multiprocess thing a gimmick or is it the real deal?

I don't want to start a "Ford vs Chevy" argument here, but what about the overall difference between Miller and Lincoln? Everywhere I've worked that does fab uses Miller.

I have used alot of Lincoln 120V squirt guns, they seem built well-enough but probably bad comparison since 120V isn't ideal, and it's even less ideal without the right extension cords for power (current problems).

Been waiting many years to finally get one of these so I can do my own thing, help me figure it out!!

Thanks

CM

 

[big bubba]

might consider Hobart as well... this source is competitively priced good luck
Hobart Handler 210MVP MIG Welder at Blain's Farm & Fleet
btw: just purchased a hobart stick welder from them, great. copper not al windings. not sure on the mig model. notice shipping is additional for your comparative pricing. hobart makes a quality welder... having the infinite voltage control on the miller model could be helpful vs incremental of hobart model.

 

[Colonel Monk]

I probably should also include Hobart in my search. I don't know much about them but I do know they've been around for a long time.

Does anyone have experience with quality of MIG products? I'm thinking of wire-feeding mechanism....

Thanks

 

[Big Barn]

In your case I think I would wait for some reviews on the Lincoln 210MP inverter or the equivalent Everlast model from Mark.

Terry

 

[Clay45]

I really enjoyed welding with my Hobart Handler 187 and now regret parting with it. My understanding is the current HH190 is the same welder but spoolgun ready should you decide to fiddle with aluminum. I can certainly suggest one of those based upon your criteria.

 

[Wolfy]

We had a Miller 251 that got burned in a garage fire, then found a 250 to replace it. They were both great units. The only trouble I had, is sometimes the self feeding wheel gets hung up.

 

[Big Barn]

I really enjoyed welding with my Hobart Handler 187 and now regret parting with it. My understanding is the current HH190 is the same welder but spoolgun ready should you decide to fiddle with aluminum. I can certainly suggest one of those based upon your criteria.

A friend sold me his unused Hobart Handler 187. It welded real nice but adding a spool gun was cost prohibitive. Considered a spool gun readyHH190 but ended up with a Thermal Arc 181i. $950 for the machine and $200 (Cdn funds ) for the spool gun from LWS. MIG/stick/DCtig This is it mounted on top of my TA210 Fabricator Terry

 

[Cpjlube]

The Handler 190 goes on sale at TSC occasionally. Great machine.

 

[Nightforce]

The Handler 190 goes on sale at TSC occasionally. Great machine.

I have this model and have been very pleased with it's performance.

 

[mikehaugen]

My vote would be for the miller 211 or the hobart 210, depending on if you care about infinite voltage control. The reason I personally choose those is because they are made in the USA. The new Lincoln sounds good on paper but doesn't give me much a warm fuzzy feeling. It's assembled in Mexico, but for the price I'm guessing it's nearly entirely Chinese parts. I've only heard one first-hand review, the guy claimed it didn't do well with 6010 and was having feeding problems with it. It's too new and too cheap for me to trust it right away. I've heard of dozens of people with both the Miller and the Hobart and all seem more than pleased.

Someone also mentioned everlast, they also seem to get pretty good reviews, but I personally can't bring myself to consider one, though not for performance or reputation reasons. They do stand behind their stuff it seems.

 

[big bubba]

agree w/mikehaugen on either miller or hobart. and that infinite voltage control on miller could be a plus. but i'm not a mig welder, strictly arc. i stepped up from a 35 yr old lincoln ac buzz box (still works great) and went with a hobart ac/dc w/infinite amp control. great to fine tune esp when welding thinner stuff. but that feature may be apples to oranges when it comes to mig, don't know.... am sure someone here could chime in on that. and then there are always the product reviews on line on each that can be helpful in narrowing it down. but like mike said, can't go wrong with either of those two makes.

 

[Colonel Monk]

Anyone else?

 

[Colonel Monk]

My vote would be for the miller 211 or the hobart 210, depending on if you care about infinite voltage control. The reason I personally choose those is because they are made in the USA. The new Lincoln sounds good on paper but doesn't give me much a warm fuzzy feeling. It's assembled in Mexico, but for the price I'm guessing it's nearly entirely Chinese parts. I've only heard one first-hand review, the guy claimed it didn't do well with 6010 and was having feeding problems with it. It's too new and too cheap for me to trust it right away. I've heard of dozens of people with both the Miller and the Hobart and all seem more than pleased.

Someone also mentioned everlast, they also seem to get pretty good reviews, but I personally can't bring myself to consider one, though not for performance or reputation reasons. They do stand behind their stuff it seems.

