Help with first welder purchase (wire)

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Hello all.... looking to get into purchasing my first welder for hobby project, that I would think max out to 1/8" steel, but be able to do some aluminum. What would be a 'good' welder to get... and I wouldn't might buying used either.Have looked at:HH 140Miller 185 (think i found a good price)Any others, or at least ones NOT to get? I mostly will be doing steel, but some times doing aluminum, but want to focus on steel.
Reply:I have a MM185, It's a nice machine. I've probably had mine at least 10 years and never had any issues with it. I already mentioned the MM211 in your 1st post. If I had to replace my MM185 that would most likely be my 1st option since it will run on 110v or 220v..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:Steel and aluminum mig up to 1/8" in an affordable 'starter' machine...  My choice would be the Millermatic 211 & spool gun.  Can buy the combination for about $1100 new at the local welding shop.If you want to go used, there are tons of choices of professional level machines available if you look around.  Constant-voltage PowCons, XMT's, Invisions and CP's are all very good mig power supply choices.  Cobramatics and XR's are good aluminum feeder choices.  Millermatics of 200 and above are good mig choices to use with a spool gun.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by DesertRider33Steel and aluminum mig up to 1/8" in an affordable 'starter' machine...  My choice would be the Millermatic 211 & spool gun.  Can buy the combination for about $1100 new at the local welding shop.
Reply:Originally Posted by Plan>BThats a good price if you can find it local.... haven't found any local but will call some shops starting on Monday. So far I am leaning toward the 211, first I will look at new to know how much they cost then may look for used.
Reply:Originally Posted by DesertRider33Good luck finding a used 211.  It's a brand new model, they've only been out for a few months.  If you wait another year, you'll probly start seeing them pop up once in a while.Sales guy at my local Airgas sold a new 211 to a customer the other day while I was in there buying some rod.   $925 + tax for the machine without the spool gun.  The spool gun is about $150.  When they very first came out earlier this year, my friend bought one there for a little under a grand.
Reply:It's definately a nice little machine.  I've welded with my friends 211 and liked it.  The arc is the same as my Millermatic 175 (crisp).  The 211 has more oomph and dual voltage and spool gun capability.  Machines are same size, 211 is a little heavier.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I've got a MillerMatic 135 (runs on 110 volts) and I love it.  Perfect starter machine, but then again that 211 rocks.  Have a Jeep Cherokee?  Click Here!
Reply:like dr33 said the mm 211 is the way to go
Reply:ooo I guess I'll be on the red team for this thread.depending on how much you want to spend, and 1/8th inch being your maxlincoln 180c (230volt)lincoln 140c (110volt)both are spool gun ready, portable, and offer continuous voltage control180c runs about 700.00 I think, 140c is about 500.00or you could get the lincoln power mig 215 ( 215XT, 216 pretty much all the same) like I did.looking at new trucks while carrying two car seats around the parking lot to "test fit".......humiliating.
Reply:I have had a Miller DVI2 for about a year now. It sounds almost exactly like the new 211 except without auto-set (although autoset is just extra printing on the controls as far as I can tell) Nice thing about the DVI2 is that it has been around longer and it is a wheeled machine with a bottle rack. Plus it's a great place to store your gloves and helmet!!!
Reply:Originally Posted by salem747I have had a Miller DVI2 for about a year now. It sounds almost exactly like the new 211 except without auto-set (although autoset is just extra printing on the controls as far as I can tell) Nice thing about the DVI2 is that it has been around longer and it is a wheeled machine with a bottle rack. Plus it's a great place to store your gloves and helmet!!!
Reply:The DVI2 has a little higher duty cycle than the 211 and the Spoolmate 3035 aluminum spool gun that goes with the DVI2 has a little higher duty cycle the 211's Spoolmate 100.For an in-shop-only  machine, the DVI2 would be a good choice since it is on a full size chassis and can hold a full size gas cylinder and takes full size 12" rolls of wire, which are both more cost effective than the small 8" spools and smaller gas cylinders.  The DVI2 can also be fitted with the optional dual cylinder rack and carry 2 full size bottles, if wanted.  Of course, a heavy duty cart/bottle rack could be built to hold the 211 too...However, if you don't need the dual-voltage capability and the machine will stay in the shop, the 212 and 252 are both better choices than the DVI2.  Much higher duty cycles and max outputs, better wire drive mechanism, better mig gun and longer too, compatible with the Spoolmatic spool gun, which is a much better and higher rated gun than the Spoolmate series guns.  The 252 is also directly compatible with the push-pull guns (Python, XR pistol and Alumapro) for feeding aluminum wire from full size rolls inside the machine.  Push-pull guns are alot lighter and nicer to weld with than spool guns.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by DesertRider33For an in-shop-only  machine, the DVI2 would be a good choice since it is on a full size chassis and can hold a full size gas cylinder and takes full size 12" rolls of wire, which are both more cost effective than the small 8" spools and smaller gas cylinders.  .
Reply:When I look at Miller's website comparison the DVI2 and the 211 are exactly the same, 150A @ 40%. The 211 wasn't around when I bought mine and I wanted something that I could take to a buddy's house or around my own house and use it on 110V if need be. Sure it isn't as portable as a little machine but how often are you really on the move? Especially since I had already upsold myself from a stick to a 110V MIG to a 220V MIG to the DVI2, I figured I would stop there!!! Before I got myself divorced!I got a pretty good deal on mine I think, it was a demo model at Praxair. Came to about $1800CAD for the machine, gloves, year bottle rental and gas, most of a roll of wire, miller elite "Lucky's Speed Shop" helmet. I wish they had this when I bought mine:http://www.lindecanada.com/ I would have been all over that like white on rice, although I do still like the Lucky's one.
Reply:Originally Posted by Swampy79I respectively disagree about the fullsize bottle, at least in PlanB's case, when I bought my first welder and did the math based off of quotes from my LWS and found that leasing a fullsize would cost far more in the long run that just buying a 125.  And for a hobbyist's that 125 will last for a long time.  12" rolls are always more cost effective though, good point!
Reply:Originally Posted by salem747When I look at Miller's website comparison the DVI2 and the 211 are exactly the same, 150A @ 40%.
Reply:Did you check out the Team Canada Helmet though, that's the important part!!!
Reply:is the lincoln sp-250 any good?... it is used
Reply:Originally Posted by DesertRider33You're comparing apples and oranges if you're comparing buying one size versus leasing another.  If you compare buying vs buying or leasing vs leasing on different size bottles, you'll find that the bigger bottle is by far more cost effective.  I buy all my bottles regardless of the size.
Reply:The Miller DVI2 is under rated and will out do the MM211. Depending on price the DVI2 is the better machine and as stated comes with wheels and bottle rack eliminating the need for a cart. This is of course providing that portability isn't a main concern.How old is the Lincoln SP250. I couldn't find much on the machine other than it is old. Still might be a good machine depending on price.Miller DVI2Lincoln Precision Tig 225Thermodynamics Cutmaster 38Everything else needed.