Which welder? Miller, Esab or Thermal Arc

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New member looking for some opinions on welder brands.  I am looking for a wire welder in the 250 amp range.  It will mostly be used with flux core wire as most of the welding i do is outside.  Been looking on line for a while and decided on something like the Miller 252.  Yesterday I went to the LWS to check prices and see what they had and they gave me some other options I had not considered.Miller 252 (250 Amps) basic options for $1980Thermal Arc Fabricator 210 (250 Amps) with a spool gun for $1638Thermal Arc Fabricator 251 ( 300 Amps) with a spool gun for $1861Esab  Migmaster 275 (275 Amps) basic options for $ 1750The Fabricators with a spool gun seem like a really good deal but I don't really have any use for a spool gun at this time but I might later who knows.  The Fabricators come with a 5 year warranty and all the others were 3 years.  Did not have one in stock to look at but could get one form the warehouse in a couple of days.  Said the sell mainly to small shops and schools because of price but have very few problems with them.The Esab was a floor model that was sent to them and they have not had any luck selling it.  Did not know much about them and the only time they used one was at a training class but it seemed to weld good.  It looked good although the drive system seemed a little lighter but not enough to concern me.Anybody got any opinions on which one will work better for flux cored wire in an equipment repair and maintenance role?  Most welding will be 3/8" thick or less with the occasional 1/2" stuff if needed.  It will only be used a few times a week and not in a production role so things like duty cycle do not make a huge difference.I think any of them would do the job and am leaning toward the Miller simply because of parts availability but the tapped voltages of the other two brands means less electronics to go bad. Anyone with real world experience with Esab or Thermal Arc machines would be greatly appreciated.Thanks,Dale
Reply:Originally Posted by qball98New member looking for some opinions on welder brands.  I am looking for a wire welder in the 250 amp range.  It will mostly be used with flux core wire as most of the welding i do is outside.  Been looking on line for a while and decided on something like the Miller 252.  Yesterday I went to the LWS to check prices and see what they had and they gave me some other options I had not considered.Miller 252 (250 Amps) basic options for $1980Thermal Arc Fabricator 210 (250 Amps) with a spool gun for $1638Thermal Arc Fabricator 251 ( 300 Amps) with a spool gun for $1861Esab  Migmaster 275 (275 Amps) basic options for $ 1750The Fabricators with a spool gun seem like a really good deal but I don't really have any use for a spool gun at this time but I might later who knows.  The Fabricators come with a 5 year warranty and all the others were 3 years.  Did not have one in stock to look at but could get one form the warehouse in a couple of days.  Said the sell mainly to small shops and schools because of price but have very few problems with them.The Esab was a floor model that was sent to them and they have not had any luck selling it.  Did not know much about them and the only time they used one was at a training class but it seemed to weld good.  It looked good although the drive system seemed a little lighter but not enough to concern me.Anybody got any opinions on which one will work better for flux cored wire in an equipment repair and maintenance role?  Most welding will be 3/8" thick or less with the occasional 1/2" stuff if needed.  It will only be used a few times a week and not in a production role so things like duty cycle do not make a huge difference.I think any of them would do the job and am leaning toward the Miller simply because of parts availability but the tapped voltages of the other two brands means less electronics to go bad. Anyone with real world experience with Esab or Thermal Arc machines would be greatly appreciated.Thanks,Dale
Reply:Lincoln 255XT has great arc and comes with spot timer,burn back .Had Miller 251 and 250X ,but Lincoln has a better unit for the money. Try to contact your local Lincoln dealer or Lincoln sales rep about demo units save some moneywelding instuctor
Reply:I have had an Esab MM250+ and currently own a MM260. Absolutely nothing wrong with them at all. Esab's service is top notch, too. Parts have not been a problem either. The most I have ever waited fro Esab parts is one week....they had to build from scratch a HF unit for an older Heliarc252 ACDC that went out.QamuIs Heg qaq law' lorvIs yInqaq puS
Reply:I don't have my manuals here, but I thought I read that the Miller 251 was actually capable of 300amps.Edit.....Looked at manuals online and Miller 251 is capable of 28% duty cycle at 300amps.  But you're looking at a 252, Doh!  Not sure on that one.Last edited by Boostinjdm; 10-31-2009 at 05:35 PM.My name's not Jim....
