Welding Questions (1 Viewer)

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Interesting that you found that one. I was just on the Tool King website, looking at the same rig. My hangup: they say it has a one year warranty. If I go to Northern Tool, the machine is $674 with free shipping, but it has a 5 year limited warranty. Am I misreading the warranty info on the refurb?
 
Slabsides45 said:
Interesting that you found that one. I was just on the Tool King website, looking at the same rig. My hangup: they say it has a one year warranty. If I go to Northern Tool, the machine is $674 with free shipping, but it has a 5 year limited warranty. Am I misreading the warranty info on the refurb?
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5 year warranty is only on the transformer. Std. warranty is for 3 years. I believe mig gun warranty is for 90 days only.

Personally, I would not worry about 1 year warranty. I don't have any issues with buying used equipment with no warranty either. If you buy a quality made welder and not abuse it (exceed the duty cycle), it should last you a very long time. Hobart/Miller will take very good care of you warranty wise.
 
The Hobart shouldn't give you any problems. I have the 187 and it's done me right all along. I'd go with the cheaper one, the factory reconditioned unit will have been properly refurbished and all components tested. Use the money saved to buy good gear and supplies.
 
If you're going to buy the refurb unit, don't wait too long. They sell out quickly.
 
So this is the first welder-er thread I found. I'm in the market. I have a 220 to plug into. I have a price on a Lincoln Power MIG 210 from a friend on MUD that isn't out of line. It's a combo machine though (stick, MIG and TIG). It comes out of the box set up for MIG. You need accessories for TIG (isn't that the way it always works, all the good stuff need accessories...but I digress.). Thoughts on this machine? Here's the spec sheet.

K3963-1
 
Lincoln is a great starting machine. It is good to have a combo machine for later. You will like the heating adjustments to fine tune your welds on thinner/thicker metals. I've used one many times and self taught myself with one. I give it a thumbs up for versatility. Just make sure you practice with like thickness metals prior to using it on your projects.
 
Like most things I do, I go in like gangbusters and then kinda fizzle with my enthusiasm. I found a TON of stuff I could weld up once I got that welder, now it mostly sits. Ended up with the Hobart, got a good deal on it.

To my very ignorant mind, I kinda plugged Lincoln in as a solid option, like the Hobart, that wasn't as expensive as Miller et al. Many on here know much more than I do, and can chime in on your specific choice, but mine has done everything I've asked of it-so long as I remember to turn on the shielding gas first..... :bang:
 
I went with a Miller DVI. A little more expensive but I have never regretted it. (And that's saying something)
 
Love my Miller 211 Autoset mig. It will run on 110 or 220. JRob has one too.
 
77TLCFJ40 said:
Love my Miller 211 Autoset mig. It will run on 110 or 220. JRob has one too.
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This alone tells me I made a good call on my MM211. If they can do all their secret squirrel s*** and crank out such awesome stuff, then I know if I ever gain the skill, experience, motivation, time and money then I'm set. :hillbilly:
 
That 211 at Jrobs had about 3 full rolls of wire run thru it during this latest build. No telling the number of rolls of wore since he got it. Never one issue out of the thing!
 
I know the miller is higher....I don't think there is a better one out there. 211 auto set!...never had a minutes problem out of it.

As far as getting a machine that will do everything,...I would not. If you have never tig welded it will take a hellava lot of practice!!!!
 
So I originally thought that the Miller 211 was my choice. But apparently, Miller has completely redesigned the machine and it's now an inverter based machine and it's all new. I'm not sure about buying a brand new design.
 
What could go wrong?
 
k9crazy said:
So I originally thought that the Miller 211 was my choice. But apparently, Miller has completely redesigned the machine and it's now an inverter based machine and it's all new. I'm not sure about buying a brand new design.
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Some things to consider:

Inverter based:
Pros:
Very stable arc due to fast switching of IGBTs (insulated gate bipolar transistors).
read it about here: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDsQFjAFahUKEwj8-qbtnP_HAhUDiw0KHVnfCmE&url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulated-gate_bipolar_transistor&usg=AFQjCNFPuPYQ1Sp9RPwnWewgMkjR29FX8w
Lighter weight than transformer based
Smaller size
Very efficient use of power (can get more output given same input power than transformer based)
Max adjust ability such as inductance controls (inductance affects the softness/harshness of arc as well as fluidity of the puddle. Nice feature to have depending on your style of welding and types of wires you're using.

Cons:
Higher cost, generally less reliable than traditional transformer based, more difficult and expensive to repair.

New Millermatic 211 Should be a nice welder. Inverter based welders produce a very nice and stable arc. Miller knows a thing or two and has lots of experience with Inverters. (XMT 304/350, Millermatic 350/350p, Passport, Multimatic 200, as well as all their Inverter Tig welders.

I use a Thermal Arc MST 400 (400 amp inverter, 55 lbs) with a dedicated suitcase (miller 12vs) for portable/home use. Has the best arc quality compared to my other Millers. MST 400 was manufactured by Sanrex in Japan. They've been making inverter machines as long or longer than Miller.

Having said that... I still love my 25+ year old Millermatic 200. It has one of softest arc and it just pure joy to use.

Have fun shopping.
 
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I've been thinking of getting a welder for learning/projects. I've briefly used the Hobart 140, but don't know anything about welding. I don't have a shop/garage so portable is key also don't have any 220 and it would be about a 30-40' run to the panel. There's a Hobart 140 on craigers for $350. Seems like a decent welder? I'd eventually like to weld up a decent trailer for the RTT, or maybe a teardrop. Go for it?
 
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