230v MIG limitations

[Nick_Wa]

I have a Lincoln ACDC 225 arc welder right now. I'm hoping to pick up a MIG soon as my main welding will be body work and lawn equipment/tractor repairs.

If I sell the Lincoln will a 230v MIG (Millermatic 211 for example) handle everything I need? I may build a steel bench frame or other things like go cart roll cages or something in the future and am wondering if I should keep the Lincoln.

It would be easier for me to buy MIG if I can fund it partially with the sale of the Lincoln. I can keep both but if I will never need the stick again, I'd rather sell. I'm not terribly familiar with welders and very amateur welder.

Thank you.

 

[trackwelder]

I have a Lincoln ACDC 225 arc welder right now. I'm hoping to pick up a MIG soon as my main welding will be body work and lawn equipment/tractor repairs.

If I sell the Lincoln will a 230v MIG (Millermatic 211 for example) handle everything I need? I may build a steel bench frame or other things like go cart roll cages or something in the future and am wondering if I should keep the Lincoln.

It would be easier for me to buy MIG if I can fund it partially with the sale of the Lincoln. I can keep both but if I will never need the stick again, I'd rather sell. I'm not terribly familiar with welders and very amateur welder.

Thank you.

The projects that you speak of the 211 can easily handle all of them. Stick is nice if you want to repair something outdoors instead of changing your mig over to run fluxcore. I would keep it

 

[trackwelder]

Also stick welding can be very handy in tight places. It's nice being able to bend a rod and get into tight place that a mig can't reach.

 

[coby65]

Do you ever have a need to weld cast iron like a axle? Mig does not do this very well.

 

[Nick_Wa]

Do you ever have a need to weld cast iron like a axle? Mig does not do this very well.

Not that I foresee. Could a 230 mig handle something like welding a bracket on an automotive frame (if the frame is ground bare)?

 

[trackwelder]

Not that I foresee. Could a 230 mig handle something like welding a bracket on an automotive frame (if the frame is ground bare)?

Sure no problem

 

[Nick_Wa]

Ok sounds like 230 mig will be fine for me. My father has an AC DC stick if I ever needed to borrow it since my garage is already wired for it anyways.

 

[bobcatdan]

If you are worried that 211 may not be big enough, there is always the 252. That said, a 211 is a powerfull machine for its size. Unless you see yourself doing much over 3/8" plate, the 211 will about up to that if asked. Also it can be fine tune much better on the low end for sheet metal work then a 252. As for the tombstone, depending on your market, $150 or a little better is all its going to bring. If i wrong on it being a tombstone and you have an idearc, that would bring much better money. I'd probably hang on to it either way.

 

[strength_and_power]

Just get the 350P and be done with it. I may be biased as the 350P is what I run. In all seriousness, from the projects you are describing the 211 will be just fine. If you were going to be constantly welding on the thicker end and duty cycle became a factor I would say to get a bigger unit. The amount of time actually welding is typically a small part of the whole project. You become one of two things, a good welder or a good grinder.

 

[MoonRise]

Keep the stick welder and get the wire feed machine you want.

Used AC/DC 225 Lincoln is only about $100-$200 or so.

Although the 210-211 class machine are generally capable machines, if you want the capability to pretty much do 'anything' with a wire feed machine you generally have to move up to the 250-class machines.

The 250's (252/256/whatever) have the power and adjustments to be able to run pretty much any wire you can get or need (but 12" spools of some 'special' wires can be pretty darn $$$ spendy). And you can run 12" spools on them (the 210's don't always have the space in the wire compartment to put in a 12" dia spool, 4" and 8" only usually). GMAW in short circuit transfer mode or spray transfer mode (with the appropriate shielding gas!), done. FCAW-S or FCAW-G, done.

Or move all the up to the 350-multiprocess machines. Just have to be able to feed them electrically.

Sheet metal thickness? A 240V machine in the 180 or 210 class is usually quite capable of that. The 140 class 120V machines can usually do sheet metal, but at a shorter duty cycle. Doing some 1/4" thick plate with the 180 or 210 class with GMAW in short-circuit mode is usually doable. Doing 3/8" thick plate with those class machines may or may not be quite as 'easy'. The 250-class machines (with the 'right' wire and gas and process and a 'competent' welder) can usually weld almost anything that is weldable.

Your call.

Your statement of "body work" can be a good use for a wire feed machine. But "tractor repairs" sounds more like SMAW aka stick welder type usage.

 

[zkling]

Keep both. Only get rid of the Lincoln if you end up getting a stick capable tig machine.

 

[sberry]

I could do most of what I do with a small mig. It does anything to a car or light truck and if a guy doesn't have equipment then a stick gathers dust. If you get 300$ then it may be worth selling but I am inclined to keep one. As a bonus considering the cost they are one of the best machines ever made.

 

[BD1]

If you keep the AC/DC machine you could use it for tig welding too. As for the 211 , it's awesome ! Plus the super FREE spoolgun and the rebate ! NOW is the time to buy !!

http://www.millerwelds.com/pdf/Spoolmate_RebateFlye.pdf

http://www.millerwelds.com/landing/...m_medium=specialofferspage&utm_content=online

 

[padronanniversary]

Just get the 350P and be done with it. I may be biased as the 350P is what I run. In all seriousness, from the projects you are describing the 211 will be just fine. If you were going to be constantly welding on the thicker end and duty cycle became a factor I would say to get a bigger unit. The amount of time actually welding is typically a small part of the whole project. You become one of two things, a good welder or a good grinder.

this. I love my350P

 

[The Toolest Guy]

I have one of the larger 230v MIG welders available. Welds 1/2" steel. For basically anything automotive (even heavy 1/4" 4wd suspension brackets) it has a 100% duty cycle.

It is a Lincoln welder and is transformer based. Welds much nicer than any inverter welder I have used. Everyone I have spoken to agrees transformer over inverter.
I have used the Millermatic welders and they are very nice. The Millermatic 211 sounds like it should be capable of everything you require.

P.S. For anyone looking to start an argument. I am aware that 'inverter welders' do actually have a transformer as well... And no doubt the professional inverter welders weld just as nice as transformer welders.