ESAB Welders

Anyone happen to have any first hand experience with the ESAB Migmaster 280 or the Multimaster 300. I don't see much on other forums favorable or unfavorable and would like your opinions if you have one. Thanks.
 
I have an ESAB 260 multimaster, purchased in 2001 and my son has a multimaster 300 purchased in 2012. They are both the best welders I have ever used. My 260 is mainly used with .035 solid wire (it will run .045 with no additional parts), and occasionally I run DC stick. My son's 300 came equipped with the TIG module and torch parts, plus the MIG and stick equipment. I had both stick and wire feed welders prior to buying the ESAB, but once I demoed the Multimaster 260 at the welding supply store, I coughed up the $2000++ right then (price 12 years ago).

A year or so ago, I contacted the ESAB tech line in S Carolina for a recommended proceedure in welding the heavy duty top tubes to 2" thick by 6" wide fork lift forks. They not only provided the recommended proceedure, but the regional sales manager came out to my shop and helped me tune up my welding skills. As he was about to strike up a DC stick, he told me that of all the ESAB machines that he uses and demoes, the 260 is his favorite (very nice arc characteristics).

Have you tried their New Tech auto dark helmet yet? It is a world of difference compared to my maybe 20 year old Jackson auto dark helmet. The optics are way ahead of their competition. Both my son and I bought the new helmets (Christmas presents!).

In my experience, ESAB is a real top notch company.

Paul in MN
 
Dont have one but I know they want 700 bucks for a new circuit board.The selector switches are made as a part of the circuit board.If they break they cant be fixed.
 
Esab makes some good machines, they just aren't as
popular in N. America. Are you looking at buying a
used Esab or a new Esab?
 

Stickwelding: New. I would run the serial number by ESAB first to make sure I was buying one that was manufactured recently with all the updates. They're even less popular out on the West Coast but that doesn't bother me.

Paul: Your experience sounds typical. I've read a lot of good things about the 260. The 300 would work out better for me long run than the 280 but I don't think its available anymore. I haven't tried their helmet. I bought a Miller about two years ago and haven't thought of using anything else.

36 Coupe: I worry about boards also. From what I've been reading the past year, other brands burn out frequently. I haven't found anyone complaining about their Migmaster or Multimaster boards.

Thanks guys for the help.
 
I picked up a MigMaster 250 a while back - $500 in a yard sale. I was a stick & tig pipe welder. This MM has about ruined me! Best Mig machine I"ve ever used.

(It was built in my home town in SC, too!)
 
Hey Bud, the MM 250 is a rebadged Linde machine. They are every bit as good as anything else on the market. That's why Esab has kept it in their line for so long.
 
I grew up in Florence, SC and one of the largest plants town started as Union Carbide back in the 70"s. It became Linde for a while and last I heard it"s still ESAB now. Haven"t been there for years but I used to have some friends who worked there.

My machine has a tag saying it was built in Florence.
 
Not up on the newer ones, from what I hear they aren't what the older ones were but I've run some Migmaster 260's and the only thing that is similar to them would be an old Miller Millermatic 200 and although an odd ball, a Panasonic Gunslinger 260.
 

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