Thanks Mike for that comment - I didn't know that about the Lincoln but like you, when it comes to tools nothing beats Made in the USA! I didn't know that Hobart was made in the USA! That's great.

Now, I didn't mention it before, but YES I do plan to play with aluminum so adding a spoolgun is important to me. All the models I picked had spoolgun capability.

 

[Colonel Monk]

agree w/mikehaugen on either miller or hobart. and that infinite voltage control on miller could be a plus. but i'm not a mig welder, strictly arc. i stepped up from a 35 yr old lincoln ac buzz box (still works great) and went with a hobart ac/dc w/infinite amp control. great to fine tune esp when welding thinner stuff. but that feature may be apples to oranges when it comes to mig, don't know.... am sure someone here could chime in on that. and then there are always the product reviews on line on each that can be helpful in narrowing it down. but like mike said, can't go wrong with either of those two makes.

I hadn't thought of the infinite control, but that is pretty nice. Without it, some materials/thicknesses you just have to reply on your skill and "alchemy" to get a weld with no burn thru. I'm not that good, but I want good welds!

I found a pretty nice package deal for the miller on ebay, cart, cover, spoolgun, for just few hundred more.

Still need to give the hobarts a look, I have seen them in local farm fleet but never looked up the specs.

Thanks guys

Going to look at a 7ft snowplow for my FEL, so I'm gonna need a welder real soon.

 

[Winmac]

I have a hobart 187 and the only bad thing I can say about it is that I hate how stiff the gun Leed is, I'm always fighting to hold a steady bead.
Other than that I think it's a better machine ( less complicated electronically) than millers. A taped machine lays nicer welds compared to the infinitely adjustable one and the auto set is kind of a gimmick anyway.

I have not used any of the multi process machines your considering but generally there are trade offs, one process out shines the others. for me I wound not want a tig unless it has ac for aluminum.

 

[BethelHntr]

I can only vouch for the miller 211 as Iv'e only had 110v machines in the past, Excellent penetration with 3/8" and 1/2". I would recommend adding a 75/25 argon co2 bottle and regulator to your new purchase, For myself it makes welding cleaner and I can see how the bead is flowing a lot better than flux core.

 

[Colonel Monk]

I have a hobart 187 and the only bad thing I can say about it is that I hate how stiff the gun Leed is, I'm always fighting to hold a steady bead.
Other than that I think it's a better machine ( less complicated electronically) than millers. A taped machine lays nicer welds compared to the infinitely adjustable one and the auto set is kind of a gimmick anyway.

I have not used any of the multi process machines your considering but generally there are trade offs, one process out shines the others. for me I wound not want a tig unless it has ac for aluminum.

See what I learned? I didn't know that tig for AL was AC only, and if those welders don't have that the tig kit would be worthless. I'm pretty much leaning towards the Miller 211 and looking into the Hobarts. I like that they are both made here at home in the midwest. LAST thing I want to do right now with a high dollar purchase, is send more money away from our workers. I was just out of work for a year!! First time ever.

 

[Colonel Monk]

I can only vouch for the miller 211 as Iv'e only had 110v machines in the past, Excellent penetration with 3/8" and 1/2". I would recommend adding a 75/25 argon co2 bottle and regulator to your new purchase, For myself it makes welding cleaner and I can see how the bead is flowing a lot better than flux core.

I'm definitely getting a bottle. First MIG I ever used, welds looked like a pro made them and it was all because of the gas. Also on the list of things welding is a torch, so I'll be getting friendly with the industrial gas co anyway.

 

[Big Barn]

See what I learned? I didn't know that tig for AL was AC only, and if those welders don't have that the tig kit would be worthless. I'm pretty much leaning towards the Miller 211 and looking into the Hobarts. I like that they are both made here at home in the midwest. LAST thing I want to do right now with a high dollar purchase, is send more money away from our workers. I was just out of work for a year!! First time ever.

Maybe not totally useless. Don't forget you have the capability for stick welding with the same machine on your dirty, rusty, heavier, windy condition projects.

Terry

 

[Colonel Monk]

Maybe not totally useless. Don't forget you have the capability for stick welding with the same machine on your dirty, rusty, heavier, windy condition projects.

Terry

OK, not totally useless, just useless for tig welding aluminum.

I have thought about getting an ARC welder, and probably will when my shop is built and I have the space. I see the good old stuff on CL all the time in estate sales, I'd love to have one of those 400 lb mothers around to keep the shop from blowing away!!