Multi welder machines

[GREG528]

HELLO EVERYONE
, I AM AN ENTHUSIAST AND I COME ACROSS A MULTIWELDER 5 IN ONE, 4 IN ONE. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SENSE OF IT AND I MADE A RESEARCH. JUST SCRATCHED THE SURFACE. CAN I HAVE PROS OPINIONS ABOUT A GOOD ALL-AROUND WELDER IN FARMING APPLICATIONS SOMETHING THAT WOULD NOT BREAK A BANK BUT WILL BE RELIABLE. UNFORTUNATELY, REVIEW WEBSITES ARE WRITING BS DEPENDING ON WHO PAYS MORE AND THERE IS NO CONSENSUS EVEN WITHIN 3 OR 4 MACHINES. MACHINES I HAVE IN MIND IE: MILLER MULTIMATIC SERIES(GOOD BUT EXPENSIVE) YesWelder FIRSTESS™ MP200 5-in-1 Welder & Cutter( MID RANDE PRICE BUT PROTOTYPE SO NOT CONVINCING THAT IT WILL BE RELIABLE )... THERE ARE 5-6 MORE MACHINES LIKE THAT OTHER MANUFACTURERS BUT I HAVE NO IDEA HAT TO CHOOSE THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPINIONS.

[Louie1961]

#1 what are you welding? Thicknesses, material type, etc.
#2 what's your budget
#3 please don't type in all capital letters

[mla2ofus]

One thing I've always wondered about all in one machines: if you lose one function do the others still work??

[CAVEMANN]

One thing I've always wondered about all in one machines: if you lose one function do the others still work??

I have a 3 in 1 machine, it's an inverter machine and has been solid, it welds great. 175 amp mig, fluxcore, stick & scratch start tig, I haven't used the tig function as yet because I don't have a torch, I see no need for what I do. The machine has 3 T& 4T, arc force and is somewhat synergic. Since it's an inverter I'm sure that if one function diesthat the others will be affected, at least to some degree.

[tapwelder]

One thing I've always wondered about all in one machines: if you lose one function do the others still work??

True. But if you only have a single machine and it dies then you are in the same boat. Many folk end up with multiple machine, they don't start with them.

That said, stick/tig is as deep as i go.

Those with multiprocess machines, how often do you switch process and why?

[Meltedmetal]

One thing I've always wondered about all in one machines: if you lose one function do the others still work??

It would depend on the failure. If your wire drive konked out you could still stick weld but if the power supply failed it's likely all gone. And, of course, if you have to send it out for repairs there will be an empty space in your shop and life until it comes back.

[Meltedmetal]

True. But if you only have a single machine and it dies then you are in the same boat. Many folk end up with multiple machine, they don't start with them.

That said, stick/tig is as deep as i go.

Those with multiprocess machines, how often do you switch process and why?

I have a 210MP and an Idealarc at home. On the 210MP I switch processes fairly often. The changes are driven by what I need to weld and my particular setup. The Idealarc has long leads so if I'm outside on something heavier it gets used. Inside the 210MP gets used in MIG and stick depending on what needs gluing together. I have the TIG setup on the 210MP but more often than not things that many of you would TIG I'll use oxy/acet since I'm more familiar with it and in my setup it is quicker to get 'er done. If I had a dedicated TIG machine I might go there more often. Maybe one day I'll look at the Primeweld 225X.

[GREG528]

Sorry for the Capital letters. I have written half of the post looking at the keyboard then ... didn't want to do it again. Sorry. Louie 1. stainless steel up to 2mm, Aluminium up to 20mm, Normal steel in tools, machinery on the farm. 2. Budget is not an issue I can buy a 2G machine is just I don't want to buy a Rolls Royce to drive on the farm I don't need a commercial-grade monster for everyday welding like crazy, but equally, because I am in a remote place I don't want a toy which in a year time will abandon me when I need it most. Thank you Everybody for contributions

[Oscar]

Aluminium up to 20mm,

To do that ↑ , you do need a rolls royce, maybe even two! 20mm is over 3/4" thick aluminum, so you need at least 350-400 amps even with using pre-heat (depending on joint configuration) just to get the puddle going in less than 3 seconds or so. 2G's isn't even close to cutting it, IMO.

