Following

For work or home use? I've heard good things about that one, but he's a hobby welder, and not using it in a fab shop.

Home use... Single pass stuff 95%...

Building brush guards, HD joist hangers... Trailer repairs and add on... Nothing 1/4" plus... well mostly nothing. I have a stick if I need to burn heavy.

JMO, you could get a lot better bang for your buck in the used market for less money.

Here it is for $846.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/195978057449?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=195978057449&targetid=1528987492736&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9031041&poi=&campaignid=19851828444&mkgroupid=145880009014&rlsatarget=aud-1339632007594:pla-1528987492736&abcId=9307249&merchantid=114721785&gclid=CjwKCAjw69moBhBgEiwAUFCx2PWox62Z7DGz6rIjZL2K5Dm4WEVPe0-fel1VOUohXiKcUGfTKCNM1xoCBT8QAvD_BwE

Looks like DC only. So no aluminum welding.

Looking at your to-do list...I am asking myself...why? All the wire systems gas or fluxcore were invented to increase commercial production...how important is production to a rural property owner with 'projects'? How big is your shop? Will all your projects be done indoors? Let's face it...stick does it all...in any environment...with any dirty rusty material. I have gas, flux and stick....95% of the time I run stick...I do love wire for exhaust work, but that's about it.

I used the old Thermalarc multi process.

250 amp maybe?

MiG / tig / stick.

It was *good* at all, *great* at nothing.

This was about 20 machines in school setting.

Cash I've never owned one of the portable units like that but a friend of mine has a Miller and he has gotten some good use out of it. That particular unit has a duty cycle of 40% at 130 amps which isn't bad. Sometimes that's the downside to those.

I have an opinion, no experience with that unit.
As stated before, most multi purpose things don't any very well.
Few things frustrate me more than inferior tools. (then again that's how I make my living)
I can skimp on some things, but tools/equipment, "buy once cry once".

I think a good multiprocess machine like a Miller XMT holds it's own against most single process machines.

If it was me, I would be more concerned with the lack of A/C on the machine.

I have a Lincoln MP210 Works great for me. Mig, stick, or lift arc Tig. 110V or 220V. I've welded car floor pans to trailer parts and hitches.
Works fine for me. I like the fact that it will run on either 110 or 220. Have used it a time or two as a portable.

i have a similar unit, it works well and have had no complaints. The duty cycle would be the only draw back.

As a value comparison, I bought my Miller Dynasty 200DX off ebay, for $1800. It has AC/DC tig/stick. The machine had been used, refurbished, then used some more. It sold new for ~$7,000 IIRC. And it has been a most excellent machine.

I have a dynasty 200dx, I use it as a dedicated AC tig machine for aluminum. It’s a top of the line unit imo.
I have a miller max star I use for DC tig and small (1/16-3/32) rod work in the field. It’s a suitcase machine about the size of an ammo box. Another good machine.

I see a lot of that HF crap on Market Place says slightly used. wonder why they are trying to dump them so soon.
I bit the bullet a couple of years ago and got a Lincoln 260 could not be happier.
Looking for a plasma for next purchase. It won't be from HF

A lot of people have 1 small project to do. It's why they buy the HF to begin with - finish the project and dump.

Don't know anything about welders, but I saw this vid recently and thought it was informative.

It all depends on what the intended use will be. Monkeying around the garage on weekends, those will work. If it's anything that will be done for pay, you want something a little better, even a used name brand. I really like the new pulse welders.

I have a couple Millermatic 255's. One is always set up for aluminum, one for steel. A 355 for the heavy stuff. .045 SS, hardface, dual shield, or whatever. A couple XMT's cover the stick welding duties. Two TIG 200 squarewave Lincoln's for TIG duties. A little 120v Lincoln with .023 for the really thin stuff. There are more welders in the shop but they get limited use.

I agree that using the right tool for the job is always the best answer. I like having dealer support and quality consumables on hand.

I've ran that machine set up for TiG a few times. Good machine.

I do 95% of my welding around the house with a 110v Miller MiG. If I need AC for aluminum, or a TiG, or something that will run heavy stick, I'm lucky enough to know people with the machines to go use.

I've welded everything under the sun for a living since the mid 80's. Used a lot of crappy machines on all the manual processes, and a lot of good ones. Those Vulcans are decent units for the money.

For most work the inverter welders work fine. If I crank up the 210 thermal arc, I can spray weld, wire as good as any welder. No problem blowing through 1/4 inch plate if you aren't careful. Duty cycle is the fall down. For Joe average in his home shop, inverter welders work great. The lift tig is ok, once you get used to it, "not for aluminum"! I actually stay away from HF welders! To many better welders on the market for just a few dollars more! My opinion YMMV!

Thanks Guys!