Mig opinions

[timswi]

You don't say what your buget is, if your spending limit allow's look at some of the smaller 220 machine's.Found a lincoln sp180 at local TSC a while back on sale,it does great work for the money, not a lot more than some of 110 machine's.If you get up to 1/4" and 3/16" steel the 220 is great.

I'm mostly sheet metal with the mig...But if 220 can do both, that would work.

Don't really have a budget for one. If it's worth it, I'll buy it. The 110v versions seem to run 500-650 or so.

110 is just a little more convenient.

 

[Chilly807]

I have a Miller 180, and a 135 before that. Both great machines, but I actually liked the 135 more. It is capable up to 1/4 inch material, with proper prep work. I found that thin metal required short bursts or burn-through was a problem. 2-3 second stitches cured that.

Miller parts are a little harder to find, if you have a local "pro" distributor it won't be a problem.

Sean

 

[crazyal]

I had a Lincoln 100, worked fine but I have two friends who have the sp125 that I used plenty of times until i bought my 255. The 100 has 4 voltage settings while the 125s have variable setting. After using both I would only get a welder that has variable voltage settings. But it's been years since I've looked at smaller MIGs so things could have changed.

 

[LD1]

Keep your eyes on c-list for older 220 units. I personally dont like some of the newer welders with all the fancy digital readouts and stuff. I bought a 225A 220V linde a few years ago for $600. Linde was bought by esab which is another good brand like miller and lincoln.

IMO the bigger units weld nicer, even on smaller stuff. And the duty cycles are higher and you CAN weld the heavier stuff without having to get the stick out. If your primary work is sheetmetal, the larger units will do just fine, but If you but used, it will more than likely be set up for .035 wire. You will probabally want to change the tip and other necessary parts to run .023 wire or .030 wire. But yes the will weld the smaller stuff just like the 110 units and IMO they weld them better.

 

[looknlearn]

Last year I bought a Lincoln 180C 240 Volt Mig welder on sale. I have been satisfied with it so far. The welding range is 24 gage -3/8 single pass (I am not positive on the 3/8) and up to half inch with multi pass. I am no expert welder but last year I welded a neighbor's rusted off exhaust on his van back together and it held for 7months or so, till he got a new one. I have also welded thick stuff but I don't know how strong that it is.

 

[timswi]

Thanks guys...I starting to lean a little towards the 220v. Hadn't really given those a thought before. I'll have to check a couple of those out.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

timswi,

If you are looking at 220V, our Everlast MIGs can go toe to toe with any on the market, with heavier built PWM controlled wire feeders (no plastic), spool gun capability, digital read outs, and inductance control with heavier, and nicer Binzel gun. They are inverter based and weigh typically less than half their transformer counterparts in the major name lines, consume less power, have much higher duty cycles and have much less spatter. Price is less as well.

If you don't have us in mind, I can understand your sentiment, but its worth looking at.

 

[Shield Arc]

Mark how much inductance control does your machine's have? Scale of what to what?
Who ever invented inductance control should get a big juicy jelly donut!:laughing:
I love how much control I have over the puddle with it!

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Shield Arc,

From a scale of 0-10. lol.:laughing:

I typically run it about 3/4's full throttle.

I'd give them a whole box of Krispey Kremes with raspberry filling.

I can pretty mimic any mig on the market and then improve upon that with my own settings. (For Miller, I crank way left...)

IF you've never had it, its the best tool a MIG can have, unfortunately, you have to get BIG migs to get this feature with other brands. So many people suffering with underperforming migs and don't know it....sort of like eating only a diet of unseasoned broccoli and being told its fine dining.

 

[Shield Arc]

IF you've never had it, its the best tool a MIG can have, unfortunately, you have to get BIG migs to get this feature with other brands. So many people suffering with underperforming migs and don't know it....sort of like eating only a diet of unseasoned broccoli and being told its fine dining.

Yeah, you know I never really thought about it, why don't all Mig machines come with it? Expensive to add?
I love how you can dial it down and get a really wet flowing puddle, or crank it up and get a real dry puddle for doing verticals or overhead. It should be a law, all Mig machines come with it! :laughing: