[Sberry]

Yes but the cheap didnt cost much in the first place. It would be different if they were near the same price. We bought stuff we thought would be one job tools and now some of it is headed to the 3rd decade of ruff service.

 

[clyde r]

If you're budget is $400 to $600 for a mig with some aluminum, I would recommend the Primeweld 180. $499 gets you 180 amp mig, and a spoolgun ready to roll in one box with regulator, and even a stinger for stick welding. I bought one just to fill in while my Lincoln is being repaired, and so far it has done well. It takes tweco gun parts, and 8" rolls , does fine on 16 ga to 1/4" steel. Aluminum it does OK from 1/8" to 3/16". 90 day money back return, and a 3 year warranty, they pick up the shipping in the US. Some one who speaks english well always seems to pickup the phone when I've called. It looks just like the Eastwood 180 , and the Lotos. Probably from the same factory somewhere in china. It'll do thinner metal fine, and get you into some aluminum. One member has mentioned he didn't like the way the Flux Core welded, but I have found it to be OK.

Here's a piece of 1/4" steel with solid wire, and gas.

View attachment 1735387


Aluminum doing vertical up on some scrap to set up spool gun.

View attachment 1735388

Dual shield .035 with co2 prettty much maxed out.

View attachment 1735389

Just my opinion, lots of machines, and opinions out there. My advice would be to call and talk to someone in customer service before you buy, and see if you feel comfortable buying from them.

good luck with your decision.

To albrightree

This morning I called primeweld and ordered the primeweld 180. I had to chuckle a little. I think it will do what I want. We will see.

To xsbank. For the most part I agree. I'm close to my mid 70's and been retired a LONG time. And by the way I do have the nosh as you put it. I collect mostly vintage equipment and machinery. And welders to. A miller ac dc 250 ittle solar ac dc. and a lincoln 3 phase 250 amp motor welder. Cincinnati 2 mh milling machine, lodge and shipley lathe, hendy tiebar lathe. caser radial arm drill and many large cast iron woodworking machines. I have many nice american tools. I didn't feel like spending 2,500 dollars on a welder. And one final comment. I'll bet you some of your nosh that m ost of the componet parts in the hobart, miller, lincoln and esab are chineese. Just like a dam harley these days. Made in America unfortunately doesn't come close to meaning what it used to mean.

To all that have participated in this thread, thank you all very much. I've enjoyed all the comments and will continue to read them right along. I will also on this thread do a little review when I receive my welder and let you guys know how it is going, Clyde

 

[kwplot34]

Here is a good video on the PrimeWeld machine, I purchased the one he is using and so far so good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YkWY3nVAlY

 

[Oscar]

Hmmm. The more I see of Primeweld, the more I am inclined to recommend them. They seem to be the king of the hobby welders.

If they made a 250A MIG similar to the Eastwood, it would probably be a highly recommended unit even if it's just for the customer support.

 

[G-ManBart]

So first, they can be very difficult people to deal with I know. I'm not sure if it's growing pains or just poor management at the top (I suspect the former). Bad Attitude abounds there with some

But, seriously,,, you had to Pay Shipping to return something that was just a "few weeks" old? Gotta be more to the story than that ~ that's inexcusable

Their warranty policy is that they only cover shipping for 30 days...I was just outside that but not by much.

 

[Louie1961]

Well I went ahead and ordered the Hobart 240 Ironman yesterday and Cyberweld just responded with a backorder message today.
I am going to see if maybe they have the Ironman 240 with the spool gun in the kit for an extra $500 or so in stock.
I don't want to wait for the welder to get back into stock with no known timeline.
Wish they would put the back order note on the order form before you hit the buy button.

ps. the local craigslist has a supposed "low hour" Lincoln 216 with CO2 cylinder- but he wants $1500 for it. A little less amps but i have always heard real good things about the weld quality of the 215 and 216.

ps. 2 That was quick, Cyberweld just called about the order and I asked about them maybe having the spoolgun with Ironman 240 in stock, she said no and all INE welders are drop ships to reduce delays. She said that recently the delays are running around 4 weeks or so. Very professional at least calling me , but I cancelled the order.

That's why I went with Baker's Gas over my LWS (Maine Oxy) or Cyberweld or WeldingsuppliesfromIOC when I bought my Multimatic last year. Baker had it in stock and I could see that right on their web site. I called the others to verify they were on back order based on prior experience.

 

[Reebz]

I have not ready any ones advice so this may be redundant:
I get all my welding supplies at a LWS that can do service in house. Everyone there is knowledgeable and if a machine new machine has a problem they call miller or lincoln and deal with it immediately.

