thoughts on these two machines

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i was wondering around on CL and came across a Miller 225/150 Thunderbolt Stick Welder - $350 and also Lincoln A/C - D/C arc welder. 220 volts $300 honestly i know very little about any machine other than a miller trailblazer. i was just wondering your guys opinion on each machine. i.e weld quality, ease of use, likes dislikes or anything i should look out for. both machines look very clean and well maintained.
Reply:You didn't say which Lincoln but if it is the amperage range basically it comes down to whether you like red or blue paint.Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:With their given limitations on duty cycle They are both pretty hard to crowd as far as price goes.   I've welded with both & really didn't notice a difference.    If you are hobby or small home shop & do your cutting & fitting in between welding They'll do fine.   Especially if you limit rods to 1/8".I've used a Lincoln more than a Miller.   The Lincoln will tolerate more than the duty cycle listed on the tag.  I Imagine the Miller will too.As Tresi said    Which is your favorite color??These Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DC machine run on single phase.   (55A circuit If memory serves me)  http://cgi.ebay.com/LINCOLN-250-AMP-...3A1%7C294%3A50I see them sell on ebay all the time for under $300.00.  They are actually 300A AC 250A DC.  Even though they state 30% duty cycle.   There is no way you'll ever overheat one of these with normal stick rod welding.    I've run a CC/CV suitcase wire feeder on one with 1/16" fluxcore wire & the machine jacked to max  for as high as 3 hrs stopping only to clean slag from the welds, & drink water.I'm sure Miller also has a comprerable version of this too.   Of course they are bulkier & much much heavier.IF 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:right on, nice input. i would be using 1/8 7018 my job gives me an almost un limited supply of it. i am in no means partial to red or blue. all i use at work are trailblazers and rangers. as far as my knowledge of smaller machines there is none. so your guys input is awesome. im going to take a look at the miller first only for the reason that it shows a infinitely adjustable amp dial and that seems to be a little more useful that a click setting. not that you need to be spot on with your heat when burning rod just adjust your arc length and speed, i just think it would be a little nicer. thanks for the help ya'll.
Reply:Originally Posted by twopitsright on, nice input. i would be using 1/8 7018 my job gives me an almost un limited supply of it. i am in no means partial to red or blue. all i use at work are trailblazers and rangers. as far as my knowledge of smaller machines there is none. so your guys input is awesome. im going to take a look at the miller first only for the reason that it shows a infinitely adjustable amp dial and that seems to be a little more useful that a click setting. not that you need to be spot on with your heat when burning rod just adjust your arc length and speed, i just think it would be a little nicer. thanks for the help ya'll.
Reply:Even though I've owned two Lincoln crackerboxes, I gotta say that Miller's infinite adjustment is better than my tapped machine (I think, because actually never used one, but it seems like a good idea).  Plus the Miller has another 25amps on the dc side.  Lincoln only goes to 125amps.  I wish I had that extra 25 amps.But I'm not trading in my Lincoln.  It's been good to me, and I've gotten accustomed to it.If I had it to do over again, I'd still buy the Lincoln after all's said.  I simply trust their products.  I like their rod too.  I guess it's what works best for you.Buy the Lincoln"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Well, that was really helpfulAdvice from the armpit(you's truly) to twopits buy the Lincolnbuy the Lincolnbuy the LincolnSubliminal persuasion Attached Images"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:If the Lincoln is an Idealarc 250, buy that one over the miller. Hands down.The Lincoln has a higher duty cycle than the smaller powered Miller. The Idealarc 250 is a production welding power source that will weld stick as well as tig (Steel only, no high frequency for aluminum).The lincoln is 250 amp dc/300 amp ac. The miller is 150 amp dc/225 amp ac.You can add a high frequency unit to the Lincoln Idealarc if you want to tig weld aluminum.
Reply:If the Miller is "AC only", get the Lincoln.  If the Lincoln is the commercial model (eg: "Idealarc"), check the tag to see what input amperage is required.  many commercial units really suck the amps, and may require a stouter circuit to supply them....and will spin the meter faster...although, if you are not doing production work, that hardly matters."Good Enough Never Is"MIller AC/DC  ThunderboltHobart HH180, 125EZRiland Cut 40 Plasma oxy/act  outfitTons of "stuff", all treasures to me!
Reply:well i bought the miller and i got say it welds like a champ. and it is a ac/dc unit. also on a 30 amp circuit i had no problems burning a full rod. no tripped breaker and a pretty good arc on dc and not to bad on ac. i gotta say running 120 amp vert, it was just as good as my trialbazer at work. well worth the 3 bills. in fact now that i have a capable machine a a guy i know wants some work done so lets call it 150 at the end of the weekend. once again thanks for all the input, this forum rocks