Dual Voltage PowerMTS?

I'm considering buying a MIG welder, maybe 6 - 8 months down the road to complement my PPro 256. I really like what I see in the PowerMTS units, and I'd love to have a small, light weight unit that can serve as as back up to my 256 for DC TIG/Stick. The PowerMTS seems to fit the bill quite nicely.

While I think I would mostly use this for light duty GMAW in my garage shop, I'd love to be able to take it out for small jobs using flux core on 120v. Maybe that's a pipe dream, but I've been seriously looking at the cheap Lincoln MIGs at the hardware store. However, I just don't see the value in those units compared to the PowerMTS. Just curious if maybe I overlooked a dual voltage option on the product page, or possibly one of the Everlast guys might know about something on the product road map. Or, maybe FCAW is just so bad that, I should stay with stick welding ;) .

Thanks
Mike

You would have a fair amount of redundancy, since the MTS offers stick and lift start DC TIG, along with MIG. Looking at specs I was impressed to see the bare machine weight of the 160 and 200 MTS machines is just 25 pounds. (Altho you'd add up to 10 or so pounds with a large spool of wire.)

Yeah, I really liked the weight ... I mean my extension cord weighs a lot more than the PowerMTS ;). I think MIG/stick make sense in a portable package. I also really like the TIG redundancy. I can see my self setting the PowerMTS up on my welding cart for a MIG job, and then wanting to TIG a tack really quickly. Wouldn't want to hoist the 256 back on to the cart just for that.

But you'd have to swap the shielding gas in that scenario, wouldn't you? MIG is argon / co2 and never pure argon, pretty sure DC TIG is argon only.

Yeah, but that's still better than swapping the welder *and* the shielding gas. Also, I think I can fit a 2nd 150cf tank on my cart, but I might gave to get creative on how to secure it. A 80 cf would definitely fit and a simple valve setup would make swapping over gases a snap.

Cheers
Mike

I would recommend two separate carts. A cart with two welders, two bottles, a water cooler for the TIG torch, and a half a dozen hoses and cables isn't exactly handy. I have a small Lincoln MIG and a PP256. They stay on two different tool boxes, (the short roll around kind). I use the drawers for expendables, and hoses and such. If I ever wanted to use both at the same time, I would just roll both of them to the same location. For the bottles I just use a small hand truck with a cargo strap to hold the bottle firm.

If I ever wanted to take one of the welders to a different location, I would only have to load the one tool box along with it's welder and bottle and I would have everything I need. With a combined setup, you will have to do some sorting to take what you need from the one cart.

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Originally Posted by posixPilot

While I think I would mostly use this for light duty GMAW in my garage shop, I'd love to be able to take it out for small jobs using flux core on 120v. <<<...............>> Or, maybe FCAW is just so bad that, I should stay with stick welding ;) .

Thanks
Mike

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Personally I would pass on a flux core. I have never used one but from talking with the people that have they are not very happy. I had a friend pick up a used one last summer. He was so proud it was almost brand new in the box. I told him because it is not very good. I wish you would have said something before putting down cash. He said but I got a deal!!!

Well a few weeks go past... He said it is back in the box... His wife put it up for sale at a garage sale... And guess what... Some guy was so happy to get a flux core welder... Hey it was about brand new and in the box... Hahaha

I do hear they work a little better in the wind outside than a shielding gas... But it might be more of a break even.

BTW I do agree I would get 2 carts. One big cart would be a hassle to move around. Sure don't want a tank tipping over.

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Originally Posted by Brian Ski

Personally I would pass on a flux core. I have never used one but from talking with the people that have they are not very happy.

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I think of flux core as just another tool in the toolbox: if you know going in that it >won't< weld razor blades or even body panels, and that it >will< smoke like a tire fire and have more BBs than a Boy Scout target range, then maybe it will work in your application. It has the ease of MIG and the field-readiness (i.e., harsh conditions) of stick. If you use the wrong tool, like vice grips to turn a bolt, you'll likely round off some edges and possibly FUBAR something pretty badly... but if you need to quickly weld a hinge on a gate, or something where function is more important than appearance, then flux core may work for you.

