Looking to buy small MIG

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Started looking at the three brands to choose form,  in the 175 to 180 class what is the beat for a newbie?  Just welding 11ga.-1/4 most of the time.  Also, can I stick 11ga. to 1/2 and it hold?
Reply:I bought a Millermatic 175. Getting it dialed in is a bit fiddly and annoying. Once dialed in, it works great! If I had it to do over again, I'd probably go with the Lincoln SP-175+; setup on the Lincolns I've used seems very easy and their instruction manuals are better than Miller's.
Reply:I have no idea what your budget is but if I were doing all over again I would skip the 175 class machine and go to a 210 model and phaghettaboutit for the rest of your life. Kind of wish I would have. In fact if you want a lincoln 175t I could be persuaded to sell it and I would move up right now. The machine is less than a month old absolutely like brand new. I love the welder but wish I would have gotten the bigger one as I am enjoying welding more than I thought I would and can see myself outgrowing it shortly.
Reply:Originally Posted by Robo48I have no idea what your budget is but if I were doing all over again I would skip the 175 class machine and go to a 210 model and phaghettaboutit for the rest of your life. Kind of wish I would have. In fact if you want a lincoln 175t I could be persuaded to sell it and I would move up right now. The machine is less than a month old absolutely like brand new. I love the welder but wish I would have gotten the bigger one as I am enjoying welding more than I thought I would and can see myself outgrowing it shortly.
Reply:Best thing to do is decide on your budget first. And figure out what kind and how much power you have available.The 210-class machines are nice but they won't weld 1/2-inch plate in a single pass. For that, you'd probably want a 250A machine. The 210A machine will run about $500 more than a 175A machine. 250A is probably another $500. Assuming you buy new, of course. If you're going to weld 1/2-inch plate on a regular basis, by all means go for the 250A machine! On the other hand, if it's a once in a blue moon kind of thing it might be cheaper to buy a smaller machine and pay someone to do the work yours won't handle.In the 175A category, I'd buy the Lincoln SP-175+. In the 210A category, the Millermatic 210 is the one to have; it's spool gun ready! At 250A... I dunno who the winner is. I've used the Lincoln 255C during classes and it seems like a great machine. I would assume the Millermatic 251 is also nice.
Reply:This is all the 1/2 plate welding I will be doing where the ball joint are machine in the plate to the riser to the frame attach points.   http://mudmafia.dyndns.org/forum/download.php?id=12
Reply:The current crop of 175/180 amp compact units available really aren't that good of a 1/4" unit, if your looking for critical application results.  For such applications they shine on 3/16" and thinner. If you want critical 1/4"+ capability go with the 210 amp unit as a minimum.  As long as the operators skill level is adequate, a MM 210 will have no problem producing a solid weld between 1/8" and 1/2" mild steel.
Reply:From what i see in your pic stick welding would do the job. To answer your question can 11ga be welded to 1/2" plate ? Yes On the welder ? definetly buy the biggest machine you can afford. As to which brand I would check with local vendors so i could get service and accessories without a pain in the $$$$.
Reply:I use a variety of welders on a regular basis. I use a Clarke 130 (110v, .023 wire), a Lincoln 135 (110v, .030 wire), a MM 185 (220v, .035 wire)(& aluminum w/spool gun), a MM 210 (220v, .45 wire)(& aluminum w/spool gun), a Miller Bobcat 225 (mostly 6011 & 7018), a Lincoln PowerMig 255c (220v, .045 wire) ( all this at home or brother/friend's houses) and a Lincoln IdealArc DC-600 (408/440v, 1/16" metal-core wire)w/ a LN-7 feeder and a Bernard water-cooled gun (at work). The Lincoln 255c is my favorite at home. It goes down to 30a for the thinner stuff and so far has welded everything I've needed it to. The thickest being 3/4" plate that I put a 12mm triple pass fillet on. I do use the 110v machines when I'm doing sheetmetal on an old car or when I need the 110v convenience. I think they both go down to 25a and run .023 or .030 wire just fine.If you decide on the 175 size, I'd go with the Lincoln 175Plus. It has the variable control unlike the 175T or 175HD. I prefer Lincolns so I don't know anything about the comparable Miller or Hobart.Always looking for another old VW, especially in the southeast.
Reply:My Miller 175 works beautifully. Not sure what folks are talking about as far as it being difficult to set up, it's a cinch, and heavier built than the equivalent Lincoln unit.
Reply:Originally Posted by ttyR2My Miller 175 works beautifully. Not sure what folks are talking about as far as it being difficult to set up, it's a cinch, and heavier built than the equivalent Lincoln unit.
Reply:first off my vote goes to the MM210, get the spool gun and load it with .025 for the thin stuff and .030 in the big spool for every thing else. if thats just no doable in the budjet, if its a buisness get a buisness loan and make it happen, if its a hobbie thing......well maybee eat hot dogs afew nights a week to make it happen. the werst thing is to find out you realy needed more omph. as for the Miller VS red in the 135/175 as a hobbie unit odds are they will both do well but the Miller dose have a sturdyer drive system. as for the WFTS being your problem that can only be due to you fighting it or trying to treat it like the red unit you use at school, miller put it in to make it easyer to dial in for the hobie guy as thats its target market group, i have the MM135 and have gotten flawless performance out of it for almost 5 years now, it has never seen a repair shop and shows no signs of needing one any time soon. given it to do over i would chose the miller over the red unit, or the hobart again. service should not be an isue with the Miller but its always good to check. summer is here, plant a tree for mother earth. if you dont have time or space, sponcer some one else to plant one for you.feel free to shoot me a PM or e-mail me at [email][email protected] i got lots of time.
Reply:Will i got a smoking deal on a MM 210 so I bought it and hear it is!!http://mudmafia.dyndns.org/forum/download.php?id=48
Reply:congrats, thats a fine welder you wont be dissapointed in it.drop me an e-mail if ya want a cover to keep it looking new. man i cant wait till i get to get a 210. summer is here, plant a tree for mother earth. if you dont have time or space, sponcer some one else to plant one for you.feel free to shoot me a PM or e-mail me at [email][email protected] i got lots of time.