Advice on new Mig/Tig unit(s)

jeepcj3a

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2006
Location
winston salem
I had a Hobart 140 mig about a decade ago and now looking to start over learning to Mig weld again and also want to learn Tig. Home garage use/furniture making/lots of sheet metal repair on a flatfender and tubing. I have 230 access and have been looking at the Rebel EMP 215 ($1,449 before $100 rebate) and the Miller 215 with Tig Kit ($1,879 before $200 rebate).

I am also considering the Mig only 215 Rebel and buying a stand alone Tig but current hesitation is that for only $480 more I get at least the option for Tig in the EMP Rebel 215 to get me going before needing a stand-alone.

I briefly looked at the Rebel 235 but don’t see needing to weld 1/2” anytime soon (vs 3/8” with the Rebel 215) and while it has dual gas ports so switching between Mig/tig wouldn’t be as much hassle, it doesnt come with a tig setup in box and with the tig addition, is about $625 more than the Rebel 215.

Suggestions on Rebel vs Miller and a Mig/tig unit vs separate Mig and Tig?

Thank you
 
I really like the Vulcan Omnipro 220. It is harbor freight but it gets great reviews and the one I bought has worked great. Ran probably 15lbs of wire through it and a couple of bottles of C25. No issues plus it has a 1 year unconditional return policy. Definitely worth looking at. It is really a MIG but comes with a stick set up and you can add touch and go TIG. No aluminum with the tig but can also get a al spool gun if you really need it. Come check mine out if you want.
 
Have you thought about the Lincoln Power Mig 210? I went and looked at a Rebel and they suggested to look into it too. I have not done anything yet but I'd be interested in what you find out and what people say. I read some where on here that Miller is having quality issues. Unless I misunderstood.
 
ghost said:
Have you thought about the Lincoln Power Mig 210? I went and looked at a Rebel and they suggested to look into it too. I have not done anything yet but I'd be interested in what you find out and what people say. I read some where on here that Miller is having quality issues. Unless I misunderstood.
Click to expand...

That Lincoln is one I will be researching today. This thread has been helpful too: About time for a new welder

From looking for feedback on the Rebel EMP 215 in particular (the rebel EMP 235 was tough to find any reviews oddly) I read folks having various issues with the connections or dropping amperage and some getting fixed over phone with CS help, and one that had a bad phone CS interaction but ESAB got him a new machine a week later. I do want to buy something that I can take to a local store for any warranty work if needed (never had issues with the Hobart) vs packing up and mailing off.

I have looked at the Vulcan's in person but those are the only ones so far.
 
jeepcj3a said:
That Lincoln is one I will be researching today. This thread has been helpful too: About time for a new welder

From looking for feedback on the Rebel EMP 215 in particular (the rebel EMP 235 was tough to find any reviews oddly) I read folks having various issues with the connections or dropping amperage and some getting fixed over phone with CS help, and one that had a bad phone CS interaction but ESAB got him a new machine a week later. I do want to buy something that I can take to a local store for any warranty work if needed (never had issues with the Hobart) vs packing up and mailing off.

I have looked at the Vulcan's in person but those are the only ones so far.
Click to expand...

If you want to burn some metal with the vulcan come by.
 
Lincoln 210 mp. And squarewave 200.

Or buy the Vulcan multi process and tig200 if you need ac capability

Esab makes a great machine but customer support has been terrible and getting worse over the recent years.

I won’t buy miller again. I would buy eastwood/Vulcan/ longevity/ ever last before buying another Miller. Ideally if you can spend the money go lincoln.

Remember that Hobart is Miller.
 
I have the Vulcan omnipro 220. Haven't used it a ton, but have been satisfied with it so far. I was in the same situation, and couldn't justify 2x the cost for 10-15% better machine.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
Mac5005 said:
Lincoln 210 mp. And squarewave 200.

Or buy the Vulcan multi process and tig200 if you need ac capability

Esab makes a great machine but customer support has been terrible and getting worse over the recent years.

I won’t buy miller again. I would buy eastwood/Vulcan/ longevity/ ever last before buying another Miller. Ideally if you can spend the money go lincoln.

Remember that Hobart is Miller.
Click to expand...

I've been disappointed with esab service every time I've needed them. I knew you were a big fan of the rebels when they came out, though, and didn't know if they had straightened out their problems Apparently not, if they've managed to piss you off!
 
Love my everlast 250 ex

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
 
catfishblues said:
I've been disappointed with esab service every time I've needed them. I knew you were a big fan of the rebels when they came out, though, and didn't know if they had straightened out their problems Apparently not, if they've managed to piss you off!
Click to expand...

Just poor customer service from me personally as a little guy to not even making it to second round of considerations for a $35k multiple machine purchase....

I still love their programming on their inverter based mig machines to keep arc voltage constant,

They are definitely ahead of the curve there compared to the other brands, but that doesn’t make up for a poor long term investment commitment.


I’d rather have to tweak the settings manually and have a much stronger customer support relationship.
 
My Vulcan Omnipro 220 is one handy little ass welder, I like the fact that if your running to low of power or to high or outrun duty cycle it flips itself into cool down mode so not in danger of burning it up! It’s light weight I’ve run mine off a 7000watt generator with no issues on 120 and 240! Only thing I don’t like are the short leads for mig and stick and the settings are not quite what I’d call accurate but can all be manipulated to do good work! I’ll always have a place in my heart for Lincoln’s tho especially old stick ac/dc machines!
 
I’ve been running a Miller 211 for a minute and it gets the job done at a decent price but it’s just a mig machine.

I used my friends Vulcan Omnipro to burn in my shock towers and that thing is extremely impressive for the price. Not to mention you can get a 2 yr replacement on it and no questions asked and there is a harbor freight everywhere.

