looking for brand recomendation

[Mickey_Fx]

Couple days ago my welding equipment walked off. I'm no where near being an expert in this area.

Lincoln nearest model to what I had is their 140C model. I might like to upgrade to a small 220V model.

Any preferences brand wise between Lincoln, Miller or Hobart? Would also entertain comments on features found in this size machine between brands.

TIA

 

[Red Horse]

Couple days ago my welding equipment walked off. I'm no where near being an expert in this area.

Lincoln nearest model to what I had is their 140C model. I might like to upgrade to a small 220V model.

Any preferences brand wise between Lincoln and Miller? Would also entertain comments on features found in this size machine between brands.

TIA

I have a Miller 180 (220). My first attempt at welding and I've been very satisfied with it. No basis for comparison but it works well for me. I also had a buddy using it to do some work on my old Mack and this guy (a pro) really liked it-in particular for the sheet metal work he was doing.

I've also used it fabricating out of 1/4 stock and it works well. At the other end of the spectrum I have been rebuilding Fein Multimaster blades (new ones go for 30 bucks) by taking $10 pull saw blade replacements (I can cut about four out of one blade) and welding them to the Fein blade. thin stock but with good temp control it works.

 

[jake98]

Our sponsor Everlast can't keep the units on the shelves. You should check them out too. :thumbsup:

 

[monckywrench]

Wise to hit MULTIPLE welding forums for inputs, especially pertaining to your intended use.

A welder is an answer to a question. The question is "what do you want to weld?".

220 volts will give you considerably more power and is a Good Idea.

 

[bearcreek paul]

Our sponsor Everlast can't keep the units on the shelves. You should check them out too. :thumbsup:

I bought a Pa 140 and I like it so far works great.

 

[Shield Arc]

Our sponsor Everlast can't keep the units on the shelves. You should check them out too. :thumbsup:

Never really looked at their Mig machines before, went to their site. Like to get my hands on the MTS 400 and take it for a test drive.

 

[pickeringchris]

I have a lincoln 180. They are good. So are Hobart and miller.
Whatever you buy you will have a way better range with 220v and less chance of out growing the machine.

 

[yomax4]

Couple days ago my welding equipment walked off. I'm no where near being an expert in this area.

Lincoln nearest model to what I had is their 140C model. I might like to upgrade to a small 220V model.

Any preferences brand wise between Lincoln, Miller or Hobart? Would also entertain comments on features found in this size machine between brands.

TIA

Take a look at the new Thermal Arc 181 Mig, Tig, Stick 3 in 1 unit. Under $1000 and has a Ton of extra features. Hot Start and Arc Force on Stick, Down Slope, Remote and Trigger lock for tig. Inductance control for Mig. These are on The Thermadyne web site and U-tube.

 

[Shield Arc]

yomax4 does that machine have adjustable hot start and arc force?
Can't say I've ever ran a Thermal Arc machine, I know several very qualified weldors who have and they just rave about the arc.

 

[deereman75]

yomax4 does that machine have adjustable hot start and arc force?
Can't say I've ever ran a Thermal Arc machine, I know several very qualified weldors who have and they just rave about the arc.

I was looking at them on the thermal arc website a while ago, and I seem to remember they did have adjustable arc force atleast, cant remember if hot start was adjustable.

 

[yomax4]

Built in Hot start and Adjustable Arc Force. Plus adjustable Inductance. Never seen this many features on a machine under 4K. You can re-strike 7018 like playing a drum. I ran one ay Fab-Tech. There is a 252i also weighs 65# And it has adjustable Hot Start and Arc Force. You can set the hot start for what ever amp and time on you want.Plus the 252 has wire sharp.Let go of the trigger and it sharpens the wire for a perfect start everytime.. The 181 weighs 32#. Talk about portable...Also has Power Factor Correction. Welders may be staring to evolve after 50 years. ( The 252i is made in New Hampshire and just came out at Fab-Tech. The 181i is from one of "their" over seas plants.) There will be a dual voltage 211 and a 141i as well after the 1st of the year I was told. I saw some 181i units at a LWS selling for $839.00

 

[deereman75]

Built in Hot start and Adjustable Arc Force. Plus adjustable Inductance. Never seen this many features on a machine under 4K. You can re-strike 7018 like playing a drum. I ran one ay Fab-Tech. There is a 252i also weighs 65# And it has adjustable Hot Start and Arc Force. You can set the hot start for what ever amp and time on you want.Plus the 252 has wire sharp.Let go of the trigger and it sharpens the wire for a perfect start everytime.. The 181 weighs 32#. Talk about portable...Also has Power Factor Correction. Welders may be staring to evolve after 50 years. ( The 252i is made in New Hampshire and just came out at Fab-Tech. The 181i is from one of "their" over seas plants.) There will be a dual voltage 211 and a 141i as well after the 1st of the year I was told. I saw some 181i units at a LWS selling for $839.00

Do you know how much the 252i sells for? Also, is the wire sharp like a burnback timer?

 

[Mickey_Fx]

Thanks for all the comments folks. My welding needs are minimal with a 80cf bottle for the mig lasting me a couple yrs at least. A small 220V model will more than handle my needs. If I need more, son is a mile away with a Miller 250 sized machine. He also has a tig and plasma setup.

 

[deereman75]

Out of the 180 class migs I have seen, my choice would be the lincoln powermig 180c. Its wire drive system is MUCH heavier then the millermatic 180. (that and I am a lincoln fan)

 

[yomax4]

Do you know how much the 252i sells for? Also, is the wire sharp like a burnback timer?

Wire sharp and burnback are two different animals. Burn back burns the wire back at the end of the weld to a desired lenght and keeps it from freezing in the puddle. Wire Sharp sends voltage back to the ball on the end of the wire and the resistance burns the ball off. 252 is priced a couple hundred less than the other domestic brands but offers Stick and Tig as well as a multitude of fine tune options.

 

[deereman75]

Yomax4 do you know anything about those ESAB caddy migs?

 

[Mickey_Fx]

Out of the 180 class migs I have seen, my choice would be the lincoln powermig 180c. Its wire drive system is MUCH heavier then the millermatic 180. (that and I am a lincoln fan)

Have been looking over specs today and have to agree with you. With my old machine, being a Century model and now owned by Lincoln, looking over specs for both brands, the wire drive on the Miller looks to be the same as on my Century. Hum Never had an issue with that drive.

Since this will be an insurance replacement, not sure at this time how much say I will have over brand/model. Will say insurance co was easy to deal with when I had a burglary a decade ago. This is just one item in a long list that adds up to $4k - $5k replacement value.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Take a look at the new Thermal Arc 181 Mig, Tig, Stick 3 in 1 unit. Under $1000 and has a Ton of extra features. Hot Start and Arc Force on Stick, Down Slope, Remote and Trigger lock for tig. Inductance control for Mig. These are on The Thermadyne web site and U-tube.

Umm,
Yomax,
Our MTS 160 and 200S is a good competitor to your 3n1, and we had it in the US a year before yours.lol...

Look familiar? Not so unique as TA makes out!

 

[Shield Arc]

This is just one item in a long list that adds up to $4k - $5k replacement value.

Well if you have 4 to 5-grand to play with, here you go! :laughing:

 

[deereman75]

Umm,
Yomax,
Our MTS 160 and 200S is a good competitor to your 3n1, and we had it in the US a year before yours.lol...

Look familiar? Not so unique as TA makes out!

Except the thermal arc is more powerful then the mts 160, and costs a few hundred $ less....