Welders - Miller or Lincoln?

[Boczech1]

Both are good machines. I use to work at a coal mine on the drag line crew and we had the Lincoln portable welders with the gas engines and in the shop we had the 220v Miller machines. Hobart use to make a pretty good wire machine so it all depends on your preference. Like the other folks have said don't buy a bunch of stuff right away just the basics on what you need for class and then you get the other stuff later. Just remember that Welders do it in all positions.

 

[DJW]

For many people Stick, Tig and Mig are in totally different fields and each are superior in their alloted slots. From an industrial stand point I have found Miller more dependable than Lincoln, that is industrial in average use, not super heavy or light, sort of run of the mill. I like the Millar 210 for home use and light industrial, quite reasonable for price I've paid around $1200 new. As some said, try them all, there is plenty of time to buy one for your own use, many welding suppliers have models taken in for trade, also remember a supplier is in for the long haul and would like you for a customer after the initial sale.

 

[GHarman]

You need a Constant Current Power Supply for Stick and TIG. A Constant Voltage Power Supply for wire feed applications. I have used many different brands of Welding Power Supplies over many years. I like both Miller and Lincoln if they are properly maintained! TIG is a high heat input process that requires a very high level of hand/eye coordination. Stick welding also requires good hand, eye and rod coordination . Wirefeed, on the other hand is easy to learn, is forgiving and provides less distortion in a weldment such as you proposed because the Heat Affectied Zone is far less than TIG and some stick electrodes such as E-6010, E-6011 and E-7018. Those gasless fluxcore wirefeeders work great. GregH

 

[CNeubauer]

CNeubauer, what is that in the picture? Looks the the most awesome spare tire carrier on Earth.



Ryan

That is a lift axle off a piece of farm equipment. It pivots on the solid bar on the front with a hydraulic cylinder attaching to the orange triangle piece. The factory used 2x4x1/4" tubing which was very prone to cracking so the one's I built are 3x5x1/2" tubing and I'm not too worried about them not holding up.



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