Another "which 120/240 Mig" thread

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I have an Everlast Powerarc 300 which works fine but is difficult for me to weld with on 10 gauge and thinner.  I keep on punching thru the coupons even with 1/16 at 35 amps.I got the powerarc because I wanted to do thicker metals on farm machinery etc and it was at a surprisingly low price.  Now I've a bush hog needing thin metal deck repair.So I'm looking for something "lighter" in MIG and want to have 120V capabilities.  The Hobart 210 (about $900) looks good and as I understand it is a clone of the Miller 211 (about $1K w/ rebate).I want to be able to do flux-core. I'm only a "patch it when needed guy" so I can usually put up with the problems of long turn around for repair associated with "chinese" weldersEverlast offers an i-MIG 200 for $800.I've been looking the used market for 6 months and the best I've found is an Esab 240V MIGwhich went for $500.  And was a lot bigger than I wanted.So any recommendations on Hobart 210 MIG competitors?
Reply:Hobart is probably the best value for your money of the 110/220v dual voltage migs. The Lincoln doesn't have the output the Miller and Hobart do and the cost is pretty close. As mentioned the Hobart is very similar to the Miller with the exception of tapped settings vs continuous adjustments..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:When I think of Mig, my first thought is production. If you're not doing production work, and want to save some money buy a Tig rig to go with your PA-300. 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:Originally Posted by CEPWhen I think of Mig, my first thought is production. If you're not doing production work, and want to save some money buy a Tig rig to go with your PA-300.
Reply:When Dragoneggs brought his Miller 211 over for me to help him with his welding, I was very impressed with the arc. Now we only ran it on 240-volts, never tried it on 120-volts. If he ever decides to come back I'd like to try it on 120-volts! I don't know much about these low end Mig welders, you just don't see them in my line of work. On the whole 400-amps is a minimum for us.Here is what my PA-200 and a Tig rig can do. Everybody needs at least 3 welders. Tig, Mig, and stick.  Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPWhen Dragoneggs brought his Miller 211 over for me to help him with his welding, I was very impressed with the arc. Now we only ran it on 240-volts, never tried it on 120-volts. If he ever decides to come back I'd like to try it on 120-volts! I don't know much about these low end Mig welders, you just don't see them in my line of work. On the whole 400-amps is a minimum for us.Here is what my PA-200 and a Tig rig can do. Everybody needs at least 3 welders. Tig, Mig, and stick.
Reply:I realize you already have a stick machine, but the TA multiprocess migs get good reviews.  I believe that the 211i is within the same price range and is dual voltage.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:I do like the TA211i / Tweeco 211i that I have.  It is a great multi process machine.  That said, it does not have as good of a mig arc or mig gun as the Miller 140 I sold to buy the 211i.  I think for $100 extra for the Miller vs the Hobart, you get continuous vs tapped which can be very nice.  I would spend the extra $100 for the miller but that is me.  I would not save 100 to get the Everlast vs the Hobart.  I am not familiar with everlast consumables, but I still cannot get a mig nozzle locally for the TA after they have been out for a couple years.  Its hard to find a welding shop that doesn't have miller parts.As far as what they can do on 120VAC, 10 Ga is definitely pushing it.  However, it shouldn't be a problem in non-structural welds with good prep and proper attention to duty cycle.  Anything over 11ga / 1/8" and I am always more comfortable on 208 VAC (I have 3 phase)/ 240VAC .Multimatic 200Ellis 1800Haberle S225 9" cold sawMM 300;  Spoolmate 30A w/ WC-24TB 302GDynasty 280 DX Tigrunner
Reply:Well I just found the Hobart 210 on sale new at Bains F&F for a great price and then the 210 at Hobarts reconditioned for $730, which makes it very competitive with the Everlast.Thanks for pointing out the 211i but that's about twice the price of the reconditioned Hobart."Structural welding" with 10 gauge material sounds like military intelligence, it would have to be non-structural.Last edited by newbury; 09-22-2014 at 10:43 AM.
Reply:Originally Posted by newburyI may gradually creep into the "3 welder plan" like I crept into the "3 chainsaw plan" but right now I'm focusing my "welder time" on getting what I need to patch what I've got and make what I need.  I'm pretty sure Tig requirements (w/ my PA 300), especially absolutely clean metal, 240V only are beyond my scope.
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveI've passed the "3 welder rule" - but I was unaware of a similar plan for chainsaws?I currently only have two, a "big" saw and a limbing saw (and a backup "big" saw the same size as the other - so it doesn't count) But I'm open to buying a bigger "big saw" if 3 saws are the norm
Reply:Originally Posted by newburyWell since I'm the OP I'll sidetrack the discussion - Over on Arboristsite they frequently talked about a "3 saw" plan.  I started out with a Stihl 021 (35cc) about 15 or so yrs ago, I only had 2 small lots in Northern Virginia and 73 acres in Vermont.  SWMBO coowned about 700 acres in Mississippi.  Then about 2007 we bought out some and WE owned about 400 acres in Mississippi and I realized I needed more saw.  While preparing to buy my FIRST upgrade I won a John Deere CS 62(cc) saw, a rebadged Efco.  That got me into "Chainsaw Milling" or CSM.  I then bought another 35cc Efco saw brand new for $50 and a Stihl 660 (90cc) for serious CSM, and a second 660 as a spare.  Then several years later I stole a VERY lightly used 088 (120cc) WITH an Alaskan CSM for $450 off CL.  So I've now 6 GOOD saws.  The 088 is overkill.  And a 10HP Woodmizer bandsaw mill.So -  two saw is the minimum to me - with one on hand if you get the other "pinched" in a tree.  Three saws are usual if you CSM, ons small for limbing, one big for bucking (60cc or so) one bigger for CSM on 20" wood.If your "big" saw is under 90cc and you are doing CSM you need to go bigger.I can DEFINITELY see needing 4 welders, portable MIG dual voltage, my PA 300, a 240V TIG, and a plasma cutter.  Maybe an O/A if I run across a sweet deal like the 088 Again I've got room, I'va about 5,500 sq ft of shop space
Reply:So you just need a sheet metal mig that runs .023"Dia. wire, on C25 gas that can take you up to where the Everblast drops off? How about a Hobart 140? Then worry about a dual voltage mig when the Everblast blows up?Last edited by shovelon; 09-22-2014 at 03:28 PM.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:That Esab 350 MPI you posted is the finest low amp Mig machine that was ever built .023/C-25 gas Same for Stainless wire.. set on the steep slope setting, and it's like tig welding with a mig gun. Anybody having trouble with the Thermal-arc/victor machines need to throw the factory gun away, and get one that works correctly.  It's Garbage. Never liked the earlier guns on that machine either. They are a bit better, but not by much. The worst factory gun since some early Miller GA creations.. Although I think they welded better then the Tweco fusion?Esab/Lorch ET-220iEsab 160i caddyThermal LM-200 Lincoln feedersThermal Pee-Wee 85sThermal 60i- 3phase /RPC powered (Beast)Thermal Drag-gun 35CINE 1500 Klutch 140i