Getting a new mig

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Finally sold off the millermatic 211 which I dearly miss but I need more power for thicker stuff and maybe a spool gun in the future. I have been looking at the Power Mig 256 & Millermatic 252 and looking for input from users who have used either or both especially the likes and dislikes of both.  I will be using it in a light fabrication setting so its not going to be used heavy but I do need the power for thicker stuff and ability for spray transfer.  I work with all different sizes of material but never weld above 1/2 so either machine covers me, rebates from Lincoln make the 256 more appealing but both are in the same price range depending where you shop.  I started to eye the tweco 252i but with the price being so low and the machines that turn up at the LWS for repairs it scares me ! I won't buy anything I can't take to the LWS for warranty repair work so it all comes down to Miller, Lincoln, Hobart, Tweco/Thermal Arc.
Reply:I’ve been very happy with my V350-Pro. Lots of power!  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:You need to weld with them.. I tend to favor the Lincoln 256, just because the arc quality type is a bit stiffer. (More dig) Either one will be a pretty good shop machine for you.. The Miller is built in USA, and the Lincoln in Mexico. (if that matter to you..)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
Reply:cant say on the Lincoln but I use a 252 all the time and it is an awesome welder. A good friend who is an amazing fabricator says his mig of choice is the 252.
Reply:Originally Posted by Brand XYou need to weld with them.. I tend to favor the Lincoln 256, just because the arc quality type is a bit stiffer. (More dig) Either one will be a pretty good shop machine for you.. The Miller is built in USA, and the Lincoln in Mexico. (if that matter to you..)
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPI’ve been very happy with my V350-Pro. Lots of power!
Reply:Originally Posted by NinjaRayWish my lws would let me try the floor models
Reply:My boss gave me the exact choice you're looking at and I went with the Lincoln powermig 256 as my main machine at work. The main selling point was I liked its gun slightly more than the Miller's and the Miller I looked at at the lws had a lot of slop in the hindged part of the drive assembly.My "collection":Homemade Stick WelderVictor O/A TorchAC 225Ideal Arc 250HF 90 Amp Flux CoreHF Mig 170Solar 2020 Plasma CutterPower i-Mig 140EHarris O/A torchHF Dual Mig 131140STAlpha Tig 200x
Reply:I haven't used either of those models but I generally prefer the arc quality of Lincolns over Millers, and the Lincoln wire drive seems more solid to me. They are quite similar, though, and I doubt you would be disappointed with either.I initially had high opinions of the Tweco 252i and it is quite a nice stick welder also, but the recent ESAB/Victor/Tweco clusterf*ck makes me wary of purchasing anything made by them.JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:I have the thermal arc 252i no complaints here had her for 3 or 4 years now hasn't let me down I also have the a.c. dc thermal arc 186 really nice fully adjustable square wave Sent from my VS980 4G using TapatalkLincoln Power Arc 4000 Thermal Arc Fabricator 252 iThermal arc 186Thermal Arc 26 tigTweeko 200 amp spool gunHobart AirForce 400WP-17V-12R
Reply:I can't recommend the Miller to you myself. LOL.I don't want to tell you which one to buy, I would say buy as much machine as you can afford though. I never heard of someone regretting buying too much power. I have the Lincoln PowerMig 350Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:I bought a MM 252 and 30A spool gun last year and haven't looked back. It has a sharp arc and runs .023 hard wire through .045 dual shield with no problems. When the gun starts to wear, all of the stock ones do, add a Bernard Q300 and you have a setup forever. We have Lincoln's at school and wouldn't waste the space in my shop if they were giving them away. Granted, they aren't the 256, maybe 216's?, but not impressed with them or any of their smaller machines. I have a Lincoln Invertec 350 Pro at work and it runs pretty well but the LN-7 feeders are junk.
Reply:Originally Posted by burnsI bought a MM 252 and 30A spool gun last year and haven't looked back. It has a sharp arc and runs .023 hard wire through .045 dual shield with no problems. When the gun starts to wear, all of the stock ones do, add a Bernard Q300 and you have a setup forever. We have Lincoln's at school and wouldn't waste the space in my shop if they were giving them away. Granted, they aren't the 256, maybe 216's?, but not impressed with them or any of their smaller machines. I have a Lincoln Invertec 350 Pro at work and it runs pretty well but the LN-7 feeders are junk.
Reply:MM-252, and sharp arc is the first time I heard that one.. The MM-350 P has a sharp arc in general. Mushy/weird arc come to mind on the 252.. Never my favorite. In fact don's care for the PM-300 or 350 all that well either..Just used one this weekend loaded with .035 L-56.. somewhat soft arc too.. I think the Lincoln 216 or older MM-210 is a much higher quality welding arc in general. Miller got the balance right with the Shopmate DX. That one is one of the better Miller machines in Single phase arc quality..Last edited by Brand X; 09-01-2015 at 10:12 AM.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
Reply:I'd really like to try the Lincoln 350mp and it's spoolgun someday.   Not sure about the current models but the old ESAB MigMaster 250 has a really nice arc.   Excellent machineTiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:You can try my 350MP, I have a push/pull gun, not a spoolgun.Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:Originally Posted by Joker11You can try my 350MP, I have a push/pull gun, not a spoolgun.
Reply:Originally Posted by soutthpawI'd really like to try the Lincoln 350mp and it's spoolgun someday.   Not sure about the current models but the old ESAB MigMaster 250 has a really nice arc.   Excellent machine
Reply:If you prefer the crisper style short circuit transfer arc that you saw from the MM 211, you're probably better off going with the PM 256. The 252 arc is going to be very soft and fluffy/mushy.Hobart's Ironman 230 outputs 250 amps. However, it doesn't offer as much top end voltage as the 256 or 252.Last edited by Dan; 09-03-2015 at 12:37 PM.ESAB Migmaster 250 Hobart Ironman 230Multimatic 215TWECO Fabricator 181i & 211iHH125EZ - nice little fluxcore only unitMaxstar 150 STH - very nice
Reply:If your ognna go bigger go way bigger.  Get a MM350P or a Lincoln 350MP-JimmySyncrowave 200Millermatic 211 Auto-Set w/MVPSpoolmate 100Hypertherm Powermax 45
Reply:Originally Posted by soutthpawI'd really like to try the Lincoln 350mp and it's spoolgun someday.   Not sure about the current models but the old ESAB MigMaster 250 has a really nice arc.   Excellent machine
Reply:Originally Posted by novaman64If your ognna go bigger go way bigger.  Get a MM350P or a Lincoln 350MP
Reply:Originally Posted by DanESAB's current unit (Migmaster 280) has a single driven wire drive system. I've never ran one so I have no idea if this hinders the unit performance when set up with a 15' gun lead.  Have to agree with you that my Migmaster 250 has a real nice short circuit transfer arc. I definitely prefer it over the mushy MM 251 / 252 arc.If Hobart could put the arc characteristics of their Handler 190/ 210 MVP into a variable voltage unit, that'd be something near the top of my list worth owning.