The Home Machinist!

HI' I'm planning on buying one of these two welders within the next week.I'm looking for any info on which would be the better of the two.Most of my welding is mild steel 1"thick down to16guage.Planning on doing aluminum in the future.Thanks for any input.

Hi Cw, I have a Powermig 300 which is the earlier version of the 350mp. I was recently considering buying a new machine also. I compared very closely the Lincoln 350mp and the Miller 350p. The Lincoln has many more features than the Miller and is already a proven machine. The Powermig 300 has been out several years and is a very popular and proven machine. I do love the one that I have but like anyone else when something new or improved comes out I like to upgrade. I am not For Red or Blue as I own both I just like to have the best machine my money can buy. The Lincoln 350mp has a couple of new features like a dual process switch and dual gas selenoid valves that the 300 does'nt but is otherwise the same machine. Since the Powermig 300 came out Miller has been unable to come up with a machine to compete with it. There 1st attempt was the Millmatic Pulser which I purchased and it was very poor at welding Aluminum. I sold it shortly after I bought it I was so disgusted. They don't even make it anymore. Their latest attempt to compete is the Miller 350P. It was designed to be simpler to operate than the Lincoln which means less features. The Lincoln has many more synergic modes and also has Pulse on Pulse and Power mode, features that are patented by Lincoln. Miller's 350P is unproven and if you go to the Miller's ask Andy website and do a search on 350p you can read yourself about problems that they have had. Go to Lincoln's and to Miller's website and read there competive comparisons. My vote is for the Lincoln. If you go to welding supply.com you can have one delivered to your door for $3136.00. Good luck

I have not welded with the Miller only saw it used.(It blew a board though) Very nice machine otherwise. If I had to pull the trigger I would weld with both and decide from there. I flat out like the features of the 300/350 powermig for all it adjustablity and proven track record. The 40 mode is a pretty interesting with aluminum buildup or just welding in general. You are also getting a nice tig and stick out of the deal too. Lincoln is a better value for sure.

Thanks for your replies guys. It's nice to hear from someone that has the same welder. I will get to try both out at my shop this week,I'll let you guys know what ithink.

Has anyone used the tig or stick feature of the PM350? If these are viable it seems like too good to be true to have a quality mig machine with the options of DC tig and stick.
Thanks

Hi guys, Tried both welders today. The Lincoln seems smoother than the Miller.I also notice that there is not near as many modes or progams in the Miller.I'm going to buy the Lincoln because it is proven, it has more bells and whistles, and you can upgrade the software.Thanks for your replies.

Interesting, did you try them with mild steel?

I purchased the lincoln PM 300. I have virtually no eperience welding and started right off welding aluminum boxes (48"x30"x18" out of .125 5052 sheets 0.045 5356 wire) with just the push gun.(I did have some holes burned in the plate) It worked excellent as long as you didn't put a sharp a kink in the gun cable. Used the 300 mag gun it came with, 0.045 rollers and steel liner. Later purchased the aluminum rollers and teflon liner but those worked about the same as the regular gun set up. I wanted to get the push pul gun but couldn't afford it at this time . I have lately been trying it on mild steel 1.25 X .125 mild steel tubing and still playing with the settings, but seem to get some real decent welds. Havn't used all the diffferent settings yet but will continue to experiment. I will try to post some pics of the aluminum and mild steel welds for some one to critique, but I think the PM 300 is an awsome machine.

just my thoughts
steve

Steve,
I was push pull gun rich when I had my powermig. You are right, they are great units overall. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif"%20alt="[/img]