they are usually made by Century... century is actually owned by lincoln now, from what i've seen the welders are made in italy... and yes they are stupidly overpriced... i would go with either hobart, thermal arc, lincoln or miller... i've owned all of them in the past, the best welder i ever owned was a miller 252, if i had it to do over again i would still own it but that was a $3000 welder... i sold it and bought a smaller mig and a ac/dc tig welder for what i sold it for..

i like the larger chassis machines... but the smaller migs like the hobart 210mvp, lincoln 180c, miller 211 look like pretty good deals.. the hobart 210mvp seems like nice machine for the money...

 

I had a century 110v mig at one time, It was one of the smoothest little machines for welding on sheet metal and thinner materials. I think it was only around a 130-140amps but for sheet metal it was great. I sold it for $75 to a friend and bought a miller 251 for an outrageous deal from airgas cause it got dinged in shipping, full warranty and everything

 

Yep Snap-On is way overpriced... Don't forget ESAB. the MigMaster 250/253 are nice..

 

Esab is probably one of the most underrated machines on the market and it's a shame.

 

Stay away from those Snap-On machines. Way over priced as Snap-On products always are and people reselling try to find someone stupid enough to be duped into thinking they're getting something good. They are just fine for sheet metal only but why would you buy something with serious limitations.

 

Based on physical appearances Systematics makes some of them. Can't speak for every model.

http://www.800abcweld.com/

 

isn't snapon like hilti? way overpriced but has a market niche because of the onsite service?

 

"onsite service"

Now that was a good one when speaking of welders.

ONLY reason I can see that Snap On even sells the first welder, is because a lot of the guys buying "off the truck" can pay "a dollar down" and a "dollar a week for the rest of your life". They end up paying three times what the machine is worth.

As it pertains to welders, I've NEVER heard a postitive response when it comes to how well Snap On stands behind their warranty on their welders. Actually, it's just the opposite.

 

No one who is truly a welder would buy a Snap On welder or plasma cutter off of that truck. Sometimes people use no common sense when it comes to making purchases from those guys. Snap On does make some good tools and even those are overpriced. I own quite a few Snap-On specialty automotive tools but that's it.

 

Now that is a bold statement. I own the MM250SL and have laid down some fine welds with it. What it cost to me is immaterial because I tried it before I bought it and found out what its capabilities and limitations are. It does offer 100% duty cycle at 180 amps. I can hold an arc till the spool runs out at that setting without a loss of voltage or current (at least nothing detectable). I think a lot of people who don't like them may not have ever used one. Just maybe. I also spoke to several people with systematics, inc. prior to purchasing it and never had a problem getting someone on the phone or answering questions about the machine. In fact, unless they lied, of all the machines in the field they have only one tech to take calls because they just don't see many failures. Been welding for over 30 years and do some spray transfer with this machine. Parts are not widely available but are shipped out of Pittsburg I think and for me I can change a board out if ever needed without taking it in for service. I like the individual coil taps for the selector switch too. Most welders would because it makes the machine stable at higher loads and voltage is increased incrementally with amperage increase. Works just fine for me using MIG, TIG & the spool gun attachment. Just one mans experience with them. The pic below is of a custom winch bracket for a trailer mount. Spray at setting 7 and even with one setting higher this was enough heat to nip the edges of 1/4" HR steel. Didn't matter though, wasn't concerned about looks on this one. Course I weld better with a car battery and coat hanger anyhow

Remember: It's only metal. It puts up a good fight but in the end it loses.
P.S. I'm not bashing anyone, just putting my two cents in because I own the machine. Carry on.

 

Thanks for the responses. I figured this was the case with Snapon welders. I am not looking to buy one, just noticed several for sale at ridiculous prices.

 

You'll see one for sale every now and then always priced sky high. No way to ever get your money back. Quality and performance totally aside if guy owns one he just as well plan on keeping it or taking a beating on the original purchase price. Or maybe a sucker that thinks coming from snap on imparts some magical powers on it.

 

If you are looking for a good small/med size mig welder, this looks like a pretty good deal.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...op/tools/product_200392663_200392663?cm_sp=Upsells-_-Top Sellers-_-Product Page

 

Here is a good one also...... http://store.cyberweld.com/mil175witecc.html

 

I have a friend who is a Snap-On rep, so I was able to get the following information from him:

-Currently all Snap-On machines are made by Systematics.
-Their sales literature gives all the capacities at 100% duty cycle.
-They are very expensive.
-He does not know the warranty/repair process if something goes wrong.

He did say that they are really pushing the 100% duty cycle pretty hard. I can see how that would be a pretty good selling feature, but it won't effect most people since a person can't really weld 100%.

 

go with a chassis welder like the hobart ironman 230 or thermal arc fabricator 210 or miller 212 or lincoln powermig 216 you wont be sorry..

 

Here is a good one also...... http://store.cyberweld.com/mil175witecc.html

Yea, but the hobart210/miller211 is notably better than the Miller 180 AND it includes the spool gun.

"He did say that they are really pushing the 100% duty cycle pretty hard. I can see how that would be a pretty good selling feature, but it won't effect most people since a person can't really weld 100%."

They are ALL 100% duty cycle at some level of output. Show the SNAP-ON 100% duty cycle at rated output vs a Miller/Hobart/Lincoln at the same output and you will have something to compare. Just to say 100% duty cycle without stating the output is meaningless.

 

I already have a HH187, but am waiting to find a chassis MIG used at a good deal.

 

Snap On muscle Mig is legendary among professional welders the most consistent sharpest arc out there made from alot better parts and made to weld all day every day.
www.800abcweld.com I think if you compare apples to apples which lincoln Miller or Hobart do not offer 100% duty cycle Period in any of their welders that right there says alot about whats under the label.
Expensive? YES!! but worth every penny

 

I would have to say you are either a Snap-On dealer, or you have definitely drunk the Kool-Aid from some guy in a Snap-On truck if you think those machines are "legendary among professional welders".

 

Very misleading information:

http://www.800abcweld.com/store/index.php?crn=295&model_view=1&action=show

 

Snap-On welders in the UK, are, or last have been made by Cebora. If you can pick one up for the right price you will not disappointed.

Remember the world is not flat, and there are other makes than blue and red.

 

I don't think anybody is saying Snap On make a crap welder, just an overpriced welder. For the money there are better choices out there, and they don't have to be blue or red, but they're included.

I if Jynxpak posted while kneeling with his snap on knee pads, snap on hat turned backwards, in front of his snap on dealer, basking in the glow of his snap on led work light and stuffing dollar bills into the dealers waistband. He obviously is drinking the kool aid so to speak.

As you can tell I am not a snap on believer and also may have some pent up anger issues.

Tom

 

This Lincoln welder shows a 100% rating (if it's not turned up all the way)
Just like the snapon Not turned up all the way!
http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us/Equipment/Pages/product.aspx?product=K2535-1(LincolnElectric)
Just sayin.
The one in Lmironworks link looks like it about 40% light.
ADVERTISING isn't always what it seems to be, you have to do some homework sometimes.

 

The way Snap On does this is that most of their welders and plasma cutters are transformer based and underrated electrically so you can't actually see the true rating. To give an idea of what I mean is a car rated a 200 hp but puts out 195 at the wheels is truly underrated. The welder is rated at say 200 amps but truly capable of 260 amps and has a dial the maxes at the rated 200 at 100% duty cycle.

Sent from my 4G HTC Rezound using Tapatalk 2

 

I have two Snap on welders and really have nothing to complain about. I don't think I will buy a tapped machine again but that is another story.

And the price is not outrages either.