Your IDEAL Mig welder

[Steve from Socal]

This is a no holds bared IF you could spec the ideal Mig welder what would it be? Red, Blue, Yellow or? Inverter, Multi Process, Transformer, 3 phase or single, power is not an issue 240/480 any amperage is no sweat.

Consider the power supply, wire feeder, hose and gun, any add on boxes and, things like a water cooler. This would be your go to welder for everything from patch panels on O too thing tin to **** welding thick plate. To keep it simple lets keep it to steel only. The welder should be good with both solid wire and flux core.

Explain why you choose what you did and, how it is superior to lesser equipment.

Steve

 

[RedneckWelder]

You can't go wrong with a Miller 252, more money I would get a Miller 350 with both the regular mig gun and a push pull setup for aluminum (but you are talking a lot of money with that setup)

Miller knows what they are doing with Mig welders, by far. I like Lincoln for engine drives but if I was going to buy a Mig welder today it would be a Miller.

ESAB makes decent equipment but the support is very lacking around here.

 

[zkling]

.....would defy the laws of physics.

 

[thieltech]

miller XMT 350


http://www.millerwelds.com/interests/projects/we-build/sets/in-the-shop/966847216_350w.jpg

 

[Steve from Socal]

miller XMT 350


http://www.millerwelds.com/interests/projects/we-build/sets/in-the-shop/966847216_350w.jpg

Good choice why? I have a Dynasty 300 and I do like inverter welders.

Steve

 

[Kracin]

lincoln invertec v-350pro with ln-7 wirefeed box, and high freq tig box, 480 3phase power.

multiprocess is great, has modes for crisp stick for running 6011-6013, easy to switch polarity, quick disconnects to switching from mig to tig to stick. does all processes. not going to do AC tig, but you said steel only. can run amperage as low as 5 and as high as 425. you can weld razor blades or weld 1/2" plate no problem. has modes for running flux core and running gas shielded as well. can even arc gouge.

 

[Steve from Socal]

Anybody here have experience with Miller Invision welders? Particularly 456P? With S-74DX feeder.

Steve

 

[jonjon1]

I think budget and what you are actually going to do with the machine are the most important.

For example I use my welders to restore old cars, so I have a 211 {I love that little machine} with a bernard gun and the miller spool gun for aluminum. It welds up to 3/8 single pass, can run on 120 by just switching the plug end, SUPER easy to use, and very portable, which is what I wanted...

I also have a dynasty 200 tig, I use this for s/s, panels, thin particulate stuff It works awesome, I can weld tin foil to a soda can with it!!!

So between them 2 welders I can do anything that I will ever do, I also have a stick set for the dynasty, but hardly ever use that...

Now if you weld plate thicker than 3/8 what I have would be useless to you, but it works perfect for me...

For a mig that is going to stay in a shop and never be lugged around and needs to be capable of 1/2 single pass, and longer duty cycles, the 252 would be my choice, but the next time I have to weld 1/2" is probably going to be never, so I like my 211, I weld mostly 5/16 and under and when I weld its normally for 15 minutes at a time, I hardly ever spend a day welding where I would need a larger machine with a longer dc...

 

[BigMike782]

ONE welder?.....that's pure madness.

 

[e30bradley]

I love my hobart 190 but the ideal welder for me would have TWO drive rolls and whips.. So I can have .024" and .030" loaded and ready to go without changing. Amps from 24 gauge spec - 300 or so would be enough for anything I'll need to weld.

 

[rsanter]

Ideal pie in the sky
Would be about 1 ft cube
Weigh 20lbs
Take single phase, three phase, and 12vdc
Would have an auto set like the miller
Would have 100% duty cycle
Have a 3/8 capacity
And would generate its own shielding gas


In the real world.....the miller 211 auto set is the best one for me now

Bob

 

[Brians VWss]

I was at a body shop that just purchased the Pro spot SP-5. It has everythIng you are looking for in one machine TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS from there site

Input Voltage:
Single Phase
208-240V 50-60Hz
Amps / Volts, Min - Max:
MIG - 20A / 15V - 200A / 24V
TIG - 5A / 10V - 200A / 18V
MMA - 5A / 20.2V - 200A / 28V
Protection: IP 22
Insulation: H
System Weight: 200 lb. (90 kg)
FEATURES

5 Torches — 3 MIG, 1 TIG, 1 stick
3 Wire Spools
Pulsed Welding
Continuous Mode
Inverter Technology
Preloaded Synergic Programs
Easy Feed Wire System
Auto Switching

 

[Ign]

Ideal pie in the sky
Would be about 1 ft cube
Weigh 20lbs
Take single phase, three phase, and 12vdc
Would have an auto set like the miller
Would have 100% duty cycle
Have a 3/8 capacity
And would generate its own shielding gas


In the real world.....the miller 211 auto set is the best one for me now

Bob

Would also have off-the-grid capability like the now-defunct Hobart Trek.

 

[Steve from Socal]

That Pro Spot stuff looks very good!

By Ideal I mean something that is available not a *********, I have 480 three phase so there are no power limitations. Dual spool feeders is a major plus, three spools is for my needs great but not necessary at the moment.

Steve

Steve

 

[rsanter]

Would also have off-the-grid capability like the now-defunct Hobart Trek.

That's why I specified the 12v so I can use car batteries or run it off my truck

Bob

 

[sam.coll]

For what I do and would ever do would love a Fronius Transteel 2500 compact and a Fronius Magicwave 3000 AC/DC with water cooler.

Fronius even make a stick welder powered by Li-ion battry.

 

[sberry]

Since you have 3 ph this is an ideal place to shop sales.

 

[jonjon1]

I seen the prosmart, it is awesome, with the tig torch I think it was like $13K, but still sweeet setup...

 

[zkling]

In that case one of the mid range, yet still dual phase XMT's with pulse or lincoln's same class version. It would still be available for somewhat portable work. Add a push pull feeder and a standard feeder you should be set for almost anything. Possibly 2 standard feeders, one loaded with a larger dia self shielded flux wire and the other loaded with solid 0.030" wire for the smaller stuff.

IIRC the Millermatic 350P is basically a XMT they put together with a feeder in a all in one format. But then you loose power source portability and other processes.

 

[sberry]

Whats the best is often a poor question. There is a difference between that and the right machine for the job. I don't remember everyones details, what is the intention? Personally if I can help it like to stay with stand alone machines but since you got 3 ph this allows for more choices and a bit above hobby level.
Most of the reason to do this is time, even at minimum wage a small machine will cost money and if there is lots of welding consumables can be bought in large spool and bulk.

 

[sberry]

I am a simple stand alone fan. If you are a pro hanging it out there then some of the high dollar machines makes sense but for common hobby/shop wouldn't bother with it all and buy pieces as I needed. I do a lot of stuff and in reality could really do most of it with a 211. I spose if I had lotso extra hundreds or thousands hanging out of my pockets then it wouldn't matter.