Bought a Miller Multimatic 200

[Sodo]

?I always believed that to get optimal results; stainless wire brush

I've been told that you have to buy a NEW stainless steel wirebrush, write ALUMINUM ONLY on it, and of course use it for Aluminum ONLY. They say that if the brush has any "steel dust" on it you will contaminate your aluminum that you are trying to clean. And end up with a crappy weld.

 

[Shield Arc]

I try not to take a wire brush to aluminum anymore, unless its complete crud or something of that nature.

All the aluminum I have, has been outside for 30 + years.

 

[dragoneggs]

I try not to take a wire brush to aluminum anymore, unless its complete crud or something of that nature. I wipe it with acetone, crank up the amps to blast away the oxide layer and then back off a bit and get at it quick. Quick feed while watching everything going on and giddy up and go.

View attachment 356348

That is sure purty! and showing off too! :laughing: I hope someday I can post a pic like that.

 

[IslandTractor]

Before I unbox it and crank it up?. Does anybody have experience with this machine? Should I go ahead and make it a "used" machine or return it, and in that case what is a better portable?

I've been using a 120v Miller 135 for 8 years and it suits about 90% of my needs. When it's windy outside I need a stick welder. Sometimes I have to weld thicker than 1/4". I do not weld commercially, only for personal projects. 30% Duty cycle is more than adequate. Portability is important. I have no useful TIG experience except screwing around once with no instruction. I bought the spoolgun too but haven't bought anything else for Aluminum yet.

Would be great to hear from anyone who is UNHAPPY with this machine as a MIG or a stick, NOT just by reading the specs or reading on the internet but actual use.

Genuine experience SPECIFICALLY with regard to the MultiMatic 200 on steel projects (less than 3/8" steel) will help the most.

I have one. Haven't used the TIG yet but I can comment on the stick and MIG (fluxcore). I bought the 200 and sold a Miller Passport and Miller Maxstar 150STH on the assumption that one machine would cover all those bases. As noted, with the exception of TIG which I haven't done yet, the MIG and stick are virtually identical in performance and a bit easier to set up on the MIG side. I haven't put much wire/rod through it yet but I am very happy with it so far. It is MUCH lighter than the Passport and only about double the weight of the Maxstar.

The capability of the MIG side (used only fluxcore so far) is essentially identical to the Passport which itself is the same or a bit better than the Miller212 as I recall. The dual voltage is very handy. I run it off a dryer outlet or 6000W generator for 220. The MIG gun on the 200 is a Bernard and much nicer than the M10 on the Passport.

The stick side is really almost identical to the Maxstar 150 though it is not high frequency start.

It also has a spool gun so has the aluminum capability of the newer style Passport (my Passport was the older one so I gained Al capability).

I haven't had a chance to use my set up in a few months as I don't have a heated welding space but I have been very pleased with the quality of construction, design and welding so far. I got the various machines I have had because I use the welders in two different locations so portability is important. I also don't always have 220 so the dual voltage was a big factor as well.

My only complaint about the Multimatic is that the leads and gun don't fit easily into a side pocket like they did on the Passport. They strap down to the outside of the case instead and are therefore a bit vulnerable to snag on things. Small but annoying issue. The only other downside is the substantial cost. For me it was easy because I was able to sell the other two welders for enough that I got the whole Multimatic kit with TIG and spool gun for less money than I sold the others for but it certainly is not a cheap set up.

 

[Shield Arc]

showing off too! :laughing:

Yeah the thing about Mike, he talks the talk, but he sure can walk the walk too! :cool2:

 

[ericher69]

Mike,

Any possibility of a new thread and maybe a you tube vid on your technique for that weld?

Sent from my iPhone 5s 64Gb using TractorByNet

 

[Rock knocker]

I've been told that you have to buy a NEW stainless steel wirebrush, write ALUMINUM ONLY on it, and of course use it for Aluminum ONLY. They say that if the brush has any "steel dust" on it you will contaminate your aluminum that you are trying to clean. And end up with a crappy weld.

We would paint the hub of the wire wheel orange for SS only, and green for Al.

 

[Sodo]

Here's the first few welds with the new MultiMatic 200.
I've never had a welder where you could set the voltage and wire speed so precisely. I'm going to like this machine.
Mig using .030 wire and 75/25 gas on .065" thick steel. Ended up using 16.5v and 150WFS of the fillet welds.

 

[dragoneggs]

Here's the first few welds with the new MultiMatic 200.
I've never had a welder where you could set the voltage and wire speed so precisely. I'm going to like this machine.
Mig using .030 wire and 75/25 gas on .065" thick steel. Ended up using 16.5v and 150WFS of the fillet welds.

Hey looks good to me... especially pretty much right out of the box. I want one. I know I am no help to your quest but it seems the MM 200 found a home? Well done.

 

[Cat_Driver]

I have one and teh machine is AMAZING - can't say enough good about it. Great Article in FABRICATINGS METALWORKING. A guy in a business bought on and tel how he uses it all over the place in the field, all all types of welding work.

For me I never touched a welder and I bought the spool gun. 30 minutes later I was welding like a "pro". After YEARS of people crying how hard welding aluminum is and what a premium people charge to weld it. I got a price on big aluminum job and the prices they wee asking were crazy high. Let's put it this way, I bought all the material, bought the welder, did the job myself, and I still made money on the job - PLUS I got a free welder out of it. That's how high the "welders" wanted to do the job.

I am still stunned that a machine that size can weld what it does. AND to so stick, tig, mig to boot.

Welding with the spool gun on aluminum makes me want to do everything in aluminum now because of the weight.