Dang I missed this one...would have loved to go and meet WeldrDave or Smokinpiney or anybody else local. Does a PM get emailed notice. It's tough to follow all the forums that don't send email alerts . Dave I'm looking for a miller mig machine to start leaning to weld.
I'm on line here "mostly every day a couple hrs", "How big" of a machine are you looking for, how much do you want to spend, and how large of material are you planning to weld? Many factors involved here. If you just want to get something small and do up to 1/8" Go to tractorsupply.com and look at the Hobart welders, They are sweet for small stuff and a "very" reputable welding outfit.
Dave, something in the range of a miller 211 or 200. Gonna stick with Blue as they have the closest support network. Red is about 20 miles away....
Miller own's Hobart I've always used Millers nearly all my life, I now have a Hobart gas Stick welder for the house and it's a sweetie! also a 5000 watt generator for when the power goes out!
I've had my eye on the 211 for awhile now for my shop here at home. I have a 140 here now, it does most of what I need it to. I'd like a little more punch tho and that's what the 211 delivers without giving up the ability to run on 120V current. I think Hobart has a similar machine (Handler 210) and they are pretty much no frills versions of the Miller machines for less $$. Not much goes wrong with these little MIG welders and tips, nozzles, liners and drive rolls can all be ordered online. I'd also consider how fast you need this machine. Miller has introduced the 141 and the 190, to replace the 140 and the 180. Both are smaller and lighter than the machines they replaced with improvements, especially to the feeder mechanisms. I'd bet the 211 is next to get the upgrade.
I too like the 211, Nearly everything I do is with stick, to me it's easier than getting a bottle or flux core and usually I'm doing something much larger then bench work. I have a buddy who has the Handler and dollar for dollar that is a real nice machine. I like the fact that you can go to Tractor supply and get every thing you need. Also look at a company called Cyberweld. They have real good prices and free shipping!
I'm a MIG-head so as long as I've got gas (wait..... no, nevermind ) I'm grabbing the gun. Works for out of position stuff as most of what I do is never on the bench. Nice thing about stick is that you can run long leads so if you gotta climb around and can't get the machine close enough, it's an easier setup. But MIG has a real place in the home shop just because it is so much cleaner than stick. My wife would never tolerate the fumes from stick in the garage. I'm currently awaiting arrival of a brand-new MM252 at work and we're in negotiations for TIG machines. Looking for an AC/DC inverter unit but we're undecided yet as to the size. The new Dynasty 210 would do 95% of what I need. It's just that the other 5% is so critical. (We may look at bringing in a rental when those "blue moon" events happen.)
I know those inverters are nice we have the big transformer syncrowave machines at work, including the syncrowave 500 Friend of mine just picked up the syncrowave 210/ nice little tig welder. can plug it into 110 or 220 has ac/dc capabilities as well as the pulser option. can also get it with an optional mig spool gun
We have a Dynasty 200DX at work, it's a fantastic little machine that will run 120V on up through 480V (which is what we have available usually), plus it uses next to nothing for input current compared to a transformer based machine like the synchro. We have an oldie but a goodie Synchrowave 300 too that all of us that TIG weld like but it's just such a beast to move (nearly 1000lbs of welder with the leads and watercooler) that it's not all that practical for "around the plant" repairs. Something like the Synchrowave 210 would be cool if you could run a real MIG gun off a wire feeder, I'm not a fan of spool guns unless they are absolutely necessary.
In my non professional opinion, figure out the biggest machine you think you will need, then buy the next size larger. The 252 class machine throttles down a lot better than the 211 class throttles up.
I wish. Had a nice larger welder but I have the small 90amp HF flux core welder. It is not great but does more than I would of thought. I taught myself how to weld with it and think it is actually fairly good. I have fixed many lawnmowers my bushhog and things like welding a not on a stripped bolt head or something. Flux core can be kind of messy power make segment is most of that but some of it you can't control. Just the nature of out I guess?
