Looking at a MIG setup.

[gator89]

I'm looking at getting a MIG welder. Iv already got a nice arc rig but I've been wanting to get a mig for some sheet metal and other projects I've been thinking about. What should I look for in a welder? Any brands better than others?(I know miller and Lincoln) what size would y'all recommend? I'm not going to be doing any major industrial fabrication i just want something for around the ranch/lighter stuff. Any input would be appreciated.

[avidhunter75]

Not sure how they are made now, but I bought a Hobart 135 about ten years ago, it might as well be a miller because all the parts on/in it have miller stamped on them, and I've welded up a lot of stuff with it with no problems at all

[Tubby]

Not sure how they are made now, but I bought a Hobart 135 about ten years ago, it might as well be a miller because all the parts on/in it have miller stamped on them, and I've welded up a lot of stuff with it with no problems at all

Miller bought out Hobart a few years back. They still have some Hobart machines but are using some plastic parts. The quality is still with the Miller brand out of the two.

Keeping it for light fabrication, 3/8" or less, the Miller 211

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/product.php?model=M00245

But I've said it before and I'll say it again... When choosing a welding machine, always get one bigger than you think you'll want/need.

The Miller 212

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/product.php?model=M00456

[gator89]

Cool ill lol in to both of those. Tubby that's good advice there will always be something bigger that you need to weld than what you've got power for.

[Draco]

If you truely are going to use it for only thinner stuff then you can get by with a 140 to 180 amp machine. However there is no reason to just use it on thinner stuff. The Miller 211 or 212 will handle almost any thing you would need, they just cost more money.

I have a welding business and have always been a Miller guy but I did some welding with a Lincoln 175 the other day and I was really impressed with that little machine.

[gator89]

I know if I got a bigger machine I could use it for a lot more than lighter stuff and it would definitely be a lot cleaner than my arc welder. But I don't know if I can drop $2k+ on a welder. I know you get what you pay for. Maybe ill just save up and get a good one that I can use for everything.

[avidhunter75]

One other important thing to pay attention to on them is the duty cycle.....

[bassinking]

I have the lincoln 140 and for home use it is perfect and priced really good.I have built a few blinds and feeders with it and worked like a champ.I have been welding off and on for 30 years and have used just about every mig out there and I can say you cant go wrong with the lincoln

[BBReezen]

We just got two miller 350Ps at work, I like them a lot better than out older lincolns but those are pretty big priced machines if your not gonna use them a whole lot.

[bryan sandlin]

a 100.00 different price is nothing. dont buy two. one for the thin stuff then another for the 1/4 or larger. buy the one than you need to turn down. not max it out. lincoln, miller, hobart. stay with name brand. one that can weld without gas. thats for windy days. field work. then the same one that has a bottle. for shop work.

[Dale Moser]

Miller, or lincoln in the 180 or 175 models. I can't remember the model #s exactly but they are the smallest wire machines you can get in 220V. The little 110 machines (I believe the miller is model 140, I'm sure the lincoln is the same) are nice machines, but they are brutal slow on 1/8", and you have to turn'em up to 10 to even think about 3/16" and it takes forever. They will cut off on you when it's hot and you weld heavy stuff too. I've got a Miller 175 (the new model is called a 180) and it will do 3/8" or more when you turn it up. I've done hundreds of hours of work with that little dude, and it's only ever shut down to cool off twice...when I was welding 1/4"wall and welds 18" long. It will do 1/2" with .035 wire if you are patient......and don't run it constantly on full bore.

I really think it's the best machine there is for the money/power.

[01txag]

We don't have a big shop (+/-10 welders) but we have gotten rid of all Lincoln welders. I still have a couple at home, but will get rid of them the next time we get a new ones at work.

Our main issue is service. I just think Miller's last longer. If that's not a problem, then just make sure you don't get a variable speed welder. I don't know if they still make them, but Lincoln made them for a while. They suck.

[BearkatHunter]

Hard to beat a Miller Millermatic 250 to 252 models.