what would you buy?

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Hi! everyone, I have been lurking here for a couple years and finally joined this morning, I am in the market for a new 250 class mig machine for my race car chassis shop. I have been welding sense the early 70's and have used many brands of welding equipment over the years but I can honestly say that I am not (Brand Loyal ) to anyone mfg. as most welders are, I have had  or used good and bad machines from the big names and have also used off brand machines that had some of the smoothest and spatter free arcs I have ever seen.  Here In Pittsburgh we have many welding supply stores to choose from but none have machines that they are willing to let you try out before you buy like the have in the past, (things are bad every ware I guess) .  My question is what machine do you guys feel has the smoothest spatter free weld on the market, I know proper set up is the  key factor . on any machine but some machines are definitely better in my opinion. Any help or suggestions would be greatlyappreciated.                                                                                 Best Regards,   Jeff Little
Reply:For me, probably the nicest machine I ever ran was an XMT with a seperate feeder. It's a little more machine than a 250 class mig, but not by all that much. Just be sure you get a CC/CV machine and not one of the CC only units..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:i bought my mm251 from cyberweld.comi went with the miller because the 30Aspoolgun is the best
Reply:Originally Posted by ed maci bought my mm251 from cyberweld.comi went with the miller because the 30Aspoolgun is the best
Reply:don't have any machine advice but nice to see someone from the Pitt area, All going well  I'll be in west mifflin sometime before june
Reply:I bought a ESAB  migmaster250.  Its excellent  power source , priced right,very adjustable heat and wire speed, to avoid that  excess spatter.   jim
Reply:Well I am sure the peanut gallery here could narrow down the range of recommendations if we knew  what price range you are looking for. Since  your running a "race car chassis shop"  I would not recommend the entry level machines. DSW's recommendation of an XMT is good if you can afford it. We had XMT 304 but recently moved up to the XMT 456 because of work load and options we added. Are you looking for new or used? Check around on craigslist you can usually find some good buys in used equipment and some shops lease equipment so there is another option. Some suppliers sell leased equipment.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:Race Car Chassis Shop has TIG written all over it.You will NOT be doing any 'Moly chassis with a mig.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Hi Guys, Thanks for all of the reply's in record Time!  I might add. I Have had many welders over the years and do most all of my welding with my Miller Sincrowave Tig but use a mig to weld back half frames, roll bar plates to unibody floors, ect. the roll cage work is almost always chrome moly ( unless the customer is  tight on funds and insists on a cheap kit bar/cage) I have a chance to sell the old Lincoln Mig ( with many miles) for a decent price and would like a new machine to replace it. Any of you ever use a Thermal arc 251 Fabricator? as I can get a good deal on a left over 2009 machine at the local welding store. I really would like to support a local store but the Internet continues to make it difficult to pass up with a no tax, free shipping deal that is already a couple hundred cheaper than the local guys on Miller and Lincoln machines. As far as price I would like to stay around $2000. or so and have been kinda liking the Lincoln 255xt. Any more comments or suggestions would be welcome. Thanks Again  Jeff Little
Reply:That Thermal Arc 251 was on special with spool gun and helmet if I am not mistaken, in 2009, and a good price.Their stuff is premium if you can get a good deal on it take it, I was regretting I did not buy my Thermal Aec Fabricator 190 a little later.Check out HTP's web site.
Reply:I would look at a Millermatic 252 or HTP MIG2400www.millerwelds.comwww.htpweld.comMM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:When I was trying to decide on this, I was looking hard at the Miller Shopmate 300DX, Thermal Arc Fabricator 251 and 281 and the Esab Migmaster 250+. I went Esab and got a bad unit. They cracked the core, we think, during shipping. The unit was perfect before I got it anyway. Esab replaced that one with a Multimaster 260. Now THAT one was the one I should have gotten in the first place. Full digital meters, dual bottle rack standard, infinitely variable inductance, four roll wire drive and with burnback control  and pulse available as options. Plus it is a decent stick and TIG machine. This machine will do all you want  and more...it even has a trunk.QamuIs Heg qaq law' lorvIs yInqaq puS
Reply:I like the esab 250 and am saving my pennies for a esab 275 or 260.
Reply:Originally Posted by Scott YoungI like the esab 250 and am saving my pennies for a esab 275 or 260.
Reply:Originally Posted by DDA52Go with the 260. There is not that much of a difference between the 275 and 250. But, the 250 to the 260 is a good jump in quality and features.
Reply:Just bought a Thermal arc 251 Fabricator not long ago.Its a great machine, had to order from LWS no one had one in stock.I would recommend highly,and if you can get a deal go for it.I opened mine up to see inside construction and was impressedwith quality and detail.
Reply:All of the mig machines by the bigger names in the 250 class are of good qualitythermal arc makes a nice machine they also have the highest duty cycle of any of the 250 machines if i am not mistakeneverything has its ups and downsthe miller 252 doesnt seem like its as good of quality as the 251 the knobs are really cheap and the newer ones dont even have stops the spin around and around which seems really cheapthe lincoln comes with the worst gun of these machines I had the diffuser threads screw up in the gooseneck twice or three times now it also doesnt have aluminum protecting the gooseneck its just a rubber sockthe lincoln also seems to be able to do the same welding with a lower voltage than the miller i dont know why but it does  this causes me grief sometimes when using the hobart stellar (same as xmt series)i just set the machine how i would use my lincoln and it doesnt work worth a damnthese machines really dont seem to like to work at less than 20 volts