zman007007
Platinum Member
thanks for all the info guys. I will let the op get back to his original question now. good nite all. zman :thumbsup:
what type of 110V welder to get ac/dc/mig/tig
- Thread starter merrickvilleguy
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i just recently bought a miller 211, which is a small package welder that is capable of a maximum of 210 amps when used with 240v current. the nice thing about this welder is that it comes with a combination plug for 120. and 240v. when you put the 120v plug on, it becomes a 140a welder.
the downfall for some with this machine is that it suffers from a weaker duty cycle than it's larger siblings - 120v/90a/20%duty, 240v/150a/30%duty. for me, it's not a big deal. i spend as much time preparing and fitting up parts as i do welding them, so the duty cycle is really never an issue - for the last 15+ years i've had an old century 120v wire feed welder that i use maxed out on the 90a range, and i know the duty cycle on that can't be more than 20%, and it's always been fine.
that welder was $940, so it's at the top end of your range, but i think it's a great welder for a home shop. small package/footprint, portable, multiple voltage capable, powerful. it also is made to connect to a spoolgun for aluminum welding. right now there is a promo on where if you buy the welder and spring for the $200 spoolgun, miller will send you a $100 rebate, so the spoolgun ends up being a net addition of $100. as i said, the only real drawback of this compared to the larger $1500-$1600 welders is the duty cycle.
OP
merrickvilleguy
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I went out and bough a hobart stickmate lx ... 235A 20% to 100A 100% ac/dc ... got it all wired up yesterday so tomorrow is time to go and fix my coulters
Kubota 2350
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If I had to go with a 115 volt welder, I'd get a mig.
_RaT_
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I would think the 211 would work great. Duty cycle may be an issue for some but most of us, 20%-30% will be sufficient.
Chilly807
Elite Member
I'm the same train of thought. My Miller has a 30% duty cycle, which I've never exceeded.
Sean
Sean
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Anyone have any experience with one of these Snap-On welders?
I inherited one from a friend that recently passed on ...have not had a chance to use it yet...it came with a large bottle; argon/co2 mix...
FM140A, Welder, MIG, 140 amp
How does Snap-on justify such a high dollar cost for this?
is the TIG kit really worth $612.00 ?...
I inherited one from a friend that recently passed on ...have not had a chance to use it yet...it came with a large bottle; argon/co2 mix...
FM140A, Welder, MIG, 140 amp
How does Snap-on justify such a high dollar cost for this?
is the TIG kit really worth $612.00 ?...
_RaT_
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I know that all the manufacturers that have multi-process welders charge a considerable amount for them. This one apparently has 100% duty at 140A. Don't let the small size of welders fool you, if anything, they tend to cost more when they use electronic power supplies. To answer your question, I don't have any familiarity with this Snap-On, it looks nice though. It does seem like a considerable amount for the specs I scanned.
a friend borrowed a similar (mac) 240v mig from a relative to do some work on a vehicle project. i looked at it and it was like greek to me. the wire speed dial was on the handle and the heat setting was via touchpad + and - buttons. problem was that there was no display to tell you where you were for the heat range. i guess once you learn to use it you probably have a feel for what it does. it seemed like a similar unit - it had stitch and spot function buttons, but i didn't have any interest in messing with them. i'm sure those are common functions on machines designed for bodywork, but the machine didn't seem to be designed for my general layman's use.
as far as cost justification, there usually seems to be some bargaining room in big ticket tool-truck items. i honestly don't know the thought process behind it, except maybe that they can justify some of the higher prices by the way they allow people to buy on credit, though now i think it is all just credit card instead of pay at the truck? if so, that would seem to defeat some of the perks. maybe there's some other redeeming reasons, i dunno?
Chilly807
Elite Member
I see three elements that will drive the price sky-high:
1: Country of origin : USA
2: 100% duty cycle.
3: Snap-On
It's meant to be a commercial body-shop unit, ergo the high duty cycle.
Congrats on getting one, sorry about the circumstances.
Sean
