Going for a 220v this time - Opinions?

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Ok so i went down this cheap road a few times.. learned my lesson with cheap or used stuff.What i have had:HF 90HF 120 &Lincoln WP 100 & 140I hated the HF machines, but the Lincolns were OK aside from one problem after another.So After chasing the 110v machines for the last 2 years and not being happy. I decided to go with a 220v machine.I met a guy who built an entire rock crawler with a Clarke 160en. he used Argon mix and said he made a few passes on things 1/4 or bigger. he also said he would have bought the 180en or 190en if they had them in stock when he bought the 160en.160EN specsPower Supply 230V 50Hz 1PhFuse Rating  15AmpsCurrent Range 30-150AMax. Metal Thickness 5-6mm 5-6mmWelding Wire Sizes  0.6-0.9mmDuty Cycle* 10% 150A20%  130A60%  75A100%  55A180En specs:30-180A (Thats all i can find on the 180en and 190en)I have a 220 plug in my garage but will need a 10ft extension. i will be welding nothing over 1/4" and most likely nothing that thick. i am working on a mid 90's mustang. Everything is thin gauge including the frame...I am pretty set on a Clarke. The parts are readily available, warranty is good and they are made in Italy.I can get the 160eN for $260. New in the box. Or a 180en $350.There are also the full kits on the bay Which is a helmet, cart, regulator and other accessories for just under $500. Thats for a 180en or 190en.both are 220vI have a friend who is a welder and says the 150amp 220v 160en would be all i ever need on this project.(with gas mix)I am still thinking of spending the extra coin for the bigger machine.What ya think?
Reply:By dually502;Ok so i went down this cheap road a few times.. learned my lesson with cheap or used stuff.
Reply:Hi Dually, I would like to add that I have a Hobart Handler 120 that is 22 years old, and will out weld the imports even when they are on 220.  Please consider good old American quality.  Best, Ralph
Reply:i had a miller 252 about yrs ago and sold it.. i kick myself everytime i think about it, probably one of the dumber things i did... But, i did buy a lincoln 180c, a thermal arc 185 tig welder and also a bluepoint plasma cutter with the money i sold the 252 for... First thing is What kind of budget are you looking at? The lincoln 180c i currently have runs fine, welds fine, just something about it i cant put my finger on.. it might be the wire i'm using.. i used to own a Miller 252 and the arc of the Lincoln just feels stiffer.. i always compare the lincoln 180c to the miller 252 though, and i dont think thats fair. i mean the lincoln 180c was $850 and the 252 was like $3000 with the spoolgun. i am thinking of selling the Lincoln 180c and moving to a littler bigger machine myself.. i have 4 models i'm looking at.. I really want to weld with them before i buy my next welder, as i want this one to be the last welder i buy.. Miller 211 and 212 both are 210amp machines.. Miller 211 is $1000 and dual voltage which makes this very tempting..Miller 212 is $1500 and a chassis machine. i really want to go back to a chassis machine, i think they are built better and stouter. Thermal arc 210  250 amp machine 16 tap settings at $1500.. i have never heard anything bad about these machines.. the performance of my Thermal arc prowave 185 tig welder makes me lean to this machine. Hobart Ironman 230 its 250amp with 12 voltage taps.. on sale at northern tool&equipment for $1300.. think this is the best deal going at the moment.. this is alot of machine for the money..Last edited by brucer; 01-18-2011 at 06:43 PM.tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:Unfortunately my budget for the welder is $500. Thats got to be everything except the bottle.I have looked on Craigs and it seems that even used welder prices are close to what they are new in my area.There is a Millermatic 35 in my area $400 OBO.. But needs a torch.A cricket XL for $500. i almost fell out and the guy wont budge on the price.A guy just called me with a Lincoln 175 . Still in the box. has a reg with it. He wants $500 but may be negotiable.I will probably shoot for the Lincoln tomorrow if its negotiable.
