Hi guys, first post here although I have lurked as a guest for some time.
I hate to throw another "which welder" or "which process" post on the pile... But I would like some input if you don't mind.
Here's my situation, I own and operate a classic car restoration shop which is a full time business currently with 2 employees. We see a lot of 50's, 60's, 70's projects run through the shop, all customer projects. I have a 3000 sq ft shop with a 2 post hoist in a tear down room, we have a general work area for metal work, body work, fab etc. We have a paint booth and a bunch of the basic tools and equipment you might expect to find in an auto restoration shop.
I purchased a millermatic 175 probably around 15 years ago as a hobby machine for myself. It's served me well but I don't feel it has a place in my business for much longer.
I'm looking to upgrade in machines, I say machines rather than machine because I want something set up for exterior body panel repairs and something set up for general purpose welding which can mean frame/structural stuff. Most of the body panel stuff I do is around 22-20 gauge material and I like to fit my repair joints tight (butt). I've been using mig process with .023 solid wire and C25. I do ok with it but metal finishing could benefit from a process improvement here. I've looked at TIG, I love the idea of the low weld profile, less grinding, more planishable etc. But I know that the reality is that I won't be able to lean on TIG process for all of my panel repairs. I don't always have decent access to the back side of the original panel (still on the car) to clean things as perfectly as TIG would require.
So, for now my inclination is to upgrade my mig machine, focus squarely on 22-20 gauge steel, butt welds, .023 esab easy grind is what I am thinking I'd like to switch to and I believe the C25 gas blend would work well with this. Multi voltage has absolutely ZERO importance to me, I don't care about it at all. I have several single phase 50 amp 230 circuits throughout the shop, I really don't see myself ever needing to plug a machine into a 115 outlet. Lightweight, same thing there, I do not care, I don't care if the machine weighs 300 lbs or 30 lbs, makes no difference to me.If it happens to weigh 30 lbs and can run on 115, 230 or unicorn sparkles and also happens to be the BEST machine for light sheet metal then that's fine. I'm just saying multi voltage and uber portable are not requirements for me by any means. Same goes for auto set, it's not important to me but if the best machine for my needs happens to have auto set then so be it.
I have looked at a bunch of machines in the mig and tig processes. I've sort of reeled myself back from TIG, I won't rule it out as I do believe it would be useful to me, but I've come to terms with the idea that I maybe don't need a dynasty series machine to figure out if I like it or not.
I've wanted a 252 Mig for a bunch of years, but I'd feel silly about pushing .023 wire with the machine set as low as I can get it.
I'm considering miller 211 and also the multi 215 for my light sheet metal needs. Then I had actually considered Hobart Ironman 230 for my general purpose machine, stuff that's heavier than 16 gauge, areas where I won't be metal finishing the weld, places where I can push .030-.035 wire that's not as expensive as the esab easy grind (that stuff is like $6.50 lb).
Are those 211-215 machines nice performers for light sheet metal butt joints? Are there better machines?
Then the Hobart 230... I know I'd be happier in the long run with the 252 but I can nearly buy 2 ironman 230's for the price of a 252.
Again, sorry for throwing out another of these "what should I buy" posts but hopefully someone can share some advice.
Thanks.
Dave
I hate to throw another "which welder" or "which process" post on the pile... But I would like some input if you don't mind.
Here's my situation, I own and operate a classic car restoration shop which is a full time business currently with 2 employees. We see a lot of 50's, 60's, 70's projects run through the shop, all customer projects. I have a 3000 sq ft shop with a 2 post hoist in a tear down room, we have a general work area for metal work, body work, fab etc. We have a paint booth and a bunch of the basic tools and equipment you might expect to find in an auto restoration shop.
I purchased a millermatic 175 probably around 15 years ago as a hobby machine for myself. It's served me well but I don't feel it has a place in my business for much longer.
I'm looking to upgrade in machines, I say machines rather than machine because I want something set up for exterior body panel repairs and something set up for general purpose welding which can mean frame/structural stuff. Most of the body panel stuff I do is around 22-20 gauge material and I like to fit my repair joints tight (butt). I've been using mig process with .023 solid wire and C25. I do ok with it but metal finishing could benefit from a process improvement here. I've looked at TIG, I love the idea of the low weld profile, less grinding, more planishable etc. But I know that the reality is that I won't be able to lean on TIG process for all of my panel repairs. I don't always have decent access to the back side of the original panel (still on the car) to clean things as perfectly as TIG would require.
So, for now my inclination is to upgrade my mig machine, focus squarely on 22-20 gauge steel, butt welds, .023 esab easy grind is what I am thinking I'd like to switch to and I believe the C25 gas blend would work well with this. Multi voltage has absolutely ZERO importance to me, I don't care about it at all. I have several single phase 50 amp 230 circuits throughout the shop, I really don't see myself ever needing to plug a machine into a 115 outlet. Lightweight, same thing there, I do not care, I don't care if the machine weighs 300 lbs or 30 lbs, makes no difference to me.If it happens to weigh 30 lbs and can run on 115, 230 or unicorn sparkles and also happens to be the BEST machine for light sheet metal then that's fine. I'm just saying multi voltage and uber portable are not requirements for me by any means. Same goes for auto set, it's not important to me but if the best machine for my needs happens to have auto set then so be it.
I have looked at a bunch of machines in the mig and tig processes. I've sort of reeled myself back from TIG, I won't rule it out as I do believe it would be useful to me, but I've come to terms with the idea that I maybe don't need a dynasty series machine to figure out if I like it or not.
I've wanted a 252 Mig for a bunch of years, but I'd feel silly about pushing .023 wire with the machine set as low as I can get it.
I'm considering miller 211 and also the multi 215 for my light sheet metal needs. Then I had actually considered Hobart Ironman 230 for my general purpose machine, stuff that's heavier than 16 gauge, areas where I won't be metal finishing the weld, places where I can push .030-.035 wire that's not as expensive as the esab easy grind (that stuff is like $6.50 lb).
Are those 211-215 machines nice performers for light sheet metal butt joints? Are there better machines?
Then the Hobart 230... I know I'd be happier in the long run with the 252 but I can nearly buy 2 ironman 230's for the price of a 252.
Again, sorry for throwing out another of these "what should I buy" posts but hopefully someone can share some advice.
Thanks.
Dave
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