New Welder for 1st year AG / FFA Student

[STRIKEREPO]

My son is in 1st year ag and loves welding and asked us to get him a welder.

90% of people say Lincoln or Miller

So I have found a:

A) Lincoln Power Mig 200 in FLAWLESS shape. Looks like new, comes with the bottle and it is a full bottle

B) Lincoln 180 T

C) a Lincoln LE31.

Which would you say is a better buy if they are all within a couple hundred dollars of each other?

Thank you!

[HotRodTroy]

My personal choice would be the power mig. I had one and was able to Weld just about anything.

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[Jax]

If all those are within $200 by all means take the Power Mig 200,it sell's for twice as much as Le31 and more than $200 more than 180T. I have a Pro-Mig 180 that I've been happy with but would pay $200 in a heartbeat to trade for a Power Mig 200.

[Louie1961]

For agricultural applications, he should probably start with a stick welder and not a wire feed/MIG welder. Also definitely avoid anything that is limited to 120 volt power or the 140 amp machine. Those are really only useful for sheet metal and small projects. Find a good Miller Thunderbolt, Hobart Stickmate, Lincoln Idealarc, or Miller Dialarc if you are looking at used equipment. If you are considering buying new you can look at this unit. https://www.weldingsuppliesfromioc.c...der-0700500070

[welding1]

Screw them wire feeders! The best and most versatile would be a DC welder, at least 200 amps and a Inverter. You can weld most any metal (including aluminum), they can pierce holes, cut metal. If I only had one welder, it would be a stick welder!

[Sberry]

The 200 is a machine he would want even if he had others. If he is going to be a career welder he should learmstick well but if he wants to build stuff get the feeder.

[Broccoli1]

What is the price on the Lincoln Power Mig 200 ?

is the bottle free and clear? Not owned by a supplier?

My only caution on that machine is that it is almost a 20 year old machine, so pricing would have to be really good.

Nothing wrong with older machines, heck, I'm one

[scsmith42]

For ag work, I personally prefer a multi-process machine that will allow me to do stick and MIG. My current one is a Lincoln 210MP. The only rod that it does not like is 6010, and that's not a common rod used for Ag work anyway.

It will run stick, flux core MIG, hard wire, and scratch start DC Tig (for steel only - no aluminum). It's small enough to be portable, and will run off of either 120 or 240VAC (although you are limited with 120 in terms of what you can weld).

Mine was around $1,100 out the door.

Spend the $ to get him a good hood too. I love my Optrel Crystal 2.0 but the Lincoln Viking 3350 is not bad. I've heard great things about the new ESAB hood too.