Which welder would you recommend?

[rketr]

Yes another post on which welder would be best.

However, in this one...

I'm looking to upgrade. I've got one of the Lincoln 3200HD welders (MIG/Flux) -- works great for small projects. I'm planning on getting into larger projects such as frame work and cages.

Which would you recommend: a 220v MIG, ARC, or TIG? Since I plan on having it a while, I am expecting to pay $1500 - $2000 for a good one.

What ya think?

[extremetoy]

havnt used anything but mm135 and mm251. we just got the 251 and love it

[Bigger Valves]

A nice MIG machine. Especially like a MM251, 350, or some of Lincoln or ESAB's bigger offerings. You'll be more than satisfied.

[rketr]

What about TIG's?

[TANNERJENNINGS24]

X2 MM251 I love mine.You could not ask for a better machine.

[geberhard]

Just did about the same thing, sold my HD3200 and got a Lincoln 175. I liked the HD3200 a lot, very versatile little machine, and am looking forward to using this box, will keep ya posted :)

Gui

[Todd W]

I like my Lincoln PowerMig 255 a lot :)

I'm in the market for a TIG now and have been looking at the Lincoln 225 just because that's as high-amp as I can go in my garage at current time.

[300sniper]

I like my Lincoln PowerMig 255 a lot :)

I'm in the market for a TIG now and have been looking at the Lincoln 225 just because that's as high-amp as I can go in my garage at current time.


i got the miller syncrowave 200 tig weder and have had good luck with it but i am still learning to use it. i think that is about as much tig machine as you can get new for under $2000. if i had more experience with tig welding i would have gone with a larger machine with a water cooled torch. i figured i better learn how to use it before i commit to spending 3-4k+ dollars.

i have friends with the lincoln 255 and have nothing but good things to say about it. i have not heard anything bad about either the miller 251 or the lincoln 255. it sounds like they are very comparable to me and i don't think you could go wrong with either. i want to match my blue tig welder so i am saving my lunch money to get a millermatic 251 mig welder now. i hope to be ordering it next month.

[Todd W]

I prefer the Lincoln over the Miller because of the drive roll system on the Lincoln. When you goto the welding shop compare them and see for yourself. I know a lot of good fabbers love the Millers so really personal preference.

This is the TIG I was looking at: http://www.weldingmart.com/Qstore/p003391.htm

With your Miller 200 what kind of thickness can you do with steel or aluminum?

[CrewCab59]

Miller 251 and be done with it ,I love mine!!

[FF3PM]

I am not brand partial but I have a lot of blue ones due to product support; Bobcat 225, MM200,Syncrowave 300, Maxtron 450, and lastly a lonely HTP 180. They are all great machines. Find out from local shops who in your area has the best after sale service. Tell us a little about what you know welding wise, what kind of material you want to weld such as Aluminum, Chormolly, SS, Mild steel, etc. I have used a MM251 and was not impressed enough with it over my MM200 to justify a purchase, but from what I hear from veteran welders this is common and they are either good machines or bad ones. I tested a MM350P before buying my Maxtron and it was a very good machine, I just got a better deal on the Max 450, and it has a 100% duty cycle.

[Hackfabricaton]

IMO: If you got the money to spend get the Miller 251 or comparable Lincoln/Hobart with a spool gun for aluminum.

TIG is a great process and has a place in many custom fab projects, but if you're not willing to practice on a variety of materials you are gonna be disappointed with the results. Not so with MIG which is really a much easier machine to master.

Another .02 in the pot.

[300sniper]

I prefer the Lincoln over the Miller because of the drive roll system on the Lincoln. When you goto the welding shop compare them and see for yourself. I know a lot of good fabbers love the Millers so really personal preference.

This is the TIG I was looking at: http://www.weldingmart.com/Qstore/p003391.htm

With your Miller 200 what kind of thickness can you do with steel or aluminum?

i think miller came out with the sw200 to corner the market on entry lever tig machines. before the sw200, both companies had 185 amp machines. soon after miller introduced the sw200, lincoln came out with the 225. they both sound like they have the same features but the lincoln has about 30 amps more output. this may help out with the aluminum as my machine is supposed to be maxed out at 3/16" aluminum.

i have welded 1/4" to 3/8" with a nice fillet weld and it did fine in hammer/vice destructive testing:D . the air cooled torch gets HOT when running at max amps tho. i am sure you will find the same with the 225. when money will allow, i think i am going to get a watter cooled torch and cooling unit. i have not welded more than 1/8" steel yet but i think 1/4" should be no problem.

[Todd W]

i think miller came out with the sw200 to corner the market on entry lever tig machines. before the sw200, both companies had 185 amp machines. soon after miller introduced the sw200, lincoln came out with the 225. they both sound like they have the same features but the lincoln has about 30 amps more output. this may help out with the aluminum as my machine is supposed to be maxed out at 3/16" aluminum.

i have welded 1/4" to 3/8" with a nice fillet weld and it did fine in hammer/vice destructive testing:D . the air cooled torch gets HOT when running at max amps tho. i am sure you will find the same with the 225. when money will allow, i think i am going to get a watter cooled torch and cooling unit. i have not welded more than 1/8" steel yet but i think 1/4" should be no problem.

Sounds like what I want then :) My main purpose is to weld .120 tube and 16ga for body panels, gas tanks, etc... sounds like the 225 should have NO problem doing all of the above :)

Sweet!!