Reply:Going to check on this lincoln 175 Weld Pack. I know Lincoln is supposed to be as good as miller but out of the 3 110v Lincoln welders i have owned. They were all troublesome. It was either the feed or a bad liner with them all.I am meeting this guy after work to see the 175. Its a 220v machine and hopefully its not like the other Lincolns i have owned. I really want a Miller welder. I just cant get one in my price range that will do what I need it to do. Anyone care to comment on the Lincoln 175?
Reply:Originally Posted by dually502I am pretty set on a Clarke. The parts are readily available, warranty is good and they are made in Italy.
Reply:I just bought the ta fab 210 3 months ago used about 40 pounds of wire so far.I was stuck between  the ta 210 or the mm212 but the ta had better stats . I love it no problems I paid around 1800 for it but that was through fastenal so no surprise but I put it on my account the tweet co guns are sweet so much sturder than the comp i was really leaning to the hobart ironman 230 but the specs are alil better on the ta plus the local fab shop has some old ta machines that are still going strong with less upkeep than other machines they got.
Reply:A local supplier has a TA 210 slightly used for 1000.00 I would love to buy this machine, but wife says forget it.  Supplier is Economy Welding Supply in Economy, Pa.  Owner is a nice guy.
Reply:Originally Posted by dually502Unfortunately my budget for the welder is $500. Thats got to be everything except the bottle.I have looked on Craigs and it seems that even used welder prices are close to what they are new in my area.There is a Millermatic 35 in my area $400 OBO.. But needs a torch.A cricket XL for $500. i almost fell out and the guy wont budge on the price.A guy just called me with a Lincoln 175 . Still in the box. has a reg with it. He wants $500 but may be negotiable.I will probably shoot for the Lincoln tomorrow if its negotiable.
Reply:http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...8799_200328799$664.00 free shipping. Save up a nutter 164 dollars."Ok so i went down this cheap road a few times.. learned my lesson with cheap or used stuff."Just remember those words.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:i can tell you from buying welders over the last 25 years.. a $500 welder will not suit your needs or taste.. buy once and you'll be better off..  i can tell you from experience spend the money now and be satisfied and done with it... i hobby weld and use to build cars on the side and now i build and piddle with my own cars.. you want no less than 180amp welder, i currently own a lincoln 180c its a fine welder but to me its a little undersized actually.. i think a 210amp machine just runs and feels better at lower settings.. this is why i listed the welders i did in earlier posts... the smallest one i listed was a 210 amp and thats as small as i will go, i actually want atleast a 250amp machine. they are more robust and you can tell it when you weld with one..  a $500 budge,t i dont feel you will get a welder you will be satisfied with a year later. i would recommend saving up, or holding off for a tax return or something and getting a budget up to $1000. your choices get alot broader with $1000.. ive seen several miller251's that look fresh out of the box for $1000 and these are some nice machines..  for $1000 you can buy a new miller 211 or for $850 you can get a nice lincoln 180c with a cart. The 180c is a 220v 180amp welder with the infinite controls, they are better than the ones at lowes and home depot and such but a little more expensive.. i recommend saving and buying exactly what you want the first time..try to go new if you can for the warranty.tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:After reading this and some other info. I had a talk with the wife about my welder fund. We came to an agreement that come tax refund time next month I will get to double that budget. I already have a Miller 210 lined out My cousin has sitting in storage. Still boxed up.. he wants $900 with Bottle, regulator and cart. No payment plans but he is going to hold on too it.Family price I didn go look at the 175 welder so the guy called me about hour ago and asked why. I told him it was too much and was going to offer $375 for it but I decided to wait for something bigger. (I never planned on paying close to $500) He says hey man its new with regulator. I have a brand new $100 auto darkening helmet still in the box I could throw in.I said $500 is still way too much. He paused for a minute. Then Says I will let you have it all for $350, except the bottle and cart.I now have a Lincoln 175 to play with till we get our tax return.. Guess I came out good?