[nine4gmc]

Hi, my shop neighbor just got a couple single phase Miller DialArc 250s and neither he nor I have much experience with an arc welder. I taught myself on a mig and he has never welded with anything but wants to learn for tinkering on his toys.
He basically got just the machines, no leads, cables, instructions or anything. Does anyone have any info or experience on this model? What size input wires and breaker is needed to hook into a main breaker box? The welder would be roughly 25' from the electric box.

Any tips or help appreciated.

[crussell85]

write down all of your welder info and take it to your local Airgas or Miller dealer and you should be able to get an owners manual for it. Check out this link also http://www.millerwelds.com/service/ownersmanuals.php

I don't think an arc welder is a very good choice for a shop welder. I would look into maybe selling the welders to a construction company or something like that and look into a decent MIG welder like a MillerMatic 252 or something like that. There are really no benefits of an arc welder over a mig welder except portability and ease of welding different materials by just changing rods and polarity.

[deadbodyman]

I have to agree....I bought a lincoln dialarc from the school when I took a welding coarse and got certified. Thats a great machine
if your welding the thick stuff (1/2"& up) all day but for around the shop a 220 mig is much handier ...I bought mine 5 yrs ago and still never used it.Its also a lot harder to learn ,it took me 6 mo to get a bead that looked like a pros and I had already been mig welding for 30 yrs...If you want to arc weld you really need to learn from someone that knows theres a lot to know...

[nine4gmc]

thats exactly what i told him when he bought them, i wanted to hear from some people that actually knew though cause i was guessing. my mig is so easy, i would never give it up. thanks for the reply guys, i will pass along the info.

[matts37chev]

My welding has got (looks) worse since I switched from ARC to MIG
Because MIG is so much easier I don't have to try so hard to make sure I get a good weld

[crussell85]

Originally Posted by matts37chev

My welding has got (looks) worse since I switched from ARC to MIG
Because MIG is so much easier I don't have to try so hard to make sure I get a good weld

What does it look like when you say it looks bad? What wire and gas are you using? What are you trying to weld?

[matts37chev]

I am just saying,
I dont work so hard at doing everything properly, that is needed to have a good looking weld
just lazy, dont have to try with the mig
you had to do it all it by the book, with a stick welder
or your weld wouldnt hold, or even have a hard time striking an arc

[matts37chev]

Originally Posted by crussell85

What does it look like when you say it looks bad? What wire and gas are you using? What are you trying to weld?

I have no problem welding correctly when I try
I have manufactured piping on gas tankers for years

I can get it done if needed!

[pepi]

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[matts37chev]

Originally Posted by pepi

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what the heck?
call us lazy but then your post changes?

my standard of bad and good welds are (I'm guessing) higher than most peoples