Alright--i decided it was time to get a welder and fabb needed bits and pieces myself....

Here is what i have been looking at so far

Hobart:
187, 210, and 210 Iron Man

Millermatic:
180 and 212

What will i be using it for.

Sheetmetal, Aluminum/SS Spool gun (very limited), and Mild Steel--i dont think i would be welding anything over 3/8"--whats you experience

So what have you found to work for you? Limitations on one machine or the other making you wish you had got something else?

Has anybody had a chance to use the AUTOSET with the Millermatics? What did you think?

It also needs to be semi portable--i know that kinda limits the Millers but....you can comment on that also.

Thanks

 

A 220V machine.

I have a Pro MIG 135 and a MM 251 and use both for different things but the 251 would do all of it.

Buy the biggest and best welder you can afford so you never need to buy another.

 

Edit--i am deleting the Hobart 187 because it doesnt have plug and play spool gun...

I would love to buy a great huge do evrything machine but i only have a two car garage to work out of--and it is getting full--quickly

Has anybody not been able to weld something (rig wise) do to the welder not having enough power?


another question is when they say 3/8 inch material-will it really weld 3/8" material? Or is it going to come out looking like crap?

 

On my miller 212 ithe recomended setting for 3/8 is number 5, It goes to 7?
I love my miller it welds awsome.

 

I dont know how they work but I have seen combo, plasma cutter/tig/arc welders between 500 and 800 dollars. Arc welder is 220, not sure about the tig and the plasma cutter cuts up to 1/4 maybe more. Just an Idea. I have been looking at them myself. Currently I have a lincoln stick welder and a century mig. I want a plasma cutter.

 

I have a lincon 180 220v it's small in size but does alot, I've used it on alot of mini truck builds havent had any problems with it yet

 

Do you use the Set-O-matic feature on your 212? I am not going to be buying this welder alone so having a dumb down feature for the others that might use it would be nice?

 

Hobart 175 220v .............miller and hobart are the same -ish both are the best ez to get parts if needed . my welder works perfect no complaints here

 

Mine dosent have the auto set feature. i dident want it because i like to be able to adjust it.

 

MM 251 is not that big and will weld anything you want or need. I prefer the adjustable digital readout as sometimes dialing things in a bit makes a big difference in weld quality. If your friends can't read the chart on the inside lid of the welder for voltage and wire speed then they don't need to play with the welder.

 

Ouch!!

I will take a look at the MM251

 

Holy Toaster it looks very nice but it is also $~3k. i think that is bigger and better than what i can afford....unless you know someone that wants to sell one for a smoking deal ~1000$+-

 

If you're able to pickup an old Millermatic 250 (almost the same as the 251 w/o digital adjustments). Check craigslist and local auctions and you can get a great deal. Your not gonna walk away with a good welder for less than $1500. If a welder doesnt do 1/4" it isnt worth buying. IMO

I priced the new Miller 100 series spool gun at approx $150 (the median between Arcet and AirGas) for the old 185 and old 250.

Not a fan of Hobart. You can buy it at Northern Tool and that says it all.

 

Does the old MM 250 have the intergrated spool gun control?

The MM 212 will do up to 3/8" and so will the Hobart 210. \

Why dont you like Hobart? Have you had bad experience with them?

Back in the day when i was welding we had a lincoln and a MM so i am not familiar with Hobart.

Then i was looking around and see clarke and other brands--is it best just to sticl to MM or HH?

 

Miller has always been known to be too conservative on their wall thickness rating. I have a 212 also(not the DVI), and I have easily welded 1/2" axle tubes to knuckles with it.

FWIW, I wouldn't consider the Hobart line myself. Mainly because it doesn't come with a long enough gun. It also comes with cheaper plastic internal pieces, but otherwise, its just about the same unit. MIller makes Hobart machines. The gun length was the biggest drawback to me with the Hobart.

3ft of gun length doesn't sound like a lot, but when you don't have to move a big ass welder around your rig to weld the opposite side it makes enough difference for me to be worth it.

I've run my 212 daily since I bought it a few months ago. I've already run through at least four 33lb spools of .030 wire with zero issues. Its a great machine and will do everything you throw at it including welding D60 knuckles back onto 1/2" tubes. I would HIGHLY recommend not getting the DVI though. Its not rated as high as the regular 212.

The 252 would be the only other welder I may ever consider and only because of the digital readouts and very minute tuning capabilities.

Lincoln also makes a very quality unit as well. I would say that its parallel in comparison to the Miller machines. I just like Blue........................

 

miller all day thats what i use at work

 

One more recommendation I would make is that you buy a machine from a local dealer like AirGas or General Air. I paid around $15 more for my welder than what I have seen on Ebay, but I can warranty it at my local AirGas. So, if I ever have an issue within the 3yr warranty period, I just drive it down the street to have it fixed instead of shipping it back to wherever you bought it and waiting forever to get it back.

 

My Miller 140 non-auto set is AWESOME. I have used 220v arc and I like this much better. There is little spatter, easy for a beginner to weld and I have welded 3/8's and this is a 110v. It took a third pass to really get it good but still.

And I agree get the biggest you can afford I regret it now that I spent 900$ on this one, I should've gone with the 251. And my mom even wanted to help a little to get that one. Oh well. I was referred to Miller by a friend who is a professional welder of 20 years and his friends agree so my vote is for Miller.

 

Alright--it is settled then--I am going with the Miller 212.

Its funny how the thought of new tools makes me feel giddy like a school girl--Now if i could just find a hot catholic Nun

If you here of somebody letting one go--drop me a line...other wise i will be saving zee pennies

Thanks for the input guys

 

FYI--put in the order--but glad i waited becuase i was going to get the MM DVI2--but opted for the PASSPORT Plus and a Spool Gun (100 model).

This is Gonna be nice