I'm a novice hobby welder and I have some larger projects coming up (wood splitter and brush rake for my dozer, to name two) and I'm thinking about a Millermatic 251. Spending $1800 or so on a machine that only gets turned on a few days of the year seems a little extravagant.
If Lincoln and Miller are Fords and Chevys (see other thread!), is a Century a Hundai or a Yugo? Are there other alternatives if I'm not doinghigh volume work (with corresponding high volume reliability)?
i typically recommend the mm210 as a great compromise in cost and capability. if you will literally only use the machine a few days a year though it wouldnt be my recommendation for you unless youre dealing with really thick base metal (and if thats the case id probably recommend a SMAW box anyway). what is the thickest steel youll be welding?
if it only gets turned on twice a year i would think the keyword would be: RENT
251. SpendingCentury a Hundai or a
why MIG ?? a ac/dc stick welder should suffice, and not burn a hole in your pocket...
251. SpendingCentury a Hundai or a
True, quite true. Plain old (and I'm talking used, if you're talking budget) Lincoln tombstone, or Miller equivalent (I assume there must be one, but I didn't meet it in school, and when shopping I needed an engine-driven set, as there's no power near the backhoe). Durable, reliable, common, cheap, gets the job done, and the volume of the job does not sound like it requires a wirefeed, nor justifies the added cost. Also, if you're outside, stick (or fluxcore wire) beats MIG if there's any breeze. Sure, the wirefeed will lay down metal faster, but that's an issue for production welding, not maintenance and occasional fabrication welding on a small scale, which appears to be what you describe.
From all I read, and examining the battery charger I own with their name on it, Century is rather like a Yogo, yes. Given that used transformer stick welders from the big names are quite common and cheap, I would not waste money on a Century.
Jim,
I have a near mint condition MM251 for sale with a Bernard heavy duty gun, teflon and steel liners, V and U driver rolls, teflon and steel guides and everything needed so it can run 4" spools. It also features a heavy duty flowmeter/regulator. I have some pics of it is you are interested, and I am asking $1200 with a Speedglas auto dark helmet. If you pick it up or I meet you I will also throw in an almost full 20cf Ar tank. I am located in Northern VT.
- Mike
snipped-for-privacy@cavenet.com wrote:
251. SpendingHundai or a
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