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Up Topic Welding Industry / General Welding Discussion / Vantage or Disadvantage
- - By argoncowboy (**) Date 04-28-2009 22:23
Alright guys I have a question. I had to pull my machine off of my truck to have the motor rebuilt recently. I had to rent a machine from United Rental. I asked for a 300D but they sent me a 300 Vantage. My machine is a 250D and the arc on this Vantage seems so different. Do any of you guys have an opinion for or against the Vantage. Thanks
Parent - - By 250pipeliner (**) Date 04-28-2009 22:50
i like these machines they weld really nice downhill, uphill. never tiged with tho. the only thing that i know of that all the electronics on it are a bit sensitive a guy on the last job i was on busted his machine due to the rough terrain. but they weld great, they have an arc force dial on it, you can play with it to stack metal or blast in beads, pretty cool!
Parent - - By rick harnish (***) Date 04-28-2009 23:06
Yall just wait til Cactus finds this post!!! LOL!!
Parent - - By Cactusthewelder (*****) Date 04-29-2009 00:21
I found it ! And if he cant tell that the Vantage is the FINEST machine he will EVER use then he needs to keep on Practicing. The reason that the arc is so much different is because it is so much BETTER.  Just use the vantage for a week then get your old machine back. Once you see the difference you will have a Vantage mounted on your rig.
Parent - - By up-ten (***) Date 04-29-2009 01:09
That arc is the result of Lincoln's "Chopper Technology" and it's had a hold on me for 6 years and I just won't let go.
Parent - - By rick harnish (***) Date 04-29-2009 01:29 Edited 04-29-2009 01:32
But that "Chopper" is just the way they turn it back to a respectable DC arc.
( I am fully aware of the pot I have just stirred.)
Parent - By Cactusthewelder (*****) Date 04-29-2009 02:08
Well Rick, As soon as we get started again I'm Gonna have to take you to school !
Parent - - By argoncowboy (**) Date 04-29-2009 02:15 Edited 04-29-2009 10:50
Well no disrespect intended but I've been welding in the field for enough years that the practicing is all over. I work my rig and produce x-ray (API 1104, B31.1, B31.3) work with that 250 D. Thought I'd let you know
Parent - - By okwelder82 (***) Date 04-29-2009 03:50
Im sure as far as Cactus is concerned your 250D is a Pile of S#*t. If it doesnt say Vantage on it you might as well not talk about it with him. Im sure he thinks his Vantage will outweld a well tuned ol Redface.
Parent - - By 250pipeliner (**) Date 04-29-2009 04:29
they sure are great welders, and so are reface welders! but i dont if cactus will know how to work on his vantage, considering all electronics inside and that its a seal compartment. as far as reliability goes well we know that these old 200's are proven time will tell the story on the vantage. will it last as a trademark welder or be phased out into a different product. but it is a lincoln so we know that it has a lot of enginuity behind it and is trustworthy.
Parent - - By raftergwelding (*****) Date 04-29-2009 05:47
if the printed circut board ever goes out and it's not under warranty go to the bank and get a small loan 3500.00 just for the board
Parent - - By argoncowboy (**) Date 04-29-2009 10:52
There plenty of guys out here welding with machines that are 30 and forty years old. I dare say you wont be welding with a 2009 vantage in 30 years. Just a thought.
Parent - - By up-ten (***) Date 04-29-2009 12:40
Neither will you or I be driving the same truck in 30 years. One thing I do know is that for the time being,my Vantage 400 hasn't let me down,on cold start-ups,rough roads, on x-ray or structural welding. And in 30 years I'll probably be sitting around a piano at the seniors lodge singing Stairway to heaven.lol
Parent - - By argoncowboy (**) Date 04-30-2009 00:05
Maybe I wasnt clear on my last post. I was referring to the old school Lincolns are very good machines. They dont have or will ever have expensive maintainance issues. The older lincolns are primarily mechanical. The Vantage has alot of computer components. My fear in buying a Vantage is some of that computer stuff goes out and I have to drop 3 or 4 grand and I dont think that the Vantage has the long life as the old 200s do. Do you think that the Vantage has staying power or do you think they will fade out like the lincoln commander did.
Parent - By up-ten (***) Date 04-30-2009 00:56
Argoncowboy- you're right on all accounts. Old lincolns just keep running and running and when I broke out I ran a 1970 Sa200 but despite its proven longevity, I found it short on 110v power and other options that the Vantage offers. How long will the Vantage last? I hope the rest of my career. But one thing certain, that Chopper arc sure keeps me employed and THAT my friend is the way we all like to be kept.
Parent - - By LarryM Date 04-30-2009 14:05
argoncowboy-I don't think the Commander 400 faded away, put to death more likely.

LarryM
Parent - By argoncowboy (**) Date 04-30-2009 22:09
I believe you are right. I havent seen one of those in a while. Do you think the Vantage will fade like that as well.
Parent - By JTMcC (***) Date 05-30-2009 00:11
up-ten I hope your teeth don't fall out when you hit the soaring chorus!

