Miller 180 vs Lincoln 180

[oldtools]

I am looking to get a MIG welder and narrow down to either a Miller 180 or a Lincoln 180. Anybody have experiences wih both that can recommend one over the other (reliability, ease of use, parts, etc.....). Other brand recommendation also welcome. It is worth it to get the Miller DVI?

Also, which brand is the best in gas welding. I only heard of Victor and Radnor, but don't know much about them.

 

[tonydanzah]

the millermatic 180 has the setting for new welders, you set what thickness of wire you will be using and how thick the metal is and it sets the wire speed. Great for me as I only weld once a month and forget all the settings.

 

[the spyder]

I own both miller and lincoln, if you can get the miller, do it. I have just been really surprised by the quality difference.

 

[Eddie 70]

Great info guys. I have been wanting to pick up a welder and was looking at the Lincoln 180 because it is for sale close to me. The miller I will have to do a little hunting for or either buy it online.

 

[gte718p]

do you like red or blue better? Each company has devoted fans and will swear by their machine and tell you its better then the other. There comperable machines. I've used both an honestly couldn't tell the difference. I'm in the intermediate to advanced hobbiest not a proffesiional though.

I would also check on Hobart. Its made by miller, and almost everything in it has the miller logo on it. You do give up infinite voltage control, but for $400 dollars difference I have never missed it.

 

[oldtools]

There are some brand new Lincoln 180 selling between $450 and $500 on Craiglist, but have not seen a brand new Miller 180 on Craiglist yet. There is a guy selling a brand new Miller 180 at the swap meet for $550 ($750 with two tanks and a cart). Right now I am leaning toward the Miller, but I don't want to make the decision yet until I know more about them. I prefer blue over red, but I would not let color be a deciding factor.

 

[tonydanzah]

the miller180 list for $975. I looked around and got a quote from my local welding supply for $990. I looked around ebay and found a brand new unit for $800 free shipping. It was actually shipped brand new from the miller factory to my house.

I bought mine from this seller

http://cgi.ebay.com/Miller-Millerma...dZViewItemQQptZBI_Welders?hash=item3358033ed2

 

[WoodbyFabrication]

I have a Hobart handler 140 i only weld with it a few times a month and I like it pretty well. I can weld up to 1/4'' no problem. all depends on your needs.

 

[WoodbyFabrication]

Yeah my Hobart has many Miller parts on it, it is also very easy to set up and dial in.

 

[krooser]

I own a Miller 175... very nice machine. I have owned three other Miller mig welders and two Lincolns migs... they have all been good but these new "inverter" models are really great.

 

[metal1313]

i really like those new miller 180's. that said i have a lincoln buzzbox and have used several different migs at friends places. i also have a little pos hf flux core machine that honestly. i couldnt not be happier with. for 90bucks its lasted 4 years of doing odd repairs and getting hauled around

 

[lethal-6]

Take a look at the Hobart 187 & 210 both are very good.

 

[Rnz520]

Miller ftw

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

I just bought a Miller 211 and like it a lot. Even though it has been a few years (OK, a lot of years...) since I did any serious welding, it didn't take long to run a halfway decent looking bead with it.

For the Victor vs Radnor question, I bought a Radnor. It is the house brand for Airgas and is made by Victor for them. In fact, my Radnor outfit came with a Victor fact sheet and operating manual.

 

[ephotrod]

Many weldors will say blue for the shop and red for anything engine driven. I would have to agree to that.
Josh

 

[sberry]

do you like red or blue better? Each company has devoted fans and will swear by their machine and tell you its better then the other. There comperable machines. I've used both an honestly couldn't tell the difference. I'm in the intermediate to advanced hobbiest not a proffesiional though.

I would also check on Hobart. Its made by miller, and almost everything in it has the miller logo on it. You do give up infinite voltage control, but for $400 dollars difference I have never missed it.

Pretty much sums it up.

 

[t100]

blue for mig, red for tig.

 

[cronic]

I have a Lincoln 175 and love it. They also have excellent technical support if you have any issues.

 

[a390st]

My mig welder was a Lincoln PowerMig 255c. I know it is a different class of welder than you are talking about, but it was a good welder. I never had any problems with it, but I'm just not into mig welding that much. I had a Lincoln stick welder that died. It was replaced with a Miller ThunderboltXL 300/200. I really like the Miller welders. I also had a Hobart plasma cutter and couldn't complain about it. I wouldn't be afraid of any of those brands.

 

[sberry]

This is an area companies are very competitive in price and quality. All the 180 class MIGs that were mentioned are very good. The Hobart has a price edge but makes as good as arc as any of these I have used, the little machines are as good for all practical purposes here as machines costing in the 1000's.

 

[rocco]

i have zero complaints about my Lincoln MigPak 150, however it seems more people prefer the Miller product.

 

[oldtools]

I think I will pick the Miller. Miller just introduce the Millermatic 211 MVP. It work on either 115V or 230V. I will get that instead.