Which Welder?

[ericm979]

Everlast PowerMTS 211Si is their least expensive mig/stick/tig welder. It has HF start and foot pedal for Tig.

There's some reviews on youtube including an hour review of it, the Lincoln, and Miller and Harbor Freight models.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Eric is right. The 211Si is the competitor with the Lincoln 200MP, but exceeds it in nearly every category, including important ones such as duty cycle, drive feeder, true TIG design, with HF start, with gas connection out the front with automatic solenoid for gas flow control. Stick connections are out the front too and are heavy duty. In fact, Everlast, to date is the only MTS type unit with included Wire carrier and drive that features HF start on TIG. The Lincoln has had issues with the drive feeder for some reason. The Everlast one is stable and proven. And it features more advanced DC TIG functions. It also includes foot pedal with out the front (and not through the door connection as in the 200MP) connection. The Lincoln offers a separate package at a much higher price. The Everlast includes them.

If you are looking to beat that the Power MTS 211Si, PowerMTS 221STi, adds AC TIG function to the mix along with AC control functions and wave form control. But amp output is equal to the 211Si. This gives you a complete welding system and the ability to weld with any metal that is considered weldable with TIG, Stick, or MIG. The first in the industry. It has been out since June 2017.

 

[Hiptfarms]

If you haven't purchased yet and have any interest, the Miller 211 is on sale at cyberweld for 999. I think that includes a rebate. Not totally sure but it may be worth a check. I wound up buying a miller 215 multimatic recently and do love the portability factor and the dual option of power sources.

Good luck with your purchase.

 

[MoArk Willy]

Do you have a budget?
Or better yet how much are you willing to spend?
You can spend $300 to $3000 if you want.
But until you set a limit or at least parameters you won't really get any advice to fit your circumstance.

 

[dragoneggs]

Do you have a budget?
Or better yet how much are you willing to spend?
You can spend $300 to $3000 if you want.
But until you set a limit or at least parameters you won't really get any advice to fit your circumstance.

I think the OP laid out his situation and questions pretty well. Personally I don't set a limit on price when looking for a tool. I first look at 'wants'. Then price/quality come into play depending on true needs.

 

[MoArk Willy]

I am of the opinion that a flux only wire feed for $1500 is an outrageous sum of money.
That amount seems unrealistic. A $1500 welder does not perform 5 times better than a $300 welder.
For $1500 one could easily purchase an Arc, a good quality Mig and a plasma cutter that would be adequate for just about everything.
Again, just my opinion.
A Smart Car will take you to the liquor store just as well as a Rolls Royce.

 

[CADplans]

I'd be ok with 100% duty meaning you can weld all day at 117F, but i'd sure don't like being in that kind of heat while welding. My duty cycle is much shorter.

Yeah, My duty cycle is 10-20% @ even 70 degrees.

My duty cycle fully doubled when I got the new auto darkening helmet,,,

My old Hobart was 18 years old, and stopped auto darkening,,
actually, it would not darken at all,,,

The new one is amazing,, much more sensitive than the Hobart, even when the Hobart was new,,

So, be careful of duty cycle if you use the newfangled auto darkening helmet,,, :thumbsup:

 

[dragoneggs]

I am of the opinion that a flux only wire feed for $1500 is an outrageous sum of money.
That amount seems unrealistic. A $1500 welder does not perform 5 times better than a $300 welder.
For $1500 one could easily purchase an Arc, a good quality Mig and a plasma cutter that would be adequate for just about everything.
Again, just my opinion.
A Smart Car will take you to the liquor store just as well as a Rolls Royce.

No argument here... especially if you are an occasional welder. Personally, I would rather drive to the liquor store in a BMW vs. a Smart Car... but I like the journey as much as the destination.

 

[searcyfarms]

ok so moark willy so in your opinion what would you get with your $1500 arc/mig/plasma ?

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

We have no arc mig plasma.

 

[searcyfarms]

I wasn't aware of one mark I was trying to get moark willy to answer since he seems to have a great idea on what would work best for 1500 so I was curious

 

[MoArk Willy]

ok so moark willy so in your opinion what would you get with your $1500 arc/mig/plasma ?

I gave it some thought. Keep in mind that I am an occasional welder...maybe hobby.
The Hobart 190 Mig would be my first piece.
Then the Everlast Powerarc 200 or 210.
And nothing fancy for the plasma cutter. Just the Amico 50
Those would bring me in the $1400 to $1600 range.
I have a small Amico stick welder now and I can't complain about it whatsoever.
I've used the Miller 212 at my last place of employment. Fine welder....overpriced in my opinion. You still play for the name in many situations.....I believe that is one of them.
We never used a stick welder in the shop but had a huge Miller generator / welder on a welding cart with a set of tanks for those jobs too big to drag to the shop.

