MIG Welder decision

[pwdcougar]

I've been doing the body work on my suburban and I'm not happy with my welding. My present welder is a "Silver Beauty" that has to be 30 years old. It has 4 heat settings which seem to be too cold, too cold, too cold and too hot. I"ve got the cash and I need recommentations on a new unit. A year or so ago I went to the local welding supply shop and the guy recommeded a Miller unit that could be plugged into 110 or 220. Cant remember what unit it was now.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

Paul

[mongocanfly]

You may be thinking of this one.http://store.cyberweld.com/mi211migw...Hw_wcB...there are several other brands that are good for less money. I have a hobart handler I like really well but its 220 only..around $550 when I bought it..millers are fine welders..but Hobart and esab are not to be overlooked..

[pwdcougar]

Thanks Mongo, this is one of the welders I'm looking at. Another is the Eastwood 135.

Paul

[tinydb84]

I have a Hobart 190 its great. Absolutely love it. Only 220 though. You can get the 210 MVP which has both plugs. You can get the smaller 140 Hobart for a bit less but will limit how thick you can go.

Nice thing about Hobart is that they use all the same parts as miller and can be repaired by any weld shop.

Eastwood would probably be fine. I have a chinese tig and it works great but I am always wondering when it will go out. When it does I am going to get a Red/Blue/Hobart.

[pwdcougar]

Went to the local welding supply store and checked out a couple welders. They had the Miller 211 for about 1100 out the door including tax. The guy said that although it is a really nice machine it is more than I need. He said most of the 211's he sells go to shops where they do a lot of welding. He recommended a welder that is a Lincoln design for about 300 bucks. Damned if I can't remember the brand now! 110v with a full range dial for both power and feed. He said it was a replica of a Lincoln 130 maybe?

Just finished a couple of big jobs so I have the cash for either. If I get the cheaper one I'll have the money left over for a better mask.

I have to stick with a 110 machine right now as that's the only power available in the shop right now.

Decisions decisions decisions!

Paul

[tinydb84]

I'd get something that has the 220 option. You can always turn the welder down but you cant turn it up past its max setting. I know some people weld 3/16'' with a 110 but I wouldn't recommend it. You wont regret getting the bigger machine.

I have two helmets. I run a harbor freight one for my mig work. I have a Speedglas for my tig. Without a doubt the 3M helmet is nice but with the amount of out of position welding and slag I get from mig I don't want to mess up my view for my tig work.

[95 S_Trucker]

I have the Miller 211 mvp, and it's awesome. I can weld thin sheet metal and exhaust, and crank it up and do truck frame repairs. I primarily use it on 220, but I have used it on 110.

[Mr. 250r]

It really depends on your future in welding with said welder. If you are dead set never going to weld above say 1/4" thick metal then I'd go with the mm141 or equivalent from Lincoln but if you think you might start welding thicker stuff I'm telling you the mm211 will be a good buy a three reasons.

Miller - name sells itself
Mm211 - highly sought after welder = resale value
Good welder - I own one it's a good welder and that's coming from a mig welder by trade

You cannot go wrong with the mm211 your in a situation of like buying a chainsaw which i have a funny story coinciding with a welder when I bought my last stihl I was talking to the salesmen saying I wish I would've bought a bigger chainsaw the first time he replied "The chainsaws that are on sale which are supposed to be good deals are the ones you don't want, buy the next one up". I thought about it and he was right lol same goes for a welder you can't use what you don't have.

I just built a 28' flatbed with it and after counting it up there was over 400 welds that I welded up in a 10hr span it gave me no troubles in terms of duty cycle. Buy bigger you won't regret it especially if you got the extra cash.

[dfrank]

Have you checked out the lincoln power mig 210? It would set you up to be able to do a lot more welding in the future if you decide to. I believe you can get it with everything you need to weld with SMAW, GMAW, and GTAW. They had a rebate on them for a while, not sure if it is still going on though.

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us...incolnElectric)

[BR3W CITY]

If you like the 211 but don't think you'll be using it enough to justify the extra few hundred, look at the Hobart 210mvp. Its the same thing as the Miller 211 (literally), but lacks the auto-set and uses a few slightly cheaper accessories (torch and guide wheel)..both of which can be easily upgraded. Its usually around $850

[tinydb84]

Originally Posted by dfrank

Have you checked out the lincoln power mig 210? It would set you up to be able to do a lot more welding in the future if you decide to. I believe you can get it with everything you need to weld with SMAW, GMAW, and GTAW. They had a rebate on them for a while, not sure if it is still going on though.

