Miller 252 + Lincoln Powermig 256

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Would like to hear opinions from owners of either, or those who have used both. I have never struck an Arc with either, but I am upgrading to a 300 amp mig, and I'm gonna go brand new. My local welders supply has the 252 for 2200$ and the 256 for 2100$ I have always run miller, so I am not familiar with the additional knobs on the lincoln,  I like the miller gun better, but the last brand new miller I bought was a 251 and I was pretty disappointed because it was plagued with problems. From what I've heard the 252 is bullet proof. I mostly weld steel and 4130, may occasionally throw a spool gun with alumn. on it.Lets hear some feed back from owners and users. I asked if I could test them out, and they are pretty apprehensive about it, and they don't know anytime or place that will have them for test, but they are willing to schedule a demo if I slap my money down first.'14 HTP invertig 221Thermal Arc 201ts'15 HTP 2400'13 Hypertherm Powermax 30Esab 875Esab 251Clark Metal Servicespecializing in stainless steel exhaust systems
Reply:had the Lincoln 255 pm it was a great machine wish I didn't sell it,
Reply:I have a Lincoln mp350 and love it! Does everything! Stick mig and tig
Reply:I have used both but have to say the Lincoln and Miller aren't any better than the Hobart Ironman (in my opinion). The IM is a good bit cheaper and very simple, it does everything the Lincoln and Miller can do. Also, the Ironman doesn't have any digital readouts to go bad and I like that.The last time I priced an Ironman they were a little over $1500. If my memory is correct I think the IM has 250 amps and little better duty cycle than the other two.I have been welding since 1979 and in my experience it's best to keep welding machines simple with no digital readouts, the digital boards are expensive to get fixed.
Reply:Never used a 256 but used the 255 a lot. There both good machines, my choice would be the Miller especially if you may add a spoogun down the road. The Lincoln spoolguns are pretty crappy compared to the Miller 30A.Miller xmt304,  Miller S22 p12, Miier Maxstar SD, Miller 252 w 30A, Miller super32p12, Lincoln Ranger 9, Thermal Arc 181I with spoolgun, Hypertherm 10000 ,Smith torches. Esab 161lts miniarc.
Reply:Go with the Lincoln we run them in the shop tons of Outershield 71Elite :045 also the HTP 2400 a little less power but 1400 dollars and a free trial period.
Reply:Originally Posted by PavinsteelmanGo with the Lincoln we run them in the shop tons of Outershield 71Elite :045 also the HTP 2400 a little less power but 1400 dollars and a free trial period.
Reply:Been using a Lincoln 255 power mig quite a bit the past 2 years to build various things out of thin wall square tube.  I thought it did a pretty good job.  Found I got a lot better results running an .030 wire on the hot side rather than .035 on the cold side.
Reply:http://www.usaweld.com/ProductDetail...e=602401-ST-24About $1500.00 but out of stock..http://www.usaweld.com/ProductDetail...e=602401-ST-24You will be pretty happy with any of those 4 machines mentioned.Depending on what you really want to do with it... (Aluminum/etc...)Esab/Lorch ET-220iEsab 160i caddyThermal LM-200 Lincoln feedersThermal Pee-Wee 85sThermal 60i- 3phase /RPC powered (Beast)Thermal Drag-gun 35CINE 1500 Klutch 140i
Reply:That's a good price on the HTP but I don't want any digital readouts for me. I've been down that road before when it comes to repair. To expensive, just more junk to break on a welder.
Reply:Originally Posted by kctgbThat's a good price on the HTP but I don't want any digital readouts for me. I've been down that road before when it comes to repair. To expensive, just more junk to break on a welder.
