Anything welding

Q: Millermatic 211 on lincoln power mig 180 dual?

 

Might help to know what you plan to do with it. Both are good machines. As is the Hobart 210MVP. All have slight differences. The Miller can do aluminum better with a spool gun and also offers higher amps. The hobart 210mvp is similar to the miller 211 with mostly a couple "cheaper parts" thrown in (miller and hobart are owned by the same parent company). The lincoln doesnt have as high of amps so if welding thicker stuff can struggle a bit more.

 

I will say as always go with what ever manufacture has the best support in your area .

Here it has been a Miller Stronghold for years

Lincoln is making a strong push for more sales so there Reps are doing as much as they can to solve problems

 

Gotcha

 

Question for you guys. I need to buy a chopsaw. Any specific ones you guys recommend? I've heard a lot of good things about the evolution rage 2 saw. Runs about 185$ from Home Depot. But I'm considering buying one from HF that's on sale for 60$ and using the rest of the money on something else. I'm very much a beginner so I don't need anything crazy. Any advice is appreciated.

 

I've never had good luck with consumer grade chop saws consistently cutting straight. I've had good luck with cheaper cold cut saws. These days I use a cheap horizontal band saw. With higher end American made blades I've had good luck with it. I have a few buddy's that have as well, but if I was a machine shop that required tons of perfect cuts I'd invest in a high end one. I love that's it's quiet and that I can start it cutting and walk away to do something else while it cuts.

 

Are you looking for an abrasive cut off saw or a cold saw (steel blade)?

 

Chop saws Suck save your money !!!

if your on a Budget look at a Milwaukee Deep Portaband

I like my Horizontal Band Saw Carolina I set of blade guide bearings and maybe 3 blades broke by idiots since 1989

Unless you have a job where you need to make one cut every minute and they can be + or - 1/2" and your cutting 100 plus pieces

Then they suck on anything but tube round or square

 

Not 100% sure. Like I said, I've just gotten started and am looking for feedback.

I was thinking of a bandsaw, I've just never used one and wasn't sure how nice the cuts would be or how easy it would be to cut angles using a portable bandsaw

 

Band saws are the only way to go. I bought an Ellis bandsaw and it's amazing!

Abrasives are only good outside and for cutting straight. And they still don't do that well.

 

Get that chop saw idea out of your head.

Porta band or the Harbor Freight clone. The bandsaw is the way to go.

 

I'm just worried about cutting 45degree angles with it. I've got a couple projects in mind that I'll need a lot of angles.

 

Still better than a chop saw...and it's not a fire hazard either...much, much quieter.

Angles are not a problem with a portable band saw.

 

Since you never used one there will be a slight learning curve.

If you can weld you have the hand eye coordination to get up to speed on angle cuts quick

Band saws don`t like rust so if your using scrap or rusty drops clean the spots where your cuts will.be

To me a Harbor Freight Band saw would be better then a high end Chop saw

 

Is it OK to leave oxygen and acetylene regulators attached to the tanks for long periods of time? Or do they need to be disconnected every time between uses? My tanks are secured to the wall and I would never leave the cylinders turned on or move the tanks without capping.

 

Leave them connected, but make sure the tank valves are closed.

Unscrew the regulator handles all the way to take pressure off the regulator diaphrams. I was taught to do this, but I never do.

 

I would stay away from abrasive saws...they suck.
A cold saw is awesome for miters on tube and I've heard the evolution saws are good for hobbyist use.
Another option would be a portaband and a stand with a foot pedal. I use mine all the time.

 

Yeah I'm torn between the evolution and a portaband. HF is having a New Years sale for a portaband for about 110$. I may go pick one up and see how I like it. If I decide I hate it HF has the best return policy and I'll go try the evolution.

 

i think my Regulators Have been on my Cylinders since I last swapped tanks 5 or 6 years .

One can also get those safety caps that allow the regulators to remain on safely

That works nice when the cylinders and torch are mounted on your truck

 

Funny story, I remember it like it was yesterday:

I bought my Milwaukee port a band in 1998. I had never used one before that.

I stuck a 4' length of 14 gauge 2 x 4" tubing in the vice and commenced to cutting.

It was awesome, almost orgasmic! That saw just "melted" thru that tube... Of course these saws are kinda heavy, so I wasn't prepared for the saw to fall so fast once I cut thru the tube. The saw swings down, and my finger is still on the trigger. The saw swings down and cuts into my brand new Porta Band power cord.

My cord is now 3' long and I'm standing in the dark because the breaker tripped.

I'm still using that saw today.