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Hello, I've searched and read the comparisons between the 225, 250, and 305 models. Apparently the 300 series machines offer the best quality and foundation.Expreiences:I've learned on a linde 350 dc machine -- love it, strikes and runs great!Used a:Airco Yellow ??? unsure on amps -- lays a great bead.Lincoln sa 200 -- it's the shiz but is older, and I need the aux power.Synchrowave 350 -- don't like, hard to strike..Good arc.Miller 150 stl -- Don't like...again, hard to strike. Don't like the arc.Maxstar 200 -- Same story depending on the machine. In class, some of the machines strike better but???? Hit or miss.Miller Bobcat 250 -- POS, Runs at a super high idle, toughest of them all to strike an arc.What i'm looking to do:Just finished up a structural welding class and certified all positions. And currently enrolled in a Pipe Welding class. I'm looking for modern machine that knocks Pipe out of the park and is solid for structural as well. I would like to be able to depend on it as a generator if the situation should arise where power to the house is out. It also wouldn;t hurt to be able to make some oney off it on site should the opportunity arise.I'll be looking to run learn tig straight polarity.I'm leaning towards a 305g: 1)Teacher -- 20+ years is a DieHard Lincoln man and has planted into my brain the fear that a blue machine might not be allowed on every jobsite. Says Lincoln is superior. I pretty much trust everything he says and hasn't led me wrong yet. 2)Lower cost 3)Experience -- Every Lincoln I've touched strikes easily and welds smooth..The millers in class and friends are unimpressive.I however, have not used the trailblazer series and it's rumored to be astounding. I just wonder if it would disappoint like the others I've tried.I've read the 305g is just a 250 on roids and the trailblazer is in a class unique to itself. The Miller Website and comparison puts the Lincoln to shame. Apples to Apples it seems to crush the Lincoln. It's also has AC capability which is not a concern to me.I am drawn to the 302Which is better on gas?I love the miller digital display...WOW i'm lost, talking to the weld shop, and others all have very strong opionions.Sorry for the long post...ANY VIDEOS OUT THERE ON A 305G? I Have found just one for the trailblazer.WHY SUCH A LACK OF VIDEOS.Why no consumer review or edmunds on welders...I've always been able to find info and unbiased reviews. Any info or input is greatly appreciated.
Reply:For all the uses you stated you need the machine for, my choice would be either the Miller Pro 300 (now called Big Blue 300 Pro, for 2010), or the Pipe Pro 304. If you've ever welded with an XMT, you'll know why the Pipe Pro is on my short list. The Pro 300 is the quietest welder I've heard on a jobsite. Folks I've talked to who weld with them said they loved it. One guy also owned an SAE300 and preferred the Pro 300 for stick and fluxcore. That got my attention.The Trailblazer 302 gas now has optional electronic fuel injection and 12,000 watts genny power, new for 2010. I'm more Blue than Red, so take that into consideration...MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Thankyou^^^^^^I'll start doing some research on the pro 300. Although, it's more $$$$ than I'm comfortable spending at this point. I agree, miller seems to have their game together muchmore than Lincoln. This is just an outside observation though.I'm still extremely wet behind he ears.
Reply:Of the professional class machines, Lincoln doesn't make a bad machine at all. I just happen to prefer Miller in general since I have experience with many of their machines old and new. Their customer service is also second to none, as is Bernard. I like to deal with the ITW companies.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:jsm 11, if you can, find a lws that deals with Miller equipment and see if you could possibly demo one of the units you might be interested in. Like that, if its possible, you could see the welding results and judge for yourself if it would be the right unit for you. Maynot be possible, but an idea. Good luck in your choice.A few of my toys !LinuxMintManjaroMiller Roughneck 2E Lincoln WeldPak 100HTP MTS 160 Chicago Electric 80amp Inverter Victor O/A
Reply:note, I have no loyalties, I have owned both big Millers, and big Lincolns; and little Millers and little Lincolns over the years. Right now???? I own, and use, two big Lincolns (500+ amp engine drives), one little Lincoln (250 amp Ranger, Propane power). Basically the same as the "steroid" 305,,,, but with a bigger engine, to compensate for the inefficiencies of running with propane. Bought propane for my own reasons,,,,, mostly for the ability to run indoors, without OSHA or MSHA clamping down on me. That aside, clamped a DC ampmeter on the leads, was able to maintain 294 amps, not peak, maintained. Big difference, Lincoln has a full-function continous arc control adjustment that works; Miller has a cute little three position switch on the 302G, very little difference between the positions. I tried a new Miller out once,,,, "easy", "medium" , and "hard",,,, couldn't tell the difference. I CAN tell the difference, with my Lincolns. Just my take.
