Welders, step inside
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,635
Likes: 0
From: Union Ontario
I bought a Millermatic 180 with autoset a couple of months ago and would recommend it to anybody. The continuously variable voltage allows you to fine tune the weld.
I did some extensive research on the name brand 180amp welders prior to going to this. My requirements (power, adjustability, value) made this until the best choice. This comparison would probably be the same for their 140amp counterparts. Keep in mind these are all good welders and all will do what you want. This is just how my choice matrix that I made up graded them.
#1 was the Miller(MM180 w/ Autoset -$750)
#2 was the Hobart(HH187- $750)
#3 was the Lincoln with continuous voltage adjust( Power mig 180C- $850)
#4 was the Lincolns that are available at Canadian Tire, HOme depot or Lowes.(pro mig 180T or some variant to that name- on sale for $600)
I did some extensive research on the name brand 180amp welders prior to going to this. My requirements (power, adjustability, value) made this until the best choice. This comparison would probably be the same for their 140amp counterparts. Keep in mind these are all good welders and all will do what you want. This is just how my choice matrix that I made up graded them.
#1 was the Miller(MM180 w/ Autoset -$750)
#2 was the Hobart(HH187- $750)
#3 was the Lincoln with continuous voltage adjust( Power mig 180C- $850)
#4 was the Lincolns that are available at Canadian Tire, HOme depot or Lowes.(pro mig 180T or some variant to that name- on sale for $600)
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 857
Likes: 1
From: Morrisonville Illinios
The lincoln and miller units that you by at the big box stores are not all made the same. The feed systems are made from plastic material and you will not have all the amp adjustments that you will want. Go to a couple weld shops and then the big box and see what I mean when you open the sides up. The Lincoln 140c came with more extra consumables than the Miller and if you where to get a spool gun at the time it was only 200 bucks compared to Millers at $800, Miller has now come out with a newer spool gun at the same low price! Ain't competition Grand
wro87
wro87
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,635
Likes: 0
From: Union Ontario
The feed system is a plastic composite and is pretty stout. I have used a friend's Canadian Tire one extensively and have seen no problems with the drive system being composite.
The new Lincoln's you get at the weld shop are aluminum drive systems with dual roller drive which IMO is highly overkill for a machine that can only run 0.045" wire. The important guts(transformers and boards) of the machines are the same. The only reason I would by a Lincoln from a weld shop is if I wanted the continuously variable voltage.
