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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Decisions Decisions??? on a Mig welder

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Bill in NE

01-11-2008 15:52:57




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I want to buy a mig welder, I believe Millermatic is one of the best, however I have found a NEW Thermal arc 210 mig welder at an auction that I think will fill my needs. It welds 1/2 metal and has definite tuning. I think it might be worth $850. at auction. I'm I thinking wrong? A millermatic is a lot more $$$$
For resale I know a Millermatic would bring more dollars. Please advise which way to go on this welder. I want a variable amp machine, plus being able to weld heavier metal.
There was a post on the strengh of a mig and a stick weld, is there any diffenrence in the strengh of the weld. Thanks for all of you in the know on this site. You are all so helpful in any question ask on this site.

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toolz

01-13-2008 17:17:47




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 Re: Decisions Decisions??? on a Mig welder in reply to Bill in NE, 01-11-2008 15:52:57  
Being a tool dealer, I've sold a lot of welders over the last 18 years. My preference is Lincoln, and the Millers have been good also. I have sold other brands to customers who wanted to save a buck, and some of them have held up fine, but the percentage of failure is much higher, with parts support a real problem. I am also a certified welder, but have never welded for a living. My personal welder is a Lincoln 255, with touch-pad control. You tell it what gas and wire you are using (only for initial setup), and then just set the metal thickness. The machine does the rest. Since I don't weld everyday, it saves me a lot of set-up time. If I remember corectly, Lincoln leased this technology for a time, and they don't offer it anymore, but they have something similar now. Definately buy more welder than you think you need, and it will be just enough. Good luck with your search.

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Clefus

01-12-2008 20:19:01




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 Re: Decisions Decisions??? on a Mig welder in reply to Bill in NE, 01-11-2008 15:52:57  
I went to a Miller 210 a few years ago and love it.....I do some fabrication on the side and for repetitive items it is faster than stick...I had a smaller Lincoln before that....MIG stays in the garage....no draft issues...

Although I have a Forney buzz box...(old one) ..good for stuff I cant fit in the garage.....



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Mike (WA)

01-12-2008 19:28:53




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 Re: Decisions Decisions??? on a Mig welder in reply to Bill in NE, 01-11-2008 15:52:57  
I bought an off-brand mig a few years ago- it has some inherent problems with wire feed speed control (I found out on the internet), and parts support is non-existent. Dealer I bought from quit carrying them soon after I bought mine, and when I went back, he said "Oh, they weren't much good- sorry." Get a name brand, like Miller or Hobart.



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bhb

01-17-2008 07:22:33




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 OT trailer floor in reply to Bill in NE, 01-11-2008 15:52:57  



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rickd64

01-12-2008 05:49:04




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 Re: Decisions Decisions??? on a Mig welder in reply to Bill in NE, 01-11-2008 15:52:57  
I would stay away from the Thermal Arc unit, chances are there is limited support available for it. Thermal Arc is a company owned by the Thermal Group. Before the Thermal group bought it it was Thermal Arc. Thermal Arc bought all the 250 amp and over stuff when the old HOBART sold then came out with their line as well. Sorry for all the history just trying to say that having support is gonna be a headache cause all of us in the welding supply business gave up on em already. It has been said stick with the big three and you will do fine.

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Wayne_H

01-12-2008 04:40:04




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 Re: Decisions Decisions??? on a Mig welder in reply to Bill in NE, 01-11-2008 15:52:57  
I bought a Millermatic 210 several years ago from the local dealer. My friend and I went in together, and asked if they could come close to the internet prices. They not only came close, but they beat them by 50 dollars!

We are both 100% happy with it and have had no problems or issues. It does everything I want it to do, and it easy to use for "non-pro" welders like us.

Like everyone else said, I'd suggest getting something that can be supported locally in the off chance it breaks.

Good luck

Wayne

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36 coupe

01-12-2008 03:26:10




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 Re: Decisions Decisions??? on a Mig welder in reply to Bill in NE, 01-11-2008 15:52:57  
Mig welders have a lot of parts that can fail.You need good parts backup.Lugging gas cylinders back and forth is a problem.The larger Mig welders use expensive circuit boards.A circuit board I looked at is beyond repair because the selector switches are part of the board.A new board is 700.00.The owner bought a new welder for 1000.00.I bought my Lincoln 225 welder in 1964 for 93.00.Few drops of oil on the fan motor are the only thing done to it.Welding wire is expensive.I check yard sales for welding rod,found 35 pounds of 6011 for 2.00 at one stop.I have a Miller 130 mig welder but use the Lincoln most of the time.

