Just as my luck goes....

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Just last week I was bragging about my migweld  200s from longevity. Saturday I plugged it into my Honda generator like I normally do when I weld anywhere else besides the shop. It welded like s?!@ after I hooked everything up and got situated 15ft in the air on the manlift. So I took it back to the shop and plugged it in and got nothing. All I heard was a pop in the welder and then smelt electrical fire. So im going to get ahold of Simon tomorrow and see if its fixable, which I have a feeling it wont be. If not im going to setup a paypal account and either find a good deal on eBay or buy a new Miller from weldersupply.Com. As if quitting Russ, running the most stubborn crews, and dealing with everything those low life f@?!s did to my truck wasn't bad enough, this happens. It just hasn't been great lately.Last edited by swampwelder13; 10-05-2014 at 09:01 PM.
Reply:Luck is a skill SW13.
Reply:with the bad always comes good man. I promise!I believe life is pretty neutral. hard part is recognizing the good stuff, and remembering that it always comes right after the bad.unfortunately, it works reverse too apparently, so if you win the lottery, always be prepared to spend 150% of your winnings on some crazy weird thing that just popped up and could never happen to anybody elseyour doing it right man, nothing can hurt you as long as you keep your head on, and the crosshairs on the targetbosses stuff:trailblazer 325maxstar 200my stuff:sa 200fronius transpocket 180100 amp Lincoln w/f97 f350 DITKevin
Reply:Im trying my best but that light at the end of tunnel is getting further and further away. Ive been going 2 steps forward and getting pushed back 5 and now im being hindered to move. Ive heard the life of those machines is about 80lbs of wire and its seen well over 200lbs
Reply:Roll with it little brother.  In the grand scheme of things this is not a big deal.GravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.
Reply:Originally Posted by GravelRoll with it little brother.  In the grand scheme of things this is not a big deal.
Reply:Originally Posted by swampwelder13Im trying my best but that light at the end of tunnel is getting further and further away.
Reply:It paid for itself bro.Buy a miller....
Reply:Might be a good time to look at the Lincoln 210 mp.
Reply:I have been there at that point where everything seems so distant.It is what it is. It could be worse you could be a UPS delivery driver for Christ sake! They probably make more money than either of us does but would you find that job rewarding SW?
Reply:Originally Posted by swampwelder13Im trying my best but that light at the end of tunnel is getting further and further away. Ive been going 2 steps forward and getting pushed back 5 and now im being hindered to move. Ive heard the life of those machines is about 80lbs of wire and its seen well over 200lbs
Reply:Im thinking either the Hobart ironman or the millermatic 212 autoset. If I was to go new
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonWell if 80 lbs of wire was your benchmark for ROI, then I would say you did well. Is it still under warranty?
Reply:Originally Posted by M J DMight be a good time to look at the Lincoln 210 mp.
Reply:When you think about just about every shop you see, especially around here welds with blue. There's gotta be a good reason for that. I know alot of industrial shops use power migs, they can afford the upfront costs, along with buying a new one every 2 years
Reply:Original I wanted a power Mig, cause personally im a Lincoln guy myself, but Miller's have a good rap sheet. Duty cycles, ease of maitinence, and weld quality. I use a regency with a 22a feeder from the 80s at our highschool ag shop and it still welds nice. After years of abuse from punks and kids trying to pass their electives.
Reply:Wow.  I'm surprised that they're rated for 80# of wire.  I'd never settle for that crap.See if you can find an old MM200 on CL.   Much heavier, but I think they hold up to TONS of wire.  I actually mean in thousands of pounds.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:What else do you have a power source? With all the field stuff you do maybe a suitcase feeder would be best, might hold up to working around the farm better.
Reply:Originally Posted by Firemanmike69What else do you have a power source? With all the field stuff you do maybe a suitcase feeder would be best, might hold up to working around the farm better.
Reply:Originally Posted by swampwelder13I thought about that but I dont have a cv power source
Reply:Been trying to convince them of that for years now
Reply:I know a couple guys who have a Longevity Stickweld 250s. Both machines started losing power. Longevity replaced both machines. The one machine that I've used, the new one, and replacement, the replacement machine started losing power too. He got in on the great deal from Amazon for a Everlast PowerArc 300. Makes you wonder about Longevity doesn't it! Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Damb Swamp, when did you quit? I miss all the gossip.Regarding your welder dilemma, sounds like you need something pretty portable.I'd go with an Esab Caddy. And I think BrandX is selling his 200.Lincoln SA 200Esab Caddy 160Thermal Arc 201TSMiller Dialarc HFI don't like making plans for the day because then the word "premeditated" gets thrown around the courtroom....
Reply:Id actually rather have something bigger that I can fork around instead of take apart and move.