 

[Sberry]

I am interested in how low it can go and work. Scott is more familiar with the newest as are a couple other guys but I bet the roi is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy better today on the economy machines and tools than the brand by individual users. This user is a well reti9red guy just wants to fix some stuff. I am the first to say,,,, buy what you want but this pendulum has now swung way the other way. When off brand was 60% and not very good then the risk reward wasnt there but now they are burning the same rod at 200$ as 1000 and some at 100$

 

[Sberry]

I have not ready any ones advice so this may be redundant:
I get all my welding supplies at a LWS that can do service in house. Everyone there is knowledgeable and if a machine new machine has a problem they call miller or lincoln and deal with it immediately.

Not all of them are like that, not everyone has access and some of the cost is now so low its disposable. We acting like 300$ is a big deal so in order not to risk that we spend 2K? Had a bud with that sense of value, told me how great his 500$ welder was,,, he ran it like a madman 5 years, it craps and he is looking for parts. Spent 50$ in gas doing that,,, just cant save the spare parts off of it and buy a new one. Cost him 100 a year.

 

[clyde r]

I ordered my primeweld 180 tuesday morning and just received it about an hour ago. We will see soon how everything goes. I'll let everyone know. I think it will work just fine. Thank you, Clyde

 

[455dan]

I decided to give the little $300 Hit box welder my Kid bought a chance.

Welding up a stand for my 1/2 mill
Even bought a new tank argon/ CO2 mix (Stargon 9?) and New roll of SuperArc 56 Lincoln wire.

At first everything was great
nice welds. But all of a sudden the weld goes cold like the Voltage is dropping off. Literally jamming the wire into the steel.
Small change in Voltage seems OK again then the wire feed starts slipping Ahrrg.
Checked work lead all Good

readjusted - Wow weld looks great and then out of Nowhere stuttering WTH

I finished welding the cart together by short spot welds.

But that is IT.

I am not going to buy any bottom dollar MIG welder.

The ad is still up for the used Lincoln 216 with a CO2 bottle and some extras for $1500.

I can still get a new Hobart Ironman 240 but I am just a little nervous because of some questions about whether it actually welds as nice as the previous 230 model. Also a question on it needing more Input amps than the previous model for the same output.

I have the big Lincoln TIG 300's to stick or TIG weld anything really thick so maybe don't need all 250 amps.?
Lots of welding to do converting some tractor FEL stuff to Skid steer Quick attach and rebuilding a Gannon Box blade. Also Lots of muscle car panel replacement rust repair to be welded in.

I do want to have a spool gun or at least be set up to MIG Aluminum. Which makes a good case for the Ironman,

But have actually been eying the HTP MTS 220. I am a believer that MIG is a Constant Voltage process and therefore does not need feedback or other fixes but... Man this unit looks Very Slick.

Thoughts?

 

[BaTu]

But have actually been eying the HTP MTS 220. I am a believer that MIG is a Constant Voltage process and therefore does not need feedback or other fixes but... Man this unit looks Very Slick.

Thoughts?

I continue to be really impressed with the HTP PP MTS 220 I bought last Fall. I'm looking forward to trying it with Silicone Bronze and am just waiting for warmer weather to put rockers on my truck

 

[porous_weld]

everlast cyclone 200e

 

[Sberry]

Some cheap machines work well. There have been new brand ones come doa. I wouldnt have a problem buying a new IM. It needs more in than the old because it puts more out. I also like the idea of using 2 knobs to set it.
Here is a possibility. They looked at the math in production, they figured amount of inventory and introduce a new better model,,, it probably is, its heavier, its more powerful. Along the way they can eliminate a mid line product maybe,,,, have only 1 model needs it and they thought cords and hose thru with this too bu7t instead of making 2 cores they simply rob a part from Miller and put it in both machines so to speak, or parts of it anyway. Trying to make it cheaper was costing too much effort.
Thje blue ones come with advanced features but so many other parts are shared. They sold a lot of Hobarts with Miller guns.
The 240 is a heavy duty machine. Takes a big spool, hass hi duty, would run 045 toasty without worry if time and materials meant any money.

 

[Sberry]

I was in the store with one the other dasy but in a hurry and didnt stop to look. Was north of 1800$ maybe.
Could have tossed it in a truck right off the shelf. Its heavy, comes 8 cord, calls for 8 service wire, the heaviest 50A fac end they got with possible ception of 255 but a guy would have to look at the charts. Doesnt got to be 100% as it has a duty cycle,,, but its high.

 

[455dan]

I was in the store with one the other dasy but in a hurry and didnt stop to look. Was north of 1800$ maybe.
Could have tossed it in a truck right off the shelf. Its heavy, comes 8 cord, calls for 8 service wire, the heaviest 50A fac end they got with possible ception of 255 but a guy would have to look at the charts. Doesnt got to be 100% as it has a duty cycle,,, but its high.

