Recommend a MIG welder.

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The bulk of the welding I need to do is auto/truck restoration, but I also do some custom truck stuff that for the most part is up to 3/8, but sometimes 1/2. If it matters, all the stuff that is 3/8 - 1/2 are small welds in length and not frequent...basically brackets/hinges. Bulk of stuff is 1/4 or less.I personally don't weld, but plan on learning. My real plan though is to hire a mechanic/welder and want to have the right tools for them.Would an MM252 work?
Reply:MM252 would be an excellent choice. I wouldn't go any smaller than the MM212 if you do a lot of welding or the MM211 if it's more of a hobby..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:The MillerMatic 252 is a great machine, and it allows you to have both your regular mig gun and a spool gun (aluminum) connected at the same time.  It will auto-switch both the power and the correct gas between the two depending on which one's trigger you pull.  Get the extra gas platform that will hold three gas bottles for an extra $100.Miller Syncrowave 350Millermatic 252/ 30A spoolgunMiller Bobcat 225g w/ 3545 spoolgunLincoln PowerArc4000Lincoln 175 Mig  Lincoln 135 Mig Everlast 250EX TigCentury ac/dc 230 amp stickVictor O/AHypertherm 1000 plasma
Reply:252  is a great machine, but not the blue one.. I do like you can use the 30A spool-gun on this unit. http://victortechnologies.com/IM_Upl...29_May2012.pdfEsab/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:Take a MM212 or MM252 all have been said about it, any of those are great machines. Living the spool gun connected ,great duty cycle, parts, services, consommables avalaibility and a good waranty is what you need in your shop, you got no time to loose waiting...Try to get a deal from your LWS.Miller MM211Esab Mini Arc 161LTSEsab Handy Plasma 380Duck tapeTy- rapKool-aid
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749The more I see of that Fabricator, the more I like it.Victor was at the LWS a couple weeks back & they had one there. I wish they would of had it set up. Really good looking unit. Made in USA too.IMHO of course
Reply:Originally Posted by Brand XTo tell you the truth for shop welding (single phase) I think the Shopmate 300 dx is the poorrelative  in Millers line.  I would not even consider a 252, but I would love to have the Shopmate. model. Even over a XMT. (As long as I did not have to move it.) It has the arc quality of a MM-210 with adjustable voltage, and inductance.   The arc starts are the best in Millers line up.  Something I think most chopper machines do really well.
Reply:I found someone selling a mm252 with about 4 hours on it. He was asking $2K and I offered $1500. He went to $1800 and was thinking I would counter a final take it or leave it offer at $1600.Opinions? I can buy a new one, but figured with only 4 hours and less than a year old it could be a better choice.
Reply:Originally Posted by diablo_svrSo why would you not consider a mm252?
Reply:Originally Posted by Brand XPersonal preference, because of the type of arc quality  I consider it just weird and mushy , compared to all the machines I have used. . Machines that you can't change the inductance on, means you are stuck with what the engineers give you. Some people like it, and think it's wonderful, but that's what makes the world go round.
Reply:Originally Posted by diablo_svrI found someone selling a mm252 with about 4 hours on it. He was asking $2K and I offered $1500. He went to $1800 and was thinking I would counter a final take it or leave it offer at $1600.Opinions? I can buy a new one, but figured with only 4 hours and less than a year old it could be a better choice.
Reply:I love my TA252. And have welded 1/2 inch through 22ga with it. And being that it will tig weld makes it a nice machine. And if space is a concern, it is fairly small. Running it as a mig, I can weld 1/4 all day long in the az summer and it runs just fine. I have yet to hit the duty cycle on it. I do have complaints about it though, if you do not purchase a second regulator, it's a bit of a pain to change from mig to tig. And being a DC only machine, you cannot tig aluminum. Also the TA thumbwheel tig torch is really big and bulky. The lift arc, is ok, but you can contaminate the tungsten easily. That being said, I love mine. As a mig, it's as good or better than any machine I have used.Offering CNC Plasma cutting and welding projects.Follow me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/nobigdeal.fabSupport those that support WW.
Reply:No Lincoln people out there ? The Lincoln 350 is awsome mig stick gouge spoolgun or colbramatic one machine. Go out and find a 250 ac/dc  toumbstone and a 255 mig a great combination . Try HTP there 2400 mig is a great deal ,the best price and free shipping.
Reply:Purity Lansing had a TA 252i unboxed and on display Nov 7th. I picked it up Nov 8th for one of my large dairys.  They are replaceing a MM250X.  They bought the 252i with the single cylinder cart [very well made cart] this will give them a more portable welder with stick capability.  The 250x is for sale $1000 comes with 3 mig guns, flux core rollers,and other mig gun parts, Its never been repaired and has been inside Duane
Reply:I like my old MM250.
Reply:Originally Posted by diablo_svrI found someone selling a mm252 with about 4 hours on it. He was asking $2K and I offered $1500. He went to $1800 and was thinking I would counter a final take it or leave it offer at $1600.Opinions? I can buy a new one, but figured with only 4 hours and less than a year old it could be a better choice.
