Help me decide on a welder

[MatHaas]

Another decent miller post related to farm/ranch: Welding on the Farm: Selecting a Welding Unit for the Farm or Ranch - MillerWelds

 

[J.Wal]

MatHass, great articles. I am really liking the versatility and growth potential of the Miller Multimatic 215! The ability to mig/ tig/ and stick, using 110 or 220 when needed.... seems like a no brainer.

I want to be able to do most anything I want from now till the machine dies from lots of use years and years from now. Buy one and done is the plan.

 

[dragoneggs]

MatHass, great articles. I am really liking the versatility and growth potential of the Miller Multimatic 215! The ability to mig/ tig/ and stick, using 110 or 220 when needed.... seems like a no brainer.

I want to be able to do most anything I want from now till the machine dies from lots of use years and years from now. Buy one and done is the plan.

You might want to settle on a MIG and then add to the arsenal as needed. The all in one machine intrigued me going in but I am glad I didn't settle on it. It allowed me to focus on a good machine/technique without distraction. Now I want a TIG unit I think, for the delicate stuff. but I am in no hurry. A 230v capable MIG will do a heck of lot more than you think you bargained for...

 

[MatHaas]

MatHass, great articles. I am really liking the versatility and growth potential of the Miller Multimatic 215! The ability to mig/ tig/ and stick, using 110 or 220 when needed.... seems like a no brainer.

I want to be able to do most anything I want from now till the machine dies from lots of use years and years from now. Buy one and done is the plan.

The issue with the multimatic 215 is that it's a DC current only machine. Defeating the purpose of having a TIG for aluminum.

I personally would recommend what Dragon said, buy a 211 MIG and run it for a few years. You'll be able to weld most of the stuff you come across. Once you get consistent with that and find yourself wanting to take on other jobs like thin aluminum, etc. then save up and buy a good TIG. And in my opinion, quality matters when it comes to a TIG machine; that's what makes it versatile and EXTREMELY useful. So expect to drop a few K if you really want to utilize the full capabilities of TIG.

TIG is very time consuming and it does take skill. I use it when I weld aluminum, want a fusion only weld, need a low profile bead, have an odd space limitation, want a very pretty weld, or i'm working somewhere i cant have spatter and the sparks from MIG.

Not sure how much time you have to spend learning TIG, but a few good pointers on the MIG and you'll be doing well.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[mercdv]

To summarize what some of us are getting at....doesn't matter what you start with as long as it is a QUALITY machine with a good duty cycle because you will most likely end up with more than one welder. I would avoid buying any machine that is dc only for TIG. That really limits you if you want to seriously take up TIG welding. If you are comfortable with MIG and want to start with MIG, then get a good MIG welder. The only multi-process machines you should ever consider are ones that offer an ac/dc TIG option...IMHO. I'll be straight with you....you can ask 50 welders what type of machine they would buy and you would probably get 35 different answers. Some of it comes down to personal preference on processes, brands, and what types of welding they do on a regular basis. There is a lot of good advice in this thread but you need to tailor that advice to your needs.

 

[J.Wal]

I like the idea of one and done.... but it sounds that they don’t make one that will do tig correctly in a one and done package.

I will mostly be doing mig. I know how and it’s fairly easy. I want to be able to do 110 and 220 just for more flexibility of locations and metal sizes coverage. I will continue my search and I am thankful for the answers from everyone! I am a newby so any info is good info!

 

[MatHaas]

I like the idea of one and done.... but it sounds that they don’t make one that will do tig correctly in a one and done package.

I will mostly be doing mig. I know how and it’s fairly easy. I want to be able to do 110 and 220 just for more flexibility of locations and metal sizes coverage. I will continue my search and I am thankful for the answers from everyone! I am a newby so any info is good info!

:drink: the more info and research, the better. good luck sir and happy welding. :fiery:

 

[Evan03]

Ive done alot of research on the blue 215 and esab 215.

I feel the yellow machine brings more to the table per dollar spent.

 

[dragoneggs]

Ive done alot of research on the blue 215 and esab 215.

I feel the yellow machine brings more to the table per dollar spent.

Not trying to start an argument, but would you please provide a few bullet points on why you profess yellow is the ticket?

 

[Evan03]

Same price as blue 215, comes with tig accesories, arc characteristics are tuneable.
I really like blue machines but i feel the 215 rebel brings more to the table for dollar spent.
I have not run either machines. Doubt ones really better than the other theyre jut wrapped different with a few different bells and whistles.
I may make it anothere year without upgraded my wire feed in garage i mainly run stick off the truck lately.