what to know about a Esab Migmaster 250?

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Just picked up a Esab Migmaster 250. Don't know much about it other than it has a Kent gun on it.  Missing nut for the spool but other than that should be good to go. Not much info on these out on the net it seems, can anyone tell me about this unit? Anything that should be looked at? Common issues?  It seems to work fine, and sure has a lot of jam!  I haven't found a date on this unit yet, I suppose I can call Esab with the serial and they can provide info?thanksMatt Attached Images
Reply:Perhaps this should be in manufacturer/other forum?  Sorry - Mods please move if thats a better spot.
Reply:I know a few guys who have them and they like it.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:We had one where I work. Used it to spray 6in. Pipe in the positioner.  Worked good.
Reply:Your tan face unit may have the lighter duty 40 amp contactor in it. My newer ( 2004 - 2005 model)  black faced unit came with the heavier duty 60 amp upgrade.Does your unit have the dual driven wire drive system?If I didn't pull the gun back after completing a  weld, my unit had an issue with the wire sticking in the weld puddle. Corrected this issue by adding the spot-stitch-burn back module. Since adding the burn back timer, and setting it at just a fraction of a second I haven't had any more issues. I was able to purchase the this module during a time era when ESAB was selling it for a significantly reduced price. It was right before they discontinued that unit, so I suspect the price reduction was to reduce inventory. I just took a look on the Scott-Gross website (on-line dealer I purchase my ESAB parts from anymore) the current US price on the module is going to be around $375. On 1/4" and thinner steel, the unit performs well with a quality brand .030 wire and C25 shielding gas. Set up with an .023 wire and C-25 the unit is an excellent thin ga sheet metal unit.The output for coarse tap LOW/ fine 8 and coarse tap MED/fine 1 is the same.  MED/8 and HIGH/1 produce the same output too.ESAB Migmaster 250 Hobart Ironman 230Multimatic 215TWECO Fabricator 181i & 211iHH125EZ - nice little fluxcore only unitMaxstar 150 STH - very nice
Reply:Originally Posted by DanYour tan face unit may have the lighter duty 40 amp contactor in it. My newer ( 2004 - 2005 model)  black faced unit came with the heavier duty 60 amp upgrade.Does your unit have the dual driven wire drive system?If I didn't pull the gun back after completing a  weld, my unit had an issue with the wire sticking in the weld puddle. Corrected this issue by adding the spot-stitch-burn back module. Since adding the burn back timer, and setting it at just a fraction of a second I haven't had any more issues. I was able to purchase the this module during a time era when ESAB was selling it for a significantly reduced price. It was right before they discontinued that unit, so I suspect the price reduction was to reduce inventory. I just took a look on the Scott-Gross website (on-line dealer I purchase my ESAB parts from anymore) the current US price on the module is going to be around $375. On 1/4" and thinner steel, the unit performs well with a quality brand .030 wire and C25 shielding gas. Set up with an .023 wire and C-25 the unit is an excellent thin ga sheet metal unit.The output for coarse tap LOW/ fine 8 and coarse tap MED/fine 1 is the same.  MED/8 and HIGH/1 produce the same output too.
Reply:Originally Posted by t300Thanks all.  The face actually looks grey/black in person, its just dusty and the picture got washed out I guess. Unless this is what is called tan?The drive is only single driven unfortunately.  Thanks for the tip on the spot-stitch-burnback module.  Are all of those modules the same? Meaning, if I can find Migmaster 'for parts' I can just swap in that board?  We will mostly be using the unit for 1/4".  We currently have a Hobart 120 and a 180 that have worked excellent for us but the 180 can't go long periods on 1/4" with its duty cycle, hence getting this ESAB.  The nut for the spool is missing so we will probably just convert it to a miller setup as some other members here have done.Any way to tell what year this unit is?thanks!Matt
Reply:Originally Posted by Brand XSpool for a Esab 4hd will fit right on, and work just fine.. More like the Hobart/Thermal style with a threaded ring. Which is more handy then the Miller setup IMO.. ..
