wanting to get a shop welder

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right now i have been welding around the house with a with a trailblazer and a Ln 25 but I get along well with my neighbors and would like to keep it that way. I was thinking about getting a shop welder of some sort, Im going to have 3 phase in my shop when I get it built sometime this summer if I slow down enough. I was looking at a miller 250 and 350p but I would like to have the ability to do other welding methods. I would like some input on what machines you all would recommend I have about 4000.00 to spend. Most all my welding is 3/4 and thinner Any help would be great
Reply:I think I just put this in the wrong location, if it is sorry, and could some body move it?
Reply:An XMT will run single and 3-phase and you can use it with your LN25 for wire, or with a stinger for stick and a tig torch and foot pedal dc tig.   It's a true multi-process machine.   I love mine.   Only thing it doesn't do is ac tig for aluminum.   The guts of a Millermatic 350P is basicaly an XMT with constant voltage output only, for wire.  The XMT is cv/cc.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I think it has been discontinued, but if you could find a miller shopmaster I think it would suit your needs well.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:Yes,  Yes, if you want to pay that kind of money for a machine an XMT is the one to go with, 'cause one day you may decide to go away from GMAW and learn Tigging or need the versatility of Stick.    I believe the Xmt's have the line select so you can use  240 VAC single  phase  Right up to 440VAC 3 phase which is such an awesome feature cause if you have a long term project its pretty much plug & play no matter where you go.    I would check around Welder rental places for a deal or used at your local welder repair shop.   The only down fall the multi-process machines have is none of them to my knowledge have AC  and Hi-freq. for Aluminium Tig welding.  The Miller XMT s have about a 90% electrical efficiency which was unheard of 20 years ago  If you want a seperate machine to do Stick and Tig Miller Dynasty 200 you can find them used in good or better shape for  approx. $1500 USDLast edited by ol' Stick Guy; 05-24-2009 at 10:10 PM.
Reply:thanks, thats what I was running into with buying a mig only machine it limits a persons choices. I do run a fair amount of stick already and I wanted that option in the shop without starting up the truck welder.
Reply:That is the reason I said to look for a Shopmaster 300.  it is an AC/DC CC/CV power source.  You can stick mig, tig, and with an add on hi freq box you can run AC tig for aluminum.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:This is Old school but if stick & MIG are your main concerns & you really want to get off cheap You can pick up an old AC/DC Lincoln Idealarc like this one for $350.00 on ebay right now http://cgi.ebay.com/Lincoln-Idealarc...3A1%7C294%3A50With your LN25 & down to 3/16" steel they make a very dependable yet very good system for a smaller home shop.      Those old round top Lincolns are way tougher than one could imagine.   I think they are only rated about 40% duty cycle at 250A DC but they will take much more than that & live on.     I know they'll take it & really work well in that application. I used 1 here doing production welding on 3/4" & 1" steel multiple pass welding for over a year.   Easily run over 45# of .045 dual shield daily with it maxed out on the DC side.If I were going to get into TIG I'd buy a AC/DC Tig specific machine. The newer inverter technoligy machines are simply hard to beat. Pricy Yes, Most of your American made 200A  Inverter tig machine well equiped will easily go over $3000.00There are many ways to go.  I'd definately look at used equipment also especially if you are going to have 3 phase power. I just sold one of these Lincoln, true multi process AC/DC MIG TIG Stick DC-600 machines for $1500.00   http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Cat...et.aspx?p=2543IF IT WORKS, DON'T FIX IT2 Lincoln CV-300 / LN-7 GMALinde-VI 253,400 & 450 w/MIG35 feedersCNC Table with Oxweld O/A & Hypertherm 1250G3Lincoln Ranger GXT 250Hobart-MicroWire 300ESAB Heliarc 161ESAB-Mobilemaster 2 CC/CV Feeders& more
Reply:I like that Ebay machine for it's classic design, especially if it is good and bullet proof. The muli process you sold  appears to be an amazing deal if you have the 3 phase power. I don't have the room for either, so will hopefully go smaller Mig and Medium sized AC DC Tig in my shop.  It would be nice if an inverter landed in my lap.Bob.Miller Dynasty 200 DXMillermatic 211Hypertherm PM 600In Tool acquisition Mode