|
Used to own a XMT304 several years ago. About 99% of my work is tig so I sustain a few tig related machines along with an old Powcon machine (predecessor to the 304) that fills any mig or stick needs I have. Friend I sold the 304 to still uses it daily, a really solid machine with a basic S22A wire feed unit.
You seem like a handy person and I'd be hard pressed to believe that the 304 won't fill your needs. MIG is a little fussy to set up with independant wire speed and voltage whereas the millermatics have a form of feedback which seems to aid set up. The more you use it you get used to the independant settings.
Stick is a breeze with the 304 as it is with any inverter. As an amature stick guy if you have ever used an inverter you probably won't look back.
Scratch start tig (DC only=steel) works good though there is no gas solenoid so you have to use a torch with a valve. Frequent tig work pretty much demands hi-ffreq starting and a gas solenoid, but since you are just stepping up to light fab or repair work I don't think you will need these features yet.
I'm surprised how many shops I go into that have several 304s for dedicated stick. I always thought these guys only bought copper machines but I guess they are siding with technology.
The 304 only uses about 62 amps on 220 for 300 output. If your work location only has a dryer outlet (30 amps) I'm sure you won't be welding a bridge structure. In fact whatever you will be doing will be light in terms of what a 304 is capable of.
|