Reply:I have a trailblazer 302, and a sa-200 also. The sa-200 has the better arc, but the TB302 has an excellent arc as well. As far as starting the arc, either one seems to be easy to me. One of the guys I use to help me from time to time has a Pro 300, and I have welded with it and really like it. If pipelining is your ultimate goal, dont waste money on an air cooled machine, bite the bullet, get the Pipe Pro or equivilant, and you will not be dissapointed..............................."Look Good Doing It"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply:the pipe pro 304 diesel runs at 3750 rpmisnt it better better for a low rpm dieselengine like some that run around 1800
Reply:Originally Posted by jsfabnote, I have no loyalties, I have owned both big Millers, and big Lincolns; and little Millers and little Lincolns over the years. Right now???? I own, and use, two big Lincolns (500+ amp engine drives), one little Lincoln (250 amp Ranger, Propane power). Basically the same as the "steroid" 305,,,, but with a bigger engine, to compensate for the inefficiencies of running with propane. Bought propane for my own reasons,,,,, mostly for the ability to run indoors, without OSHA or MSHA clamping down on me. That aside, clamped a DC ampmeter on the leads, was able to maintain 294 amps, not peak, maintained. Big difference, Lincoln has a full-function continous arc control adjustment that works; Miller has a cute little three position switch on the 302G, very little difference between the positions. I tried a new Miller out once,,,, "easy", "medium" , and "hard",,,, couldn't tell the difference. I CAN tell the difference, with my Lincolns. Just my take.
Reply:Originally Posted by ed macthe pipe pro 304 diesel runs at 3750 rpmisnt it better better for a low rpm dieselengine like some that run around 1800
Reply:Interesting opinions here......I'd certainly like to demo a machine but, I don't think I have a chance. I'm just a young man in school who's trying to figure out the correct equipment for my future.I have gleaned that the Ranger has a digital display and love that. I got a chance to look a trailblazer over today. It belonged to a gentleman that works for CAT and he sai dhe's more than pleased with it. He seemed to relay the much repeated info to spend a little more and get a pro-leel machine. i.e. -- steer clear of the 250 series machines.I sure do see a ton of blue on the trucks around here. But, I really think the determining factor will be laying my hands on a large modern lincoln engine drive. I've yet to see one.THANKS for the input,jsm
Reply:I have a Pipe Pro 304 and I would not trade it for anything I do most of my welding with the machine set on idle.the arc controle is great when using 6010 for the root it is also handy when capping with 7018. mine has the dule power option nice when welding in the shop.
Reply:Skip, thanks for posting your experience with the Pipe Pro. Has it been a reliable machine for you?Last edited by DesertRider33; 12-10-2009 at 11:34 PM.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Ok, I do have a blue biais, but for what you stated you wanted to do, I would agree with the PipePro recommendation. There were a ton of them used on the REX pipeline project. Pipeline work used to be dominated by red, but there are lots of blue machines showing up now!
Reply:"""According to the Miller info, while the Pipe Pro is not a low rpm diesel like the Pro 300 and others, it does have a 'weld at idle' feature that allows it to weld 1/8 7018 at 150 amps without going into high idle mode. Will also put out 5KW generator power without going into high idle."""Fellow showed up on a drill site with one, had 3 or 4000 hours on it. Kubota diesel, super quiet, it was his first blue welder, welded almost everything that day at an idle, and ran grinders and whatnot, same thing. I was pretty impressed with that feature and listening to it, or rather, trying to hear it.
