Esab Multi Master 260

[Jeep07]

Are these good tools? I've found one locally for around $800. Its a Mig,Tig,Stick machine that runs on 220 Single Phase. I'm buying for home. I used Esab Stick and Mig in my welding class and liked it. Is that a good price?

Thanks.

[Doolittle]

If its in good shape it sure is. They sell for over 2 grand new. They draw 60 amps fyi.

[Jeep07]

Picked it up tonight. Got a killer deal. This thing is like new. His home shop was super clean and so was the welder. Came with all accessories and manuals.

http://www.wesleycombs.com/Portals/0/Photos/Esab%20Multimaster%20260/images/dscn1840.jpg

http://www.wesleycombs.com/Portals/0/Photos/Esab%20Multimaster%20260/images/dscn1841.jpg

[Brand X]

It's way more powerful then it's rated.

The tan units are the first ones out but they weld nice. I can't believe how good the lift-arc tig is. This is coming form somebody that has used most of the inverters out. It welds down to one amp (foot control package) and has none of the transformer ripple you get with machines like the Powermig 300/350. Wonderful stick machine too.

You can't add pulse to that model but you can add the inductance control. Talk about waking a machine up!!!! It's night and day on how it welds with that control. The inductance control will allow you to run CO2 gas correctly, and give much more control of the weld puddle. One of the first ones I used without the control, seemed to have a real narrow sweet spot. Just by adding the control changed it for the better. They are pretty cheap to buy and the biggest single thing really make it work correct. If you dial the control for less inductance, it really becomes a inverter type crisp arc. The machine also likes Hobart Quantum-arc in .035 wire. Although it runs other well too.

That is a good price for such a solid machine. It does not have all the options because it has a long list.

[Jeep07]

sounds like the induction module really helps the machine. What should I expect to pay? Should I buy online or in a local shop?

Thanks for the info, looks like you have a decked out model with the spool gun etc which is awesome. Does the spool gun work well with alum? I've read a little online saying that the tig with alum doesn't work well since its a DC machine. I guess the pulse module makes that work well?

I'm not an expert welder just a hobbiest/novice so bear with me as I will probably ask some basic questions.

Thanks.

[Brand X]

sounds like the induction module really helps the machine. What should I expect to pay? Should I buy online or in a local shop?

Thanks for the info, looks like you have a decked out model with the spool gun etc which is awesome. Does the spool gun work well with alum? I've read a little online saying that the tig with alum doesn't work well since its a DC machine. I guess the pulse module makes that work well?

I'm not an expert welder just a hobbiest/novice so bear with me as I will probably ask some basic questions.

Thanks.


List price on the Easb site is $36.00 for the inductance control.
Buy it where ever you can.

The spool-gun works well. The ST-23 model is heavy and awkward,
but it's tough. The MT-250G model fits and it's lighter and $$ cheaper.
Mine came with that package, and I got a good price on it. I also
added a push/pull thermal gun (arc assist) to run big rolls of aluminum
if I want. The pulse is synergic through the spool-gun too (one knob
tuning for the most part) It works ok but most the time it works about
as well using standard mig aluminum settings. I like the steel-ss pulse
because I think it's more refined then the Esab aluminum pulse. I think
their higher end migs do a better job in that area. The machine does
pulse up about 600 amps on single phase so you can really turn the
wire up if you want.

Think of the Mutimaster 260 as a rec. transformer back-end and a
inverter front-end. You get the reliability of a standard machine and
the welding performance of a inverter. Miller's new shopmate and
and the Lincoln Powermig are somewhat the same type of machines.
Choppers types. (Lincoln has the patent on the name)

[Doolittle]

Man, Im jealous..

[fun4now.]

sounds like you found a great deal on a good welder, congrats. it should take care of your home hobby needs well.:)

[clarktG]

Sounds like a great deal. I bought ESAB migmaster 210 for xmas. Im still toying with it and it seems like it going to a great machine. I have to weld on the patio and I found out that the least amount of wind blows my gas away. One thing that bugs me is that It does not have digital read out on my volts. I noticed in one of your pictures that your 260 was wide open volts and showing 33v on the read out. I usually run my volts on setting 6 or 7. would any one out there have any idea what volts Im running??

[fun4now.]

if you have to weld out on the patieo you might consider using flux core wire. hit it with a wire wheel after its cooled down and the welds look good and no wories about the wind.;)
flux core dose burn a bit hotter than solid but dose a nice job in the wind, i used it to build my shop. worked great on the less than clean steel i was using also.:)

[Brand X]

Sounds like a great deal. I bought ESAB migmaster 210 for xmas. Im still toying with it and it seems like it going to a great machine. I have to weld on the patio and I found out that the least amount of wind blows my gas away. One thing that bugs me is that It does not have digital read out on my volts. I noticed in one of your pictures that your 260 was wide open volts and showing 33v on the read out. I usually run my volts on setting 6 or 7. would any one out there have any idea what volts Im running??


Is it the Esab 210 with the two inductance taps??
Made in Thailand unit??? You are probably around 18 to 20 volts.
I never stuck a meter on that unit. It has plenty of voltage to
spray- arc if you want too. It has a lower duty cycle then a
MM-210 but it does have more top-end power.

I only set the amps/ volts that high to see what it would output.
I am generally in the 17 to 18 volt (depends on what thickness though)
in the short-arc. With your tapped output, There is no real need for a
meter. The 260 needs one to preset voltage and WFS. Also the stick/tig
presets.

[Jeep07]

Brand X. What can you tell me about the remote control module? Is it a peddle or what?

I finally got some argon so I'm gonna start trying to tig a little with it.

Thanks.

[Brand X]

Brand X. What can you tell me about the remote control module? Is it a peddle or what?

I finally got some argon so I'm gonna start trying to tig a little with it.

Thanks.

It's just the amphenol to plug in the remote hand or foot control.
You can tig without it but you will have set the current at the
machine. I think there is a pipe welding circuit built in for that.
The power 300 has one too. I could not get that to work with the
foot control. It means the current will drop if you push the tungsten
really close to the work. This is info from the Esab rep. years ago
when the 260 just came out. (Tan face units)

[Jeep07]

BrandX: OK stupid question. When hooking up the tig do i hook the tig gun gas supply to the regulator on my cylinder or does it somehow go through the machine? I looked in my documentation and it didn't have a diagram of it and I can't figure out where else it might connect. If thats the case I guess i need to get another regulator with the float ball in it.

Thanks.

[Brand X]

BrandX: OK stupid question. When hooking up the tig do i hook the tig gun gas supply to the regulator on my cylinder or does it somehow go through the machine? I looked in my documentation and it didn't have a diagram of it and I can't figure out where else it might connect. If thats the case I guess i need to get another regulator with the float ball in it.

Thanks.


You need a torch with a gas valve and hook it directly to your argon reg./ bottle. I tap off of my tig machines argon regulator for my spoolgun and tig torch. I have two bottles on the 260 itself. Both for steel mig and steel pulse mig. I use a Y with gas disconnects to get everthing to work.

You can just use the regulator you have on a argon bottle and thread the tig torch into it. It's old school but it is a nice tig machine anyway.

[fun4now.]

i would think if it had the circutry for a foot control it would have a cillinoid as well, bummer to have to use the valve on the torch system but i supose its better than haveing to buy a seperatet TIG unit.:)

[TIGBOY]

Luuucckkkyyyy S.o.b