mikehaugen
Elite Member
Hey everyone! It's been quite a while since I've posted here but nice to see some familiar names are still around.
Anyway...
I currently own a Lincoln idealarc 250 tig/stick machine that has and still does serve me well, I plan to keep it. But I've been coming up with some projects that I believe will be better suited with a lower midrange mig... namely some body panel repair and a couple bumper fabs (most likely 3/16"), but a mig in general would just be handy to have around.
I've had my eye on the miller 211 for years (even before it was an inverter) but now that I'm close to buying the newer multi-process welders are catching my eye. Long story short, I have narrowed it down to the same 3 that everyone asks about, but my situation is a little different... lincoln powermig 210, esab rebel, or multimatic 215. Tig is not really a consideration for me because I have what I believe is a more capable tig welder already and I don't ever see myself needing to tig weld outside of my "shop" (garage).
If I'm going to buy a machine this size then I might as well plan on taking advantage of it's portability if need be so I would like the ability to stick weld. (Although the 211 still isn't out of the running because I guess I could learn to flux-core even though I've never done it).
Ironically, if you don't count available rebates, Esab is the most expensive so I would probably discount them, but they do offer the ems version which is mig/stick with no tig, but no rebates available so the price is close to the emp version. Also it seems the esab is the only one that rates their machine for 6010, but it's not that big of a deal since I could just use 6011. The lincoln is the cheapest of the bunch, but honestly I'd just prefer a miller, not to mention that from what people say the spool gun options are better with the miller if I later decide to get one. The downfall of the miller is no inductance control.
So basically my 2 big questions are...
1. Is lack of inductance control a deal breaker? I use an xmt304 with 22a feeder at work and have never messed with inductance (not even 100% sure it is adjustable)
2. Is stick really a necessity? Flux-core could potentially eliminate my need for it in the rare instance I want to weld outside in the wind.
Maybe I would be best off sticking with the miller 211, but the multimatic 215 looks appealing. I assume mig performance is nearly identical between the 2?
I know I lied... there's actually 4 options.
Thanks in advance
Anyway...
I currently own a Lincoln idealarc 250 tig/stick machine that has and still does serve me well, I plan to keep it. But I've been coming up with some projects that I believe will be better suited with a lower midrange mig... namely some body panel repair and a couple bumper fabs (most likely 3/16"), but a mig in general would just be handy to have around.
I've had my eye on the miller 211 for years (even before it was an inverter) but now that I'm close to buying the newer multi-process welders are catching my eye. Long story short, I have narrowed it down to the same 3 that everyone asks about, but my situation is a little different... lincoln powermig 210, esab rebel, or multimatic 215. Tig is not really a consideration for me because I have what I believe is a more capable tig welder already and I don't ever see myself needing to tig weld outside of my "shop" (garage).
If I'm going to buy a machine this size then I might as well plan on taking advantage of it's portability if need be so I would like the ability to stick weld. (Although the 211 still isn't out of the running because I guess I could learn to flux-core even though I've never done it).
Ironically, if you don't count available rebates, Esab is the most expensive so I would probably discount them, but they do offer the ems version which is mig/stick with no tig, but no rebates available so the price is close to the emp version. Also it seems the esab is the only one that rates their machine for 6010, but it's not that big of a deal since I could just use 6011. The lincoln is the cheapest of the bunch, but honestly I'd just prefer a miller, not to mention that from what people say the spool gun options are better with the miller if I later decide to get one. The downfall of the miller is no inductance control.
So basically my 2 big questions are...
1. Is lack of inductance control a deal breaker? I use an xmt304 with 22a feeder at work and have never messed with inductance (not even 100% sure it is adjustable)
2. Is stick really a necessity? Flux-core could potentially eliminate my need for it in the rare instance I want to weld outside in the wind.
Maybe I would be best off sticking with the miller 211, but the multimatic 215 looks appealing. I assume mig performance is nearly identical between the 2?
I know I lied... there's actually 4 options.
Thanks in advance