Welder??? (2 Viewers)
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sleeoffroad
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Yes, like all the Miller stuff I have I am pretty heavy. Torch get's hot when you do a lot of Tig on thick metal and the machine cranked up. Not the torches fault and could we fixed with a watercooled torch.
I've had the next bigger model, synchrowave 250, for about 5 years, no problems. I've seen the synchrowave 180 used extensively in stainless fabrication work and it looks pretty good. Unless you are doing lot's of aluminum plate, or thick steel, the 180 should be great.
You may also want to consider an inverter type welder for portability.
You may also want to consider an inverter type welder for portability.
I agree with the inverter comment. I have a Lincoln V200T and it does great. Has pulse function with ramp up and down. It is small and doesn't pull over 35 amps out of the wall. Won't work for you though if you want to do aluminum but for stainless, mild steel and just about anything else it is a great welder. The welder that replaced it does aluminum as well as some of the Miller inverters but they are some serious money. The duty cycle is pretty low at anything above 150 amps but I have never had any problems welding 1/4 and 3/16 for bumpers, sliders, etc.
Poser - check out the comments on the Hobart forum. At lot of folks, including me, have gone to the Thermal Arc ProWave 185 (T/A 185). Cost wise it's a better deal, but after running several syncros on test for a few months, I just thought that hands down the T/A 185 was easier to handle and definitely a better deal.
That said, I'll likely sell my tig as it sits in the corner more and more.
That said, I'll likely sell my tig as it sits in the corner more and more.
What about lincoln? worth a crap?
21Jan2005 (UTC -8)
Just got a Miller Passport MIG welder and a Miller Spectrum 2050 plasma cutter...
...big question is, what's a good book to learn more about this craft? I wanna book that talks in general about welding, then focuses later on MIG welding (including aluminum).
Just got a Miller Passport MIG welder and a Miller Spectrum 2050 plasma cutter...
...big question is, what's a good book to learn more about this craft? I wanna book that talks in general about welding, then focuses later on MIG welding (including aluminum).
Cncrtjngl
Lincoln is definitely worth a crap...maybe even two or three. I feel that it is pretty hard to go wrong with a Lincoln or a Miller product. I'd check out local shops and find the place with the best support and friendliest help. Then choose Lincoln or Miller based on the product that they offer the greater support for. Most welding shops seem to stock one brand over the other and offer greater support but are typically dealers for both.
Drexx, I just got the best welding book I've ever seen 600+ pages detailed photos and graphics/tables ...unfortunately don't have it with me right now and don't know author publisher title right now. PM me a reminder and I'll post the info. It is an astonishingly detailed book though a little pricey @ $100.00
Snow
Lincoln is definitely worth a crap...maybe even two or three. I feel that it is pretty hard to go wrong with a Lincoln or a Miller product. I'd check out local shops and find the place with the best support and friendliest help. Then choose Lincoln or Miller based on the product that they offer the greater support for. Most welding shops seem to stock one brand over the other and offer greater support but are typically dealers for both.
Drexx, I just got the best welding book I've ever seen 600+ pages detailed photos and graphics/tables ...unfortunately don't have it with me right now and don't know author publisher title right now. PM me a reminder and I'll post the info. It is an astonishingly detailed book though a little pricey @ $100.00
Snow
Drexx - go to the Millerwelds site and buy their student pack. I think it cost like $25, but it's well worth it. It includes a ton of great info on most of the processes. There's some additional stuff there for mig, tig etc. Not sure what is there on plasma.
26Jan2005 (UTC -8)
Thanks for the responses y'all! Now I have a *lot* of reading to do
Thanks for the responses y'all! Now I have a *lot* of reading to do
I have used a Lincoln SquareWave 175 a lot and i have had zero problems with it. With a foot pedal you can efectively weld down to about 10 amps with fantastic control (not that there is a lot of thin detail work on a Rock Crawler) and it has plenty of power to weld what ever you will run into. Like Slee said, if you do alot of heavy work the tip will get a little hot but that can be solved with a H2O cooled torch.
if ya have issues getting the Millerwelds pack shipped to ya, let me know....Miller is up the road from me and I have lots of friends there...
was talking with one of their welders last night (Trina) and she and I were tossin ideas for a new rockcrawling autodark helmet design
was talking with one of their welders last night (Trina) and she and I were tossin ideas for a new rockcrawling autodark helmet design
woody said:was talking with one of their welders last night (Trina) and she and I were tossin ideas for a new rockcrawling autodark helmet design
Perhaps with an LC 40 series headlight bezel!
Folks at Miller are super. Was disapointed the way they handled Rock though awhile back
If they design something based on what Woody gives them, it will likely come pre-dented
If they design something based on what Woody gives them, it will likely come pre-dented
knew I had it some where 
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