Yeah I checked the local stores and there is a 240 IM in stock, I just finished the 1st project I had to get done but can wait till I jump into some others and waiting a few days weeks means I could get the 240 with AL gun for about $200 more than just the basic 240 locally.
I like the portability of what the HTP would have but would need to buy an extra gun and But actually like a simple 2 dial set up of the IM
Not crazy about the HTP single drive wheel and drive carriage whether swiss made or not. I have had enough of Inconsistent wire feed with the low buck units and the IM looks to be about as heavy duty/ rock solid as there are.
Long term, I know parts will be available for either but the chance of a main board failure after 3 years on the HTP gives me pause. I could imagine that board being over a grand. Maybe the same is true of the Ironman but it has a five year warranty (i think).

In the HTP's credit there appear to be some nice specialized programs that might give me better results when welding in replacement sheetmetal.
Want this to be a lasting MIG purchase.

For what the guy wants for what appears to be very well used Lincoln 216 It isn't that much more to get a new machine with warranty.

Well after a bit more thinking... I really need the sheetmetal MIG work to be no 1 on the list, and for anything really heavy I will just stick weld or TIG with the Idealarc Tig 300-300

I ordered the HTP ProPulse 220 with AL 26 gun and added the standard steel 180 amp gun.

I Really Hope this unit works out well.

ps. Have bought some other welding supplies through USA weld and always been great service and good quality.

 

[Sberry]

Yes,steady diet of light sheet would change my choice too. The 240 is for power, not delicate.

 

[Oscar]

Not crazy about the HTP single drive wheel and drive carriage whether swiss made or not. I have had enough of Inconsistent wire feed with the low buck units and the IM looks to be about as heavy duty/ rock solid as there are.

The wire drive system on the HTP inverter MIGs is as good as it gets IMO. Compared to the inverter Millermatic 211 that I had, it is light-years ahead. I have a custom-made specialized 20ft MIG gun (for steel) on mine, and it works great. Take your time to read the manual, ask questions if there are settings you are not familiar with, and you'll love the machine. It's when people go "hmmm I don't know what these settings really do but this seems like a nice, even number to set it to even without reading the manual....hmmm...something is wrong with this machine, it is supposed to weld all by itself!", LOL. I've gotten PMs similar to that every now and then. Since you're doing sheetmetal, HTP offers separate liners for 023 wire if that is the wire diameter you're planning to use. I know they do for the 24-series 240A gun, but I don't have the 180A 15-series, so I'm not sure about that one. As for the machine, it's great. I've done my own at-home "R&D" on it, from corner to corner, and there's a few things I would have changed to make it a teensy weensy bit better. But overall it's a great MIG. Too bad you won't be able to pulse-weld on that 15-series gun though. Would likely smoke it (the MIG gun) real fast, lol.

 

[Sberry]

They been around a while, before the Everlast and most others were a wet dream.

 

[455dan]

The wire drive system on the HTP inverter MIGs is as good as it gets IMO. Compared to the inverter Millermatic 211 that I had, it is light-years ahead. I have a custom-made specialized 20ft MIG gun (for steel) on mine, and it works great. Take your time to read the manual, ask questions if there are settings you are not familiar with, and you'll love the machine. It's when people go "hmmm I don't know what these settings really do but this seems like a nice, even number to set it to even without reading the manual....hmmm...something is wrong with this machine, it is supposed to weld all by itself!", LOL. I've gotten PMs similar to that every now and then. Since you're doing sheetmetal, HTP offers separate liners for 023 wire if that is the wire diameter you're planning to use. I know they do for the 24-series 240A gun, but I don't have the 180A 15-series, so I'm not sure about that one. As for the machine, it's great. I've done my own at-home "R&D" on it, from corner to corner, and there's a few things I would have changed to make it a teensy weensy bit better. But overall it's a great MIG. Too bad you won't be able to pulse-weld on that 15-series gun though. Would likely smoke it (the MIG gun) real fast, lol.

Hi Oscar ,

I read up by downloading the manual after ordering on line and discovered the 180 gun in 15 foot length is not recommended for pulse and it said it might not be trouble free with .023 .
So I thought I would leave a message on the USA weld message machine to call me or try and switch the 15 series to the 24 series 10 foot gun on Monday
Within 3 rings I was talking to a rep ( ON a Saturday) and he fixed me right up with the 24 series gun and the shorter lead.

I even ordered the consumable kits for both guns.

Already Impressed with the service. They were great when I ordered a quality flow gauge a while back also.

ps. I won't just be welding sheetmetal
I will try it for converting my tractor to Skid steer Quick tach and hoping any steel to a quarter inch or so.
The Gannon Box blade (some 1/2") will be reserved for 5/32 7018 and the Lincoln TIG 300 300

ps. 2 definitely want to try some Aluminum MIG to.