Welders!! ESAB Mig master 250

[gnpenning]

Tonight I found a ESAB 250 on CL with tank for what Looked Like a fair price. did a quick search and found great reviews. So I bought it.

It looks like it was stored to close to a woodstove in a shop or garage(very common here. discussion for another thread). No bubbles in the paint or other signs of anything else except. The connection for the gun, gas power site, knobs a little warped.

Another quick search shows that other guns can work and be able to get consumables for a better price and easily.

1. What would you recommend for a gun and why?

2. Is the 75/25 the best all around gas?

3. What wire for all around?

4. What do you know about these machines?

5. What to watch out for?

6. setting?

7. Needs a Regulator for tank,suggestions.

any other suggestion.

Thanks in advance

 

[EB70]

I can say that I use a MM252 and a MM210, good machines. At home I have a ten year old Esab 250. I love the Esab, it welds great, kinda like butter. It is by far my favorite. Mine has a Tweco gun and it works fine. Did I say I really like this welder?

 

[gnpenning]

I can say that I use a MM252 and a MM210, good machines. At home I have a ten year old Esab 250. I love the Esab, it welds great, kinda like butter. It is by far my favorite. Mine has a Tweco gun and it works fine. Did I say I really like this welder?

This follows what the reviews where saying about ESAB. Tweco gun is what others are recommending as they use Fourney tips.

 

[TwoDalesDad]

I love my miller350 ....ESAB...Are great as well TWECO ...GunsAre great ...oh My Miller had its 25 birthday recently... So I Splurged and bought a new liner for the gun...she works like new again

 

[Amac70]

I used to have a esab, loved that welder, had a tweco gun.

 

[Timmy390]

1. What would you recommend for a gun and why? Tweco gun Why, it's the one I used and it worked well. Most of the guys I know have Tweco's

2. Is the 75/25 the best all around gas? I say yes but 100% CO2 is cheaper.

3. What wire for all around? I use .030 for most stuff under 3/16 and .035 for over 3/16

4. What do you know about these machines? Have never used one.

5. What to watch out for? N/A

6. setting? Will be different depending on what your welding

7. Needs a Regulator for tank,suggestions. Did it come with tanks? Getting them refilled is hard ok damn near impossible. You have to rent tanks around here and the place you rent from is the only one that will refill/exchange. I tried to get one refilled 2 years ago. PITA as I didn't have a contract with the anyone. Ended up getting a buddy that knows a guy that has a truck repair shop to exchange it via his account then I paid him. As for the regulator, any welding supply shop will have them.

Tim

 

[gnpenning]

Thanks guys.

In researching it appears that I have many options of guns. Not sure of the differences other than lenght and amps. Is there a specific model to look at?

Yes Timmy it came with 1 large tank, of course it was empty. No sticker on it to say what was in it. Doesn't matter other than to see what others where using. It is a very large tank so I want to get it right.

So far it hasn't been a problem getting my oxy/act filled here. Just swapped and act bottle out monday that was from a different company. Used Norco for this. Haven't checked any of the other welding supply houses we have yet.

Looking online at regulators again many options and a wide range of pricing. As you can guess this will be casually used by a novice so for the money what would you suggest?

 

[jim3326]

I like the Bernard gun more than the Twerker. The handle feels better and the tips are oval instead of threaded, of course you can use the Bernard gas diffuser and tips on the Twerker but there is still the handle thing.

Jim W.