Anything welding

I agree.

After gas tank leases, you will be money ahead going the plasma cutter route.

 

I have this plasma cutter and it’s great. Didn’t break the bank too badly and it cuts through 3/16” like butter.

Klutch 375i from Northern Tool. I think they have a newer model and discontinued mine but here is a link to refurbished one of mine

https://m.northerntool.com/products/shop~tools~product_200653689_200653689?adv=false

 

Once I got a plasma cutter, it wasn't long before I sold my torches.

I'm having a hard time trying to figure if I ever missed selling the torches.

About the only thing I can tell, is the torches are portable.

I don't leave my shop to do projects, so the torches were just talking up space.

 

I am old school I still reach for a striker hanging off my belt.

I use my Torch 10 times to one use of the plasma (Hypertherm) it only gets used for the rare stainless or Aluminum.

Then just starting out unless lots of aluminum fabrication is in the future I would most likely still go oxy-fuel torch.

Then having the cylinders and regulators and torches from the days I worked is a big difference

I am Still waiting for Hypertherm to design a way to preheat with a plasma unit then I might get fully on board

 

Preheating is a very good reason to keep a torch around. I use a barbecue grill if the parts will fit.

 

Has anyone used a miller 252? I need someone to talk me into buying it to replace a Miller 211. Is it worth the upgrade?

 

I have the 250. It's the non digital version of the mm252.

I have mine set up to run my aluminum welding spool gun or weld iron.

You can't do much better.

I took a loan out to buy mine 23 years ago. I was able to do off welding jobs and pay it off in 6 months.

 

It depends is this part time welding for fun??

Then maybe your paying the mortgage and putting a kid through college ??

Why do you need to up grade besides more output is always better

If it is hobby do you have a 50amp circuit or means to install one.

From a 211 to a 252 is such a Big jump

I do like that the XR guns can be used if your getting into serious Aluminum Mig

I have never been a fan of the all in one machine welders for the type of work I did back in the day . They work great for production where your not crawling all over the place doing out of position work

It comes down to if the Up grade helps you out .

 

The 50 amount circuit is not required. For some stupid reason, Miller puts those 50a plugs on all their stand alone machines.

Both mine came with 50a pkugs. I changed them over to 30a plugs.

Another plus us thieves are lazy. They will have to work to run off with that rig.

 

Better safe then sorry at Max output on 208VAC it will pull 46 amps

Did you ever open your 30amp fuses ??

Breakers are to slow when your talking about hundreds of dollars compared to thousands of damage

 

I prefer my torches all day to a plasma but understand it's not for everyone

 

Yes, I have a dedicated 50 amp circuit.

I weld for a living (aerospace, all Tig). At home it’s more fabricating for fun. I just built a off road trailer and sold it for 2700.00 so I was thinking of upgrading my equipment. More of a put it back into the shop kinda thing.

I have a friend that will buy my old unit for 850.00 (no bottle). It would be nice to keep but don’t know if I could justify it? I did a metal fence job for a friend and the portability sure was nice. I just don’t know if I REALLY need the 252 or it’s more of a want. I could use the money toward a jd2 bender and consumables. I was hoping someone would sell me on the mm252.

 

Do it!

 

Where do you live? We just hired 9 “welders” with little to no experience. That’s how hard up we are. The aerospace industry is booming right now. Look on indeed there are tons of aerospace/ chamber/ titanium jobs out there.

 

I know what the responsible thing is to do but I’m always doing the right thing. Just once I want to make a selfish purchase. Okay so the bender it is. Lol.....

 

You are an enabler!

 

True.
I don't ever regret buyng mine. I never thought I bought too much machine.

I can weld structural or body parts on cars. It does it all.

Plus, I buy 33 or bigger spools of wire. I'm forced to keep the machine running to use up that wire. I hate it when it tarnished and I have to run a layer off.

Burn that wire making money, not growing the scrap bin!

 

i beg to differ (not mine)

 

no shit sherlock

 

Big thanks to @Titus94 for swinging by and giving me a quick lesson!