215 Mig

[John C]

I got one of the new 215 migs and haven't had much of a problem with it except getting the heat & speed set easily. I guess it will take a little to get used too since I'm used to running a MM 251.
Just wanted to know ya'lls opinion of this 215 Lincoln PM
Thanks, John

[Planet X]

You are the first that has posted with the PM215, Big Rig Guy is the closest to your machine with his PM200.

I am curious how do you come to chose the PM215 over the MM210?

Also my opinion is you made the best choice, but I have a fondness for Red machines:D

[big rig guy]

John C- are you using the hydro outlet provided on the unit, I thought that was a good option to have. You know, weld then plug in a grinder and grind.

I am happy with my unit and would buy another.

[John C]

I chose the 215 because it was newer,bigger,the owner of the store is also a welder & said other welders seem to like the 215 better than the miller251.(so far hard to believe), the money that was avail. after buying the 259 Bobcat. I think that the smaller Miller mig machines are way over priced for what you get. I didn't even look at the Miller 210. I thought the PM215 was already too small.
I really like the recepticles on the machine since I'm bad about making the top of the machine a tool shelf. Saves on running a long extension cord.

[Planet X]

Originally posted by John C
I chose the 215 because it was newer,bigger,the owner of the store is also a welder & said other welders seem to like the 215 better than the miller251.(so far hard to believe), the money that was avail. after buying the 259 Bobcat. I think that the smaller Miller mig machines are way over priced for what you get. I didn't even look at the Miller 210. I thought the PM215 was already too small.
I really like the recepticles on the machine since I'm bad about making the top of the machine a tool shelf. Saves on running a long extension cord.

Price is price. true (internet prices say) about a $350.00 difference between the Pm255 & PM 215 which for me is a no brainer.
But maybe that $350 might as well have been $3,500, if one is at the absolute limit of a machine budget.

Now me I would buy a PM215 over a 175plus in a heart beat to get the increased duty cycle & larger spool capacity. In fact if I get into alot of sheetmetal welding where I am looking for a shortcircuit dedicated machine that is what I would do.

Yes, the pm255 could do it, but I would likely need to swap to a smaller gun & perhaps wire size-all very inconvenient if I am trying to make $$ welding. Time is important.

[John C]

I suppose I could have gone up a tad on the Mig, but I'd rather spend more on the portable rig.
To me, $350 in welding leads & twin-hose is worth more than 40 amps on a mig that is less than 300 amps; since most of my work is in the field (sometimes literally).

[JMcKeone]

Im placing my order for a new MIG on Monday, I cant decide on the PM 215 or PM 255, it would be nice to save $300, but then if I ever had to weld 1/2", I could do it with the 255 and not have to use Flux Cored. Does your 215 lay down nice beads? I looked at the Miller MM251 but I just cant go blue, always been using RED!

[arcdawg]

JM, i would step up to teh 250 series machine either red or blue.....i think that you will find the the miller has a nicer gun.....

i checked out your website and i see the type of stuff that you do and either a 215 or 250 is going to meet your needs, and if you go with the 215 you could roll that 300.00 into a 135 size mig for those sheet metal and on call to other buddies garages repairs
brian

[Dan]

Originally posted by JMcKeone
Im placing my order for a new MIG on Monday, I cant decide on the PM 215 or PM 255, it would be nice to save $300, but then if I ever had to weld 1/2", I could do it with the 255 and not have to use Flux Cored. Does your 215 lay down nice beads? I looked at the Miller MM251 but I just cant go blue, always been using RED!

Don t be fooled by Lincolns advertising hype on the PM 215 being a 250 amp machine. The PM 215 has a 30% duty cycle at 215 amps, so I dought it has much more than a 10% duty cycle at 250 amps. Also, the load voltage that the PM 215 will output at 250 amps is only going to give you a low level globular transfer.

The PM 255 on the other hand is going to give you a legitimate 250 amp machine. That has a conservative 40% duty cycle rating at 250 amps. At 250 amps the PMM 255 is capable of outputting a load voltage that will produce spray transfer. The pm 255 is also going to give you about twice the duty cycle of the PM 215 at 215 amps.

In short circuit transfer mode the variable voltage control on the PM 255 is going to allow you to really fine tune the arc much better then on the PM 215. Living in a residential area, I ve discovered that the arc quality on a tapped voltage machine can vary quite a bit depending the time of day that I use the machine. The input voltage to your machine influences the voltage that a tap will output. During the daytime when several people are using high levels of power I receive around 235 volts to my input receptical which allows my tapped voltage machine to output a smooth short arc transfer. However, later in the evening when power consumption around me is much lower, my input volt to the machine raises to around 245 volt, which results in a much higher output voltage from each tap, which in return results in a much poorer quality short circuit transfer arc from the machine. Now, I also have a variable voltage machine, and the variable control allows me to compensate for this raise in voltage so that i can achieve the same results no matter what input voltage the machine receives.

So, if you can financially aford it, I would go with the PM 255. In my opinion the advantages that the PM 255 gives you over the PM 215 are well worth the extra $350 to $400