Need some Welder Advice

[Pathfinder]

Im wanting to build myself some sliders and a 4x4labs DIY rear bumper for my LX and need to get a niceer welder. I've learned on a cheap chicago welder (junk!!! its already gone). I believe I want to spend the extra $$ now and go with a higher voltage welder over something like a hobart 140.

Here are the 5 that Im looking at. Any pro's or cons of going with a 180 over a 210 aside from price.

180 welders

Hobart 187 FREE SHIPPING — Hobart Handler 187 MIG Welder — 230 Volt, 180 Amp, Model# 500525 | Wirefeed Welders | Northern Tool + Equipment

Millermatic 180 Miller® Millermatic® 180 With Auto-Set? MIG Welder 230 Volt, 1 Phase, 60 Hz With M-10 MIG Gun And 10' Lead - Airgas.com

Lincoln 180 (this is the cheepest however I'm thinking you get what you pay for) Correct me if I'm wrong. Lincoln Electric at Lowe's: Pro MIG 180-Amp Welder


210 welders

Hobart 210 FREE SHIPPING — Hobart Handler® 210 Wire Feed MIG Welder with 10-Ft. Spoolgun | Wirefeed Welders | Northern Tool + Equipment

Millermatic 211 Miller® Millermatic® 211 MIG Welder 115/230 Volt, 1 Phase, 60 Hz With Auto-Set?, MVP? Plugs And M-10 MIG Gun With 10' Cable - Airgas.com



I'm kinda at a stand still trying to figure out which way to go. I'm leaning towards the Miller180 however am I going to regret going 180 down the road or are there any other things I need to be thinking about. I'm not wanting to weld much more beyond what I've listed. Most anything else will be lite duty hobby stuff and some body armor for my LX.

 

[fj40charles]

Get the welder with the highest amperage output. It is good to have what you need (amperage), but not use it, but you can't use what you don't have.

HH 210 or MM211. Get the MM211 if you need something that will run on 110v and 230v.

 

[KLF]

I've already decided I'm getting the MM211/AS. Will be ordering soon.

 

[Pathfinder]

Have an ad on craigslist posting wanted 220v welder. Got a hit on a used millermatic 250 locally. Hardly used and the seller is wanting me to make an offer. Sounds like he needs the cash.

What is a good decent price should I decide to purchase? thanks..

 

[fj40charles]

Have an ad on craigslist posting wanted 220v welder. Got a hit on a used millermatic 250 locally. Hardly used and the seller is wanting me to make an offer. Sounds like he needs the cash.

What is a good decent price should I decide to purchase? thanks..

Not much. Millematic 250 is NOT one of the better welders Miller produced.

 

[KLF]

Ya, a friend of mine has a MM 250 and really doesn't like it. He said there is a batch of them that have a bad controller or something.

 

[fj40charles]

Ya, a friend of mine has a MM 250 and really doesn't like it. He said there is a batch of them that have a bad controller or something.

It is not a batch of them. MM250 was Miller's first attempt at using SCR instead of a diodes. The arc is harsh and not very forgiving.

 

[KLF]

By "batch" I meant a year range of manufacture, which I can't remember what it is now. And yeah that describes his observation, he doesn't like the arc.

 

[Pathfinder]

this is good feedback. I will try and get a serial number to find out what kind it is. Will keep you posted.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

That Hobart 210 looks like the cost effective choice.

The Miller 211 will be a good welder-I have the 210 (earlier version of same)and really like it.

Anyway, enjoy having a welder-it changes your life and what you can do. Unfortunately, it means you need to buy about $3000 of other tools to make it worthwhile; drill press, acetylene cutting torch, plasma cutter, multiple angle grinders etc.

And remember that any of the welders you buy, will not come with a tank of argon/co2. You'll need that and that adds roughly $300, if you buy your tank (which I recommend).

 

[Pathfinder]

Well I got a new (used) welder. I could not pass up this deal.

Came with tank of CO2 & Argon, plus a spool of .035 wire. I'll be wiring it in this weekend and hopefully laying down some nice beads. I'm going to clean it up and give it a mild service before I light it up. however it looks in pretty good shape.

The guy i purchased it from used it to rebuild his car 5 years ago and never used since.

Its a Millermatic 250x made in 1999. I know some of you say the 250 is not a good machine however its going to blow the pants of my old chicago electric welder & the 250x is supposed to have a better arc than the 250. (I'll keep you poseted)

Here are a could of photos.

 

[Pathfinder]

couple more

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Congrats dude. How much did you give for it?

That saved you some cash coming with a tank and everything.

 

[Pathfinder]

got the whole setup for 800 and he delived it from 45 minutes away. pretty happy. Now I want to see how she welds. I need to add a larger breaker in my garage. I had a 50amp however the manual says they recommend a 70amp so I will be doing some additional wiring.

 

[fj40charles]

got the whole setup for 800 and he delived it from 45 minutes away. pretty happy. Now I want to see how she welds. I need to add a larger breaker in my garage. I had a 50amp however the manual says they recommend a 70amp so I will be doing some additional wiring.

Congrats on the welder. Just make sure the cylinder is customer owned or it will get confiscated when you take in for a re-fill.

50 amp breaker is fine for 230v input power. The manual says it will draw 44 amps at rated output (250 amps, 40% duty or 200 amps at 60% duty cycle). I doubt you're ever going to exceed the duty cycle so you really don't need the 70 amp breaker.