Reply:Originally Posted by ct from shawneei paid $1600.00 for a very lightly used one and 4 hrs. use is nothing on a machine that size so the way you have to look at it is, it's basically a new heavily discounted machine.  if you can beat him down to $1600.00 good but if it's that new 17or 18 your not getting ripped off .what does a new one run tax and to your doorstep ? i think they are 2000 to 2200 aren't they? if it's got a roll of  wire on it you won't have to buy that a new one  you will  ! when i went to buy the one i have the guy was asking 1600 and i tried it out and tried to beat him down to 1500 and he wouldn't budge . i new if i didn't buy it the next guy would so keep that in mind . good luck let us know what you figure out . chris
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749I was there the day the Victor rep had that 252i on display. Nice machine.Good luck on the sale of the MM 250
Reply:We recently got a mm252 at work, and though I am a big fan of miller, I must say I am not pleased with the machine at all. Like a previous poster said the arc is just weird and mushy, and I would have to agree. Aside from that I find the machine very hard to fine tune to really get it singing along nice, and overall I just find it weird and troublesome. That is only my opinion though, and maybe we just got a dud of a machine. It also fried a board on the first day as soon as we turned it on.  I was really looking foward to it, but not really impressed with it. Like I said maybe we just got a dud!I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Originally Posted by ct from shawnee$2204.00 on cyberweld !
Reply:So has anyone here use used both the MM252 and TA252i and can give their opinion?I'm a total newbie, so I don't know what you guys mean by the arc is weird and mushy. I guess it really doesn't matter as the main purpose of my buy is for an employee and I will use to learn on. Just want to buy something I'm not going to regret.Just had a guy email me with a Hobart Iron Man for sale. No one has mentioned it, so I'm assuming it's not on the top of anyone's list?I haven't replied back to the guy with the mm252 for sale yet with my $1600 offer. Keep seeing the TA252i come up, so I didn't want to commit to anything just yet.Why is the 30A gun so expensive? At least it seems expensive compared to other brands guns. I guess if it lasts X years and you factor the cost over those years then it may not be. But is the 40A that comes out next year (hypothetical)  gonna make you pissed that you bought the 30A???
Reply:I think this Hobart would fit the bill well. The Hobart engineers understand what a good arc is.. For your needs, it's about perfect.  http://store.cyberweld.com/hoir230migwe.htmlEsab/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:I ran the MM252 in school. And own the TA252i. The miller seemed like a fine machine, but webonly welded 1/4 inch plate and 6in pipe. and becAuse ofthis we would set it and forget it. So there was never the need to dial it in on different materials. The TA I set it to the specs on the chart inside the door, and run it. And just keep an eye on the puddle and move faster or slower as needed. Now keep in mind I have alot of freedom in my welding (no WPS to follow) as everything I do is personal use or decretive. So 100% perfect welds are not required, (but like any good welder that has pride. all welds must be perfect, or the best of your ability)Offering CNC Plasma cutting and welding projects.Follow me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/nobigdeal.fabSupport those that support WW.
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonOne HUGE aspect of the TA252i that has not been mentioned is the mig/spoolgun advanced features, It has adjustable run-in control which means the wire advances slowly, starts an arc, senses the arc and then goes to full welding speed. This is crucial for alum mig welding.I do quite a bit of alum mig with my CobraMig and MM350p, both with run-in control. It is the only to go. For the price you get one heck of welder in the TA252i. Made in the USA such a big deal? You bet.
Reply:Originally Posted by soutthpawDid u get to check one out at the Fabtech expo?Originally Posted by diablo_svrThe bulk of the welding I need to do is auto/truck restoration, but I also do some custom truck stuff that for the most part is up to 3/8, but sometimes 1/2. If it matters, all the stuff that is 3/8 - 1/2 are small welds in length and not frequent...basically brackets/hinges. Bulk of stuff is 1/4 or less.I personally don't weld, but plan on learning. My real plan though is to hire a mechanic/welder and want to have the right tools for them.Would an MM252 work?
Reply:Will the 30A work with the TA252i? I read a post that it does, but didn't see anything that confirms it in the online documentation.I have been doing some research on the TA252I and I'm kind of leaning towards it over the mm252. Seems like it is more bang for the buck and has some advance features. The Inductance Control sound pretty cool.I'm even thinking I could get by with a TA211i which is only like $1100 and give it a try since almost everything I do is 3/8 or less. Or should I not try and be a cheap bastard and just buy a higher amp machine because I can???
Reply:Originally Posted by diablo_svrWill the 30A work with the TA252i? I read a post that it does, but didn't see anything that confirms it in the online documentation.
Reply:He was asking about the Miller 30a.. Look at the pin outputs. Sure looks Miller to me. Thermal does not advertise that my Thermal arcmaster 400 MST will run a Miller feeder, and also the WC-24 control for the 30A. The the SSC Miller Foot control works great too. They are not going to tell you how wonderful the 30 A is over what they offer.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:Originally Posted by PavinsteelmanNo Lincoln people out there ? The Lincoln 350 is awsome mig stick gouge spoolgun or colbramatic one machine. Go out and find a 250 ac/dc  toumbstone and a 255 mig a great combination . Try HTP there 2400 mig is a great deal ,the best price and free shipping.
Reply:Originally Posted by dstevensAt Fabtech I was kicking the tires on a 250 amp class MIG.  The TA252 looks good though a bit on the pricey side for me and I only need MIG.  I'm familiar with using an MM252, great machine.  In the end looks like I'll go the Lincoln 216 route.  I can get it new about $500 less out the door than the MM252.  I've been pleased with the Lincoln products I have.