who makes the #1 welding machines/ equipment

[CAVEMANN]

I applied at LJ several years ago. They are 10 minutes from my house and have been expanding at record pace. Nice group of guys and smart engineers. I think if I would have pursued it a little more I would have been hired. I got a tour of their shop and talked with a few of the guys. They seemed to be a high production shop and expected you to work overtime and weekends when required. I wasn't sure if that's what I really wanted at the time. I'd been looking into the welding supply end of things for awhile. Welding takes a toll on the body when you've been doing it for quite a few years.

LJ made a portable automated circle cutter (circle radiagraph) that is commonly used to cut holes for nozzles in vessels but I don't think still offer it. Maybe special order??One person could pick it up and set it up.

I've found that no matter what the occupation is, it carries some form of ergonomic issue.

[Welder Dave]

For sure! I think the fact I worked as a welder for years and always did a lot of physical stuff is a big reason my Dr. is impressed with my progress and said I was the 1st one he's ever heard of running a skid steer while getting chemo. I get tired easily and achy but I think I'd be way worse off if I had sat a desk for almost 40 years. I over did last Sunday though but it was a very long day I wasn't expecting. Long hot weekend this week that I'll pass myself a lot better and put the AC in my 5th wheel on so I can cool off every hour or so.

[Deepwinter]

Fronius are really nice well made machines, Made in Austria not outsourced to China even for there "Cheapest" machines , they make there own torches too.
Id say in general the answers would be somewhat correlated with where you're from Europe or America.
Fronius and EWM not as popular in the US and Vice versa for Lincoln and Miller. In general.

There's a few less well known European and UK companies that are excellent machines too Weco , Stel, Technical Arc, Rehm, Lorch, Kemppi, CEA I'm sure I'm missing a few, but all are established well regarded companies that produce reliable equipment.

[smithdoor]

The time only I saw Forney is on farms, farm supply and Monkey Ward label .
It looks like a great welder I just do not see it fab shops

Dave

You're making my $300 Forney look better all the time...

[Freebirdwelds]

These types of posts always crack me up. lol

[smithdoor]

I think most threads do drift.
To me there three top brands today.
Hobart , Lincoln and Miller can not go wrong with any of three top brands.
Most of my welders was Miller.

China made always needs work, may die and will holdup with employees

Dave

These types of posts always crack me up. lol

[nickel_city_fab]

Any of the Hobarts that was made before the ITW/Miller buy-out. Mine is still doing its thing after several decades of abuse and neglect. currently it is getting some long-overdue attention, the previous owners didn't seem to care much about it.

If money was no object, I would get a Miller EnPak 60 , one of our suppliers at work uses them. Very, very sweet (and expensive $$$) machine.
350 A of multi-process welding with remote panel, 7.5 kW of utility power, 60 CFM air compressor, *and* 14 GPM of hydraulic power all in one diesel powered unit.
Integrates with the truck if so desired, to provide battery charging and boost/jump.

[Sberry]

If money was no object,,,, would drop my tools like a hot rock. Buying a new welder wouldn't be on my short list. If I won the lucky lotto first call, couple new cars, the paver to do my road after I call the metal crusher.

[Freebirdwelds]

If money was no object,,,, would drop my tools like a hot rock. Buying a new welder wouldn't be on my short list. If I won the lucky lotto first call, couple new cars, the paver to do my road after I call the metal crusher.

Yeah but a 60K dollar welder out side the window for when the lights go out could be pretty handy. lol

[Country Metals]

The #1 welding equipment is the #1 machine that makes you money.

[Eelspike]

Miller is really what I bought long ago those Lincoln pipeliners weld stock sweet being a true DC generator. The MQ-Power welders weld nice and the smart Miller inverters are great for wire feeders. I got a new Everlast Tig 325ext because I couldn't afford the equivalent Miller or Lincoln so far I like it fine for what I want it for.

[smithdoor]

Almost all good engine driven welders today use 3 phase generator to save money.
It sad day the old DC type is going away. Maybe gone today.

A low cost gas driven welder like Harbor Freight uses a single phase generator the use a inverter welder under the cover.

I do like welders like the SA200
I had a Hobart DC welder and was very smooth welder.
My last gasoline driven was Miller AC and not smooth but did a great job and had AC power.

Dave

Miller is really what I bought long ago those Lincoln pipeliners weld stock sweet being a true DC generator. The MQ-Power welders weld nice and the smart Miller inverters are great for wire feeders. I got a new Everlast Tig 325ext because I couldn't afford the equivalent Miller or Lincoln so far I like it fine for what I want it for.

[Zebidiah]

The red vs blue debate reminds me of when I was a kid. One kid would talk about how big his dads tractor was and then another would one up that with a larger tractor. Then eventually it would be my dad could beat your dad up, so on and so forth ha ha.

Ive found that most folks that hold a serious allegiance to any one brand, usually don't have much experience with anything other than what they own/owned.

[Sberry]

I used a lot of machines early in my career. This was before anyone ever thought of the modern import. What I found out (probably not to include pipeliner types) (disclaimer due to this being general and not specific) is that if you cant see them cant tell one from another.

[NotaVegetarian]

I don’t know!

probably the one with the most cup holders

[smithdoor]

The three top brands are Hobart, Lincoln and Miller.
They all will hold-up with employees.
But pay for price too.

Dave

I don’t know!

probably the one with the most cup holders

[NotaVegetarian]

The three top brands are Hobart, Lincoln and Miller.
They all will hold-up with employees.
But pay for price too.

Dave

well I have Lincoln and Hobart guess I need a Miller

[12V71]

I think that Hobart is a Miller.

[M J D]

I think that Hobart is a Miller.

What's really important , does it identify as a Miller

[Lis2323]

What's really important , does it identify as a Miller

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[Sberry]

That is a really good pair. So much babble about tig and I found so little absolute real need for it in general fab and maint work and even on alum the spool gun has pretty much put the synch out to pasture.

[smithdoor]

I agree 👍
TIG welding is very low use.
Today most welding done is MIG/Fluxcore next is stick.
Then torch and TIG.

Dave

That is a really good pair. So much babble about tig and I found so little absolute real need for it in general fab and maint work and even on alum the spool gun has pretty much put the synch out to pasture.

[Munkul]

There's not enough Lorch orange in this thread
The other day i went for a job interview at a fairly small company that's only been operating for a few years. They had big Lorch inverter welders for essentially welding 2" steel plates together. No expense spared. Made me think, this is a good place to work.
Of course, i would have thought the same thing if they were EWM, Fronius or Miller

[52 Ford]

There's not enough Lorch orange in this thread
The other day i went for a job interview at a fairly small company that's only been operating for a few years. They had big Lorch inverter welders for essentially welding 2" steel plates together. No expense spared. Made me think, this is a good place to work.
Of course, i would have thought the same thing if they were EWM, Fronius or Miller

Have you seen those Lorch backpack welding rigs?

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[Munkul]

Have you seen those Lorch backpack welding rigs?

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Yes i have. They're excellent. The lunchbox inverter welder is their standard micorstick or micortig unit, which runs on all AC voltage from 90v to 300v, so you can run them on 110v or 240.as well. The battery is designed to output this range depending on state of charge. You don't pay extra for the inverter, and you can buy and plug in the battery to any of the inverter models if and when you like. IMO its a bit more flexible and useful than the Fronius version, although not as compact.
The micorstick units are neck on neck with the Fronius Transpockets. Love them.