Reply:Thats what we did at Russ. He had a mm252 that Wed take out into the yard and set in the grass or set on a piece of plywood. I welded a aluminium semi deck for a couple days like that.Originally Posted by swampwelder13Been trying to convince them of that for years now
Reply:Originally Posted by Firemanmike69You're the maintenance supervisor, time for the boss to buy some tools if he wants to get work done. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and buy some good equipment to get the work done
Reply:I am thinking MM212 or the MM252... yes it is alot of money...but so is down time...
Reply:Originally Posted by swampwelder13When you think about just about every shop you see, especially around here welds with blue. There's gotta be a good reason for that. I know alot of industrial shops use power migs, they can afford the upfront costs, along with buying a new one every 2 years
Reply:Originally Posted by ZTFabI must be doing something wrong, My Power MIG 200 is almost 14 years old and I weld everything from 1/8" sheet with .030" wire to 5/8" plate running .035" 71M dual shield.
Reply:Originally Posted by swampwelder13Damn! I may have to go to a power Mig.
Reply:I want basic. No digital readout or none of that
Reply:Originally Posted by swampwelder13I want basic. No digital readout or none of that
Reply:Originally Posted by ZTFabNo D/R on any of the Power MIGs except the 255/256 and 350 models.I still think the Hobart Ironman 230 looks like a great value from Northern Tool. I have no personal experience with it but have heard good things. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...6174_200456174
Reply:Originally Posted by swampwelder13Im considering the ironman. I know many farmers that use them. Ive welded with one briefly. if I was to go that route id get it from weldersupply or tsc
Reply:Originally Posted by ZTFabTomato, tomahto.NT and TSC have the same prices, WS is about $75 higher.
Reply:Originally Posted by swampwelder13The way he sees it welding is welding is welding. Its hard to get it through the grumpy man to drop almost 2k on a new welder
Reply:finished my sandwich so guess I will go back to welding on the snowplow with the Delta weld 450 or maybe give the Miller Sigma 5CS a work out today.
Reply:Originally Posted by con_fuse9Its worth doing the math.  Between your time spent getting it fixed, some worker's time sitting on his hands while he/she waits for it to be fixed.  That job you had to turn away because you are back logged etc.Most industries, labor hours starts to dwarf all other expenses.  Remember, labor cost is not just what you pay per hour, its any and all benefits (vacation, insurance) + plus the people to track it  (payroll, accounting, secretary etc) + some percentage of the shop (lights, heat, air, rent/mortgage).  See how grumpy he gets after that.If your busy enough, it might even make sense to replace tools on a regular basis even if they aren't worn out.  The risk of down time might be enough.  That old truck that needs to be off the road one day a month..
Reply:They're talking about maybe warranting it out. Hopefully they will but ill still buy a new welder and use that one in the field, Or as a stick welder. Or maybe since it can take an .045 wire ill run dual shield with it.
Reply:Originally Posted by swampwelder13They're talking about maybe warranting it out. Hopefully they will but ill still buy a new welder and use that one in the field, Or as a stick welder. Or maybe since it can take an .045 wire ill run dual shield with it.
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonIt's good to have a backup machine.
Reply:I believe Miller and Hobart are under the same roof now.I used to work in the shop. its big. im guessing here anymore but lemme tell you what they use. this is after trying everything feasible and throwing away what didn't work.5 miller xmt's (I saw a couple 304's pop, but not the 350's)3 miller Maxstar 150sprobly 7 different Miller Matics, all the way back to when they had the high/low taps on the front of machine3 or 4 Hobart 110 wf machines2 Miller maxstar 200's1 miller delta-weld 300someampa couple thermal arc units collecting dust, but I don't think they are brokenvarious dinosaurs that nobody uses think linde/uccouple miller dynasty'sthe only red one that has survived longer than my time working there is the monster square-wave Lincoln 300someampthe experience of others tells me what will be in my shop someday.American made at the very least, then Hobart, then millerbosses stuff:trailblazer 325maxstar 200my stuff:sa 200fronius transpocket 180100 amp Lincoln w/f97 f350 DITKevin
Reply:Good news they are going to warranty the welder! So ill get it back and make some money and then throw a down payment on a new machine.
Reply:Originally Posted by swampwelder13Good news they are going to warranty the welder! So ill get it back and make some money and then throw a down payment on a new machine.
Reply:There was a bobcat last week for $1750 on Ocala CL...
Reply:Originally Posted by SilverssThere was a bobcat last week for $1750 on Ocala CL...
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749Indeed they do.Better off buying one to generate power and plug an XMT into it.IMHO of course
Reply:Originally Posted by AKweldshopSorry,But I hate XMT arc characteristics.
Reply:Originally Posted by AKweldshopBobcats weld terrible with stick.FWIW,~John