Possible new welder

[Pen & Wrench]

I have a old Forney 180 Amp welder. I have a project coming up that I could use a different welder for. There are quite a few choices, but I'm wondering if a Miller multi process welder might be a good choice. Its probably overkill for me, but the Multi matic 255 sure looks like it would everything I could ever want it to do. Or is it better to get a one process welder instead of the multi function ones? I will do some light fabrication, repairs on trailers, and really light metal repairs for my wife's stuff. If I had a better welder than I have now, I would use it more. I figure I may never weld over 3/8 thick material, but the 255 would give a hedge against the future and a pretty good duty cycle. I'm wondering what opinions ya'll have to offer. Thanks.

 

[lis2323]

A Forney buzz box is all I used on the farm for over 35 years. I built a lot of stuff and did a lot of repairs.

I still have it but haven’t used it in 20 years.



Part of the Forney family. Lol

 

[Koelsch]

I tried that welder out a few weeks back and it is pretty impressive, in particular the pulse spray transfer mig function. Although not something I will ever use, the push gun for aluminum welding was equally impressive

 

[matt_i]

The multi is a pretty cool setup albeit priced like a multi machine. Don't know what it takes to get a full package with a tig torch and a stinger?

I'm convinced tig welding is your most versatile machine but it happens to be slow to cover length and the user needs an ergonomic position and it takes the most practice. Burning sticks is a faster way to handle heavy metal and needs no shielding gas, needs some practice to keep the right arc length and pushing wire is an yet-again faster way to handle medium thickness metal that is almost as fast to learn as a caulking tube.

 

[ItsNemo]

Keep in mind the 255 doesn't do AC Tig or have HF start. The 220 is better as an actual multi-process machine.