Reply:I would add to your list of machines to look at, the HTP MIG 2400.I bought my HTP MIG 200 new back around '92-ish and it was my only mig welder for many years and served me well.  It has a very soft arc and does well with very thin as well as thick steel.  Makes nice low-spatter short circuit welds with 75/25 gas.The machines are US-made in Illinois, near Chicago.www.htpweld.comMM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:i own a lincoln 255 and love it. never tried an esab until this summer and it was outta this world. i too have heard their customer service is most excellent. id go with the esab hands down.but what the hell do i know? ive only been laying quality welds since 1853!
Reply:Originally Posted by El_Lloydeoi own a lincoln 255 and love it. never tried an esab until this summer and it was outta this world. i too have heard their customer service is most excellent. id go with the esab hands down.but what the hell do i know? ive only been laying quality welds since 1853!
Reply:ESAB MM's are awesome machines. Like their add say's, for a single phase machine they weld like a 3 phase machine.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:I haven't used an ESAB mig, but I have welded with Linde L-Tec 225's and they're nice machines with the variable inductance control.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Thanks for the help.  The only thing that bothers me about the Esab is it is not something they normally sell so if I had a problem with it might be harder to get fixed.  They sell mostly Miller so it should be easier for them to help with any problems I have since they are more familiar with them which I think may be worth spending a little more on the Miller.Thanks againDale
Reply:Originally Posted by qball98Thanks for the help.  The only thing that bothers me about the Esab is it is not something they normally sell so if I had a problem with it might be harder to get fixed.  They sell mostly Miller so it should be easier for them to help with any problems I have since they are more familiar with them which I think may be worth spending a little more on the Miller.Thanks againDale
Reply:my vote goes to the esab.  i love their machine mm250.  i haven't used their 275, but it is built on the same level as the 250.  i would really like to get the 260.
Reply:Originally Posted by Scott Youngmy vote goes to the esab.  i love their machine mm250.  i haven't used their 275, but it is built on the same level as the 250.  i would really like to get the 260.
Reply:I own an ESAB Migmaster 250. It is a very good solid wire unit. I have no idea how well it performs with a self-shielded fluxcore wire. I haven't ran a Migmaster 275 either.Self shielded fluxcore wire is somewhat voltage sensitive, so I'm feeling your best bet would more then likely be to go with a variable voltage unit like the MM 252 you've been considering.ESAB Migmaster 250 Hobart Ironman 230Multimatic 215TWECO Fabricator 181i & 211iHH125EZ - nice little fluxcore only unitMaxstar 150 STH - very nice
Reply:the esab is the cat's meow for dual shield.  i don't know about the self shielded wire.
Reply:Originally Posted by Sparky#1Their has to be an Esab distributor near you somewhere. I would say try one out and see if you like it.
Reply:Originally Posted by DanI own an ESAB Migmaster 250. It is a very good solid wire unit. I have no idea how well it performs with a self-shielded fluxcore wire. I haven't ran a Migmaster 275 either.Self shielded fluxcore wire is somewhat voltage sensitive, so I'm feeling your best bet would more then likely be to go with a variable voltage unit like the MM 252 you've been considering.
Reply:After having both tapped and variable voltage machines, I don't think I would buy one with tapped voltage again.  They work fine, but variable is just nicer.  Meters are nice too, which the Miller 252 has.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by El_Lloydeoi own a lincoln 255 and love it. never tried an esab until this summer and it was outta this world. i too have heard their customer service is most excellent. id go with the esab hands down.but what the hell do i know? ive only been laying quality welds since 1853!
Reply:Just thought I would let everyone know that I picked up a Miller 252 today.  Thanks for the help.
Reply:Congrats on the new machine! MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by qball98Just thought I would let everyone know that I picked up a Miller 252 today.  Thanks for the help.