Want a MIG welder, but what kind?

[Richard]

So.....about that annoying MossRoad dude.......

(ducks for cover)

 

[MossRoad]

:stirthepot:

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Mark do the new Lightning machines hold your settings where you left off when you power them down or do you have to save them?

Well, if you save them they do. I think that (and I need to verify) it will auto recall the last saved setting/program on startup.

 

[Ritothebull]

Well, if you save them they do. I think that (and I need to verify) it will auto recall the last saved setting/program on startup.

Thanks, I would just like to have it hold the settings if I take a break and then start back up where I left off, the memory on my 251 is full.

 

[Oldpath05]

I kinda like the Miller 211 Auto set, set the dial on wire size, .030 or .035 then set other dial to metal thickness and weld.

 

[zzvyb6]

I kinda like the Miller 211 Auto set, set the dial on wire size, .030 or .035 then set other dial to metal thickness and weld.

.

Exactly what I was going to say.

Because the 211 is so easy to set up, a few of my women friends were curious about welding and they picked it up so fast we ran out of projects.

Use it for farm machinery repair, windmill reconstruction, and metal artwork creation.

{ I also use it to frost the lousy stick welding beads. Now they look like a professional did it !

My used stick welder came with 50' of leads, and I never unrolled then for a welding session.
The poor results I was getting (we were told) were the result of the inductance in the coiled leads wrapped around the transport handle.

I've cut then down since and now have a 75' 4 wire 'extension cord' that gets me out there.

 

[Oldpath05]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
My Millermatic 211 is the older 2013 model, I assume the new ones still have the auto set, I've welded lot of years with high end Miller pulse inverters at a shipyard but when I do my home jobs I use auto set everytime and find it on-par with right wire speed and heat.
I always found it better to have the the right length welding cable for said job, so I have Tweco Quick Connects if longer lead is needed. I dont know if theres difference between longer weld lead or longer extension cord, I know good ground matters....

 

[BukitCase]

Hey OP05 (and others if interested) - for a quick rundown on newer MM211, read post# 197 here

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/387658-container-weld-shop-build-20.html

Short version: autoset is alive and well, and MUCH more options... Steve

 

[Oldpath05]

It took a minute but I found post 197, evidently the 3 year old Millernatic 211 is still working good.......


"Thanks; yeah, probably a teensy bit over the top - but every "feature" has a purpose (for ME, anyway) - I needed max portability in a reasonably small footprint, since at times I'll be either trying to lift the whole thing onto a trailer or truck bed, towing it around the property with a tractor or lawn mower, tilting it back onto the big tires for moving over gravel (relatively short distances)... I'm not sure how well it'd work with the older MM211 - I had one, and it's almost TWICE as heavy WITHOUT a spool of wire as the NEW one is, WITH a 12# spool...

Only thing I DON'T like (about EITHER version) is that autoset is too hot (a common complaint) - I just recently learned that (reportedly) the autoset "assumes" you'll be doing FILLET welds, which would explain the "too hot"...

The newer one lets me use a 15' gun - has the down-firing feed and a stronger drive; autoset has a LOT more options including all THREE wire sizes, + flux core, stainless, mild with C25, mild with CO2, and spool gun/aluminum. IOW, nearly everything I DIDN'T like about the OLD mm211, got fixed on the NEW digital one -

They both spec the same (24.5 amp/240 volt) draw at rated output, BUT - the transformer version is NOT recommended for 50 hZ, while the digital version is rated at 50-60 hZ - and I spoke to a Miller tech about generator THD, he claimed the digital version "didn't care" - I hope he's right, 'cause ONE of the "eventual" projects is over 3000 feet of new fencing with welded-in-place H braces every 20-rod roll (330 feet) and my genny is 7kw continuous but NO spec on THD - that project will probably be the ONLY time it sees flux core wire (if I LIVE that long ) but it's possible it'll hafta run on the genny for other indoor projects (my son's garage doesn't even HAVE a 240 outlet so if he ever needs something welded I would probably put both the welder AND the genny on my small trailer to do that)...

"Might need to go 'balls out' on a stand like you did." - Well, ya got a LOT of pics and "features" to pick and choose from - but given the weight of the transformer 211, I think I'd be tempted to do a lower slung, "over-under" setup - the 211 low, but angled up like I did - then the PM45+ above that on a second set of angle "rails" -

Things I watched VERY carefully for, was ZERO interference with side door WITHOUT having to take the welder off the cart, zero interference with air flow, gas connection, power cord, etc - and no metal-to-metal connection between welder and support angles (found some EPDM self-stick weatherstrip at Lowes, goes on BOTH surfaces of ALL the angles) - NO reason ELECTRICALLY, just didn't want scratched up paint on either Miller's creation or MINE

IF you do one, you probably DON't need EVERYTHING I did - like a trailer hitch, maybe not even an adjustable balance picking eye - but the larger wheels and "hand-truckability" is nice, in that it also provides a "roll cage" to protect gauges AND a way to support a dust cover - also, the locking casters are something Miller shoulda thought of on their carts...

Man, now I'm startin' to sound like a freakin' SALESMAN, and there's NO WAY I wanna build MORE of these ... "Steve