I agree with redneckdan, I purchased a MillerMatic 200 which I think is a for runner of the 252. I got it off CL for 700 and got it running properly for the cost of a few wear items. It is fantastic and has tackled everything I have asked it to do, and I weld on farm equipment pretty regularly.
Hah, we have a 252 at work. (Just bought another so Now 2) What a workhorse! It's kind of the last stop before the pricing gets silly too. I drool all over the 350P anytime I get near one but nearly $6k is a bit steep.
Hey MM, Most transformer based Tig machines that use more than 4-5 amps at idle are using it for the capacitors from power factor correction. My Miller Synchrowave 350lx runs about 5 amps (240vac) at idle, and it was purchased without power factor correction. My buddies 350lx with power factor correction runs about 63 amps (240 vac) at idle. At full tilt, mine sucks down a whopping 135 amps while his only uses 85 amps. That capacitor bank really changes things !! The MM250 was the forerunner to the MM252
Ok...you guys are talkin ported MS 661 and I'm still reading "wood boss is awesome" threads... A few friends (who like ported 661's) have suggested buying a tig/stick first and learning to weld correctly as opposed to buying a Cheapo mig and just welderin xhit up.. Everybody asks me "what do you want to weld?" to that I usually respond "uhhh. What ever I can manage to break so I have something to weld".. Which means...I have no clue what I want. The guys that really weld say no spoolgunning AL. Tig it. My idea was to get the 211 as a starter matchine because it will mig/spool/ stick. But apparently it's a small "kubota" in that it does lots of stuff but none of which very well. Did I mention a "wood boss is awesome" in the hands of a great feller...I'm sure I could screw up an easy weld with a water cooled syncro wave 250 or a mm252 just as well. So what we do know is I am in no hurry, have no clue and no skills....anybody wanna hire me ???
Dave, didn't know miller owns Hobart. Are they serviced side by side. I like the miller 3 year warranty . Have heard many stories where machines get serviced way beyond that timeframe too. I got no problem overpaying for service "peace of mind" . I'm very sure I will fark it up at some point ...I alway do.
Then I suggest getting a cheap used 120 volt machine and some .023 wire. Flux cored wire is harder to learn with and makes a messy weld compared with solid wire with shielding gas, but if there is even the slightest breeze where you are welding, the shielding gas will not stay at the weld puddle, it will be blown away from the puddle and you will end up with a very ugly and porous pile of dross. Run some beads, play with the settings and find out if you actually like welding, see how your welds look after cutting them in half and examining the penetration, look at the edges to see if they are undercut, or is the bead balling up and not wetting out ................... then make adjustments to the machine and/or the operator and then do it again ................... repeat as many times as you can -A 120 volt welder can weld lots of small stuff and are very handy to have around the house as they can be plugged in just about anywhere you need. -Playing with the small welder can help you make up your mind about what size big welder you want to end up with. -Smaller 120 volt welders arent as expensive, and sell easier than larger 208/240-480 volt welders
Angelo, Welding machines are like cars or trucks... It's what you like and what you need. My work welder is an old Miller 330 A/BP, "I LOVE THAT MACHINE" and I have a Miller Syncrowave 351, a Miller Shopmaster 250 and a floor wire feeder. My Trailer welder is an "OLD" Lincoln Diesel 400amp... A dinosaur but "BOMB" proof! So, I'll say again, Most of the small welders are "disposable" welding machines. "I HATE" to say that but in the welding world if you buy a machine for under a $1000 it's going to be a "part time use tool". I have to agree with Moparmyway on his suggestions, start small and figure out what you need. Did you look into going to a Vo-tech class to get some hands on first? I taught an evening class at the local vo-tech years ago and people loved it. It's a good place to start and usually cheap, maybe $50.00 a semester. Give it a look, but also look at Hobart again.
Thank you Sir ............... but if you saw my bald spot or my silver fields ............................
