Another "Help me buy my next welder" thread

[Clay45]

I believe I'd treat myself to a brand new Ironman 230.

 

[STx]

I live in a county that 95% of the residents work for the government. So they need their sleep. They wouldn't know a hard days work if it ran over them.:laughing:

Are you in Wa state? I sold some hog traps to a game ranch in Ok in July. For a variety of reasons, I drove them up instead of shipping them (it was a pretty big order) and the guy that bought them was actually the new owner of the ranch and from Wa state. He told me he and his wife had always wanted to run something like that but that Wa was so left leaning that they'd never have been able to do it there so now they're in Ok. I noticed that his quads all had Wa state off-road license plates on them (something else that isn't required in Tx or Ok) and he'd just gotten some brand new suppressed rifles that he said he also couldn't have in Wa.

It's beautiful country but, like I said, I don't know how you guys put up with the gov't over reach (at least I think it is).

We do still have a neighborhood house in Houston with an HOA. I don't really like those either, they serve some purpose to keep the place from looking trashy but, they also do stupid stuff like send me nasty letters for putting a window unit A/C in my garage, in the backyard, where it can only be seen if someone is looking where they shouldn't be. I never did pull it out and they did stop sending letters.

 

[Shield Arc]

Yes, about 15-minutes north west of Tacoma. This county has three Navy shipyards. Majority of the residents work in these yards. I have done several construction projects in these yards. Funny, on a nice sun shinny day. People everywhere. Cold rainy day, you can't find a soul!

 

[FTG-05]

I believe I'd treat myself to a brand new Ironman 230.

Thank you; I thought I was back in SA's crazy lady thread.

Ironman 250: Only 25 more amps than my current Sp-175 Plus (Hobart's .pdf says 200 amps, Amazon says 250?); +$1530 from Amazon, way over budget.

I don't want to spend that much money for only 10-30% increase in amperage or welding capability. I'm looking for at least 50% or more. I'm not interested in replicating 80% of the -175's power.

Anyone familiar with this Lincoln "AC/DC 300/300 stick welder: as seen here: g Welder No pics unfortunately.

Thanks,

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

I am a little slow on the uptake this week. But if you were considering one of our units, the Power i MIG 210 not only more than fits your budget, with the TBN discount, but it is 210 amps @ 50% duty Cycle. It also has full size roll capability, and DC stick weld function which is easily good with up to 1/8" welding rods and many 5/32." This is real power increase in comparison when duty cycle is figured in over the 175.

 

[BHD]

I have farmed over 35 years.

If your really a farmer,
I would consider an engine drive, welder, (most newer ones can be used as a generator as well), it has been so nice to be free from the power out let, and if there is a break down in the field or need to weld on fence or grain bin, my only negative is that I did not buy an engine drive 30+ years ago,

I bought a Lincoln 250 amp this last spring after my old Ranger 9 died, (bought the Ranger used about 4 years earlier) all ready put more hours on the new welder than the old one in the time I owned it.

I know a new engine drive is more money than you stated, but I really do not think you would regret it,

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the shop I have an old Century 295 amp welder with a DC converter,
about 160 amps DC,

and it has never let me down on the thickness of steel I have need to weld on the farm here, mulpital pass welding,

 

[yomax4]

No one makes a Welder in the USA any longer. Welders are all Chinese cousins. May as well buy the Everlast and get Mark for Service and the 5 yr warranty. No, Miller is Not USA made any longer and neither is Lincoln. ESAB hasn't made Anything since the Mig Master 250 and I mean Anything ( except wire ) !/3 of their wire in imported now too. May want to steer clear of HF and the battery charger and Air compressor company welders but other than that, Not that much junk out there these days.

 

[sd455dan]

Thank you; I thought I was back in SA's crazy lady thread.

Ironman 250: Only 25 more amps than my current Sp-175 Plus (Hobart's .pdf says 200 amps, Amazon says 250?); +$1530 from Amazon, way over budget.

I don't want to spend that much money for only 10-30% increase in amperage or welding capability. I'm looking for at least 50% or more. I'm not interested in replicating 80% of the -175's power.

Anyone familiar with this Lincoln "AC/DC 300/300 stick welder: as seen here: g Welder No pics unfortunately.

Thanks,

Well that certainly sounds Like a Lincoln IdealArc Tig 300 300 like the one I have and posted a link to (Lincoln Arc Welder TIG 3 3 w Foot Pedal Working | eBay ) Although it sold already

If it is the tig 300 300 It will stick weld up to about 375 amps AC or DC +- or ( 300 amps @ 60 % duty cycle) also can Tig weld most metals and also Aluminum ( has Hi- frequency that is adjustable and also delay control for shield gas and a solenoid for a water cooled torch

If it is a Tig 300 300 i would definitely demo it first and make sure to test the hi frequency for aluminum tig , That high voltage/ frequency generator is probably the most common part to have problems.
Even with out it- still a very powerful stick welder with infinite adjustability. I guess Lincoln did build some of the 300 300s without high frequency- but all were single phase machines. The code stamped on the front panel will tell what options were installed at the factory.

Certainly looks like a good price if a good working unit. here is a pic of my 1961 model It gives a good size comparison to a small inverter style machine and to a torch set up to. They are Solidly built but do take up some space.


I guess they have enough power for gouging if desired to,
from your first post it sounds like you have the amps to run it, If the space is available, hard to imagine a more capable welder for the money :2cents:

 

[FTG-05]

I am a little slow on the uptake this week. But if you were considering one of our units, the Power i MIG 210 not only more than fits your budget, with the TBN discount, but it is 210 amps @ 50% duty Cycle. It also has full size roll capability, and DC stick weld function which is easily good with up to 1/8" welding rods and many 5/32." This is real power increase in comparison when duty cycle is figured in over the 175.

Thanks for posting, I'm glad you showed up.

Never l really looked at the Everlast Migs for this search, what do they say about assumptions? I "assumed" a realistically bigger mig would be too expensive. I'll have to think about this one. Thanks.


ETA for dumb question: Is the -210 infinitely adjustable for welding amps and wire speed? thx

 

[FTG-05]

I have farmed over 35 years.

If your really a farmer,
I would consider an engine drive, welder, (most newer ones can be used as a generator as well), it has been so nice to be free from the power out let, and if there is a break down in the field or need to weld on fence or grain bin, my only negative is that I did not buy an engine drive 30+ years ago,

I bought a Lincoln 250 amp this last spring after my old Ranger 9 died, (bought the Ranger used about 4 years earlier) all ready put more hours on the new welder than the old one in the time I owned it.

I know a new engine drive is more money than you stated, but I really do not think you would regret it,

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the shop I have an old Century 295 amp welder with a DC converter,
about 160 amps DC,

and it has never let me down on the thickness of steel I have need to weld on the farm here, mulpital pass welding,

Fair point. I've had the ability to remote-weld since about 1999 or so when I bought my 5500 watt generator and ensured it was matched up to the SP (according to the Lincoln Tech it was). I've used that ability exactly once at a friends house that needed some welding done even though he had a welder himself - but didn't have it wired in yet.

It's not an engine welder since it's two distinct parts, so it's a kluge, but it works.