New Equipment for Shop

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I've just about completed my little welding shop part of work "barn". Been doing the wiring and finishing the interior walls. I have included the following electrical outlets: 1 - 20 amp 220V, 1 - 40 amp 220V; 2 - 15 amp 120V (all on the same wall), 6 - 15 amp 120V (on adjecent wall. I have a 50 amp 220V just beneath my breaker panel (about 25 feet away from the new designated welding area. I've taken some before and after pic's I'll post later.I am not a "Professional Welder" nor do I profess to be a "great" welder. However, I do profess to be a person that loves to dabble in welding and it all seems to work well. I do most of my welding with a Lincoln SA200 (1975) and a Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC welder. The LOL has again come through and from what I can aford I have selected the following two items and would like some feedback on compatable machines. I have gone over this site and this is the max I can spend. I have selected Miller 180 Auto-set and Miller 375 X-Treme. I have spoken to my WSer several times, in fact, he helped me up grade from the Miller 140 to the 180. Any feed back on my selections? I have never used a Mig or Plasma machine so this will fill my idle time learning to correctly use them. Thanks for any replies. And one last note..Happy Birthday Duane. jt
Reply:jayray, I am looking forward to some pics. I have to add a 50 amp breaker in the near future. What did it cost for the breaker? I do not have any experience with the machines you listed but from what i hear the 180 autoset is a great machine!American by birth Southern by the Grace of God
Reply:74FENCER, I am using a Square D breaker box and I will get you a cost on the 50 amp breaker; dont have it right here now. Long story to make short; Just sold my place (5 acre with two great shops) to my son; Aging In-laws to take care of; Father-in-law passed away and Mother-in-law needed help, so we (wife and I, sold our place and bought the inlaws). about 10 yrs ago I help Father in law build a 32 x 16 shop - wood frame. I am currently adding 10' x 32' on each side to make it a 32 x 46. One side is for my woodwrking and other for my welding and middle portion for anything else. We initially wire it with a 200 amp breaker box but my father in law didnt do any big stuff so we didnt run wire that would handle anything bigger than 60 amps. Installed 1-50, 1-40, 1-30, set up several 20-220 and "bunch of 15-120" so we wouldnt have to run extension cords. Have grinders,drill presses, etc. So when I added on I didnt have to do anything but run my lights, plugs and move the larger amp outlets to my welding area. Taken a while since I am doing it all myself. Oh well...Wife says get of the Inet and get to doing something. Will get back on the breaker thang.
Reply:JayRay,That 'new' welding shop sounds great.  Looking forward to seeing those photos.As for your equipment selections I don't think you can ever go wrong with a Miller (or Hobart/Lincoln/ESAB/Hypertherm etc.) so long as it's of the proper capacity and equipped to fulfill your present and anticipated future needs.  As someone stated in another thread recently, they don't know of anyone that has said they ever bought a welder (or plasma cutter) that was too big - even though I realize that is actually possible.  Just not too probable.Anyway, I too have no personal experience with the units you've list and my 1980 MM200 just keeps pluggin' away but as I understand it the Autoset 180 makes initial set up very easy but can still be tweeked if needed once you get started.As for the 375 X-treme, it's specification reads similar to my Hypertherm Powermax 350 and if cutting occassional 3/8" material and 1/4" and thinner typical then it may suit your needs OK.  I went with the 350 because I got a smoking deal on it on ebay but if I was to be working with 3/8" and thicker on a regular basis I get something bigger for faster cutting capabilities.  There's alot of good larger units out there if you can afford the time to be patient and look around.Keep us posted and thanks for the B'day wishes!MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Originally Posted by 74fencerjayray, I am looking forward to some pics. I have to add a 50 amp breaker in the near future. What did it cost for the breaker? I do not have any experience with the machines you listed but from what i hear the 180 autoset is a great machine!
Reply:I don't think you'll be disappointed with either of the machines you have selected.  For a little more punch in the mig, you could go for the new Millermatic 211, which puts out about 30 more amps than the 180 and runs on both 110v and 220v power.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Thanks for replies; I really have read this site pretty well and like the responses on all the questions everyone submits. I was going to go with the Miller 140 but after reading some of the responses on " What machine to buy" plus what my WS advised me on, for less than $200 he will upgrade me to the Miller 180. Now I have not checked the Inet or any other places, feel confident in my WS guy and I've known them longer than I want to admit too. Anyway as you can see on the Electrical post I always make things interesting around this joint! Will put some pics on here next week. jt