Multiprocess or just get a better mig machine

[vsteel]

I did some searching but didn't quite find my answer. I am looking at getting a welder. I grew up on a ranch and I did a ton of welding on an old Lincoln AC only tombstone so I have plenty of stick practice (learned a lot keeping an Owatana 80 swather going, I think by the time we retired it I had more welding rod in it than original metal). I did take a couple of classes where I was welding with MIG and thought that was pretty awesome because of how great you could make welds look, I was only using 6011 stick before that.

I know stick can take dirty metal better and wind while MIG can do sheet metal better.

Here is my question. I plan on doing some light farm repairs, I only have a 23 hp tractor so not any huge pieces of equipment. I work on cars and will be doing some sheet metal. I was looking at the Lincoln 210 MP machine because I liked how it could do stick and MIG (I don't care about TIG), but that got me to thinking if I got a better MIG something like a Miller 212 or the Lincoln equivalent, could it replace my stick needs? I doubt I would ever weld aluminum either.

I will never be a professional, I have 240V 50A in my shop, and I don't care about portability, I don't plan to ever take it out of my shop. I just don't know how much modern MIG (gas and flux core) has taken over for stick. I know just enough to be dangerous.

Any help or information would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Shield Arc]

I just don't know how much modern MIG (gas and flux core) has taken over for stick.

In heavy civil, and marine construction, wire feed as all but taken over the welding. I could go for years and not see a rod on the job, only wire.
I'm not up on the smaller multiprocess welders. These inverters are really something. I'm always amazed at the control they have over the puddle.

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

In my opinion, a 200 amp class mig like you are looking at will replace your need for stick.

It has it's place, but if you don't want to stick weld, you really don't have to.

Flux core, self shielded wire will weld easily outside for you.
Anything indoors, that can be cleaned prior, can be mig welded.

I have the millermatic 210, which is replaced by the millermatic 212 you mentioned.
That size machine will weld for very long periods and not over temp for the type of welding you describe.

I think you would be happy with either machine you listed - also check the tweco 211i.
Tweco Fabricator 211i MIG, TIG & Stick Welder Pkg. for sale (W1004201) - Buy at WeldingSuppliesfromIOC.com, based in Indianapolis, IN

Keeping an old stick welder in the corner never hurts - running out of wire or shielding gas happens

 

[Mysfyt]

I've only stick welded once in the last 20 years, and that was because it was the only way to weld a recessed block. Otherwise, it's either mig or tig.

 

[flusher]

There are several stick and wire feed welders on the market in the $500 range.

My stick welder: Hobart Stickmate LX AC/DC 220 VAC
My wire feed: Hobart 140 220 VAC

Bought both welders on sale at Tractor Supply.

Add a $50 cart for each from Harbor Freight and you're at $1100 or so.

I've never owned a combo welder but the ESAB Rebel (stick, MIG, TIG) at $1500 looks nice.


Good luck

 

[arkydog]

i did body work since 1976 and started gas welding and brazing. first wire welder used were miller 250 and 210 machines. welded pretty good machine for thin and thick metal. i had to take a mig welding certification class at Rankin Tech School in st. louis and they had ALL lincoln sp125 machines for up to 3/16" plate. this machine was the only machine they used for mig classes for their everyday students. i eventually bought the lincoln sp125 for myself. it was a dedicated mig machine (bought around 1991) and still works great today. when i built my little backhoe i bought a used lincoln ac/dc 250 stick welder. ran many boxes of 1/8" and 5/16" rod on it and use mig welder to do my bodywork at home. probably ran close to 100lbs of wire thru that little 110 mig and never missed a beat. ac/dc never missed a beat. buy a known brand welder. would you buy a Yugo, when new they drove also!

 

[Ed of all trades]

I would not buy a multiprocess welder. A leatherman is nice but if you are doing much I would bet you would rather have all of those tools separately. When you group tools together into one tool you have to compromise to make them work together. I have a very small shop and have a 160A mig welder and am looking at a 200A stick\ lift arc tig inverter. They will bath set on the same homemade cart that will hold both bottles and take up very little more room than just ether one. Ed

 

[sixdogs]

It used to be I would never buy a multi process machine but the MP210 Lincoln changed all that.

I'm an advanced beginner or beginning intermediate farm welder and bought a Lincoln 210MP. It is beyond my expectations. What I wanted to do was weld nice clean metal at times, sheet metal at times and rusty farm junk at other times. Occasionally hard face with stick. It does it all in spades.

The arc is stable and smooth and the machine has controls that are truly idiot proof but not condescending. For sheet metal, it will time the arc for short bursts so no burn through. For rusty metal I use flux core wire, and while I could do that with any machine, the MP210 has plenty of power. I have some hard face rods I have not used yet since I just discovered I can buy 10 lb rolls of hardfacing wire and that may be the way I go. My welds look far better than I am.

In short, the MP210 is perfect for the farmer and serious guy blend that many of us are that may do 20 ga one day and 1/4" the next. Good luck trying to find one. OH, don't rule out TIG---you will one day want to do it.

 

[C4Ranch]

Ditto on the Lincoln 210. Sometimes stick is better suited than MIG... Getting in real tight places like welding a nut on a broken bolt, rusty metal, etc. plus you're proficient with stick. Yes I love MIG but each has its place. Get a lot for your money with the 210 imo. Mine ran 1,065, no tax delivered.

 

[vsteel]

Thank you so much, you guys are giving me great feedback. Sounds like it is going to be more of a personal preference on if I want to continue with both or if I want to just use MIG. Other than special cases it looks like stick can be replaced with MIG. I really don't want two machines and I am OK with cleaning up welds so I don't have to cut through the rust. I really like the Lincoln 210 but I am not sure if the inverter is going to have the life span of a transformer machine. I will be honest and I do worry that in 15 years from now I might be dead in the water with parts if it dies where the simpler transformer machines seems like there are less things to go wrong, though maybe that only counts with the old buzz boxes where there are no moving parts.