Do I make the change?

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I have a lincoln mig 175 pro 220 volt and a miller Thunderbolt 225 AC/DC. I like both machines a lot, but find I am using them near or at the top end most of the time. I use the Miller always on DC and it is topped out. I have the oportunity to get a Lincoln Idealarc DC-250 which will give me more amps. I would look for a LN-7, 8, 9, or 25 and have both machines in one. I understand it has Tig capabilities if I want to try that too. I would then sell the Miller and the Lincoln 175. My out put would be minimal. (the Idealarc is a very good price) any advice, thoughts, experience on this machine is welcome. Thanks RON
Reply:The idealarc would be a good addition but if you ever have to carry a welder to a off site location you miss the 175 pro.Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:Those Idealarcs are good machines. Just make sure you have enough juice to run it. They work best on 100a circuits.QamuIs Heg qaq law' lorvIs yInqaq puS
Reply:The dialarc is an excellent machine, but if I remember correctly it is strictly constant current so it will require a voltage sensing feeder and they weld a bit differently from your 175 pro. You lose a little bit of control, but I have used my ln25 on cc machines with excellent results. It is just a little different.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:I have 2 of the old roundtop Idealarcs which are as tough as you can get. What are you welding on to be on the top end of your range? Idealarcs design hasn't changed inside since new, just a good stick machine with plenty of OCV
Reply:The deal fell through so my mind was made up fpr me. I was pushing the Miller at the top using some rods I had been given. It was 1/8 inch 7024 on DC @ 150 amps. I was running the first bead with 6010. I was making some drawbars for tractors with 1" X 21/4" steel rectangle to 2" X 3/8 flat stock. It worked OK but I just have this thing about not being comfortable running wide open.The Miller max is 225 AC and 150 DC. The welds look fine and passed a beat test.I got 50lbs of the 7024 for free. It has been in the rod oven for 3 weeks before I used it and it lays down a pretty bead. How do the amps sound for what I'm doing? This is the first I've use DC. Love it. Seems to put more heat into the work. Is this the case? Thanks for your guidance. RON