Need help choosing welder

[Tzclark]

Ok so I have narrowed it down to Lincoln 210mp and miller 211. My old welder was a Hobart with similar specs as these two but had a unfortunate encounter with a 30000lb forklift and its tire. I use the welder mostly for hobby and truck but on occasion take it to work for welding some supports for cable, or electrical equipment. Both welder have similar capabilities but the Lincoln is about half the weight which is what is catching my attention. Both are good brands.

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/...p?model=M00245

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-ca...roduct=K3963-1

[tinydb84]

I dont think you could go wrong with either one. Why not another Hobart if you liked the last one?

[Tzclark]

I can't find any stores that sell it locally anymore for some reason. I am leaning towards the Lincoln strictly for the weight savings.

[tinydb84]

I havent used the 210 but have used the 256 and liked it a lot.

[mongoose]

the miller isnt that heavy.. i have one and it's not a bad machine at all... if you really need to use stick over flux, or find a use for a dc tig which is a nice option get the lincoln.. I'd just try and find the cheapest one and go...

[_Ogre]

they both look like good hobby welders
usually weight is directly proportional to duty cycle
but even at 25% duty cycle (at full amps) a hobby welder will rarely hit the duty cycle limit
i welded my whole truck up with a lincoln weldpak 100 fluxcore wire feed and never hit the 20% duty cycle limit

buy the one that your lws carries, they will become your best friend for life

[tinydb84]

I have never hit the duty cycle on any welder. Maybe if I prepped all the joints ahead of time and did them I might get close...

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

I have never hit the duty cycle on any welder. Maybe if I prepped all the joints ahead of time and did them I might get close...

weld a bit, grind a bit, drink beer a bit, repeat

[Tzclark]

I am incredibly good at the beer part, welding.... Who cares about that

[dwcsr]

The miller is a mig welder the Lincoln is a multiprocess welder meaning its DC tig, stick and mig.

[PGSigns]

Not really the same types of welders so what is the primary use you are looking to fill. I have an older Miller 185 and it has been flawless since I got it. It has even been flooded by a hurricane. After going under I called Miller about what to do and they sent me a box of stuff to put in it at no charge. Best customer serve I have ever gotten. That was 11 years ago and it still welds good today. So my vote will be the Miller.
Jimmy

[Bigdav160]

I like to TIG my sheet metal. There is a lot less metal finishing to be done when I TIG.

So if those were my only choices it would be the Lincoln

[bs46488]

I'd vote the miller. I just bought a Miller 180 and couldn't be happier.

I'm not sold on those multi unit products. I feel like you could do one process better than 3 things half way. Also, wont you still have to buy "extras" to have the ability to use all those features? (foot control, tig torch,etc) Also, doesn't tig use a different gas type? So that's a different bottle/regulator. So that will all increase your price.

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by bs46488

I'd vote the miller. I just bought a Miller 180 and couldn't be happier.

I'm not sold on those multi unit products. I feel like you could do one process better than 3 things half way. Also, wont you still have to buy "extras" to have the ability to use all those features? (foot control, tig torch,etc) Also, doesn't tig use a different gas type? So that's a different bottle/regulator. So that will all increase your price.

Mulitiprocess in that size is really just re branding the power unit. The same power unit is used for DC tig, Mig or Stick they just give you access to it all in one panel rather than 3 machines with the same power unit and different taps which would be very expensive. You will need the controls and an Argon bottle. Regulator is the same.

[Tzclark]

My primary use is hobby but putting when I do need it for work on occasion carrying a 80 pound welder with 10 pounds of wire and a bottle of its not flux core is a bit of a hassle

[dfrank]

I would go with the lincoln. We have 8 lincolns and 1 miller which is a stick welder. Lincoln and miller are both the best welders you can get. The multi function on the lincoln is nice. We have only had one problem with a lincoln and that was with a 400amp portable diesel welder that a mouse got in and messed up the wiring. We have some that are over 25 years old and still get used everyday without any problems.