CST 280 or Maxstar 200 STR

[clint738]

On CST 280 when the stick process is selected as either stiff or soft for 6010 or 7018 does the select switch move any for fine tuning? Or does it simply click in place and there is no fine adjustment like the Maxstar 200 STR. Is the CST280 simply so smart that the dig setting it has for soft and stiff are perfect and are constantly adjusting to maintain that way?

Anyone prefer one welders dig adjustment over the other?

Trying to figure out which stick welder will be better for welding 6-8" beams for an up coming project.

Have 50 amp 220V plug available for shop.

CST 280 has higher duty cycle but Maxstar 200 STR looks to have a continuous adjustment knob for the dig? Also since Maxstar full range knob is 200, will be easier to fine tune versus only part of the CST knob range is useable since it turns to 280 even though it is limited to 200.

Last thing I see is Maxstar has auto line so maybe would handle slight input supply fluctuations when welding using a 75' 6 AWG extension cord. Not sure how the CST 280 would handle the extension cord since it doesn't have auto line.

Anyone stick welded with these 2 units?
Which one is preferred for stick welding 6010 and 7018 ?

[elvis]

I haven't run a maxstar, so I can't comment. I can tell you that my cst280 runs fine on 230v 1ph on a 50' 8awg extension. Also the dig settings so not fine tune. It can be challenging at the lower end of the output to fine tune the amp output. I usually run 7108 in 1/8" and 5/32" and it burns fine. My welding leads are about 35' long as well.

FWIW, I have been wanting to get a maxstar 200 with the tig trim. I TIG or MIG more often than stick.

Hope that helps.

[Nathan128]

Haven't run the max star but the CST 280 is built for 6010/ 7018 and it runs beautiful.

[BD1]

We have both for pipe welding. All prefer the CST 280. Only time we get the 200
sent out is when auto link is required. I feel the CST 280 is the best stick out there.
We use 6010 and 7018.

[cws612]

cst280 for all our cert tests and interior field installs where power is available