Reply:Apples and oranges though. He's looking at new machines; a new XMT with feeder runs over 5 grand. JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:I wont buy another miller 252 and the only reason I did not try the lincoln was that none of the 30a spoolguns in the shop would plug in
Reply:Originally Posted by kkustomzI wont buy another miller 252 and the only reason I did not try the lincoln was that none of the 30a spoolguns in the shop would plug in
Reply:Heres what i sent to Miller:I have four things I would like to bring to your attention about the new 252 and its unergonomic design in the real world:1-Put the on-off switch where you do not have to bend over to turn the unit on and off, let alone if you are standing close enough to reach the machine you can not even see the switch. 2- Put the lead rack like the 251 back on the side of machine. I do not want my leads rolled up next to the non replaceable digital gauges where it will get scratched, and not allow me to have a good grip to roll the machine around as a handle is intended, not to mention it looks like a rats nest when they are rolled up on the front.3- Raise the bottle holder up. In the real word you may have to move or roll your machine over something that is more than 1" tall. We have been loading 200lb bottle for years with no lifting and no problems.4- Put the consumables tray back in the unit like all the other previous models.I have lots of Miller equipment and would like to continue buying your products but lately the little extra things seem to be a thing of the past.Personally all the older millers i have weld better than the new 252, it seems like miller has focused on making new $30 welding gloves and slacked of the mm252 quality.
Reply:For me the 252 is an improvement over the older models, better wire guide angle, better handles for moving the machine and smoother starts. The switch is a non issue for me. As for the cable and gun storage that is easy to fix with a holder made to go over the bottle neck or by bolting a fabricated hanger off of the running gear. I made my own 2 cylinder running gear with its own cable storage and a higher cylinder location although I never had a problem with the rack that came with it before building my own. My only complaint was the M-25 gun that it came with. I have also added a hevavier longer ground, a Bernard Q300 gun and a 30 foot power cord. IMO the Miller is a much better choice if aluminum is in the future.Miller xmt304,  Miller S22 p12, Miier Maxstar SD, Miller 252 w 30A, Miller super32p12, Lincoln Ranger 9, Thermal Arc 181I with spoolgun, Hypertherm 10000 ,Smith torches. Esab 161lts miniarc.
Reply:They all are digital meters the best deal is the HTP 2400 for 1500 , the Hobart is good too a tan Miller.
Reply:Originally Posted by kkustomzHeres what i sent to Miller:I have four things I would like to bring to your attention about the new 252 and its unergonomic design in the real world:1-Put the on-off switch where you do not have to bend over to turn the unit on and off, let alone if you are standing close enough to reach the machine you can not even see the switch. 2- Put the lead rack like the 251 back on the side of machine. I do not want my leads rolled up next to the non replaceable digital gauges where it will get scratched, and not allow me to have a good grip to roll the machine around as a handle is intended, not to mention it looks like a rats nest when they are rolled up on the front.3- Raise the bottle holder up. In the real word you may have to move or roll your machine over something that is more than 1" tall. We have been loading 200lb bottle for years with no lifting and no problems.4- Put the consumables tray back in the unit like all the other previous models.I have lots of Miller equipment and would like to continue buying your products but lately the little extra things seem to be a thing of the past.Personally all the older millers i have weld better than the new 252, it seems like miller has focused on making new $30 welding gloves and slacked of the mm252 quality.
Reply:HTP over a MM200 cause you need more amps?  Pretty sure a MM200 is 200 amps at 60% duty cycle.  The same as a 250 and 251 (?252).  Should be 280 amps max.  Smoooooothest mig ever.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:I do have one of the new multimatic 200's which is a inverter based mig and it has great weld characteristics for a small unit. Overall I was hoping to see a little better arc characteristic in my new 252, I think the migs would benefit from a some sort of hot start option. For one they changed the drive roll set up which is suppose to be easier on the machine but I can not tell a difference. Mainly my complaints where ergonomic things, but I had hoped the way it welded would make me forget about it. Personally I would like to try out a Lincoln power mig but no one I know has one or keeps them in stock around here. Good luck.