Reply:Originally Posted by t300Thanks all.  The face actually looks grey/black in person, its just dusty and the picture got washed out I guess. Unless this is what is called tan?The drive is only single driven unfortunately.  Thanks for the tip on the spot-stitch-burnback module.  Are all of those modules the same? Meaning, if I can find Migmaster 'for parts' I can just swap in that board?  We will mostly be using the unit for 1/4".  We currently have a Hobart 120 and a 180 that have worked excellent for us but the 180 can't go long periods on 1/4" with its duty cycle, hence getting this ESAB.  The nut for the spool is missing so we will probably just convert it to a miller setup as some other members here have done.Any way to tell what year this unit is?thanks!Matt
Reply:Thanks Dan. The unit was in service for quite a while so I am assuming that if they had any contractor issues it would have been upgraded already. Will take a look tonight.  I was planning on using .035 in it full time. Will probably get a new gun for it as the Kent gun that is on it is huge and quite heavy and would be awkward to use for our needs.  I was thinking a Prostar from praixair (a rebranded Bernard Q I understand?).    The only date on the unit is a service tag from 2004 (don't know if it was for repair or just for maintenance, but I assume that may be when they put the Kent gun on)
Reply:Thanks for the links to the library, I found a different manual yesterday but not as good as these.  From the diagrams in manuals looks like I have a pre-99 model?
Reply:Originally Posted by t300Thanks for the links to the library, I found a different manual yesterday but not as good as these.  From the diagrams in manuals looks like I have a pre-99 model?
Reply:Yes they are rusty and definitely need a good cleaning.  I've asked my supplier for pricing/availability on a few new bits.  So far looks like the spool nut is no longer available, argh
Reply:look for scott gross welding supply online.  they used to have all the stuff you needed for esab.  I am betting they still do.
Reply:Well I spoke to ESAb and turns out this is a 1998 model. I got the ESAb "spool replacement" kit (the cotter pin style) and put that on this weekend as well as new drive and pressure rolls.  Fired it up and.... Welds like junk.  Ton of porosity, a lot of popping and spatter.  Swapped tank and regulator to our 120 mig and that one welds fine.  Pulled the whip out of the ESAb  and the gas line oring disintegrated.   Assuming that's the issue, but  surprised that how it welded didn't change at all when I cranked up the gas to 35cfh, I would have thought that may have "overcome" the leak to a certain point where at least there would be some shielding.   Anyways, since the gun is old, heavy, and has a lot of miles on it I'm going to get a Praixair center fire / Bernard made 250a gun. That way I don't have to think about replacing the liner and the gun will be a bit physically smaller as well then the current Kent welding 300a unit.Sad that we had to finish the weekend job with the Hobart 120! (But kudos to the 15 year old Hobart for keep on trucking!)
Reply:Tweco 2/4 correct?  This is the existing kent gun
Reply:Originally Posted by t300Tweco 2/4 correct?  This is the existing kent gun
Reply:I dropped off the gun at Kent welding and they will test it, maybe its a cheap fix. I think I want something physically smaller anyways but who knows.   Not happy with the 'updated' spool kit from ESAB, doesn't turn very smooth as others here have said.  I'm going to find a miller 210 spool as Dan had used and retrofit it. Should have just done that from the start but the spool kit was the 'easy' choice.
Reply:Originally Posted by t300I dropped off the gun at Kent welding and they will test it, maybe its a cheap fix. I think I want something physically smaller anyways but who knows.   Not happy with the 'updated' spool kit from ESAB, doesn't turn very smooth as others here have said.  I'm going to find a miller 210 spool as Dan had used and retrofit it. Should have just done that from the start but the spool kit was the 'easy' choice.
Reply:Thanks for the info Dan.  With the updated spool "kit" I got from ESAb it should be the same as yours.  Only running a 10lb spool on there now so the wire feeds off at quite the angle which doesn't help. Kent welding tested the gun and found leaks inside the handle so I ended up getting them to make me a new smaller unit with their "pipeliner" nozzle setup, and reused the euro end to keep costs down.  Kept the rest of the old 300a unit in case we ever want to weld thicker, then we will just get that fixed up.   Plugged it in and now welds great!  Gun is a lot easier to handle now as well.
Reply:Originally Posted by t300Thanks for the info Dan.  With the updated spool "kit" I got from ESAb it should be the same as yours.  Only running a 10lb spool on there now so the wire feeds off at quite the angle which doesn't help. Kent welding tested the gun and found leaks inside the handle so I ended up getting them to make me a new smaller unit with their "pipeliner" nozzle setup, and reused the euro end to keep costs down.  Kept the rest of the old 300a unit in case we ever want to weld thicker, then we will just get that fixed up.   Plugged it in and now welds great!  Gun is a lot easier to handle now as well.