Mig Welder

[ABMax24]

I recommended a Miller, but I wouldn't call down a Lincoln by any means, both will work as intended and have warranty if something should go wrong. Most rig welders up here run Lincoln, I bet there are 5 Lincolns for every Miller, and you really need something dependable to run 300+ amps for 10hrs a day everyday.

But I think the key is to buy a big enough machine, stay away from the 110v only machines and those with taps (only 4 or 5 heat settings).

 

[Stompin Tom]

I run a welding shop with 30 or more welders at the busiest point. We have mostly Miller welders but switching over to Lincoln as we have far less issues with them! So I would say I been around the odd welder lol. Go to a pipe line and tell me how many blue welders there are out there? Not many cause Lincoln welders way nicer and last way longer.
As for the Hobart thing may be true for large welders not hobby welders! My Hobart mig whip has Miller on it. Take the tin off and all say Miller under there. The Miller sales man told me this!

I guess when the OP wants advice for a 400 amp 575 volt machine your the guy to go to, or if he wants to run some pipe, but nope, he is looking at a 110-220 volt small mig machine.

Hobart is owned and manufactured by Miller, but put them side by side, run an arc, you will see. Consumables, whips, sure, but the guts of the machine, Hobarts much cheaper, step voltage, no features.

 

[neilsleder]

I guess when the OP wants advice for a 400 amp 575 volt machine your the guy to go to, or if he wants to run some pipe, but nope, he is looking at a 110-220 volt small mig machine.

Hobart is owned and manufactured by Miller, but put them side by side, run an arc, you will see. Consumables, whips, sure, but the guts of the machine, Hobarts much cheaper, step voltage, no features.

Did you even bother to read my fist post? Or you just see that my opinion was different then yours so you decided to get offended and start an internet fight? I recommend a Hobart small welder as I have one and it's a real nice welder, that was exactly what info the op was looking for!

 

[ABMax24]

No welder that welds on the back of his truck will ever recommend a trailblazer! That Subaru motor is loud hard on fuel and no power. Try to role out a 4"XXH weld burning 1/4" 7018 with it lol. Good luck! Lincoln 305G will do it all day long! Trust me

This is the one place I will argue Miller is better, a 325 trailblazer burns 1/4" 7018 far better than a 305g, roughly 50% of the 305s that come through our shop can't even run 1/4" properly, where the 325s will do it all day long. Both sound like death though when run that hard. But we've had guys try to kill their 325s welding 10" sch160 1/4" rod after 1/4" rod and they just keep going.

 

[neilsleder]

This is the one place I will argue Miller is better, a 325 trailblazer burns 1/4" 7018 far better than a 305g, roughly 50% of the 305s that come through our shop can't even run 1/4" properly, where the 325s will do it all day long. Both sound like death though when run that hard. But we've had guys try to kill their 325s welding 10" sch160 1/4" rod after 1/4" rod and they just keep going.

What motor they running now? To be fare this was around 2010 or so and the trail blazers had the Subaru motor you had to leave them on high idle to run 5/32. The 305g would run 1/4" pretty decent but you had to have it set on down hill pipe mode. If you had it on cc stick mode it would protest party hard lol. I usually just go 3/16 on those sizes of welder.

 

[ABMax24]

What motor they running now? To be fare this was around 2010 or so and the trail blazers had the Subaru motor you had to leave them on high idle to run 5/32. The 305g would run 1/4" pretty decent but you had to have it set on down hill pipe mode. If you had it on cc stick mode it would protest party hard lol. I usually just go 3/16 on those sizes of welder.

These ones are a 23.5hp efi Kohler. They only idle as high as they need to based on rod size, and will run 5/32 idled down. They seem to run 1/4 quite well. But I would agree that the 305s are best suited to 3/16.

 

[Stompin Tom]

Did you even bother to read my fist post? Or you just see that my opinion was different then yours so you decided to get offended and start an internet fight? I recommend a Hobart small welder as I have one and it's a real nice welder, that was exactly what info the op was looking for!

nope, didnt go back and read your post after you edited it. my first response to you was your original post unedited, no mention that you had a Hobart in the original. If you think the Handler 210 is a nice machine maybe try out the Millermatic 190 or 211, no step voltage settings, many more features and a very nice arc.

 

[the_real_wild1]

Does it really matter what is used out in the back of a truck. This guy is looking for a welder for his garage.

 

[neilsleder]

nope, didnt go back and read your post after you edited it. my first response to you was your original post unedited, no mention that you had a Hobart in the original. If you think the Handler 210 is a nice machine maybe try out the Millermatic 190 or 211, no step voltage settings, many more features and a very nice arc.

I edited a spelling mistake!

 

[neilsleder]

I got to quite argueing with idiots! They drag me down to there level the beat me with experience!

To the original poster. Buy what ever welder you feel is good lots of good info here some bad and off topic stuff! My advice as a welder for 20 plus years. Is buy at least a 220v welder and not a gas less mig one. If you want more info you can pm me I will explain to you why I think what said what I did. There to many experts on here that pulled a trigger once and now know all. I am out!

 

[Ricki Bobby]

Sheesh guys. So I ended up picking up a brand new Lincoln 140 off a guy on Kijiji for 450. I have never welded since high school when I took welding in I think grade 10. I was taught with an acetylene torch and a rod. Anyways this little Lincoln I picked does what I wanted it to do and that is weld some thin steel together and repair some broken welds on some crap! For these types of small jobs, I say it works great for what it is. Thanks for everyone's input and advice.

 

[neilsleder]

Sheesh guys. So I ended up picking up a brand new Lincoln 140 off a guy on Kijiji for 450. I have never welded since high school when I took welding in I think grade 10. I was taught with an acetylene torch and a rod. Anyways this little Lincoln I picked does what I wanted it to do and that is weld some thin steel together and repair some broken welds on some crap! For these types of small jobs, I say it works great for what it is. Thanks for everyone's input and advice.

Nice little welder you got! Is it a 110v? If so don't try to burn bigger sized wire go 0.20" or 0.25" that way it will be less spatter and smoother arc. And use 75% arogon 25% co2 or the trade name is c25. Straight co2 will make the welder finicky

 

[the_real_wild1]

I had that same welder years ago. The only way I could get it to run right is to use a tip one size larger. So if running .030 wire you would use a .035 tip for example.

 

[neilsleder]

I had that same welder years ago. The only way I could get it to run right is to use a tip one size larger. So if running .030 wire you would use a .035 tip for example.

That's a good trick for aluminum mig!

 

[the_real_wild1]

We run 5356 on the spool guns at work now. We used to go through lots of tips until we swapped wire. I rarely need to change the tip now.

 

[neilsleder]

We run 5356 on the spool guns at work now. We used to go through lots of tips until we swapped wire. I rarely need to change the tip now.

Little stiffer wire. More smoke!

 

[the_real_wild1]

Yep and those little balls that come out.

 

[Rotax_Kid]

Have a miller 212 and works well...lots of flexibility and autoset sure takes alot of guesswork out

 

[skegpro]

I'm in the market for a small welder for small jobs around the acreage. Any recommendations?

Everlast welders canada.

https://www.everlastwelders.ca/products/migwelders.php

Check the reviews online, they are all good.
Most are Miller knocks offs.

I run an everlast Tig, mig and plasma cutter.

 

[ferniesnow]

Everlast welders canada.

https://www.everlastwelders.ca/products/migwelders.php

Check the reviews online, they are all good.
Most are Miller knocks offs.

I run an everlast Tig, mig and plasma cutter.

Someone else may find your information useful but the OP has already purchased a Lincoln 140.