Mig welder opinion

[IcallhimGeorge]

Ive done the reading/search thing so :flipoff2:

Im going to buy a new mig machine for my shop. Ive narrowed the choices down to a Hobart 250 and a Lincoln 255. Must be able to do basic fab work and welding up to 1/2" plate on 1 pass.

If you walked in to a store would you buy one over the other?

[PAToyota]

Ive done the reading/search thing so :flipoff2:

Apparently not... :shaking:

[Todd W]

POwermig 255c :D

[leone nick]

I vote red.
Nick

[IcallhimGeorge]

Apparently not... :shaking:

I must have since I narrowed it down to 2 machines out of the 10 or so (brands and sizes)I looked at.



Todd,
thanks man. I was leaning toward lincoln anyway since my stick welder is a lincoln 225 AC DC. For some goofy reason I like my tools to be one name brand. On the other side of the coin a Hobart 250 AC DC is the best stick welder Ive ever used.

[Todd W]

I've had my powermig 255 for many years and put 100lb+ of wire through it and have yet to have ANY problems *knocks on wood*. I got it used. I have a new liner for it but have not needed it yet (probably could use a swap now). Clean the drive rolls each time I put a new spool on and called it good. Thing is a TANK. I have moved it over rocks, through gras, lifted it and pushed it around. Works great and I just added a lincoln precision tig 225 (http://www.4x4blog.com/lincoln-precision-tig-225-welder/) to the line-up :) Awesome welder, I love it :smokin:

[IcallhimGeorge]

I think Im retarded because I could never get my foot pedal left hand and right hand all in time for tig.

I bought a lincoln 130 110v machine with flux core wire years ago when I thought mig was the way to go. Well I guess its a good body work machine but it fawkin sux at anything thicker than sheetmetal. Ill never put down my stick welder for some projects but I think a real good mig is what I need for my truck.

[fj40charles]

I'm partial to Miller welders since that is what I have mostly. Only Lincoln I own is an SA200. :D

However, in this case, I have to go with the Powermig 255 for better top end power and duty cycle over the Hobart 250. I'd look at a Millermatic 251/252, Thermal Arc Fabricator 251, or Esab Migmaster 250 as good or better alternatives.

[maxyedor]

I've had my powermig 255 for many years and put 100lb+ of wire through it and have yet to have ANY problems *knocks on wood*.

100lbs isn't even worth mentioning for a high end mig. My little SP175 gets about 200lbs of wire through it a year, so maybe 800lbs thus far and aside from getting hit by a truck you'd never know it had ever been used. A Powermig can go through thousands of pounds of wire before it even hiccups. Millers and Hobarts are the same so if you chose to go that route just pick the one that matches your other tools, Panasonic makes a great mig as does Esab, but Lincoln is truly the top of the heap for high end migs and transformer based tigs.

[IcallhimGeorge]

Hobart makes Miller but I did look at the 251 and 252. I also looked at the Thermal arc. I honestly dont think I could go wrong with either one(hobart or lincoln) because of how much its actually used. My machine will probably use 100lb (maybe less) of wire a year. Im just a hobby welder but want the best I can afford. Im trying to budget myself to ~2grand.

Thanks for the help guys.

[300sniper]

in my opinion, when you get into that class of welder it becomes "choose your color". you didn't mention it but i got the miller 251 and love it. i wouldn't hesitate to get it again. the new 252 has some cool features like the 15' lead for the gun.

[THachiya]

I have a 255C and love it. Had a warranty issue and Lincoln covered it without any hassle. Works harder than I do.

[f250rollinon37s]

i love my 255 - id get another if i could afford it :D

[bluewidowr1]

I just picked up a Thermalarc Fabricator 251 And so far I like it every bit as much as the Miller I had been using. Another nice thing is that with the money you save over one of the other "Brand name" units you can pick up a nice spool gun too if you dont already have one.

[PAToyota]

I must have since I narrowed it down to 2 machines out of the 10 or so (brands and sizes)I looked at.

Then you know that you are looking at Miller's "economy" brand and a Lincoln and you're going to get your typical blue vs. red discussion.

[Todd W]

Get out the cash and get the Lincoln 350MP :D

[Wyoming9]

first off Hobart is gone. The little stuff went to Illinois Tool Company the bigger to Thermal Arc.

I must say though I like lincolns but it is a bugger to get parts some times. They are right up there with Esabs as the most hated machines to work on.

It is not really fair to a hobby welder that your warranty is the same as a industrial buyer. that could burn an easy hundred pounds of wire a week you might not see that much in three years