 

[otlski]

Lincoln has a +$400 rebate on the 210 MP bringing its price down to $1000. I bought one and it arrived today :cool2: Hopefully this weekend I will give it a go. Thanks again for all the advice you all gave me on this thread.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

I gave it some thought. Keep in mind that I am an occasional welder...maybe hobby.
The Hobart 190 Mig would be my first piece.
Then the Everlast Powerarc 200 or 210.
And nothing fancy for the plasma cutter. Just the Amico 50
Those would bring me in the $1400 to $1600 range.
I have a small Amico stick welder now and I can't complain about it whatsoever.
I've used the Miller 212 at my last place of employment. Fine welder....overpriced in my opinion. You still play for the name in many situations.....I believe that is one of them.
We never used a stick welder in the shop but had a huge Miller generator / welder on a welding cart with a set of tanks for those jobs too big to drag to the shop.

The Amico products I hear a lot of complaints from customers. They are fine until they aren't. Those cheap plasma are usually MOSFET with a 1 year warranty. Nothing special. Though a good value, the Hobart 190 is fairly low in performance and duty cycle. The Power i-MIG 200 or 200E offer better performance features, duty cycle and warranty.

 

[searcyfarms]

well congrats - im VERY curious on how that works especially on stick mode - I only own a 225 Lincoln and it sings with 7014 but not so much with 6011/6013 and I cant keep a 7018 AC even lit - the flux core mig is ok but I wasn't impressed, tried a 140 handler - my neighbor has a linde fanless mig and it seems to work nice - quietest thing ive ever heard run - I am mostly a necessity welder, broke something and need it fixed right away - I have a torch for cutting but my two bottles were last filled in 2005 so don't use it a lot obviously = curious to see how your new one runs, I would like to try dc arc sometime - I don't think me and mr mig would get along unless we were totally welding only in my barn due to the elements.

 

[MoArk Willy]

The Amico products I hear a lot of complaints from customers. They are fine until they aren't..

You know that nothing you say about a competitor can be taken seriously....right?
Kind of a cheap shot.

 

[yomax4]

Most TBN users on here are somewhat unaware of the inner workings or various components that make up the welding and cutting equipment of today. That's why they ask for opinion. I don't see a lot of cheap shots in these discussions although there is plenty of room to do so. There is a lot of Junk out there ( in my opinion ) That's where warranty and research comes into play. Use Google, Ask questions on TBN but warranty should be a factor in the decision. If you buy a new piece of welding equipment with a one year warranty would common sense tell you that it's just as robust as a machine with a 5 yr warranty? Tried and true products have decent warranties while Used or disposable products do not. I'd rather buy a higher end unit used that a low cost low quality unit new.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

You know that nothing you say about a competitor can be taken seriously....right?
Kind of a cheap shot.

So, the Hobart isn't a good value? I said that. I have a lot of customers that come to us after their AMICO products break. That's all. I actually just went to look them up. They only have a 1 year warranty. 90 days if you really use them in a commercial application..and that definition is up to them. I try to take helping customers seriously. What does it benefit if I give out bad advice just to make a sale? I've been here on this forum a long time now and if I gave out bad advice, just to make a sale, I wouldn't be around very long. I've not just pushed our product and have survived other sponsorship of this forum. I've actually tried to have good input outside of our machine sales. Not everyone agrees with me. I can live with that. But what I say isn't just chaff in the wind.

 

[MoArk Willy]

I'm not about to argue with you. I think your product is a good product and someday I may own one.
I'm just saying that Ford dealer will criticize a Chevrolet and vice versa. That's expected.
I just didn't expect to hear it in a forum which is not welder specific, from a representative of a specific company.
Certainly you can offer and explain the features and benefits of your product without cutting down others...hearsay or not.

 

[otlski]

well congrats - im VERY curious on how that works especially on stick mode - I only own a 225 Lincoln and it sings with 7014 but not so much with 6011/6013 and I cant keep a 7018 AC even lit - the flux core mig is ok but I wasn't impressed, tried a 140 handler - my neighbor has a linde fanless mig and it seems to work nice - quietest thing ive ever heard run - I am mostly a necessity welder, broke something and need it fixed right away - I have a torch for cutting but my two bottles were last filled in 2005 so don't use it a lot obviously = curious to see how your new one runs, I would like to try dc arc sometime - I don't think me and mr mig would get along unless we were totally welding only in my barn due to the elements.

I am absolutely terrible at stick; definitely would be a bad judge for how it performs. I first tried stick welding when I was 13 years old and that day I thought "so this is why they call it stick", the rod was stuck down every time. I'm not much better these days. I will give it a try though.