[mctonyb]

I have the Lincoln 255's little brother the power mig 215 and have nothing but good things to say about it. The wire speed adjustments are very accurate, has plenty of power for doing what you want, and even has two 110v aux outlets on the back! I also like the fact that it has a top loading lockable tool carrier inside for consumables and evenough room to throw gloves, pliers, wrenches, etc in there. Not to mention the VERY forgiving arc the machine creates. I've even had the wife try it and she's put down some good beads!

[Flashover Mfg]

Our Thermal Arc 251 has been performing exceptionally well for the year we have had it so far. It uses the same name brand parts as any of the other big brands, infact Tweco is owned by the same parent company as Thermal Arc. When we purchased this machine, it was a good $400-500 cheaper than the Miller as well. We have put about 200 lbs of wire through it and onl had to change the tips, everything else is still working perfectly.

Ryan

[KWTMECH]

I'll hafta agree with the above on the Miller Matic 251, with the aluminum spool gun on the side

[40_Below]

Go with the MM251 with the spoolgun!

[Powerstrokinit]

Another vote for a MM251.

Tobin

[HillWilly]

I have a lincoln power mig 300(has pulsed mig---$$$) and a miller dynasty 200dx(inverter ac and dc pulsed tig).

If I was to buy a mig machine right now I'd buy the lincoln powermig 255 or 215. I've welded with Miller's 250 and liked the Lincoln better--the arc was crisper, started better and the bead looked better. Then get a tig machine if you think you need more down the road. And like someone above said---the driveroll system is better on the lincoln(I'm not biased as to the brand---as I said earlier I have both a lincoln and a miller in my garage---I study the features, test the machines and then make my decision)

[PAToyota]

Which would you recommend: a 220v MIG, ARC, or TIG?

All depends on what you plan on welding! Stick ain't going to do crap if you want to weld sheetmetal. TIG ain't going to do much in a hurry if you're putting together frames out of 3/8" plus thick plate. MIG can do aluminum with a spoolgun but you sure aren't going to be able to do fine work...

Sit down, figure out your needs, and then decide which will work for you - they aren't completely interchangeable.

I love all the posts about "get such-and-such welder - I have one and it suits all my needs." I have TIG for the fine stuff, aluminum, and it has stick if I want to do heavy duty. I also have MIG for the sheetmetal and when I'm laying down beads all day. Still thinking about a small oxy-acetylene setup for some things I can't do with the other two.

[rketr]

All depends on what you plan on welding! Stick ain't going to do crap if you want to weld sheetmetal. TIG ain't going to do much in a hurry if you're putting together frames out of 3/8" plus thick plate. MIG can do aluminum with a spoolgun but you sure aren't going to be able to do fine work...

Sit down, figure out your needs, and then decide which will work for you - they aren't completely interchangeable.

I love all the posts about "get such-and-such welder - I have one and it suits all my needs." I have TIG for the fine stuff, aluminum, and it has stick if I want to do heavy duty. I also have MIG for the sheetmetal and when I'm laying down beads all day. Still thinking about a small oxy-acetylene setup for some things I can't do with the other two.

Well, as I mentioned in the beginning of the topic, I'm looking to get into frame/cage work (i.e. heavier stuff that requires deeper penetration than I would trust my 3200HD to do). From everything I'm reading, the MM251 seems to be the most recommended for the cause...

[PAToyota]

Not trying to flame you or anything, but it does all come down to what you want to do. A MIG with more power sounds like the route for you to take. You asked about TIG and that was where I said it all comes down to what you want to do with it.

[rketr]

No problem there...

Actually thats the question, I've heard/read that TIG gets better penetration so was thinking that it would be better for the frame/cage stuff. However if a larger MIG can do it then all the better (would be the difference between a 50+ hour TIG job or a 5 hour MIG job).

Thanks for all the suggestions :)

[69CJ]

i can only speak about the MM210... I beat the hell out of it and I love it. Grabbed it from cyberweld.com

[bryans98tj]

Mine is a simple Lincoln 135 but it is my first and I don't have a 220 outlet in my garage (renting). I have been very with it and have built several bumpers, sliders and other crap. When we buy a new home (soon I hope) I will be sure to have a 220. Then I am stepping up to a 220.

[DURAtotheMAX]

I have a lincoln IdealArc SP-255 and I absolutely love it.

The automatic wire speed/voltage settings and LCD control panel/buttons kick ass. I know the old-school guys will snicker and scoff at something "automatic" but the ability to fire it up, basically type in "I wanna weld some 10 gauge metal and im using stargon and .035 wire" and be off and running is awesome.

99% of the time I never have to override the "automatic" setting (and enter voltage/wf speed manually) to get a nice weld on any range of metal thickness/application. Sadly they dont make that particular machine anymore, but I will NEVER get rid of mine. :smokin:

ben

[SoundManCO]

I have had a few welders. I have a MM251 now and love it. Get the spoolgun to go with it.

[xj42]

I bet the OP found a welder by now.:flipoff2:

[DURAtotheMAX]

oh!!! duh!!!! haha I wonder how this got bumped to the top in the shop/tools section??? :confused:

I just clicked on the shop/tools section and this thread was at the top, didnt even notice the date. :flipoff2:

ben

[LaGoeMotorsports.com]

I dig the Miller 210. I have used Lincoln well but it seems the blue box is a bit smoother. Just my 2cents.