By the looks of it, the lincoln has the double drive gear.

But I just can't decide between one or the other.
Which would you pick and why? Also, if someone can provide a picture of the gear setup of their miller I can do a better comparison. The lincoln site has a picture but i wouldn't put it past them to show a cheaper model like the chain store ones...

I bought the miller. There both great welders. Features are better on a Miller. Everything is quick change on the Miller. If Lincoln has improoved their machines then go either or.

the only real difference I see is the miller has autoset, lincoln doesn't.

Lincoln has a double drive gear, miller doesn't (atleast thats what I have found out), both has some sort of smooth arc start thing.

miller is a double groove drive.
Miller will change gears faster. I would like to see a picture of the drive setup that would make my choice a little easier.

I went with Miller and have been very happy with my Millermatic180. I got mine 2 yrs or so ago so no autoset on mine. I really don't see much need or use for the autoset anyway.

I wouldn't put much into the autoset feature. I find that I never like the 'recomended setting' under the side door on my miller anyway. So if it sets things to those settings I'd end up changing it around anyway...

well im not looking at really the autoset. Im looking at the machine itself. Which is going to be better last longer ect...


They look almost identical to me. The only thing I haven't seen is the gear drive which i havent verified. I already have the lincoln, but can get the miller if I want. (dad bought without consulting... ) But yea either works for me.

In a money saving move Lincoln went to a pressed on gear in the wire drive assembly . In the 140c and 180c . As a Lincoln warranty vendor we have fixed quite a few.

Very few counter people know this. Other than this both give good service if you do your part.

I vote Miller in this case:D

All for a matter of opinion now. My dad got me the lincoln but asked me which one I want and I can return the lincoln and get the miller if I prefer. What does the pressed on drive gear do? I don't know much on these, first welder I will own, usually welded at school or at my friends.

I would prefer as problem free as possible. I would still like that picture to compare each to another by picture sometimes you can tell quality just by a picture.

thought I would post this link:
http://content.lincolnelectric.com/pdfs/products/literature/e7242.pdf

not sure how accurate it is on the miller probably a cheap version of the miller they show.

a press on fit is where the gear has a few thousands smaller diameter then the shaft. It can be any thing not just a gear.

Said gear is then pressed on the shaft the friction is all that holds the gear on the shaft.

Sometimes the tolerances are to loose said shaft just spins. Result no wire feed.

The Miller uses a drilled and pinned set up like Lincoln used to do.

We have waited weeks sometimes for these parts.

Kind of like with Fram Filters they had to do something to sell to Walmart and Autozone and hold the price down.:shaking:

Hope this helps

All for a matter of opinion now. My dad got me the lincoln but asked me which one I want and I can return the lincoln and get the miller if I prefer. What does the pressed on drive gear do? I don't know much on these, first welder I will own, usually welded at school or at my friends.

I would prefer as problem free as possible. I would still like that picture to compare each to another by picture sometimes you can tell quality just by a picture.
went and had a look at the lincoln and miller side by side and i do see the drive gear however the lincoln looks stronger but changing gears isnt a problem for me but which does a better arc. And the gears look to havd a locking square end

We have Miller Auto-set 180's and Lincoln 175's in our welding class. I noticed the Millers go into thermal shut down fairly often. Never on the Lincolns.
That said, I have all Miller at home.

You wanted pics of the inside of the new 180, here ya go. You can see the wire roll has the size of the wire engraved on the face for the wire being used. Push and 1/4 turn and it comes off to flip around easily. Tention knob with numbers for easy tention setting and re-setting of roller wheel. Tention bar flips up for easy wire changing. Big easy to grab knob for wire spool changing. Easy to swap lead wires for flux, or gas wire. Easy lead installation. Just loosen the clamp screw, insert all the way till it seats against the lead flange, tighten clamp screw knob. Built in tip holder block.

Not sure what the new Lincoln look like as far as fetures, but the 175 Plus I had as my last machine shop, everything was bolted. You had to use tools to do most everything.

woot thanks.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1220/1226094159_bfe6210c7f.jpg?v=0

for others to see the difference..

I am going to stick with the miller, but they both look good ,but the lincoln looks more solid to me...

Okay, got talking with my dad here... now he thinks the miller is better built, we already have the actual lincoln, but might go and change it up. By looking at the miller a little closer I see it feeds the wire straight and the lincoln does it on an angle? Not sure how effective that is. But looking for one more thing:

Is it possible to get the lincoln to a drilled and tapped setup like the miller? or is that something that is out of the question?

Okay, got talking with my dad here... now he thinks the miller is better built, we already have the actual lincoln, but might go and change it up. By looking at the miller a little closer I see it feeds the wire straight and the lincoln does it on an angle? Not sure how effective that is. But looking for one more thing:

Is it possible to get the lincoln to a drilled and tapped setup like the miller? or is that something that is out of the question?

I was talking to a welding shop yesterday about a bigger unit (millermatic 252) and he said that miller has changed to the angled drive like lincoln. He said the idea is that having the drive at an angle will cause the wire to bind less, creating less drag and causing the liner to last longer because the gun lead is usually laying on the floor. Hopefully that makes sence.

I have a tapped Lincoln 180 in the mail as we speak :D

is it possible to tap an untapped one? I got the newest model 180c. If you look at the lincoln site, but it does say, locking gear.

I have the linconl 180c for home use great little unit, I prefer stick welders personally as for work we can take the caddy's anywhere we need to go and this machine is very easy to weld with

At work we use big 3 phase 250+ amp ESAB's

I've got 2 millers in my garage. My MIG is a 175 which is basically the old version of the miller you are looking at. I have had it for something like 5-6 years now I think? I have lost track of time but I can tell you it has been completely trouble free in that time. My TIG is probably about half that old and no problems out of it either. For my money its Miller over Lincoln every time...:smokin:

I've got 2 millers in my garage. My MIG is a 175 which is basically the old version of the miller you are looking at. I have had it for something like 5-6 years now I think? I have lost track of time but I can tell you it has been completely trouble free in that time. My TIG is probably about half that old and no problems out of it either. For my money its Miller over Lincoln every time...:smokin:


Agreed 100%.

My bud is a decades experienced welder by trade. Is a pipe fitter & lead man, makes 48 an hour plus. His company is one of the largest Air condition companies in the country. They do big office building and sky scraper buildings. He said they used to use Lincoln welders. But over the years they slowly moved to Miller welders and now exclusively use Miller only. He said they use just about every type of welder made and they feel Millers are just better welders. He has his own Miller Syncrowave 250 TIG with water cooler unit, Miller MIG, and Stick. His TIG can wire feed and weld stick. His experience is enough for me. I have seen his welding first hand many time over, he is a bad ass stick welder. I'm sold on Miller welders period

ended up with the lincoln, and I actually really like it, feels like a really nice machine when welding.

http://www.varsisstudio.com/forumimages/weld.jpg

Just a quick practice weld I did since I haven't welded in about 2 years.

(2 passes since the first I didn't have a high enough wire speed.)