[AgDawg15]

Very excited to hear reviews about this machine. I was holding out to upgrade my Hobart 190 to the Ironman 240 or if I happened up on a good deal on one of the used Miller 250 class machines. But this has me reconsidering.

 

[M J D]

Just ordered mine along with a spool gun. Realistically it's hard to find used equipment of that capacity for it's price( $974), for a 250+ amp mig machine.

 

[albrightree]

my uphill used to be horrible but its getting better and im not blowing off the top as much. still getting small patches of undercut. need a bit more practice. was using 103a

Nice weld, what were your settings, wire, gas, and size plates ? Was this done with a New- Multi Process Primeweld MIG-285 ?

Does anybody have the link for the New review ?

Thanks for sharing.

 

[M J D]

my uphill used to be horrible but its getting better and im not blowing off the top as much. still getting small patches of undercut. need a bit more practice. was using 103a

Nice weld, was this done with a New- Multi Process Primeweld MIG-285 ?

Does anybody have the link for the New review ?

Thanks for sharing.

I don't have a link, but look up " AM custom fab" and it will pop up. Pretty long video.

 

[RCWelds]

Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkwTJmoJQl0

42 minutes long, but well worth watching if one wants to see the PrimeWeld MIG-285 in action.

 

[albrightree]

I don't have a link, but look up " AM custom fab" and it will pop up. Pretty long video.

Thanks heiping me to find it.

Here's the link:
42 minutes long, but well worth watching if one wants to see the PrimeWeld MIG-285 in action.

Thanks I'm sure others will appreciate your posting. (saved me from doing it)

Best Regards all

 

[albrightree]

Nobody mentioned it was "4 Wheel Drive":cool2:


View attachment prime2804wheel.JPG

 

[danike110]

Wonder if that would help feed aluminum wire through the whip if one were to try it.


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[RCWelds]

Yep….4 wheel drive, and the MIG gun is made by Tweeco, here in America! I got my .045 flux core wire in yesterday evening. I’m not sure I’ll have time to mess with it today, and this evening have welding school, but if I can, I’m gonna run some wire. It may be tomorrow, I got lots going on.

 

[RCWelds]

No joy today on running wire. I went to set up the PW MIG 285, and discovered that no .045 contact tips come with the unit. I called Primeweld to get some. They recommended going to the LWS, as the Tweco gun is a 300 series, bt I didn’t have time for that, so I just ordered a pack of 25 from Amazon.com.

Since it was no go for the wire, I just moved my Miller Bobcat 260 out of the shop, and ran some 6011’s and some 7018’s. Since it was 3/32 6011’s, I had to turn the amps down to about 60, and the 7018’s were 1/8” so I ran them at approx 110 amps. Man, those 6011’s burn deep compared to 7018’s.

At least I got some practice in before I have to go to school tonight.

 

[Louie1961]

That unit seems like a real winner. I bet in 6 months time the price will be over $2K. These will be like the discontinued Thermal Arc 211is that went on sale for $700 for a couple of months and sold like hotcakes. I should have purchased one of those. They didn't last. I am half tempted to buy one, play with it for a while and when the price pops, sell it for what I paid for it.

 

[RCWelds]

That unit seems like a real winner. I bet in 6 months time the price will be over $2K. These will be like the discontinued Thermal Arc 211is that went on sale for $700 for a couple of months and sold like hotcakes. I should have purchased one of those. They didn't last. I am half tempted to buy one, play with it for a while and when the price pops, sell it for what I paid for it.

Sounds like a viable strategy, but you might find you like it so well that you want to keep it. It really does not take up much room, and the guy at Primeweld said they would have covers to fit that unit in 60 days. My cover for the Cut 60 plasma cutter fits like a glove and is real nice. I suspect the cover for the MIG-285 will be just as good quality.

 

[Lis2323]

Sounds like a viable strategy, but you might find you like it so well that you want to keep it. .

If that happens there will be a line of guys up the block and around the corner offering to take that antiquated 255 off Louie’s hands. [emoji1787]


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[RCWelds]

I was able to pick up a few .045 contact tips for the mig gun at the LWS this morning. I doesn’t look like I’ll have time today to set up the machine or run anything. I will as soon as I can, and let you know the results, hopefully with a couple pics.

 

[Louie1961]

Sounds like a viable strategy, but you might find you like it so well that you want to keep it.

Little chance of that. I absolutely LOVE my Miller. I might keep it as a spare/backup unit, but it would never replace my Miller.

 

[Louie1961]

If that happens there will be a line of guys up the block and around the corner offering to take that antiquated 255 off Louie’s hands. [emoji1787]

That's true! But like I said, there's little chance of my selling it.

 

[M J D]

View attachment IMG_20230302_182046384.jpg Messing around with the 285. .030 wire, c-25 gas, 280 ipm and 18 volts on 1/8" and 10 gauge scrap. Just set it at the recommended setting for 1/8". Maybe a little hot for the vertical up on the lower part of the angle. So far seems like a really nice machine with very little spatter.

 

[RCWelds]

View attachment 1753381 Messing around with the 285. .030 wire, c-25 gas, 280 ipm and 18 volts on 1/8" and 10 gauge scrap. Just set it at the recommended setting for 1/8". Maybe a little hot for the vertical up on the lower part of the angle. So far seems like a really nice machine with very little spatter.

Glad you were able to do some welds with gas…I appreciate the pics!

 

[mikeysp]

For those who have taken the plunge and have experience with blue, if you were running a small fabrication shop would you go for a 20 year old used Millermatic 250 or the Primeweld MIG285?

I have a Hobart Handler 195, and had been looking for a deal on a used Millermatic 250, and realized how in 2017 I purchased a 200 AMP AHP alpha tig and it was well made and even had a 100% duty cycle at about 155 AMPS. So I started looking to see if there was a well made, cheap, MIG welder that could perform well enough that a pro welder would be comfortable running a small fab shop with it?

 

[M J D]

For those who have taken the plunge and have experience with blue, if you were running a small fabrication shop would you go for a 20 year old used Millermatic 250 or the Primeweld MIG285?

I have a Hobart Handler 195, and had been looking for a deal on a used Millermatic 250, and realized how in 2017 I purchased a 200 AMP AHP alpha tig and it was well made and even had a 100% duty cycle at about 155 AMPS. So I started looking to see if there was a well made, cheap, MIG welder that could perform well enough that a pro welder would be comfortable running a small fab shop with it?

I used to have a miller 250x, never cared for that machine. In most cases the used miller would be more $$ than the prime weld. I like the prime weld but honestly haven't had enough run time to really give a honest review. You also would get a 3 year warranty with the prime weld, so worst case it would cost less than a dollar a day.