Reply:Originally Posted by sausage450rwhy won't you buy another 252?I am not a fan of all in one welders either. I have a tig/arc welder, no need for an all in one. I am starting to lean towards the 252, more support, easier to get parts (in my area), giving my gas distributor a chance to quote me a price on either, then will make a decision.
Reply:Originally Posted by Drf255HTP over a MM200 cause you need more amps?  Pretty sure a MM200 is 200 amps at 60% duty cycle.  The same as a 250 and 251 (?252).  Should be 280 amps max.  Smoooooothest mig ever.
Reply:Originally Posted by sausage450rlooked up the HTP, its only 200 amps, the 252 is 250amps@40% duty cycle  mm200 IS rated at 250amps 40% duty cycle, Always assumed it was only a 200amp machine. That settles the debate, MM200 forever in my shop
Reply:An Esab 280 is 190 amps @ 100% duty cycle. It's the next best thing to an old MM200 Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:Originally Posted by kkustomzI wont buy another miller 252 and the only reason I did not try the lincoln was that none of the 30a spoolguns in the shop would plug inOriginally Posted by Drf255Yes.  Never get rid of it. They used to rate things differently.   Like Chevy rating the L88 @ 430 HP at 4000 rpm and not mentioning 550 HP at 7000 rpm.I got rid of mine because of space limitations.  Kicking myself in the azz all the time over it.  An XMT with a feeder is great, but nowhere as smooth. Having all three processes with one machine is very cool though.
Reply:The HTP is 240  amps ,the Miller and Lincoln are 250. You babies should run some 045 Outershield 71M Elite co 2 and pour it in we run em all day and never break. We also run XMT 350 & Lincoln 350 inverters with LN-25 &12 VS with 1/16, we have 135 of them.
Reply:Originally Posted by sausage450rwhat prompted all of this was a conversation with our gas distributor at matheson. when he stopped by the shop, I asked for a quote on a spoolgun to weld up some alumn. on a job we are going to be doing. He said its worthless on my MM200 because its only 200 amps and to get or rent a 252. Now to find a miller 30a spool gun or equivalent
Reply:Originally Posted by MeltedmetalYou should be able to run the 30a from almost any CV DC power supply with the WC-115A. Ask Duane55 here or Cruizer on the Miller forum.---Meltedmetal
Reply:He obviously doesn't know diddly about a Millermatic 200. It's a 250 amp machine and it will run a 30A but you will need a WC24 and you may need a small wiring harness depending on the serial of the machine......I know because I ran my MM200 with a minty fresh 15A just the other night."Now to find a miller 30a spool gun or equivalent"Lincoln ain't got it and never will. Heard pretty good things about Profax spoolguns but have never seen one. To me the 15A/30A is the gold standard in spoolguns.
Reply:interested in this thread too. considering a new machine myself and these are the 2 I'm pondering over.
Reply:Originally Posted by vwguy3He obviously doesn't know diddly about a Millermatic 200. It's a 250 amp machine and it will run a 30A but you will need a WC24 and you may need a small wiring harness depending on the serial of the machine......I know because I ran my MM200 with a minty fresh 15A just the other night."Now to find a miller 30a spool gun or equivalent"Lincoln ain't got it and never will. Heard pretty good things about Profax spoolguns but have never seen one. To me the 15A/30A is the gold standard in spoolguns.
Reply:Originally Posted by Drf255Who doesn't know diddly?There were many years of the MM200 produced. My year had a 4 pin output for spoolmatic 1 that energized the Spoolgun feed motor and controlled the contactor in the machine.  I currently have a WC-24 and a 30 amp I run off an XMT 304.  It has a 14 pin plug, both input and output.  Perhaps there were years of MM200 produced with a 14 pin plug.  I have no clue about that.  Duaneb55 is the expert on them.The only thing I'm 100% on is that I should have never parted with mine.
Reply:Originally Posted by vwguy3My comment was about hooking up a 15/30A and a MM200 being a 200 amp machine.I know the older Spoolmatics are out there but the 15/30As are much more prevalent.