Miller welder size

[lasttimearound]

Alright, I'm in the market for a welder. I've narrowed down my decision to the MillerMatic, now, my question is which size is more practical, the 140 or the 180? I know that for most, if not all, of my welding the 140 will be fine, but how often do you guys with welders wish you had more power? any input would be appreciated. Thanks

[lordairgtar]

Some have said Size doesn't matter :rolf I would say go for the 180 just in case you need it on some project if the cost isn't too much more.

[lasttimearound]

i can get a 140 or about 580 or a 180 for 720

[lordairgtar]

Go for it. Ya just never know if you'll need it.

[Breecher_7]

Get a 180 or 200 if your pockets will allow it. Dont get the 160, you will regret it. If i were in the market for one I would look for the largest one they offer that can be ran on residential single phase power.

Id go for the 251 personally, the only thing stopping me from buying one is that I have access to several different ones at work that I can borrow or use there.

Like i said, you will regret it down the line if you buy a cheap one.

[lasttimearound]

thats kind of what i figured. 180 is about the most my pockets will allow. like i said 720. i wish i could afford a bigger one, but ill have to make do. the only reason i ask, is that most people i know with welders have 140's or so, very few have anything bigger than that.

[Lash]

It really all depends on what you're looking to weld.

[lasttimearound]

well, initially some floor pans for my z. then misc sh*t on my model a. after that another tube chassis buggy

[WickedSix]

I'm a 'rather have more than I think I need' kind of person....never know what may come down the road :thumbsup

[Russ Jerome]

after that another tube chassis buggy

Get the 180 for your chassis work, it can be turned down easily
for lighter work. With time and experience you can safely do
chassis work with smaller welders but you'll be safer go bigger.
http://hometown.aol.com/russjerome/images/coltcage1.jpg
Your bigger welder will accept a smaller wand if you want to
do super fine sheetmetal work with tiny wire.

[lasttimearound]

180 it is. thanks guys

[lasttimearound]

haha, i just inherited a clarke 180en (cheap as sh*t i know). seems to work decently though. im still getting a miller (ordered the 180 this morning), might give this clarke to my brother or something, anyone have any experience with clarke? its not as nice as the millers ive used, but still lays a decent bead.

[Breecher_7]

Is it a flux core unit or can it use gas as well?

[lasttimearound]

gas and flux core

[Breecher_7]

id hold onto it for a spare, cant be THAT horrible.

[lasttimearound]

it seems to work decent. i just welded some scrap sh*t i had laying around and it was surprisingly nice. my grandmother had called me to pick some stuff up to take the dump and move some stuff out of her garage. i guess my grandfather had bought it last year and only used it a couple times. came with a tank that appears to be pretty much full! oh and cart. and surprisingly has 6 power settings.

[Windsors 03 Cobra]

Good enough for the garage thats for sure, I think china can manufacture transformers and other basic electrical component's ok. :D

[Russ Jerome]

With practice the cheapest welder will surprise you how well they
can work. Keep the wand strait, no sharp bends. Clean metal is
happy metal. Use a wire lube gauze inside the welder, if your using
flux core make sure its compatable with the fluxcore wire. Good
ground, run the welder off a clean power feed (not a bunch of
flurecent lights or other things on it).

[lasttimearound]

yeah, i have a deticated 220 feed for the welder in my garage. im probably not going to use this clarke too much, ill keep it as a spare since i cant change my miller order (i ordered through a friend at a pretty good discount). im just going to play around with this for a while, im still suprised by it.