Mm175

[Arcburn]

How good is the MM175 as far as arc quality and weldable thickness go's? I know it's rated up to 1/4" but what is it's true limit? How much better is it compared to it's Lincoln counterpart? (link below) I am weighing my options because my parents are thinking of buying me one for my birthday and I am trying to get a good quality machine for a good deal.

http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/equipmentdatasheet.asp?p=9063#disclaimer

[Scott V]

Rule me out because I just bought my second Lincoln SP 175 plus.
If you want a better welder then the Lincoln (in some areas like 120 volt
operation/inductance control) buy a Miller Passport.

Think .180 with solid wire and .0250 with fluxcore single pass.

I could probaby get you a test drive and I could prove my point.
You live close.

[Arcburn]

Thanks for your offer, but my uncle has that same unit, I will have to see if he will let me run a couple beads on some scrap so I can see how well it welds.

[Danny]

No doubt in my mind that the Lincoln SP 175 is a better performing unit then the MM 175. The SP 175 + has a little better arc quality, is easier to dial the arc in on, and is far better in the area of arc starts.

[Laiky]

No doubt in my mind that the Lincoln SP 175 is a better performing unit then the MM 175. The SP 175 + has a little better arc quality, is easier to dial the arc in on, and is far better in the area of arc starts.

Please expand on this, what makes you say it's better performing? As far as i know they are very close performance wise. I looked at both when buying my mm175 and decided to go miller. It was a while ago so i don't remember specifics. Looking at the posted lincoln page it seems they are over stating it's capacity 5/16-1/2" ?? I call BS

I used a weldpak 155 for several years, liked that machine a lot until i got the mm. In the case of the weldpak vs mm the mm blows it away.

[Arcburn]

It probably is easier to dial in after all the complants I have read about the infinite voltage control and wire speed tracking on the MM 175. It's also a tad bit cheaper too.

[Scott V]

Thanks for your offer, but my uncle has that same unit, I will have to see if he will let me run a couple beads on some scrap so I can see how well it welds.

I was thinking at Airgas where you could run them side by side.
Maybe a MM-350p and a 350 mpi too. Three or four Migmasters/Mutimaster
and a MM-210, Lincoln 215 just to totally confuse the issue.

OK never mind.

Dan,
do you think the Miller arc starts are from more inductance
then the Lincoln machines? Seems like it has more to me.

I also going to run a small bottle of C02 with the Lincoln.
I heard they run nice on it. I just bet with that type arc
it would. I going in Monday and hook up that SP175 T
to CO2.

[Laiky]

I find the wst on the mm makes it quite easy to dial in as the sweet spot seems much broader, it's very easy to get it to sizzle

[Scott V]

I find the wst on the mm makes it quite easy to dial in as the sweet spot seems much broader, it's very easy to get it to sizzle

I found it kind of mushy when you got out of the .125 size welding range.
nothing I could do could bring it around where I like it. It's not like a machine
that has a narrow or for a better word (touchy) adjustment range, that
you can get right where you want it. It's like its just off a little. It still
welds fine but you can tell it off. Some people can tell and others can't
or they just don't care because it's close. In a way it's almost like a 251,
good but somewhat off for some people.

[Arcburn]

Looking at the posted lincoln page it seems they are over stating it's capacity 5/16-1/2" ?? I call BS

You are right, there is no possible way a little 175 amp MIG could weld 1/2" steel plate, Flux core or solid. The MM175 is looking be my welder of choise! Unless something strange happens and I change my mind or somebody convinces me that the lincoln is better

[fun4now]

i have never had any problems with the WST on mine i allways get just the arc i am looking for. the WST was desined to help you get it where it should be to get the best arc.i dont see it limiting it in any way except to keep you from doing some thing stupid that would'nt work werth a dam any way. i supose if you want to run the wire speed on high and volts on super low you could try that with the red one but it wouldnt weld so miller dosent see the need so they set it up to keep you in the right range, not to limit you. if you want more wire or volts just turn 1 or the other up and you get it. so to count the mm out due to the WST cuzz a few dont like it is foolish.try them bolth is always a good ideal.i'm shoure if you get the MM175 you will be just as happy with it as i have been with my MM135 for the last 2+ years. i wouldnt trade it for any other. well maybe a MM210

[Tailshaft56]

It probably is easier to dial in after all the complants I have read about the infinite voltage control and wire speed tracking on the MM 175. It's also a tad bit cheaper too.

Here is a nusance FEATURE on a lincoln machine. I happen to kinda like it but others find it a problem.

http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/showthread.php?t=17827

Dennis

[Danny]

Please expand on this, what makes you say it's better performing? As far as i know they are very close performance wise. I looked at both when buying my mm175 and decided to go miller. It was a while ago so i don't remember specifics. Looking at the posted lincoln page it seems they are over stating it's capacity 5/16-1/2" ?? I call BS

I used a weldpak 155 for several years, liked that machine a lot until i got the mm. In the case of the weldpak vs mm the mm blows it away.

By better performing, I mean, that SP 175 + has a little better arc, is easier to dial a very high quality arc in on, and the arc starts are much more consistent. Now, this doesn t mean i feel your MM 175 is junk. I use to own a MM 175, and they're a good unit, however, i just feel the SP 175+ is better performance wise.

With the proper fluxcore wire and a skilled operator, either one these unit has enough power to weld up to 1/2" in multiple passes, just not a lot of duty cycle available for such a task though. It definitely wouldn t be my recommended approach either.

[Danny]

Just one question here, if wire speed tracking is such a helpful feature to have, how come my MM 210 or the MM 251 I use own doesn't have this feature? It seems if it was such a great feature, Miller would put it on all there units.

[moe1942]

I have a MM175 and find it to be a great machine in its class. I just use the door chart and get excellent results. Maybe its because my hearing isn't very good and I don't get the urge to fiddle with the settings to get the right sound. Seeing that it is a good bead is OK for me..