The other machine I got to run recently that I liked was the Lincoln 210mp. It felt very nice running .030 wire. The interface is awesome and I feel like it was way easier to get dialed in than my MM211. What I liked most about that one was it comes with the .045 dual shield accessories out of the box and running that dual shield is just about my favorite thing to do on heavier stuff. You have to watch the duty cycle but it can really put in some work. Basically welds itself.

-Just some recent observations from a novice who probably shouldn’t be welding structural pieces to his Jeep anyways


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
C.Berry said:
My Vulcan Omnipro 220 is one handy little ass welder, I like the fact that if your running to low of power or to high or outrun duty cycle it flips itself into cool down mode so not in danger of burning it up!
Click to expand...
How long can you push it before it will shut down? I like my 90a unit because it will weld for ten to twenty minutes before it overheats and clicks off. (Far in excess of the stated duty cycle)
 
a_kelley said:
How long can you push it before it will shut down? I like my 90a unit because it will weld for ten to twenty minutes before it overheats and clicks off. (Far in excess of the stated duty cycle)
Click to expand...

Mine has never shutdown. Welded a lot with it. There is a guy on youtube that pushes one for 15 minutes at full power and gives up on it shutting down as his hand is getting too hot to continue.

 
a_kelley said:
How long can you push it before it will shut down? I like my 90a unit because it will weld for ten to twenty minutes before it overheats and clicks off. (Far in excess of the stated duty cycle)
Click to expand...
I tried to shut it down over working it but it hasn’t so far and I’ve welded for a good 2 hours practicing machine wasn’t even hot! I got a warning for low voltage once bc I had it on 110 with 5 shop lights radio and fans on!
 
Have decided to go with a Mig and separate tig. Still undecided on which tig machine. looking at the SW200, Pro tig 200 and one of the Everlast.

Lincoln started new promotion today for their 210MP at $999 but unfortunately no drop for the SW200.
 
That’s a deal on the 210mp, I paid $1300. When I bought the mp, the SW200 was also on sale for $1400 IIRC

I’d still like to try the pro tig 200 as it appears to be a direct copy of the sw200.

From two people I trust that weld a lot and own the everlast 250, they only have good things to say.

One thing about aluminum and amperage capacity. You can always preheat with a propane torch to make welding 1/4” easier with a 200a machine. The lower duty cycle of the smaller inverter machines will most like save you from melting the air cool torch down with high amperage AC work.
 
Mac5005 said:
One thing about aluminum and amperage capacity. You can always preheat with a propane torch to make welding 1/4” easier with a 200a machine. The lower duty cycle of the smaller inverter machines will most like save you from melting the air cool torch down with high amperage AC work.
Click to expand...

Welding 1/4" Al with air cooled torch for any period of time will get you hot enough to stop before the machine does!
 
Called two places today in Winston and Greensboro. Both were nice. One said even though their website lists that they carry ESAB, they only sell Miller and Lincoln. Other said they could order ESAB if I wanted. Current plan is Mig only Rebel and a separate tig. Will be calling them back for order price Monday.

Going to switch gears and do helmet research now.
 
Last edited:
jeepcj3a said:
Called two places today in Winston and Greensboro. Both were nice. One said even though their website lists that they carry ESAB, they only sell Miller and Lincoln. Other said they could order ESAB if I wanted. Current plan is Mig only Rebel and a separate tig. Will be calling them back for order price Monday.

Going to switch gears and do helmet research now.
Click to expand...


Lincoln/Viking 4c with the big lens. Thank me later lol.

Clearest color I have found.

Sentinel is nice but not as clear clarity as Lincoln.

I don’t like Miller funky color.

I have a Jackson w70 bh3, was clear from the start but after 4 years is now a deep blue/green similar to old Miller/Lincoln.

Also have a 3m speedglass with the side windows, it’s clear, but I don’t personally like the color of the filter. It is nice for out of position work as it covers my ears better and the side windows help from hitting my head on stuff with more peripheral vision area.

For tig work on the table, I always pick up my fixed shade Jackson with a gold coated glass Hobart lens. Excellent color and clarity for under $50.

I will frequently tack an assembly together with the Lincoln and switch to the fixed shade to weld it out.

Stay away from gold coated lenses that are plastic and not glass. They get the color correct, but have a smoke haze while welding. The clarity just isn’t there.
 
Last edited:
Lincoln Viking x2!!! It’ll be my next helmet for sure unless I go respirator style, I picked up a Hobart endeavor and has pretty nice size screen not bad clarity for $90 helmet tho!
 
jeepcj3a said:
Have decided to go with a Mig and separate tig. Still undecided on which tig machine. looking at the SW200, Pro tig 200 and one of the Everlast.

Lincoln started new promotion today for their 210MP at $999 but unfortunately no drop for the SW200.
Click to expand...

DUDE! thanks for posting the discount. I just bought one. My favorite all around welder I’ve used so far.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
I've always been a big fan the big blue (older machines), one that has really surprised me is the Lincoln ProMig 180. It has short leads and low duty cycle (down side). The positives, great for sheet metal (.030), spool gun wiring already installed (open cover, switch the stinger, gas, push button), it does well on frame, bumper, and cage work. If I needed to weld on a dump truck all day I would look for a bigger machine. Only about $700 at Slowes.
 
I've got a Hobart autoarc hood my buddy and I watched fly off a trailer in front of us about ten years ago. Still works but the shade control broke towards the dark setting but it it's pleasant to use. I would recommend getting a Arc shield to go under and drape from the bottom side of the hood to prevent reflections from your shirt. Even a half a t-shirt duct taped to the bottom of the hood will help, brand you end up with.
 
Back
Top