Not much. Price maybe. But for the money you're gettin close to this http://millerwelds.com/products/mig/millermatic_180/ or even this http://products.esabna.com/index.ht...id/id43628b95b115c3.84243835/category_id/3888
Identical to each other, except for the front panel... The only difference is what store you buy it in (I.E. Lowes, Home Depot, or a general Welding Supply store)
By the way, before you buy that machine, look up Lincolns new 110 welder... unless you are dead-set on a 220/230, check it out. I use it all the time at the shop, and for anything 1/4" or smaller, it rocks! http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/equipmentdatasheet.asp?P=42422
I've been checking out welders also. Those are old models. The 180C or T are the new ones with all metal drive in them. The 175 are plastic. The plus has fully adjustable output, the non-plus has five or six output setting. Cory
Ok, I just found out about the adjustable output. Doesn't seem to justify $200 more. The pro mig 175 is now the old model I guess but there blowin them out on ebay for $500. That INCLUDES shipping. Cant seem to go wrong at that price... Thanks for the input
I agree with that... you'll REALLY wish that you had the continuous adjustability..... On top of that, the 110 versus 220 portability. Unless you've got 220 all over the place, then you'll wish like hell that you had one of their 110 units.... and your friends will like it more so that you can bring it over to their houses, and easily weld on their stuff to haha!
The Pro Mig models don't have a few items such as the adapter to run the large-diameter (10 lb.) wire spools, so that they can be sold cheaper (at Lowes, etc.). For me, this isn't a big deal, as I switch back and forth between Flux-core wire and solid wire and the 2 lb. spools are a little easier to deal with ... although you pay more per pound for the smaller wire spools. Some models used to be stripped down even further, where you had to buy the gas regulator and tips seperately ... not sure if that is the case anymore. It all depends on WHAT you want to be able to weld and HOW MUCH of it you are going to do. If you are wanting it primarily for light-gauge mild steel, the smaller Pro Mig model works fine (I have a Pro Mig 135). If you want to be able to weld heavier materials and/or different materials such as aluminum or stainless, then you have to get into the little fancier machines. Same goes for plasma cutters ... it all depends on what you want to be able to do with it ... and then accepting it's limitations. Buy the best machine you can afford, but do your homework to know what the machine's capabilities are. If $500 is what you can afford (as was the case for me when I bought mine) then so be it. But, by the same token, it's not fair to expect it to be able to do everything that a more expensive machine can do. Just about everyone that I have talked to is reasonably happy with their Lincoln wire welder (as am I) so, whichever model you choose should be good, as long as it's used for what it was intended for Just my $.02
Be worned...I just bought a lincoln 175 off the E-gay out of Miami i think...great price..Brand new in the box Regulater smashed...also i found a 40.lb bottle with 70/30.out the door for 95.00 ... localy...Weld on...Shane
I was told by my local welding seller that the welders sold at home depot /lowes are not built to the same standards???? I was told they are lighter duty??? but they also couldnt even come close to the 490.00 to my door price for a lincoln 140C K2471-1 that I just picked up on Egay. Price shop its worth it!
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