Mig Welder?

[DarrellB]

I've out grown my little 115 volt Mig welder and have been looking for a new 220 volt machine for a few weeks now. I've narrowed my search down to 4 machines 2 Millers, and ESAB's. My first question for you welders out there is what about the ESAB stuff? The dealer I'm working with sells and services both and they say the ESAB is just as good our maybe better than the Miller stuff I'm looking at. I know the Miller machines will be good. I know a lot of guys running the MM 210 and they love it and say it's the best machine they have ever ran. I don't know the ESAB stuff very well, heck I didn't even know they made Migs until last week.



Here are the 4 machines.



1. Miller MM 210 $1,500 out the door (prices went up 2 months ago).



2. Esab 203 comparable with the MM 210 in every way. $1,200 out the door and a bit smaller package all together.



3. Miller MM 251 $1,800 out the door. Bigger than I would ever need comes to mind with this one.



4. Esab 253 comparable with the MM251 but for the same $1,800 I can get the Spool gun, one 4lb spool of aluminum wire, one 4lb spool of stainless wire, and a free helmet, gloves, and welders hat. (Promotional Deal from Esab)



I'm really leaning more to the Esab 253 and that deal since it's one heck of a deal and would probable be the last welder I'd ever buy and comes with some extra goodies. My only reservation is with not knowing much about Esab as a company or the quality of their migs. The dealer did say they would set up a Miller and Esab out of the same class and let me run them if I like. According to them I'll like the Esab much better since I'm a novice at the welding stuff.



Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.



DB

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Check out this guy on eBay - http://stores.ebay.com/Welding-Supp...Guns-Feeder_W0QQcolZ2QQdirZQ2d1QQftidZ2QQtZkm . He has the Miller 210 for $1250. 77 with free shipping. He also has a package with the 210 and a spoolgun for $1789. 77 . They are a welding supply shop down in Indiana and I have bought a bunch of stuff from him with no problems at all. Prompt shipping and all received as described.

 

[metal tech]

I can't speak about the ESAB machines, but I have a 210 w/ spoolgun. It is more machine than I'll ever need, I rarely weld thicker than 1/4". I've had it for about 3 years and have no problems at all. I run it off my dryer outlet and it does just fine. In addition to the link Steve gave you try these guys, www.brwelder.com. I have noticed the Ebay prices differ a little from the ones on the web site. I'm not sure what you'll be building so I don't know if you should step up to the 251.



Al

 

[JCoffey]

I would look at Lincoln Electric machines. Feature for feature I think they are better than Miller and definitely better than ESAB. The few people I know that have bought ESAB's because they were so much cheaper have come to regret it. They do not have a very good arc. If you can weld with a Lincoln you will see that it has the best arc of the three, especially on the low end such as whenn doing body panels, etc. Prices for the Lincoln will be right with the Miller.

 

[Turbo Thom]

Go ahead and buy the 251 and buy overkill. I weld my bumpers, which are 3/16 plate, trailers and truck bodies with a little 175 Miller. It's done the job but is too small for what I do. I need the 251. If 1/4 is the most you will weld, and don't weld long spans at a time, the 175 is a nice machine. I have had it heat up and shut down for a cool down peroid. I guess the next one I but will be a 251, but I do need a TIG machine.



The ESAB, I was worned away from those.







. . Preston. .

 

[Paychk]

I think the golden rule is"you can always turn it down, but it will only go so high". In other words buy the welder with the most output power @ the highest duty cycle; your budget will allow, cause you can turn it down for the light stuff.

 

[swankmetal]

my vote is for the 251. you get what you pay for. i will not be buying anything but miller welders from now on. that welder has the best arc i've seen for that type/size of machine.



dave

 

[BDeArmon]

I bought a MM210 a couple years ago, deciding against the 251 because "I never weld more than 1/4" plate"..... until about 2 weeks after I got the 210... I had a custom C-frame hydraulic press dropped off in the shop that had a crack in a piece of 1" plate..... If you can, buy something twice as big as you need.

 

[KevinWatts]

I think the golden rule is"you can always turn it down, but it will only go so high". In other words buy the welder with the most output power @ the highest duty cycle; your budget will allow, cause you can turn it down for the light stuff.

You can also make multiple passes.



I use MM210 it's a good all around machine.



MM210 $1262/mm251 $1771 including shipping

http://store.cyberweld.com/milmigwel.html



Kevin