What Welder? ESAB MM 253 or Lincoln PM 215

[drm]

No. The ESAB has continuous control of wire feed rate and amperage.

The duty cycle versus amperage in the specifications only show what the duty cycle is at three different amperage outputs - they do not represent "taps" that translate to a 12-step output.

The ESAB Migmaster 253 that I tried had a 12 step tapped voltage control. This is also what they show on their web site. I wonder if they changed that recently?

ESAB has a unique smoothing circuit. My ESAB equipment has much better arc control than a Miller, Lincoln, or Hobart (new) - and I've owned both Miller and Lincoln, and have used Hobart MIGS. The ESAB arcs are "fat" and "soft" with no drift. They give you tremendous penetration when setup correctly without having to be super careful of under cutting at the edge of the bead.

Much to my amazement I was making some good looking welds after just a few minutes of instruction; penetration was just OK though. Guess I needed more heat. I was surprised at the ease in which I was able to do this. The machine/arc felt real good although I am a first timer. I should have taken some pictures so I could drool over them till I get a machine.

The 253 will take wire from .023 through .045. With .045 wire and 250 Amps you should be able to weld 1/2-inch metal.

That is what I need. I can’t wait till April. Need the Dr.’s clearance and our tax refund and I’m picking up a welder. I am leaning more towards the ESAB mainly because I was able to try it out and it felt so good. Still have an e-mail into HTP. We’ll see how that goes.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[swines]

You're right, I was in the ESAB dealer yesterday and looked more carefully at the machine after reading your post. It has steps not a continuous dial. I didn't play with it last time I was in the dealer and assumed the dial just indicated points within the overall range.

The first Miller I owned had a stepped dial. My ESAB is continuous, but between the stepped dial on the Miller and the continuous dial on the ESAB, there's really not much more accomplished with the continuous dial. I used to use an old Linde 300 Amp MIG at a shop, and it only had 4 ranges - you could still get good welds with it despite the limited output settings.

One thing that's nice about the ESAB is if you contemplate using it for aluminum, the welder has a built-in spool gun plug / control.

 

[40Kchicks]

I don’t know anything about the ESAB 253 but I have been very impressed with my ESAB multimaster 260. Actually I was so impressed with it that I went out and bought an ESAB plasma cutter which has also served me very well.

Eric

 

[Berniep]

I can't say anything about their mig welders but I Just bought a HTP tig welder. This was a very large purchase for me and I agonized over it for quite a while. In the end I thought the features for the price beat out the rest. It turned out to be a very solid unit with a quality feel that you don't always get now days no matter how much you spend. If I didn't already have a mig I would not hesitate to buy one of theirs. If money were an issue and you wouldn't mind making multiple passes on the thicker stuff the Hobart Handler 187 is getting rave reviews in the welding forums.

 

[Lazy]

Hi
I have a migmaster 250 I purchased about 3 years ago from our local college for 350$. the chart on the door only list wire speed and voltage settings for thickness up to and including 1/4 " material. I think trying to weld anything thicker would be pushing the limits. If it was menat to be used for thicker material I would think they would have settings listed for the thicker material. So anything thicker than 1/4 " I use the old A/C buzz box and 6011 rods.

Charlie

 

[DieselPower]

Personaly I would go with the ESAB. Why, good quality reputation and they are made only a couple of miles from my house in Hanover, PA.

 

[drm]

Well, I bit the bullet today. I was out this mourning and decided to stop in Praxair since they carry Lincoln and ESAB to get an opinion on the merits of each. They could get could get the ESAB but…he did not sound too enthusiastic about the ESAB Migmaster 253. Noe the 250 on the other hand every one seems to like ALOT. The last place I stopped in and most of the opinions on this and some welding web sites were also wishy-washy about the 253. And the 250 is well out of my range. Well they had a Lincoln Power Mig 215 on the floor priced at $1365.00. I took some time looking at it since no one around here has had one. I was a lot more impressed with the drive mechanism than the ESAB 253, it is definitely stout. The Lincoln also has a 115 volt receptacle and storage area built in with a tray and compartments for tips, etc.

While I was looking and talking to the sales guy he dropped the price to $1275.00. This is significantly lower than the local welding shops that were all around $1525 and even the web sites are well over $1300.

Well, I bought it. Thanks to all for the recommendations and opinions. I will have to remember to document the projects I have lined up and post some pictures.

 

[ddonnell]

Can't go wrong with a Lincoln. How do you like it? I would think it will serve you well.

To repeat some advise a friend on this forum gave me when I was buying and new to welding: don't forget safety, i.e. combustable stuff like sawdust, oily rags, etc., in the area you are welding. The hood keeps you from seeing where all the sparks are flying, and just because they're not landing on you and burning holes in your clothes doesn't mean that they're not landing in the pile of debris that you forgot to sweep up 6 feet away waiting to go up like a roman candle!

Have fun!

 

[Zila Construction]

I have heard good things about HTP and about their Customer Service. What is your experience? Do they use tips, nozzles, etc. that are locally available or do you get them from HTP? How quick is their shipping on these kinds of items?

My main reason for looking and probably buying locally is support. The local welding shops really stress their support. One has offered to deliver the machine, set it up and show me how to run it. This is a Lincoln dealer but they all seem to be saleing their support as why to buy from them.

How thick of material have you welded/ can it do in GMAW mode?

You can have that with any gun you can think of .... so yuo can get consumables anywhere ....

the support is better than from my local blue guy - i have two of the 2400 - a few years back i had some broken switch, called hto they said:"do you have a voltmeter handy?" i took two phillips screws out, 5 minutes later i had everything checked 2 cables hooked up different for now, made it through the job that day, next day i had the new switch at the shop with ups ..... the blue guy says:" you have to leave this here, out tech is in tue and thu, he'll look after it, order a opart and if you are luck in a week from now you are making money again .....

 

[Zila Construction]

You're right, I was in the ESAB dealer yesterday and looked more carefully at the machine after reading your post. It has steps not a continuous dial. I didn't play with it last time I was in the dealer and assumed the dial just indicated points within the overall range.

The first Miller I owned had a stepped dial. My ESAB is continuous, but between the stepped dial on the Miller and the continuous dial on the ESAB, there's really not much more accomplished with the continuous dial. I used to use an old Linde 300 Amp MIG at a shop, and it only had 4 ranges - you could still get good welds with it despite the limited output settings.

One thing that's nice about the ESAB is if you contemplate using it for aluminum, the welder has a built-in spool gun plug / control.

The HTP 2400 is spool gun ready in a few minutes .... i have two of them and both have a hook up for a spool gun now, i am running 3035 spool guns (which HTP calls those RSG200) any way .... great for aluminum .... and THAT here is the only time where i reall need the 24 heat settings ..... as the aluminum get hotter (if you do not pre heat) you set it a click down every 5 or 10 inches of seam at the time to not burn through on thinner stuff ....

and regarding the 300 amps

If you run your 2400 on a 240 VOLT outlet there are some "adjustments you should make" .... both of my 2400 put out over 300 amps (running an ESAB 7100 ultra wire in 045 diameter, aprox 580 ipm 28.5-29volts aprox 300-320 amps .....) really for 100% duty cycle you have to stay at just slightly over 200amps ..... for example using a Lincoln 71M in 035 diameter .... you can run this machine at 190-220amps (depending on arc lenght) ALL DAY LONG ! i welded 1 inch thick plates for 7 hours straight (went through a complete spool #33 of Lincoln 71M) pretty much 100% duty cycle - absolutly no problems at all ....

if you email me i can send you the video, and i can also tell you how to "adjust your machine"

have fun