[tapwelder]

I have a 210MP and an Idealarc at home. On the 210MP I switch processes fairly often. The changes are driven by what I need to weld and my particular setup. The Idealarc has long leads so if I'm outside on something heavier it gets used. Inside the 210MP gets used in MIG and stick depending on what needs gluing together. I have the TIG setup on the 210MP but more often than not things that many of you would TIG I'll use oxy/acet since I'm more familiar with it and in my setup it is quicker to get 'er done. If I had a dedicated TIG machine I might go there more often. Maybe one day I'll look at the Primeweld 225X.

What determines use of Mig vs stick setup? Portability?

[Louie1961]

1. stainless steel up to 2mm, Aluminium up to 20mm, Normal steel in tools, machinery on the farm.

In my opinion, you will not find a multiprocess machine that will be satisfactory on 20 mm aluminum (assuming that is not a typo). You will really need AC welding capability well above 200 amps for 20mm Aluminum, and most of the 3 in 1, 4 in 1, etc. machines seems to top out at 200 amps. IF that was a typo and you meant to say aluminum up to 2.0 mm, then I think you could still make a strong argument that the all in one machines are still not adequate, because many of them lack some or all of the features that optimize you for welding thin aluminum (pulse in a MIG machine or pulse, balance, AC frequency, etc. in a TIG machine). So I am not really sure how to respond on the aluminum side.

One thing for sure, do NOT buy a welder that incorporates a plasma cutter into the features. The have a very well deserved reputation of failing prematurely.

The aluminum welding aspect is the most difficult. To weld aluminum well, you really probably want a pulse MIG or a separate dedicated TIG machine with a lot of amps and all the features. Steel and stainless are a lot easier to solve for. How much aluminum welding do you anticipate?

[Meltedmetal]

What determines use of Mig vs stick setup? Portability?

I've been stick and oxy/acet welding off and on for more than 50 years so those are my preferences. MIG is fairly new to me and I don't always trust it. So a number of factors come into consideration. How critical is the weld(more critical-more stick)? How thick is the material(heavy stuff is stick thinner stuff is either MIG or oxy/acet, perhaps eventually TIG)? Is the appropriate size of wire in the MIG machine(much of what I do are very short projects/repairs and I don't always want to take the time to change the wire)?What I deem is appropriate for the job at hand(Could be interpreted as "What mood I am in right now."
All that said I should add to my signature "It depends ............" since it almost always does.

[smithdoor]

You find a MULTIWELDER if one break you have a box.
I like a Mig weld and then a Tig/stick . The Tig/stick is cc both uses the same technology the mig is cv.
Few electronic will last longer on a welding machine. You could have very expensive box.

Dave

HELLO EVERYONE
, I AM AN ENTHUSIAST AND I COME ACROSS A MULTIWELDER 5 IN ONE, 4 IN ONE. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SENSE OF IT AND I MADE A RESEARCH. JUST SCRATCHED THE SURFACE. CAN I HAVE PROS OPINIONS ABOUT A GOOD ALL-AROUND WELDER IN FARMING APPLICATIONS SOMETHING THAT WOULD NOT BREAK A BANK BUT WILL BE RELIABLE. UNFORTUNATELY, REVIEW WEBSITES ARE WRITING BS DEPENDING ON WHO PAYS MORE AND THERE IS NO CONSENSUS EVEN WITHIN 3 OR 4 MACHINES. MACHINES I HAVE IN MIND IE: MILLER MULTIMATIC SERIES(GOOD BUT EXPENSIVE) YesWelder FIRSTESS™ MP200 5-in-1 Welder & Cutter( MID RANDE PRICE BUT PROTOTYPE SO NOT CONVINCING THAT IT WILL BE RELIABLE )... THERE ARE 5-6 MORE MACHINES LIKE THAT OTHER MANUFACTURERS BUT I HAVE NO IDEA HAT TO CHOOSE THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPINIONS.

[Roert42]

Could easily weld 20mm Aluminum with stick. I've used 1/8 Excelloy 41DC+ with good results 130amps is more then enough.

I don't know that I would want to stick weld thin ga aluminum, but 20mm should be ok.

I would go for a Stick Buzzbox unless you need to be able to weld real thin ga stuff in general. I feel like they are just the most versatile, especially for any outdoor or maintenance type welding.