I also like DannyB's idea of keeping tools and consumables separated by process, sounds smart.

I have an equivilent machine in the Fabricator 181i. I am very pleased with its operation. Although mine does not have the dual voltage capability. And as far as another cart, or swapping machines. I use a parts cart that I had built years ago and modified it to hold several bottles of sheilding gas and all 3 of my welders, along with all the leads and periferals. I still have about half of the storage space on the cart for parts and what other tools as well. I am not sure on the MTS machines here if they are dual voltage, but if so that would be great.

Right now the MTS series has no plans for dual voltage. It's a good idea, but for now, they will remain single voltage for best performance in the smaller units in this series.

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Originally Posted by DannyB1954

I would recommend two separate carts. A cart with two welders, two bottles, a water cooler for the TIG torch, and a half a dozen hoses and cables isn't exactly handy.

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I really wish I could have two separate carts, but it's a space issue (e.g. my preference for the multi function machines). I haven't found space for my existing cart yet ;) .

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Originally Posted by BrianSki

Personally I would pass on a flux core.

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Originally Posted by DaveO

It has the ease of MIG and the field-readiness (i.e., harsh conditions) of stick.

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Yeah, I'm not really expecting a lot from flux core, but as Dave mentions, it goes hand in hand with portability and ease of setup. Flux core is an option, just like dragging a tank and regulator out into the field is an option.

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Originally Posted by Bigwilly01

I am not sure on the MTS machines here if they are dual voltage, but if so that would be great.

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Exactly my point ... I'm pretty sure they are only 240v from the spec sheet, but how great would that be if they were dual. I'm sure there is a technical and/or price point issue with making them dual voltage, but I just wanted to throw the idea out there to let EL know that there is interest.

Thanks
Mike

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Originally Posted by DaveO

I think of flux core as just another tool in the toolbox: if you know going in that it >won't< weld razor blades or even body panels, and that it >will< smoke like a tire fire and have more BBs than a Boy Scout target range, then maybe it will work in your application. It has the ease of MIG and the field-readiness (i.e., harsh conditions) of stick. If you use the wrong tool, like vice grips to turn a bolt, you'll likely round off some edges and possibly FUBAR something pretty badly... but if you need to quickly weld a hinge on a gate, or something where function is more important than appearance, then flux core may work for you.

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I understand your thinking. It sounds like you are familiar with a flux core. With my buddy who picked the one up it was the only one he had and I (and him now) really think to wait and get a MIG welder. Most every tool has a purpose.

Years ago we had a truck down (bad water pump). I wanted to wait until the next day when I had my tools with me. The new guy said he could do it. He had pliers and an adjustable wrench. I cussed him every time I ever had to work on that truck again. Pretty much all the bolts were rounded and the sockets never did fit right on them after that.

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Originally Posted by Brian Ski

It sounds like you are familiar with a flux core.

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Mostly the smoke and the BBs! There's also the flux clean up to think about- I practiced some last weekend, and scrubbed with a wire brush to remove flux and still had flux on the weld. I eventually got it fully cleaned up with the wire wheel on my bench grinder. The flux was pretty tenacious.

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Originally Posted by Brian Ski

Years ago we had a truck down (bad water pump). I wanted to wait until the next day when I had my tools with me. The new guy said he could do it. He had pliers and an adjustable wrench. I cussed him every time I ever had to work on that truck again. Pretty much all the bolts were rounded and the sockets never did fit right on them after that.

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Isn't that why they call them "water pump" pliers?! Or maybe it should be "mangle your water pump" pliers.

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Originally Posted by performance

Right now the MTS series has no plans for dual voltage. It's a good idea, but for now, they will remain single voltage for best performance in the smaller units in this series.

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Thanks, Mark. I'll probably bump the thread in a couple of months, when I'm ready to buy, just to see I'd anything has changed.

Thanks
Mike