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us...incolnElectric)

It seems like a decent machine. I doubt you would use it for tig though. It's not a high frequency start and only DC. If you were in a pinch or only used it once in a while I'm sure you'd be fine but I would want AC and high frequency start on a tig.

[BIGglaSS]

I'm currently shopping for a welder as well. Thinking about the Hobart 210mvp. Tractor supply has them for $849. Sign up for their e-mail list and you occasionally get 10% off coupons.

[dfrank]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

It seems like a decent machine. I doubt you would use it for tig though. It's not a high frequency start and only DC. If you were in a pinch or only used it once in a while I'm sure you'd be fine but I would want AC and high frequency start on a tig.

Why you hate scratch start tig???? Lol honestly I do lIke high frequency start but I could deal without it. One of my favorite features of the Lincoln Precision tig 275 with the advanced control panel added is the adjustable down slope which allows you to remove the fish eye with ease without having to flick it out at the end of the puddle.

This ash try project was all done with scratch start tig using a lincoln power wave 300

[71meangreenc10]

Hobart 140. Great little welding machine....


Smitty

[rpone605]

I bought the millermatic 211 earlier this year. It's a great welder and has treated me well so far.

[BIGglaSS]

Even though the Hobart is a good deal, I decided to save a few more $ for the Miller 211 or 215 multiprocess.

[pwdcougar]

Thanks for all the input guys. I'll let you know what I buy!

Paul

[71swb4x4]

Hobart and Miller are made in the same factory. The Miller is a little higher end machine, but many of the guts are the same.

[BR3W CITY]

Originally Posted by 71swb4x4

Hobart and Miller are made in the same factory. The Miller is a little higher end machine, but many of the guts are the same.

I was browsing the parts catalog and it looks like from what I can tell, you can almost convert the Hobart to the Miller stuff for in the neighborhood of like $200. The Hobarts actually go on sale occasionally, so if you can find them during something like a ToolFetch or TPTools holiday sale, you could probably put an upgraded one together for only a few $$ more than the MSRP.

Basically the route I went, but was happy enough with the OE quality that I didn't bother on any of the upgrades (my poly guidewheel, Hobart torch/gun and pack of tips are 5+ years old, built my truck, got abused, and still work like new).

[wahl4m]

used millers all my life ! if they ever need service or parts -you can get there stuff anywhere /used lincolns in job shops -they always seemed to give you problems -i think there electric switching is junk /its the little problems that drive you nuts! i noticed the other day all miller dealers are recieving the "NEW MODELS " maybe a last yr model will be marked down ?? just remember all of the newer models even the last 4-5 yrs have some electronic -micro processor stuff inside that might give you a problem down the road ?? i had a one of the miller first wire welders -35s w/ spot -used it from 1982 - 2014 only thing i did to it was a new small gun assembly =paid $700-new got $650 in 2014 !` i just bought a new pulse welder -its the cats meow but if it gives me trouble /it will expensive to fix ! JUST STAY WITH A NAME BRAND -LOCAL TO YOU THAT HAS A REPAIR SHOP IN THE BACK ! YOU WILL BE HAPPIER ! AND DONT BUY A FANCY ONE W/ TRICK STUFF FOR A FIRST WELDER !! SPEND YOUR MONEY WISELY !

[randy500]

Buy the miller 211, you will not regret it. Like somebody else said, always buy more than you think you will need with a welder, they last so long its really hard to justify upgrading later. I bought my 211 almost 3 years ago and just love it, very high quality and easy to store, move around, etc. Welds fabulous and has power to spare, I like the idea that I can use it on 115v but haven't had to do so yet.

[pwdcougar]

Thanks for all the input. I went with the Miller 211 and am really happy so far. It was just over a grand with the rebate.

Paul

[pwdcougar]

This piece was cut then welded back together. Any comments or tips?

Thanks

Paul

[wahl4m]

whats you got for shielding gas ? you need 75-25 works great ! cant read your gauges ? whats the left one set on ? maybe not enough ?? just practice practice practice it will get better ! might go to"metal meet" .com lots of sheet metal -ie door skin -welds on there -- good luck -nice purchase

[pwdcougar]

Originally Posted by wahl4m

whats you got for shielding gas ? you need 75-25 works great ! cant read your gauges ? whats the left one set on ? maybe not enough ?? just practice practice practice it will get better ! might go to"metal meet" .com lots of sheet metal -ie door skin -welds on there -- good luck -nice purchase

Gas is the 75/25 and is set at 18. The welds shown are 100% better than I was getting before with my old machine. Can you give me a critique of what is wrong with my welds? Not being a smart a$$ I just want to get better at this.

Thanks

Paul