Anything welding

Ok.
Lowes has the Lincoln pro 180 which can weld up to 1/2in mild steel, 230volts, complete kit with a roll of flux core and gas gauges for $700.

They also have that cute as a button arc/stick welder that looks like an old jukebox for $260 I think.
I can have the best of both worlds with both lincolns as opposed to just the miller.
I like the portability of the Miller knowing if I have to take it to a buddy's house, I can still run 115v.
It's $1000 either way you look at it. The Millermatic 211 or the Lincoln pro 180 and the 225 arc/stick welder.

I havn't welded but only aluminum in my life and I consider myself a super quick learner. If I had both lincolns I could teach myself mig, fluxcore and stick.

Please chime in people. I know some of you are partial to brands but I need honest opinions.

Ialso think for the most part we can agree that Miller probably makes the best welders. Thats all we use here in the pipe shop and on the floor. Then probably Lincoln, then hobart and so on.
From what I hear Miller now owns Hobart, correct?

Thoughts peoples.

 

Correct miller owns hobart and powcon. The lincoln mig and the buzz box are good for home use and light industrial. When stick weldin watch out for the magnetic rods and use pam

 

So your saying I should just go with the millermatic 211?

 

I've welded on many different brands of machines. And I've owned nearly all of them. Honestly, I love how smooth miller wire feeds are. I have yet to run a machine that runs better. But for tig, thermal dynamics can't be beat. I made a thread on my thoughts on the new machine I bought.

 

Look in live I just post pics of the machine I use its 440v though

 

Imma check this out when I get home. How does it run stan

 

what you do with the reg buy a new one

 

no the screen is not fucked up the numbers were doing the kit light bar

 

Pretty good service then?

 

dam thats good

 

That's awesome.

That level of service is one reason why I stopped shopping at Praxair and went over to a little independent--the level of service I received at Praxair was ok but the small guy was outstanding.

Always good to hear of great service.

 

Just got back from speaking with some old friends of mine in the pipe shop here at work. I used to work there in 2001-2003. I don't get a chance to go visit very much as its 1/2 mile to walk to the other of of the building from where I work.
We run miller here at GE Energy, exclusively. Building gas turbines that power entire cities.
Power, performance and reliability according to most everyone I spoke with is why they run Millers.
I was shown different models and several were in the $15k-20k price range. They were "do all" machines. However when asked about there home welders most of them said they owned lincolns. Mostly the 175 and 180 pro setups like the one I am looking at. Like barry, these guess weld for a living here at work. That's all they do. They don't turn wrenches, they don't run broaches, magerle's or sips. They weld.
I'm going to go to my local welding supply store today and see if they can cut me a deal or match the millermatic 211 that I found online. If they will I will pick one up. We purchase all of our welding consumables from them so hopefully he can come close to the online price.
if not, I may go pic up the lincoln pro 180. Most guys in the shop use this as there home rigs and spare parts are easy to get at lowes which is a stones throw from my house.
I have a buddy that will run 220 in the garage for next to nothing.

I did have a chance to check out eveready's web site and those look like some fine machines as well. Comparable to the lincoln prices.

 

Just ordered my Miller 211 from the local welding and supply store and I have 2 words:
"Bo-ner". He matched the price of the link I provided above to the ebay item AND gave me a GE discount because they are the company that supplies our consumables at the plant. $980 otd. Will be here at noon tomorrow and I my friends, are so freakin stoked!!!

 

nice! you're gonna love it.

 

Fuckin sweet deal

 

No kidding!

 

Good deal. Not much markup over cost

 

Has anyone seen the spectrum 375 X-treme?
They had one in stock and I was think of picking this up as well. This thing is litterally the size of an ammo box and like the 211 mig, it can run on either 120 or 240.
Amazing little machine to complete the welding/cutting portion for small shops.
You can also run it on a 400watt synwave generator for "in the field" repairs.
This most definately will be my next buy.

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/plasma/product.php?model=M13811

 

I was thinking about this as it's got all you need to cut built in. No need to plumb air to it (which if you use a compressor, you need to dry and clean before going to the cutter).

The price difference is only about $100 too.

 

Only 3/8" thick max. That's not a good selling point for me