Help me choose a new welder!

[Colonel Monk]

Great ideas guys. Thanks.

Huh, I just had a crazy idea of making my own cart..... Maybe some air filled casters for getting close to tractor work outside.... (don't have a proper shop yet)

 

[BukitCase]

If you're still planning on the mm211, keep in mind that outside you'll have two choices - either run flux core wire, or come up with a wind-proof tent - otherwise you'll lose shielding gas if there's any wind whatever.

I went more with the "tent" idea, 'cause I like the cleaner welds with 75/25 gas -

The two red roofs are one "porta-shed" - larger part is 12'x12', smaller is 8'x12' - side roof verticals fold under and roof drops down, main part is framed in 2x2 square tube, roof "purlins" are spaced so I can drive my backhoe inside, raise the loader and pick up the entire shed, drive wherever I want it and set it down.

This might be slightly more extreme than you're willing to go

In my case, I know I'll always need portable shelter somewhere - next year I will drop several trees so I can build a new shop and studio, since the other shop is full of woodworking gear/materials - but that project will take a few years, so for now I have a dry, calm area I can weld in and (hopefully) get enough done on the tractors this winter so I can take advantage of good weather when it finally gets here.

Oh, I think you'll like the 211 - I liked mine, did a great job, but I wanted more So when I found a deal on a mm252 with 2 tanks and spool gun I sold the 211 to a friend... Steve

 

[Big Barn]

If you're still planning on the mm211, keep in mind that outside you'll have two choices - either run flux core wire, or come up with a wind-proof tent - otherwise you'll lose shielding gas if there's any wind whatever. I went more with the "tent" idea, 'cause I like the cleaner welds with 75/25 gas - The two red roofs are one "porta-shed" - larger part is 12'x12', smaller is 8'x12' - side roof verticals fold under and roof drops down, main part is framed in 2x2 square tube, roof "purlins" are spaced so I can drive my backhoe inside, raise the loader and pick up the entire shed, drive wherever I want it and set it down. This might be slightly more extreme than you're willing to go In my case, I know I'll always need portable shelter somewhere - next year I will drop several trees so I can build a new shop and studio, since the other shop is full of woodworking gear/materials - but that project will take a few years, so for now I have a dry, calm area I can weld in and (hopefully) get enough done on the tractors this winter so I can take advantage of good weather when it finally gets here. Oh, I think you'll like the 211 - I liked mine, did a great job, but I wanted more So when I found a deal on a mm252 with 2 tanks and spool gun I sold the 211 to a friend... Steve

What's that shiny stuff in front of the bucket?

Terry

 

[Colonel Monk]

If you're still planning on the mm211, keep in mind that outside you'll have two choices - either run flux core wire, or come up with a wind-proof tent - otherwise you'll lose shielding gas if there's any wind whatever.

I went more with the "tent" idea, 'cause I like the cleaner welds with 75/25 gas -

The two red roofs are one "porta-shed" - larger part is 12'x12', smaller is 8'x12' - side roof verticals fold under and roof drops down, main part is framed in 2x2 square tube, roof "purlins" are spaced so I can drive my backhoe inside, raise the loader and pick up the entire shed, drive wherever I want it and set it down.

This might be slightly more extreme than you're willing to go

In my case, I know I'll always need portable shelter somewhere - next year I will drop several trees so I can build a new shop and studio, since the other shop is full of woodworking gear/materials - but that project will take a few years, so for now I have a dry, calm area I can weld in and (hopefully) get enough done on the tractors this winter so I can take advantage of good weather when it finally gets here.

Oh, I think you'll like the 211 - I liked mine, did a great job, but I wanted more So when I found a deal on a mm252 with 2 tanks and spool gun I sold the 211 to a friend... Steve

Hah, that's a great idea! I love it, portable welding tent.

I think this will be plenty. My work with it will be more project oriented, and this tractor we have will be as big as we go unless we decide to move face cord pallets of wood around and then might need a bit more tractor. No plans currently to have anything that needs really thick plate welded. I have a cousin that has a monster, if it does come to that I'll just tack stuff here and move it over to his place.

I'm excited, probably can't quite get it before Christmas at this point but I'll try to have it by new years.

 

[BukitCase]

Col. Monk - you may want to stick with building your own cart for the 211 - A, it's not light, especially after adding a 10 pound spool of wire and a gas bottle, and 2, the drive mechanism on the 211 will only handle a 10 foot torch - you can PUT a longer one on, but Miller told me it would void the warranty and might burn out the drive motor. The mm252 comes with a 15 foot torch and mine also had the 30A spool gun (called that 'cause it's 30 feet long) - they're normally for aluminum, but I don't do aluminum yet so I used that gun with 2 pound steel wire to weld up the frame on the "porta-shed", never had to move the welder :thumbsup:

Because of the weight and awkwardness, I would keep the welder kinda low on the cart and tilted up - I would also use something like the HF solid rubber 10" wheels on it for easier rolling and no flats. Just something to consider, since you will likely be moving the welder to the work when you can't move the work to the welder.

