Lincoln PM 210 MP Opinion?

[flynhawaiian]

I am curious what you guys think of this welder?

http://lincolnelectric.com/en-us/Equipment/Pages/product.aspx?product=K3963-1(LincolnElectric)

I walked into my local welding supply store all set to buy a millermatic 211 as my first welder. Did a bunch of research, capable of doing 1/4 inch on gas and sheet metal work and lots of great reviews and within my budget.

After talking with them, they thought this would be a better welder and I should wait a couple of weeks for them to come out. Since I don't need the welder right away, what do you guys think? The lincoln is cheaper with more tig and arc capabilities, but unproven.

 

[BADB0Y]

In my experience, a sales person advising a less expensive product that is "better suited for my needs" means one of two things...
1. He truly believes that it's the better deal and the right thing to do.
2. He has a better profit margin or higher commission on the cheaper product (or some other financial motivator).

 

[flynhawaiian]

I would like to think it would be option 1 due to the fact I would have to wait "til who knows when, but likely before the end of the year" according to the sales guy to purchase one from them.

Better suited for my needs may have not been the best term to use. It was more of along the lines of the lincoln has a lot more features with the same MIG capabilities for about 150 dollars less. I guess my main concern comes from being wary of tools that seem attractive because they can do many things, but in reality none of them well. I really just want a nice MIG welder, but it would seem wrong to pass on a better deal due to a skeptic hunch.

 

[Stomis]

Buy the biggest machine you can afford. And buy a blue one. Ive always felt those blue ones are way nicer than the red ones.

 

[flynhawaiian]

Dang I can't seem to get the link to the welder to work. Anyways, seems like the opinions I have gotten are 50/50 on red vs blue. I would like to think that means ether machine will work for me. This machine and the millermatic 211 are both the biggest machine in my ~1200 dollar range and have comparable mig welding capabilities.

Any opinions on inverter based machines. The lincoln has one and the millermatic 211 does not. The increased portability and less energy use aren't that important to me. Any other benefits?