[GREG528]

Could easily weld 20mm Aluminum with stick. I've used 1/8 Excelloy 41DC+ with good results 130amps is more then enough.

I don't know that I would want to stick weld thin ga aluminum, but 20mm should be ok.

I would go for a Stick Buzzbox unless you need to be able to weld real thin ga stuff in general. I feel like they are just the most versatile, especially for any outdoor or maintenance type welding.

Thank you mate all the best

[whtbaron]

Most of my on-farm repairs have been done with stick as well, but I rarely have to weld aluminum so I generally farm that out to neighbors that do it all the time. What are you welding on farm equipment that's made out of 20 mm aluminum? I have never Tig'd and I use the Mig for mostly sheet metal work less than 1/8". I've also leaned towards separate machines as opposed to multi-process. I can pick and choose the machine I want to do the job I need to do.

[Lis2323]

Most of my on-farm repairs have been done with stick as well.

Same. Only had AC stick most of my farm life. Looking back, having a Mig machine would not have helped me for repairs.

I still have my buzz box 55 years later. Lol……








These days I like Mig for light fabricating or just tacking together assemblies and then finishing with stick mostly because I LIKE IT.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[danielplace]

Mulitprocess machines can come with balls too.
https://www.millerwelds.com/equipmen...-welder-m00430


Damn just saw the new price on my Dynasty 280 tigrunner. $11,242 Price has increased almost $3000 in past couple years.

[Lis2323]

Mulitprocess machines can come with balls too.
https://www.millerwelds.com/equipmen...-welder-m00430


Damn just saw the new price on my Dynasty 280 tigrunner. $11,242 Price has increased almost $3000 in past couple years.

The OP could look for a good used inverter.

I purchased this refurbished Miller multiprocess machine from WW member Steve (7A###?). It had "balls"LOL


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ambull01]

I have a 210MP and an Idealarc at home. On the 210MP I switch processes fairly often. The changes are driven by what I need to weld and my particular setup. The Idealarc has long leads so if I'm outside on something heavier it gets used. Inside the 210MP gets used in MIG and stick depending on what needs gluing together. I have the TIG setup on the 210MP but more often than not things that many of you would TIG I'll use oxy/acet since I'm more familiar with it and in my setup it is quicker to get 'er done. If I had a dedicated TIG machine I might go there more often. Maybe one day I'll look at the Primeweld 225X.

Have you tried to compare stick vs flux core? I was just wondering about the benefits of stick vs flux core wire since my Hobart 210MVP doesn't have a stick option.

[smithdoor]

It is faster to train on flex core and faster welding.

Stick you can buy a hand full of rod for a special job.
Flux core you buying by roll.
In my shop I would buy 60 pound coils of coils more costly to change.

Dave

Have you tried to compare stick vs flux core? I was just wondering about the benefits of stick vs flux core wire since my Hobart 210MVP doesn't have a stick option.

[Ambull01]

It is faster to train on flex core and faster welding.

Stick you can buy a hand full of rod for a special job.
Flux core you buying by roll.
In my shop I would buy 60 pound coils of coils more costly to change.

Dave

Ah okay. So they have about the same type of penetration? I went a little overboard with buying wire. Bought .023/.024, .030, and .035 solid mig wire. Also bought .030 and .035 self shield flux core wire. So I have 5 rolls of wire that will probably rust before I get a chance to use it. May have to store them in house or some where other than my humid garage.

[smithdoor]

You find all welding rod likes in home living or may go to rust.

Dave

Ah okay. So they have about the same type of penetration? I went a little overboard with buying wire. Bought .023/.024, .030, and .035 solid mig wire. Also bought .030 and .035 self shield flux core wire. So I have 5 rolls of wire that will probably rust before I get a chance to use it. May have to store them in house or some where other than my humid garage.

[Roert42]

You can also lay a lot more filler with stick. 3/16 vs .045, although you need a bigger welder to run those fat rods all day.

Wire feed is nice if you are doing a lot of continuous welding, don't have to stop and change rods.

[Bob]

If you get a good stick/ tig machine then have a feeder unit that runs off it for your mig work, I think you would be set.
I use a Miller 52S wire feeder running off my Shopmaster with a high freq box for tig. It has served me well for 38 years.