Terry, what "shiny stuff" are you referring to - the black shiny stuff that's welded onto the bucket, or the sunlight peeking thru too short a tarp in the background? Here's what's part of the bucket - The three inboard receivers are for heavier stuff, center is boxed in with 10" channel so I can lift anything centered without worrying about bending that pristine bucket

The 4 other receivers at the outer edges are for future projects and current brush bucket - future being hydraulically articulated 30 foot linkage for either an electric chain saw or my Samurai hydraulic cutter. I have all the fittings, etc, for adding 2 solenoid diverters to re-route the curl function, plus a high flow motor circuit with a flow divider. One of the diverters will also be used for the 930 pound grapple that's sitting on a pallet waiting for my QA project to get done.

Oh, speaking of projects - Col. Monk, here's an idea you may wanna adapt for an "offroad" cart, this one's gonna get another HF 4x6 bandsaw on it after it gets painted. It's upside down right now, but the angled legs will make it pretty stable, plus you can either swing up the two handles or pull out the pin hitch and drag it around with your lawnmower... Steve

 

[Big Barn]

Col. Monk - you may want to stick with building your own cart for the 211 - A, it's not light, especially after adding a 10 pound spool of wire and a gas bottle, and 2, the drive mechanism on the 211 will only handle a 10 foot torch - you can PUT a longer one on, but Miller told me it would void the warranty and might burn out the drive motor. The mm252 comes with a 15 foot torch and mine also had the 30A spool gun (called that 'cause it's 30 feet long) - they're normally for aluminum, but I don't do aluminum yet so I used that gun with 2 pound steel wire to weld up the frame on the "porta-shed", never had to move the welder :thumbsup: Because of the weight and awkwardness, I would keep the welder kinda low on the cart and tilted up - I would also use something like the HF solid rubber 10" wheels on it for easier rolling and no flats. Just something to consider, since you will likely be moving the welder to the work when you can't move the work to the welder. Terry, what "shiny stuff" are you referring to - the black shiny stuff that's welded onto the bucket, or the sunlight peeking thru too short a tarp in the background? Here's what's part of the bucket - The three inboard receivers are for heavier stuff, center is boxed in with 10" channel so I can lift anything centered without worrying about bending that pristine bucket The 4 other receivers at the outer edges are for future projects and current brush bucket - future being hydraulically articulated 30 foot linkage for either an electric chain saw or my Samurai hydraulic cutter. I have all the fittings, etc, for adding 2 solenoid diverters to re-route the curl function, plus a high flow motor circuit with a flow divider. One of the diverters will also be used for the 930 pound grapple that's sitting on a pallet waiting for my QA project to get done. Oh, speaking of projects - Col. Monk, here's an idea you may wanna adapt for an "offroad" cart, this one's gonna get another HF 4x6 bandsaw on it after it gets painted. It's upside down right now, but the angled legs will make it pretty stable, plus you can either swing up the two handles or pull out the pin hitch and drag it around with your lawnmower... Steve

OMG. Even your SUNLIGHT is shiny??!! . Glad to see my eye cataract surgery is working out so well. Terry

 

[BukitCase]

"Even your SUNLIGHT is shiny??!!"

Here in the rain belt, sunlight is so NEW (all 8 days a year we see it), it's GOTTA be shiny

 

[Colonel Monk]

Yeah, I like your ideas, I think that building a cart as a first project is the ONLY sensible thing to do.... hahahaha

We just got a HF about 30 miles away, and while some of that stuff isn't so hot, plenty of it is useful! I'll see what they have for casters over there. Good idea on the grinders, I'd got two already, but I DO often misplace the nut and pad/spacer for the sanding discs, while I'm using a wire wheel, etc. Maybe having a few more tools is the way to fix that.

I can't weld inside, but need to move the tractor outside to do that. We are going to try and solve that with a side shed roof on the shop. The shop is a wood shop, so I do need to keep my welding and chips to a minimum. So the stuff I can do just outside I will.

Got to take a good look at what I need to pile on a cart, if it's going to be custom it might as well have every bell and whistle and hold my clamps, grinders, etc as well.

 

[Shield Arc]

Colonel Monk according to Miller's spec sheet for the MM-211 you can run .030" to .045" shelf shielded wire. I really like Hobart's Fabshield 21-B, and Lincoln's NR-212. Both will run great on a CC only machine, but seems everything runs better on a CV machine.

 

[Big Barn]

Colonel Monk if you are building your own cart here are a few random suggestions.
If you are at all considering adding a spool gun to your 211 at some time, make provision for two tanks as you will require argon for aluminum welding.

If a plasma cutter is in your future, provide a space for it also. I mounted my small inverter Maxstar and plasma on a rack above my tanks. They are interchangeable as they share the same case dimensions.

Be sure to integrate several "hangers" on your cart to facilitate neat (disregard this aspect in my photo) cable management.

To keep the machines secure I usually bolt them from the underside by building a tray if necessary. I really hate the look of a welder secured with a ratchet strap or tie downs.
On a similar note tanks secured with a strap or chains don't appeal to me. You may consider a system I use on my welding and oxy-acet carts. I purchased propane tank clamps used on forklifts etc., 'massaged' the clamps in my hydraulic press and fabricated new straps and hinges.

Finally, plan for expansion. I thought I had it all figured out earlier this year when I built the cart for my XMT. Didn't want it to be top heavy so I left just enough room on the bottom shelf to accommodate a water cooler if I ever needed one. As it turns out I'll now have to build a new cart to accommodate the push pull feeder I ran into. ( I think it was S A that said ' you can never have too many welders'. (?).
I'll post a few pics in random order. If you need any close ups for detail let me know.















Terry