Another MIG comparison

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I'm sure you guys are tired of this question, but i have not seen this particular comparison when i searched the threads.  I am stuck between the Millermatic 252 with the spoolmate 200 and the hobart ironman 230 with its spoolgun.  The MM has 50 more amps and infinite voltage adjustment but is also about $1000 more.  You are probably going to ask what the intended task is and to be honest i dont need the additional capacity at the moment, but dont want to wish i had spent the extra $1000 1-2 years from now.  So the basic question is, how often do you guys need the full 300 amps (or anything over 250 amps) when welding either heavy steel plate or using the spool gun to weld aluminum?
Reply:Hey Chaz,Since I use MIG units from 90-250A, I find the 250A units optimum if you are considering any kind of aluminum welding, especially the thicker material. I have a spoolgun unit in the shop & mobile unit. Alum. needs all the amps you can muster when you get into alum. over 1/4" thick. You would not second guess a purchase, even though more $$$ at purchase, if you got several projects or jobs that required 1/4"> aluminum. In addition, you will probably have better duty cycle ratios. Just some info. from a user of heavier output MIGs that has paid for itself many times over. Many other users would agree it is much better to have more than less whether needed or not.DennyComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:The $1000 gets you more headroom and the ability for very fine settings. Both are good.The resale is gonna be better someday too.Matt
Reply:The Spoolmate 200 is not the spoolgun you should be looking at on the MM 252.  The gun you should be considering is the 30A or if you don't need the extra length, the 15A.Both are a direct hookup to the MM 252."You can't use amps you didn't buy."Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:14 years ago I bought a Century 200 mig welder.  It was quite cheaper than the MM250.After I used it for a while I realized it wasn't what I wanted.  Last Oct. I finely got my MM252.It pleases me greatly just to look at it.Jack
Reply:i agree with Sundown. i was looking at getting the ironman230 and kicked it around for about 6 months and finally got the mm252 with the 30a. i also got the 25' extension for the 30a for a total of 55'. i run both steel and aluminum through the spool gun and love the fact that i can leave the machine loaded with .035 wire and load the 30a with different size wire for those odd jobs and just pull the trigger on which ever gun i need without having to  switch them on the machine. just took a  couple y fittings on the regulators. instead of buying the side by side dual bottle rack for the back of the 252 i designed my own rack for it where the bottles are in line forward and back. it attaches to the back of the single bottle rack on the back of the 252 with no bolts and is removable in seconds once the bottle is removed and you can change the front bottle while it's attached with it's bottle mounted. it does lighten the front of the machine a little but that just makes it easier to pull and turn. i also made my own spool gun hanger that attaches to the miller rack. like I've always said never buy what you can build better your way and cheaper. 225NT bobcatAEAD200LEScott 125mm175, mm252 w 30A, PT225mm211, TA 181iHyper Therm 380, cut master 529100X & XX, Digital Elite6 Victor setssmith little torch, meco midget kalamazoo band sawsteel max saw evoulution circular saw