Help Setting Up A MIG Welder, or Selecting A New One,,,

[CADplans]

I have filled ALL of my welding needs with the Miller Trailblazer,, by exclusively stick welding.
At times, I know there are more projects I would do if I had a MIG welder set up and running in the shop.

First, what I have;
The Miller Trailblazer, and,
the Miller spool gun MIG setup for the Trailblazer, and,
Three gas bottles, one for steel, one for aluminum, the third, I believe is for TIG?

A 30# spool of steel wire would last me a decade, so the small spools might be OK for me,

So my questions:
Should I try to use this Trailblazer MIG setup, or should I just go buy a MIG machine like a Millermatic 252?

(my main negative about buying a machine like the Millermatic 252 is that the wire would probably rust between uses)

Is there a source of manuals for the Miller welders?

Please help me get MIGGING!! :thumbsup:

 

[Shield Arc]

Look for a used Lincoln LN-25 to run with your Trailblazer.

 

[Big Barn]

If you want portability for mig (or fluxcore) get a suitcase welder for your Trailblazer. I like my Lincoln LN 25.



If you intend to only mig in your shop, then a MM252 would be nice.

Edit: Shield Arc beat me to it
LN 25’s are so rugged even older used ones are usually in good working order. ( compared to the Miller equivalent. )

I purchased these TWO with fluxcore guns for $800 Cdn. and they worked perfectly.

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

Look for a used Lincoln LN-25 to run with your Trailblazer.

Ln-25 is OLD tech

Definitely go with a used miller 12vs instead Miller SuitCase X-TREME Wire Feeders - Bring It On - YouTube


... Fair play for the Lincoln activ8... Activ8™ Wire Feeder - YouTube

 

[Shield Arc]

I haven't used a Miller feeder since the mid 1980s. Looks like they have improved greatly. When we built the Pioneer Square station of the Metro Tunnel down town Seattle. The company bought Miller feeders. The doors fell off the first day!:thumbdown:

 

[fried1765]

I have filled ALL of my welding needs with the Miller Trailblazer,, by exclusively stick welding.
At times, I know there are more projects I would do if I had a MIG welder set up and running in the shop.

First, what I have;
The Miller Trailblazer, and,
the Miller spool gun MIG setup for the Trailblazer, and,
Three gas bottles, one for steel, one for aluminum, the third, I believe is for TIG?

A 30# spool of steel wire would last me a decade, so the small spools might be OK for me,

So my questions:
Should I try to use this Trailblazer MIG setup, or should I just go buy a MIG machine like a Millermatic 252?

(my main negative about buying a machine like the Millermatic 252 is that the wire would probably rust between uses)

Is there a source of manuals for the Miller welders?

Please help me get MIGGING!! :thumbsup:

If 240V/190A is enough, the Hobart Handler 190 MIG (by Miller) is a good value (available for $650 or less).
I found a deal on a brand new in the box, with 5 yr. warranty, Hobart Handler 190 MIG, for $455, back in January.
Like you, a 30# spool of steel wire would last me a decade.
I currently have 2 two pound spools, and am 77 years old.
Hope I will need to buy lots more.

 

[gsganzer]

Is anyone using self shielded flux core with their LN-25? Which gun did you use? I have a LN25 that's set up for hard wire, gas shielded.. I'm thinking about trying flux core, but it has the older magnum 400 gun that I don't believe works well with self shielded flux core, maybe I'm wrong.

 

[Shield Arc]

We always used the Lincoln K-126 self shielded flux core guns.

 

[CincyFlyer]

I have filled ALL of my welding needs with the Miller Trailblazer,, by exclusively stick welding.
At times, I know there are more projects I would do if I had a MIG welder set up and running in the shop.

First, what I have;
The Miller Trailblazer, and,
the Miller spool gun MIG setup for the Trailblazer, and,
Three gas bottles, one for steel, one for aluminum, the third, I believe is for TIG?

A 30# spool of steel wire would last me a decade, so the small spools might be OK for me,

So my questions:
Should I try to use this Trailblazer MIG setup, or should I just go buy a MIG machine like a Millermatic 252?

(my main negative about buying a machine like the Millermatic 252 is that the wire would probably rust between uses)

Is there a source of manuals for the Miller welders?

Please help me get MIGGING!! :thumbsup:

Two gas bottles; 100% argon can be used for TIG and aluminum MIG.

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

I haven't used a Miller feeder since the mid 1980s. Looks like they have improved greatly. When we built the Pioneer Square station of the Metro Tunnel down town Seattle. The company bought Miller feeders. The doors fell off the first day!:thumbdown:

Quit kicking them off the scaffolding

I have the older 90's model Miller super s-32p. If it got rough handled, I'm sure it would get broken quickly.
Works great for my little bobcat 225nt though