Motorboatin
Gold Member
These have been around forever. They are cheap, easy to use and they work
Welder Question
- Thread starter dieselscout80
- Start date
- Views: 5680
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
i has one of these, till she gave up the ghost after 25 years of use. Replaced with a Miller Thunderbolt XL225. I absolutely love this machine. Does beautiful welds. If i was into it i can also do tig with it with some lead changes, etc (been reading up on how to do it). But i dont tig weld much. I have a friend thst has a fantastic tig machine if i need that kind of work.
Bearsixty7
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2015
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- St. Paul TX
- Tractor
- LS MT240HE (6/2020). JD LA145. TYM T754C (6/10/25)
Yes Sir! I have one of those I think I paid about $180 for a couple decades ago. I believe they go for ~$400 now. The predecessor (made back in 60's or 70's) was more rounded, is what I learned to weld on back in my youth on our farm. Dad was a pipe fitter/welder/Jack of many trades and taught me. I think those will be around a long time due to their affordability and capability.
My other welder is a Lincoln Pro Mig 140 that I use more these days unless I weld the heavier/thicker stuff.
stevewarner1957
Gold Member
I am sticking to my story. Look for one of these if you want a forever stick welder. Continuous adjustment of amps, at 125 amps it’s about 100% duty cycle. Full use of all rods being AC/DC. 350lbs is awesome.
dragoneggs
Super Star Member
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- Jun 9, 2013
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- Seabeck, Washington
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- Kubota BX-25D, Kubota Z122RKW-42
I thought I noticed this as well when I got my Miller 211 Transformer. Why is this so?
user.69169
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2009
- Messages
- 1,306
Idealarc is a sliding core transformer and dat whups a tapped transformer every time its tried.
workinonit
Elite Member
I see you are in SC. Not sure where but if you are interested I have a Miller Dialarc 250 that I replaced with a Syncrowave 200 a few years ago. If you are interested I would like to get it out of my shop.
Bullwinkle123
Platinum Member
When I was considering a welder, the reviews I read were pretty much in agreement that the inverters models were
(a) overpriced
(b) underpowered
Which isn't to say an inverter model won't do it for you assuming you don't have issues with the duty cycle. For me with my lack of welding skills, I like having the necessary current to know that I'm getting good weld penetration. (Plus I secretly delight at the sheer power of electricity to liquefy metal instantly
) Multiple passes and other things for me is just another way for me to screw up.
I have a Hobart Stickmate LX235 which runs both AC and DC (the AC is nice for tight corners with blowback problems and when I need just a bit more current, mostly I use DC). I haven't had any issues welding anything I wanted to weld, though my welding skills are pathetic.
I think the welder was ~$550 when I bought it and I notice Hobart doesn't even list this model any more, or indeed any stick welder more powerful than the 160i. So clearly my buying research is dated.
The significant hidden cost was the electrician to install the 240v wiring/jack, which cost me like $750, but that's partly because I hired a bad electrician, live and learn.
Anyway, good luck. If you go with the 240v installation it opens up a lot of options for you, but that one-time cost for wiring is a pain, and of course you lose the sheer portability of an inverter welder, as it forces you to bring the work to the welder instead of the welder to the work. But are you really going to haul around the welder and all the assorted paraphernalia? There's also potential safety issues. For example, I wouldn't want to be using AC in damp ground, I like having a dry safe floor under my feet when welding.
If I had to do the electrical work again, I might consider a second circuit and appropriate wiring for a high amperage space heater, since I don't like to weld in my freezing garage in winter.
(a) overpriced
(b) underpowered
Which isn't to say an inverter model won't do it for you assuming you don't have issues with the duty cycle. For me with my lack of welding skills, I like having the necessary current to know that I'm getting good weld penetration. (Plus I secretly delight at the sheer power of electricity to liquefy metal instantly
) Multiple passes and other things for me is just another way for me to screw up.I have a Hobart Stickmate LX235 which runs both AC and DC (the AC is nice for tight corners with blowback problems and when I need just a bit more current, mostly I use DC). I haven't had any issues welding anything I wanted to weld, though my welding skills are pathetic.
I think the welder was ~$550 when I bought it and I notice Hobart doesn't even list this model any more, or indeed any stick welder more powerful than the 160i. So clearly my buying research is dated.
The significant hidden cost was the electrician to install the 240v wiring/jack, which cost me like $750, but that's partly because I hired a bad electrician, live and learn.
Anyway, good luck. If you go with the 240v installation it opens up a lot of options for you, but that one-time cost for wiring is a pain, and of course you lose the sheer portability of an inverter welder, as it forces you to bring the work to the welder instead of the welder to the work. But are you really going to haul around the welder and all the assorted paraphernalia? There's also potential safety issues. For example, I wouldn't want to be using AC in damp ground, I like having a dry safe floor under my feet when welding.
If I had to do the electrical work again, I might consider a second circuit and appropriate wiring for a high amperage space heater, since I don't like to weld in my freezing garage in winter.
OP
dieselscout80
Veteran Member
Thanks, that would be a nice welder, but I am limited to a 50 amp circuit and Miller says it needs 80 amps.
https://www.millerwelds.com/files/owners-manuals/O321P_MIL.pdf
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