i know this subject has been beaten like a red headed step child but, i need some input from the good ol pbb.

heres the deal, i have been using a lowes bought lincoln 140 for about 9 yrs and it still works good but i run into its dutycycle about every time i turn it on.

i have been looking at welders in the $1500 range, but my head feels like its gunna blow. i realy like the mm212, but the ironman 250 is in the same cash range or the ironman 210 can be had for a few hundred less. i also found a esab 250 on craigslist for $800, but its 8 yrs old. i dont want to get some that needs replace in a few yrs.

what i am trying to say is, is the mm212 worth the extra few hundred over the ironman and is the ironman worth the the xtra few hundred over the handler. i have never used a 220v mig but have put a few hundred lbs through that little 140. wtf should i buy:confused:

I bought an ESAB 250 about 9 years ago, used it everyday for 3 years then sold the business that I used it for and it went with the business, so I went straight to the store and bought another one just like it. Been using it for a little over 5 years and never had a single problem with either of them. BTW, they were around $1,500 new.

i know this subject has been beaten like a red headed step child but, i need some input from the good ol pbb.

heres the deal, i have been using a lowes bought lincoln 140 for about 9 yrs and it still works good but i run into its dutycycle about every time i turn it on.

i have been looking at welders in the $1500 range, but my head feels like its gunna blow. i realy like the mm212, but the ironman 250 is in the same cash range or the ironman 210 can be had for a few hundred less. i also found a esab 250 on craigslist for $800, but its 8 yrs old. i dont want to get some that needs replace in a few yrs.

what i am trying to say is, is the mm212 worth the extra few hundred over the ironman and is the ironman worth the the xtra few hundred over the handler. i have never used a 220v mig but have put a few hundred lbs through that little 140. wtf should i buy:confused:

reviews on the hobart site say the handler 210 is better then the iron man, for what it's worth;)

I have the refurb 187, like it alot

reviews on the hobart site say the handler 210 is better then the iron man, for what it's worth;)

I have the refurb 187, like it alot

that why i am :confused: is the the mm212 or th im250 twice the machine, cause there twice the price.
the nice thing about the mm is that it can be set up with a spool gun at the same time as normal, so you can set down the steel and pick up the aluminum without any down time, not that i would use a ton of aluminum, but its a nice feature.

that why i am :confused: is the the mm212 or th im250 twice the machine, cause there twice the price.
the nice thing about the mm is that it can be set up with a spool gun at the same time as normal, so you can set down the steel and pick up the aluminum without any down time, not that i would use a ton of aluminum, but its a nice feature.
I'm going to give you a different answer then many
I don't know
many will guess so they can say something:p

I do think if you want to aluminum weld, get a tig

that guys reply on the esab sounded like it lasted, but he did not really say much else, an ol link tomb stone arc will last forever, don't mean I want one:homer:


I always here, buy the largest you can aford and grow into it:grinpimp:

I have a mm 210. The drive rollers are twice the size as the Hobart, and it never has trouble feeding wire. Every miller/hobart I've used with the smaller drive wheels was a no wire feeding POS. The ironman 210 has the same drive as the smaller hobarts, don't know about the 250.

I bought both my welders used, for about just over half the price of a new one. I have a lincoln 255 and the 210. Never used an esab.

I've got the 210 handler, I like it, I thought there would be times that I wished that I had spent more and gone bigger but so far there hasn't been any. If you think you are going to be welding near the upper range of a 200 amp welder all the time then a 250 amp machine might be a better bet, if the 140 had enough power and it was just the duty cycle that slowed you down then a 200 amp machine should be fine. I don't think I've ever heard somebody say "I wish I had bought a smaller welder" however.

Brewchief:D

I bought both my welders used, for about just over half the price of a new one.

Yep, same here - MM250X, Syncrowave250DX, and Hypertherm PowerMax1100. Be patient and look around and you can find yourself a good deal. Unless you are doing business and can start talking depreciation and need the service and warranty a new machine will buy you I'd rather save the money up front.

miller DVI2

dual voltage. spool gun options. it works great. one of the best welders i have used.

i bought mine for $1100 cash. walk in with cash in hand and tell them thats all you have. it worked for me.:grinpimp:

Unless you are doing business and can start talking depreciation and need the service and warranty a new machine will buy you I'd rather save the money up front.

Hey I'm doing business but I'm not sure I remember the last tool I bought new. (EDIT oh yes foot control for the $700 syncrowave :D)I have an entry-level mig that my dad bought new in about 2000 as a backup of my industrial machine I won at an auction in 2005 for like $200 and has been flawless ever since.
If you have enough patience to hunt for deals on used machines or at auctions you could have a high-end mig, brilliant tig and powerful plasma for the price of a new mid-level mig. Maybe I've just been lucky so far :)

Powermig 255c :flipoff2:

I love my Handler 210. We have a Miller 251 at work, I weld the same with both.

i know this subject has been beaten like a red headed step child but, i need some input from the good ol pbb.

heres the deal, i have been using a lowes bought lincoln 140 for about 9 yrs and it still works good but i run into its dutycycle about every time i turn it on.

i have been looking at welders in the $1500 range, but my head feels like its gunna blow. i realy like the mm212, but the ironman 250 is in the same cash range or the ironman 210 can be had for a few hundred less. i also found a esab 250 on craigslist for $800, but its 8 yrs old. i dont want to get some that needs replace in a few yrs.

what i am trying to say is, is the mm212 worth the extra few hundred over the ironman and is the ironman worth the the xtra few hundred over the handler. i have never used a 220v mig but have put a few hundred lbs through that little 140. wtf should i buy:confused:

that why i am :confused: is the the mm212 or th im250 twice the machine, cause there twice the price.
the nice thing about the mm is that it can be set up with a spool gun at the same time as normal, so you can set down the steel and pick up the aluminum without any down time, not that i would use a ton of aluminum, but its a nice feature.

I wanted a MM212 but didn't have the $$$. After researching I ended up with Hobart Handler HH210, it's a good compromise on price, performance, and duty cycle. It's also quite a bit smaller than the Ironman or MM210/212 which is nice if you have a crowded/small garage/shop. The duty cycle is slightly less than the larger Hobart and Miller machines, but unless you are using 100 lbs of wire every day at max power, it will me more than adequate for what you need.

You can run a spool gun on the HH210 also, it has the plug on the front. You can get the HH210 with a spool gun for ~$1200

Powermig 255c :flipoff2:

x2 handles everything I've thrown at it :smokin:

Powermig 255c :flipoff2:

x2 handles everything I've thrown at it :smokin:



belive it or not, thats what decided to buy. i went lookin at them all and its stupid to not just spend the extra cash and do it wright the first time. 2k shipped from just about anywhere on the web.


i will delete this thread at the end of the day.

love mine too, works great, you wont be sad.

no reason to delete thread we need to refer ppl somewhere :flipoff2:

You can run a spool gun on the HH210 also, it has the plug on the front. You can get the HH210 with a spool gun for ~$1200

Yup I have the spool gun. Have not used it yet though.