Compact Inverter MIG?

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There seem to be a number of small inverter stick and TIG welders, like the Maxstar.  What about an inverter MIG?   Or is there no need for it with 180 or 210 amp 220V welders weighing less than 100 pounds?  (IE. Millermatic 211).  I have a 175 amp 220V MIG now, so no point in upgrading unless I can get 250 or 300 amps.  I don't have space for a standard size industrial MIG welder, like a Millermatic 252 or a Powermig 350MP.Lincoln has the C300, which would certainly meet the bill, multi-process, built in wire feeder, 100 pounds, 300 amps, but $6000, and too new to be on the used market.   I am not aware of any equivalent to the C300.   An XMT 304 would fill the bill, readily available used at reasonable prices, but gets bulky and awkward by the time you add an external feeder.Maybe there is something out there that I don't know about, maybe a discontinued welder or an ESAB or something else.....   RichardSculptures in copper and other metalshttp://www.fergusonsculpture.comSyncrowave 200 Millermatic 211Readywelder spoolgunHypertherm 600 plasma cutterThermal Arc GMS300 Victor OA torchHomemade Blacksmith propane forge
Reply:Hey Richard,I'm with ESAB and could help you out, but I'm not really sure what you are asking.  Do you want an inverter Mig unit with a built in wire feeder?  or are you looking at something more like the XMT series, light unit, but you need a seperate wire feeder?  Because if you want something portable, that wouldn't really fit the bill.  Also, what are you trying to weld? how thick?  Stainless or mild steel?let me know...
Reply:Heres one esab makes http://products.esabna.com/can/EN/ho...2%AE_mig_c200iand heres the thread with a member who just bought oneHope This Helps Ryan_______________________OF COURSE I DON'T LOOK BUSY... I DID IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME
Reply:Hey rafer,This may not help you, although you may find a used one in good working condition. This is probably the size you are looking for, albeit, it is a spoolgun unit that has no built-in wirefeeder. Basically, it is a full-inverter 250A power supply with spoolgun on 26' of cable. I bought this unit about 5yrs ago for my mobile rig to have the flexibility to weld steel/ss/alum./flux-core for field use & not have any concerns on the job material. I needed the portability with size/wt. & flexibility with wire type/grade & this really filled that niche. It has served me well & my mobile log indicates over (100) rolls of wire have been consumed so far. This is an import that I took a chance on when they first came on the market & had excellent reviews. Not one issue with it since I got it. Many people got inferior imports & thus they got a bad reputation, & justly so. I was lucky as the importer was a really saavy fellow who stood behind their products & pre-tested prior to shipment. It is small at 36lbs, 16"L X 14"H X 8"W. This is probably what you are looking for as far as size, although not a S/G only unit. I don't believe you will find one this small that has the built in wire feed.....maybe. This unit is no longer available that I know of....too bad.... it was a great unit. There may be another mfg. who offers a unit like this in size & weight. Good luck in your quest.....Denny Attached ImagesComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:Thanks for your suggestions.   The ESAB C200i looks very nice, 200 amps, but I was looking for more power, probably 250 amps or 300 amps. The Millermatic 211 would add 120V capability, but only 210 amps.  Both would be direct replacements for my current MIG, and be better than what I have, but offer little more power than the 175 amp MIG that I have today.  The C200i is 26 pounds, vs. 75 pounds for the Millermatic 211.  The 75 pounds is OK, and the 211 is reasonably compact, but this issue is power.The Ryland looks nice, but I was looking for a wire feeder built in.   Actually, I own a spoolgun, so I could just go for an XMT304 without wire feed, but I think that using a spoolgun a lot would be heavy and awkward.  That said, I have less than one hour on my spoolgun, so maybe I would get used to it.  Also my spoolgun wire feed is not calibrated, and I like being able to look at the reference label on the inside cover of my MIG and just set the dials where I am told to set them.     The Ryland probably has a reference label, just like my current MIG, so it would probably work out just the same, so maybe I would be happy with it.  As a retired engineer, ideally the MIG would have calibrated voltage and wire feed knobs, or a digital display, the more numbers the better.  ;-)  In theory I could calibrate the knob on my spoolgun by using a ruler and a stopwatch, make up my own label.I agree that my original request was somewhat vague.  The last large project that I built was in Stainless, and at the moment I am working in mild steel.   1/4 inch plate is about the thickest material I generally use.  With 175 amps, I don't use MIG on 1/4 inch plate.  I rarely work in Aluminum, and as I said I own a spoolgun if I need to weld aluminum.  For thinner aluminum I can TIG it with my Synchrowave 200.  I would be happy with an XMT304 with a feeder built in, or something similar to the ESAB C200i that would put out 250 or 300 amps.  Multi-process, like the XMT, would be nice, but not necessary.In some ways, I am more concerned about space than weight.  However, the conventional MIG welders that go above 200 amps are both very large and very heavy, and they really won't work for me.  Portability is not very important to me; I don't weld outside my shop even once a year.RichardSculptures in copper and other metalshttp://www.fergusonsculpture.comSyncrowave 200 Millermatic 211Readywelder spoolgunHypertherm 600 plasma cutterThermal Arc GMS300 Victor OA torchHomemade Blacksmith propane forge
Reply:Let me see if I got that straight.What you're looking for is the unit that doesn't exist.Have you ever picked up an XMT304 (without wirefeeder)?  They're not exactly a machine that you sling over your shoulder and stroll out to the back 40.An XMT304 with an 8RC wirefeeder may be your best choice.  Not going to be cheap though.Think you're going to have to wait quite a bit longer for that 25# self contained mig that puts out 250A.If the thickest you're welding is 1/4" mild steel, why do you think you need a 250-300A machine.  Seems to me that a Passport+ or ESAB's 200A machines would meet your needs very well.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:If the lincoln c300 will fit the bill (expect price) then the xmt 304 with a well desinged cart, so the wire feeder sits above the powersource should work.the foot print of the XMT on the cart is a little smaller than a millermatic 250it could be made smalleranother brand to look at is Powcon, they can be found cheap Attached Images