JTMcC
Parent - - By Cactusthewelder (*****) Date 04-29-2009 18:53
You are so VERY right ! I wont be welding with mine much more at all. But dont make the mistake Rick did and think I cant weld. I hold all the certs you hold + some. If I am welding in 30 years JUST SHOOT Me. come to think of it. If I am welding in 5 Years, Shoot me because something has gone bad wrong.
Parent - - By raftergwelding (*****) Date 04-29-2009 23:59
i just want to be welding now
Parent - By ibeweldingsum (***) Date 04-30-2009 20:07
me too brother
Parent - By raftergwelding (*****) Date 04-29-2009 23:39
well maybe not but who knows
Parent - - By dion_pepperg (*) Date 04-29-2009 23:39
700.00
Parent - By raftergwelding (*****) Date 04-29-2009 23:58
700.00? what are you talking about
Parent - By Cactusthewelder (*****) Date 04-29-2009 18:49
It will !!!! Glad you agree okwelder82
Parent - - By Smooth Operator (***) Date 04-30-2009 00:43
Cactus, I don't own no fancy, MAGIC welder like you but I have a question, If a guy comes for a test and says " I see you have a LINCOLN DISADVANTAGE "is that an automatic "BUST" LOL If so please post because this will save some guys alot of time,money and drive time. Rick, MR. Shad pay attention.  GO STEELERS and PENS.
Parent - - By raftergwelding (*****) Date 05-01-2009 01:30
i dont need a vantage machine to do my job cactus knows that rain or shine day or night shad will be there
Parent - - By rick harnish (***) Date 05-01-2009 01:35
We welding Saturday?
Parent - - By raftergwelding (*****) Date 05-01-2009 01:40
i was gonna call but i cant make it this week theres a ranch rodeo this weekend put on by the church and my wife wants to go they are ok to watch but more fun to enter and i cant enter that sucks
Parent - By rick harnish (***) Date 05-01-2009 01:47
Cool, we will get together when possible. Looks like you may be finding some stick work, with some luck. I guess I will be burning some 5p - 70+ to keep myself entertained Saturday.
The week snuck by me and I would have to haul butt tomorrow afternoon to get argon, anyway. Take care and good luck!!!!!!!
Parent - - By argoncowboy (**) Date 05-14-2009 00:48
Well I think I found a chink in the Vantage armour today. Welding in the wind using 70+ rods. It seems that the wind has an adverse effect on that arc that is so much better. I never seemed to have that problem with my 250.
Parent - By leterburn (**) Date 05-14-2009 02:47
try turning heat up 5-10 and holding closer arc....    and maybe a bit of angle into the wind - works for me altho depending upon how hard of a wind???
Parent - - By okwelder82 (***) Date 05-14-2009 02:49
No, not the almighty Vantage!!!!!!!
Parent - By Brian T. Beard (**) Date 05-15-2009 06:48
Most popular saying " turn it up 5 or 10, it will be good"  BS
Parent - - By argoncowboy (**) Date 05-29-2009 23:50
Well the verdict is in. It is a dis-advantage. I'm sure they are a fine up hill machine. But down hill, I aint digging it. Between the pinholes and the trapped slag I am truely suprised. They cap out real well with a 70+ rod as long as the wind aint blowing. I got my 250 back yesterday and I could not be happier to pull that Vantage off of my truck. Maybe the GREAT Cactus could hold a class. LOL
Parent - By Cactusthewelder (*****) Date 05-30-2009 12:48
ILL CHECK MY SCHEDULE
Parent - By Cumminsguy71 (*****) Date 05-01-2009 20:34
"Yall just wait til Cactus finds this post!!! LOL!! "

exactly what I thought when I read the main page and saw the heading!!
Parent - - By Tyler1970 (***) Date 04-29-2009 19:32
the vantage is one of the finest machines i have tiged with. its between that and the sae-400 that i think are by far the best heliarc machines i have welded with.
Parent - - By rick harnish (***) Date 04-30-2009 02:09
OK!! Pot well stirred. And I have enjoyed the dialect.
One post disturbs me.
Cactus, I never really had any thought in my mind that you couldnt weld. Looking forward to the schooling. I will be hard to teach, though,cause I already know everything. If you dont believe me, just ask me. LOL!!  Will be a challenging and entertaining day. All we lack is " LETS GO!!" Look forward to working with yall again.
LETS BUILD SUMTHIN !!!!!!
Parent - - By rigweldmario (*) Date 05-07-2009 06:23
Im pretty happy with mine ,my truck broke down with my 300d coming from colorado and i was going to test the following week so i had to send my truck to the dealer. I had bought a vantage 6 months prior so i had 3tenths of an hour on it  ,well i had to test with the vantage and passed (12branch,12butt 36"butt,welds) So i sold my 300d been with my vantage ever since. I still miss my redface though.
Attachment: 100_2696.JPG (684k)
Parent - By JeremyW83 (***) Date 05-11-2009 01:18
Nice lookin rig!! I'd hate to know what it cost with all of the diamond plate.
Parent - - By tnhnt (***) Date 05-17-2009 04:46
Thats a damn good looking rig you have there Mario..
Parent - By rigweldmario (*) Date 05-18-2009 00:47
Thanks i try to keep it nice . Believe or not the bed cost about the same as a steel bed.
Up Topic Welding Industry / General Welding Discussion / Vantage or Disadvantage

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