Dead man walking

[Bang510]

Well here I am starting yet another expensive hobby... Tonight I was doing my research on MIG welders when I ran across this site. I've read a few of the forums and was happy to see friendly, knowledgeable people who are intersted in helping out a guy new to the craft. And by new I mean I still have my diaper on, I've never touched a welder in my life.

This should be a very interesting journey.

Like all new guys, I'll be asking some very basic questions. So thanks in advance for the patience. I'll try to read as many prevous posts as I can...

I'm currently swiming in the entry-level Miller vs. Hobart vs. Lincoln debate.
Wish me luck.

Thanks,
Cory

[smithboy]

I, for one, like creative commercials.

It's always interesting to see who is attracted to welding. Welding can be expensive, but it can pay for itself eventually. You can't say that for a lot of hobbies. Don't get too caught up in the debate over brand. Just find the features you want and buy a machine that is trustworthy and easily repaired. Most of the comparably priced entry level machines are pretty similar in most respects. Only a feature or two distinguishes one from another...sometimes not even that.

[TxRedneck]

I agree with smith. THe debate over brands is like sayin, budwesier is better than miller, or chevy is better than ford. Anyone can get a sticker witha lil boy peein...and a lincoln sticker and a miller sticker. The lil boy can pee on either machine. Its all your choice. I perfer to stick with what my distributor is offering better service to. This usually means, they are usually parital to one brand or another. So thats the brand to go with. They will have better service, more reps visit and so on. Its just my two cents and nothing more

[Bang510]

Thanks guys. That's the take I'm coming to after reading just about every single post on the subject. Heck, It's worse than the time honored Turbo vs. Supercharger debate, not to start that here... :-)

As it stands, I see Miller coming out in front of Hobart and Miller is winning the Lincoln challenge too.

I only have access to 115v right now (renter), BUT I want a machine that I can grow in to and possibly do thicker stuff later. As I see it, the Miller DVI will let me grow with the machine (some day I'll have a house) and Miller seems to be the only company with the Dual voltage approach. Also I'd like to take a crack at aluminum. The Spoolmate 3035 Miller sells seems like an easy addition to the system should I decide to head in that direction. I didn't see any spoolgun for Lincoln...

Basically I've got four possible projects:
A 1969 Datsun 510 (mint/ show car, total sleeper with hubcaps but fully race prepped)
I'll need aluminum/ steel fab parts for engine/ structure modification

A 1969 Chevelle Malibu (needs body work/ patch panel install, etc.)

A 1989 Suzuki GSXR 1100 (darn minty too, but a homemade 4 into 1 stainless header could be a fun project)

And mainly I'd like to take a crack at building some furniture, mostly modern steel and wood stuff. Welding bench, coffee table, dinign room table, bed frame, entertainment system, bookcase, etc...

Will I'lll never use the upper end of the DVI with this kind of work?
I've learned from other projects to budget high and that way you don't have to buy twice.

So Multi-voltage/ Spoolgun leads me to Miller.

I'm sure I'll want to get into TIG later because I'm a sucker for perfection. I can always buy a seperate TIG setup later when I've got some good bead-time.

If you think the DVI is more box than I need, or if you have ANY ideas to the contrary I'd love to hear'em.

Thanks!
Cory

[TxRedneck]

Cory, youre an auto guy. so ill try to see if i dont butcher this too bad. you can think of lincoln like ford. dont know anybody whose exactly like em..lol....not good not bad they just got their own style. Miller and hobart have more the relationship of perhaps chevy and gmc or something. See the Miller and hobart are owned by the same company, but the miller is more primo. They sell a lot of the same lineup, but a lot more of other things too. The hobart does have good products. But IMHO isnt any better than that of miller. Sometimes for whatever reason I feel there inferior to the miller lineup.
The DVI, I got mixed feelings about this machine. However, this is an issue like it is with all guys on here im biased towards what I do. If I had my way everyone on this board would be runing SA 200's and pipe pro 304's. But thats not right. So I think given your circumstances. A combination of all factors I think the DVI might be a good choice for you. I wouldnt say the DVI is more than you need. I think you cant have too much, just spend too much in one place. However, in your case I think it wouldnt be an unwise descision to get a DVI. The dual voltage is a great thing. Think, even if you get your house you might get a buddy who is doing something at his house where he doesnt have 220. So then what. Do you bring the car to the welding machine? or the welding machien to teh car? Guess it depends on the condition of the car right? So in this circumstance even once youve grown into yourmachine. That machine may still serve you better than say getting up into a 210 whch would be a great machine. But again I think its safe to say tht you can get by with a DVI whihc is for all intents and purposes on the upper end a 175. Remember that while on 115V you will be very limited. Prolly at times quite dissapointed. I can tell you there is a big difference between 115v and 220v weld machines. Its night and day. Even bigger was when I went from my lil red tombstone ac dc lincoln to my bobus wow that made a differnce. But anyway. I think you will use the upper end of your dvi at times....but not needing to go more than that if you really careful with certain jobs. Course if it becames a real issue, buy a lil ac or perferably acdc stickwelder for your heavy stuff. but the dvi will prolly handle a lot that machien would handle, atleast the dc side. The ac, well now your just getting into larger rod capability whihc is kinda stupid in my opinon. Homeshops dont need nothing bigger than a 3/32 lohy or a 1/8" 6011.
Theres also always the multipass idea. Sandy is really handy with that lil 175 hes got. Im sure he could give you pointers or tips to really getting the most umpf outta that machine for larger jobs should the need arise. Lets face it, Ive built plenty of bumpers, hitches, farm equipment ect with a lincoln 225/125. I never ran ac with it. Ever. Ive done lots of farm repairs and a friend of mine has the ac only version and did an unlimited thickness open root 3G vertical up weld test 6011 root filled and cap 7018. It wasnt the prettiest thing ive seen, but he passed. Then when we took same test on a dc bobus he blew em outta the water. It was great. Ok, well Ive said too much. Thats my story and Im stickin to it!:eek:

[Bang510]

Yeah the portable aspect (bring to a friend's house) of the DVI is good too.
I like the specs of the 210 but I'll get evicted if I hijack a 220 source, I'm pushing it with my hidden 120v outlet in the building's garage. ;-)

I'll probably send the really thick stuff out to a good shop to do. I'm not interested in testing my crossmember welds going 100mph+ on the track.
I'll take some classes and have plenty of trigger time before I do that.

Any thoughts on Wire Propellant Systems? If it works (only $95) It'll save me tons of $$ on a spoolgun.

I was gonna look for a package deal: DVI + Spoolmate + Gas

[coachgeo]

Well here I am starting yet another expensive hobby... ...Cory

Bang510, is your other hoby those poor man BMW's? Looks like your's has twin Mik's. Had some fun times in my 510's and Roadsters myself.

[Bang510]

Hey Coach,

Yep, the 510 is the other hobby, although there's not much poor-man left to this car.

The intake is actually an EFI system (TWM individual throttle bodies). Electromotive EFI. 2.2 L block, 2L head (larger valves), b&b'd, port/ polished, 5-spd, 4:11 LSD rear, coilovers all the way around, front/ rear sway bars, castor/ camber plates, had the OEM rims widened to fit fatter tires but to keep the hubcaps, etc.

Good to see another 510 guy on the boards!

[coachgeo]

Hey Coach,...
Good to see another 510 guy on the boards!

Sounds SWEET. I realy miss mine. I had to sell my last Datsun of that realm when funds got tuff for me. (my 2000 roadster w/Miks). Now Im a diesel/Veg. fuel guy working toward an extrem offroad camper. Unimog based.