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135 Fan

01-11-2008 20:54:12




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 Re: Decisions Decisions??? on a Mig welder in reply to Bill in NE, 01-11-2008 15:52:57  
Find out if there is a Thermal arc dealer nearby. When you say Millermatic, there are a bunch of different Millermatics. Weld strength has been discussed pretty extensively on here already. Yes, MIG can be strong. Yes, MIG can have more potential problems. Yes, MIG has to be useed inside with no drafts. Really critical work will specify stick welding over MIG. For something an experienced welder wants to be really strong, 9 times out of 10 he will choose Stick. Take it for what it is. For most farm related welding a MIG should be fine. The most important factors are operator skill and proper joint preparation for what ever process is used. Dave

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Jerry Bliler

01-11-2008 19:28:06




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 Re: Decisions Decisions??? on a Mig welder in reply to Bill in NE, 01-11-2008 15:52:57  
Don't worry about if a mig is strong enough. It is good enough for caterpeller to build bulldozers with and for building rock crushers. It ALL depends on the SKILL of the person doing the welding. Mig will hold together ANYTHING you need weldedYou just learn when you get penatration and the proper size fillet/bead on the surface.



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36 coupe

01-12-2008 03:33:26




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 Re: Decisions Decisions??? on a Mig welder in reply to Jerry Bliler, 01-11-2008 19:28:06  
Looked at a web site on problems Chrysler is having with robot wire welders.Smoke from flux core is bad and they have a bunch of stick welders further along the line fixing the screwups the wire welders make.



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skyharborcowboy

01-11-2008 18:57:15




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 Re: Decisions Decisions??? on a Mig welder in reply to Walt Davies, 01-11-2008 15:52:57  
Almost all manufactured items in use some sort of MIG welder. Here is how you determine which one you would need. Do you plan on welding outside or in a shop? In a shop, go MIG. Outside buy Stick! I absolutely hate flux cored MIG welders as I think they are terrible.

Joe



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Roy in georgia

01-11-2008 18:57:00




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 Re: Decisions Decisions??? on a Mig welder in reply to Bill in NE, 01-11-2008 15:52:57  
what ever you get my welding guy tells me that for the strongest weld set your welder up with 100% c02 and flux core wire. He welded the base of my truck mounted crane and it has held for almost a year so far. other (certified in areal equipment) welders didn't last 2 months welded 5 times the spatter is more but the wire is very forgiving and when I tried it I could even weld up hill with much success something I never did before.

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skyharborcowboy

01-11-2008 18:53:07




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 Re: Decisions Decisions??? on a Mig welder in reply to Gun guru, 01-11-2008 15:52:57  

davejoe said: (quoted from post at 02:45:54 01/12/08) Buy the name brand Miller, Hobart, or Lincoln. When you need a new liner or stinger or whatever, you want it to be easy to get. Dave


I couldnt agree more with this! Buy American and always buy a machine at least one size larger then you think you need! It is sort of like not throwing away something you "MIGHT" need. As soon as you throw it out you need it!

Joe

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RobMD

01-11-2008 18:49:53




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 Re: Decisions Decisions??? on a Mig welder in reply to Bill in NE, 01-11-2008 15:52:57  
hmmm... a 210 welding half-inch metal? That's funny, my hobart (same as miller) 210 will only do 3/8 at the most.



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dave guest

01-11-2008 17:59:46




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 Re: Decisions Decisions??? on a Mig welder in reply to Bill in NE, 01-11-2008 15:52:57  
Gotta have gas, argon or whatever it is.



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tiresntracks

01-11-2008 17:47:09




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 Re: Decisions Decisions??? on a Mig welder in reply to Bill in NE, 01-11-2008 15:52:57  
I've never used a Themal Arc welder,so I don't know if its a good machine or not.
As far as stick or mig being stronger, you will get a lot of different opinions about that here. Some are right and some are wrong. If you want to know for sure, try looking up the American Welding Society or maybe ask a welding instructor at a local trade school.



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davejoe

01-11-2008 17:45:54




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 Re: Decisions Decisions??? on a Mig welder in reply to Bill in NE, 01-11-2008 15:52:57  
Buy the name brand Miller, Hobart, or Lincoln. When you need a new liner or stinger or whatever, you want it to be easy to get. Dave



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