Reply:Thanks for posting that, Cablecat. If the Pipe Pro is anywhere near as quiet in weld-at-idle mode as the Pro 300 is in normal welding and the machine is reasonably reliable, I can choose Pipe Pro instead of the Pro 300. A good portion of what I do can be done at 150 amps and 5KW, or slightly less. How loud is it at full 3600 rpm speed?The low noise, low rpm diesel was my main attraction to the Pro 300. The Pipe Pro and Pro 300 both have the same weld output and duty cycle ratings but the Pipe Pro has alot more generator output 15KW 3-phase vs 12KW single-phase, XMT arc quality and control, is lighter weight by 200 lbs and a little smaller to fit better on the truck, plus, since it's basicaly an XMT, I can use my pulser with it for aluminum mig and not have to carry the XMT on the truck at all.Of course, this is all down the road a ways. I don't have the $13K to enter that playpen right now!MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:How quite is it really? Not sure how to describe, exactly.. Scenario, I didnt have the insurance to do the case head, which was okay by me. This fellow came out, backed his truck up to the well. Started his welder, we all were standing around talking, helping him get setup, etc. You could have a normal tone of voice conversation between several people while gathered around the flatbed of the truck. Standing at the well, maybe 20-25 paces away, it sounded like it should have been 50 or so paces away. Okay, the way his truck was setup, the welder was kinda sandwiched between the cab and a jobbox, bottles, etc and that might have helped dampen some of the noise.. but, it was still damn quiet. The weld at idle deal is kinda what intrigued me, as that amounts to pretty big fuel savings. Downside to alot of idle time, that isnt putting a load on the engine, is glazed cylinders. I think if you buy one, you have to put a load on it once in a while, just for that reason. Diesels are made to be worked. How would that effect longevity of the engine, and how many hours do you knock off of life expectancy? I have no idea how to figure that out, percentage wise to hours at idle to hours at loaded rpm. Would I buy one? Yup. And I am one of those "no substitute for horsepower/bigger hammer, hotter torch lincoln guys"....Oh, and the fellow that owned the welder, like I said, it was his first blue welder. He was more than happy with it, and planned on buying another just like it. That says something right there, if a diehard lincoln guy figures on buying a second blue one.Last edited by cablecat; 12-11-2009 at 05:41 PM.
Reply:Cablecat, that review sounds good to me! I guess what I was after was how loud is it at full speed, compared to say a Bobcat or Trailblazer. My Bobcat is pretty loud at full speed. I breathe a big sigh of relief as soon as I get to shut it down after listening to it for a few hours. My friend's newer Trailblazer isn't as loud, but still not what I would consider quiet.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Cant say as I really remember how quiet it was at high idle, but as I recall, it was quieter than my old 55G or an SA, and LOTS quieter than the detroit in my SAM. Its nice to be able to hear at the end of the day...
Reply:I've worked around quite a few PipePro's and weld with one a little. I've never been a Miller fan but I think my next machine is going to be a Pipepro. At high idle the Miller is quieter than the 200 or 300 D's at low idle in my opinion. I love the sound of my old SA 200 but I hate when I have to fuel it up. Jsm, I'm currently running a Ranger 250 and the only difference I can see is that the 305 has digital readouts and more Aux power. I've been doing well hook ups for the last two years and had no problems keeping up with the "bigger" machines with my little "lawnmower" 250
Reply:Going to go after the 305g when the tax returns come back in....Appreciate repsonses
Reply:Good Choice! I have the 305G, used one lots at a previous job and it was love at first arc. You will be pleased too.Last edited by Doug247; 12-14-2009 at 02:21 AM.Nothing Ever Got Done By Quitting, Never Give Up.
Reply:Any chance of a video Doug247?I've yet to see it run....
Reply:Sorry jsm11 Im on dial up here. I would have alot more threads going if I could get something faster out here.Nothing Ever Got Done By Quitting, Never Give Up.
Reply:Originally Posted by jsm11Going to go after the 305g when the tax returns come back in....Appreciate repsonses |
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发表于 2021-9-1 00:33:55