looking for brand recomendation

[yomax4]

Built in Hot start and Adjustable Arc Force. Plus adjustable Inductance. Never seen this many features on a machine under 4K. You can re-strike 7018 like playing a drum. I ran one ay Fab-Tech. There is a 252i also weighs 65# And it has adjustable Hot Start and Arc Force. You can set the hot start for what ever amp and time on you want.Plus the 252 has wire sharp.Let go of the trigger and it sharpens the wire for a perfect start everytime.. The 181 weighs 32#. Talk about portable...Also has Power Factor Correction. Welders may be staring to evolve after 50 years. ( The 252i is made in New Hampshire and just came out at Fab-Tech. The 181i is from one of "their" over seas plants.) There will be a dual voltage 211 and a 141i as well after the 1st of the year I was told. I saw some 181i units at a LWS selling for $839.00

 

[deereman75]

Built in Hot start and Adjustable Arc Force. Plus adjustable Inductance. Never seen this many features on a machine under 4K. You can re-strike 7018 like playing a drum. I ran one ay Fab-Tech. There is a 252i also weighs 65# And it has adjustable Hot Start and Arc Force. You can set the hot start for what ever amp and time on you want.Plus the 252 has wire sharp.Let go of the trigger and it sharpens the wire for a perfect start everytime.. The 181 weighs 32#. Talk about portable...Also has Power Factor Correction. Welders may be staring to evolve after 50 years. ( The 252i is made in New Hampshire and just came out at Fab-Tech. The 181i is from one of "their" over seas plants.) There will be a dual voltage 211 and a 141i as well after the 1st of the year I was told. I saw some 181i units at a LWS selling for $839.00

Do you know how much the 252i sells for? Also, is the wire sharp like a burnback timer?

 

[Mickey_Fx]

Thanks for all the comments folks. My welding needs are minimal with a 80cf bottle for the mig lasting me a couple yrs at least. A small 220V model will more than handle my needs. If I need more, son is a mile away with a Miller 250 sized machine. He also has a tig and plasma setup.

 

[deereman75]

Out of the 180 class migs I have seen, my choice would be the lincoln powermig 180c. Its wire drive system is MUCH heavier then the millermatic 180. (that and I am a lincoln fan)

 

[yomax4]

Do you know how much the 252i sells for? Also, is the wire sharp like a burnback timer?

Wire sharp and burnback are two different animals. Burn back burns the wire back at the end of the weld to a desired lenght and keeps it from freezing in the puddle. Wire Sharp sends voltage back to the ball on the end of the wire and the resistance burns the ball off. 252 is priced a couple hundred less than the other domestic brands but offers Stick and Tig as well as a multitude of fine tune options.

 

[deereman75]

Yomax4 do you know anything about those ESAB caddy migs?

 

[Mickey_Fx]

Out of the 180 class migs I have seen, my choice would be the lincoln powermig 180c. Its wire drive system is MUCH heavier then the millermatic 180. (that and I am a lincoln fan)

Have been looking over specs today and have to agree with you. With my old machine, being a Century model and now owned by Lincoln, looking over specs for both brands, the wire drive on the Miller looks to be the same as on my Century. Hum Never had an issue with that drive.

Since this will be an insurance replacement, not sure at this time how much say I will have over brand/model. Will say insurance co was easy to deal with when I had a burglary a decade ago. This is just one item in a long list that adds up to $4k - $5k replacement value.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Take a look at the new Thermal Arc 181 Mig, Tig, Stick 3 in 1 unit. Under $1000 and has a Ton of extra features. Hot Start and Arc Force on Stick, Down Slope, Remote and Trigger lock for tig. Inductance control for Mig. These are on The Thermadyne web site and U-tube.

Umm,
Yomax,
Our MTS 160 and 200S is a good competitor to your 3n1, and we had it in the US a year before yours.lol...

Look familiar? Not so unique as TA makes out!

 

[Shield Arc]

This is just one item in a long list that adds up to $4k - $5k replacement value.

Well if you have 4 to 5-grand to play with, here you go! :laughing:

 

[deereman75]

Umm,
Yomax,
Our MTS 160 and 200S is a good competitor to your 3n1, and we had it in the US a year before yours.lol...

Look familiar? Not so unique as TA makes out!

Except the thermal arc is more powerful then the mts 160, and costs a few hundred $ less....