Help me decide on a welder (between two)
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Joined: May 2001
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From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Help me decide on a welder (between two)
I know this isn't a post directly related to FI, but most fabricators lurk in here, so I figured what the hell 
Anyway, to get on with it, I had a tig on order for almost a month now, and was told today that it won't be coming in for a while, so I decided to change welders, but don't know exactly to which one. I'm torn between these two:
Miller Syncrowave 180 SD:
Lincoln Squarewave 175 pro:
I haven't used either of these welders, only the bigger units or each. I work with a 275 squarewave and a syncrowave 350 LX, along with various other lincoln and miller products, and find that the miller stuff is good, but the lincoln stuff I find is just a better product in the end. I find the lincolns much easier to work with and aren't as finicky. BUT again I have no experience with either of these machines, and both seem somewhat similar, and are priced around the same to each other, so I'm just looking for opnions on either of these units.
Thanks in advance!
Anyway, to get on with it, I had a tig on order for almost a month now, and was told today that it won't be coming in for a while, so I decided to change welders, but don't know exactly to which one. I'm torn between these two:
Miller Syncrowave 180 SD:
Lincoln Squarewave 175 pro:
I haven't used either of these welders, only the bigger units or each. I work with a 275 squarewave and a syncrowave 350 LX, along with various other lincoln and miller products, and find that the miller stuff is good, but the lincoln stuff I find is just a better product in the end. I find the lincolns much easier to work with and aren't as finicky. BUT again I have no experience with either of these machines, and both seem somewhat similar, and are priced around the same to each other, so I'm just looking for opnions on either of these units.
Thanks in advance!
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Charleston, SC
Re: Help me decide on a welder (Canuk_SiR)
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From: Lemont, IL, USA
Re: Help me decide on a welder (Canuk_SiR)
http://www.mylincolnelectric.c...12813
On Lincoln's site it looks like the Squarewave 175 has been replaced by the Precision 185. I saw the PT185 at the AWS Welding Show in Chicago, it had remarkable arc stability at 5 amps (smooth as can be). The PT185 has a few different technologies that I haven't fully read up on but there are also other aspects to look at. Machines will break, and when they do, it's best to get it fixed locally. What do most of your local shops carry? Which one can you get a better deal on (price including shipping and taxes)?
They are both similar machines aimed at the same market segment. I know a bunch of people that are happy with Syncrowaves and I've personally used them at school and prefer them over the Squarewaves. I also know that other people that prefer Squarewaves. I prefered the Syncrowave for it's low-amp arc stability but when demonstrated the abilities of the PT185 on low-amp welds I was really impressed and would sway towards red for that now.
Just my $.58
On Lincoln's site it looks like the Squarewave 175 has been replaced by the Precision 185. I saw the PT185 at the AWS Welding Show in Chicago, it had remarkable arc stability at 5 amps (smooth as can be). The PT185 has a few different technologies that I haven't fully read up on but there are also other aspects to look at. Machines will break, and when they do, it's best to get it fixed locally. What do most of your local shops carry? Which one can you get a better deal on (price including shipping and taxes)?
They are both similar machines aimed at the same market segment. I know a bunch of people that are happy with Syncrowaves and I've personally used them at school and prefer them over the Squarewaves. I also know that other people that prefer Squarewaves. I prefered the Syncrowave for it's low-amp arc stability but when demonstrated the abilities of the PT185 on low-amp welds I was really impressed and would sway towards red for that now.
Just my $.58
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 444
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From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Re: Help me decide on a welder (10-94-55)
cool, great opinions. I thought about the 185 but it doesen't come complete, ie no torch, electrode holder, reg, lines, etc. just the unit, which still costs around the same as the other two, but I'd rather have the whole package to start. I will buy locally from a welding supply store, the place I'll be buying from will give me a deal because my work has an account with them, and they carry both brands, so its not a bad deal. I got a better price on the squarewave ($1995 cdn. vs. $2050 for the syncrowave).
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