Re: Miller MiG
[Re: Kippy]
#2832585
10/14/20 08:41 AM
10/14/20 08:41 AM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,464
Back in NJ....
EWJ
master
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master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,464
Back in NJ....
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I have a Millermatic 180 for home use, which is a 230V machine. Does an excellent job and the duty cycle is something like 60. It is an excellent machine, and I'd expect the 211 to be just that much better. The autoset feature is easily disabled: used it only once and did not like it. 
Ed
EastCoast Land Yacht Assoc.
1967 Newport Conv: 440/4 speed
1969 GTX: 440/4 speed, TX9/TX9, A34, N96
1970 Super Bee: 383/4 speed, B5/B7
1970 Coronet RT: 440/4 speed, A34, N96
1970 Coronet RT: 440/auto, A36, N96
1970 Road Runner convertible: 383/4 speed TX9/D6XW
1970 GTX: 440+6/727, A32, N96
2001 Dodge 2500 HO CTD, 6 speed, 4x4 quad cab long bed
"The early bird may get the worm, but the 2nd mouse gets the cheese".
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Re: Miller MiG
[Re: justinp61]
#2832662
10/14/20 12:08 PM
10/14/20 12:08 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,003
Salem
Grizzly
Moparts Proctologist
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Moparts Proctologist
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,003
Salem
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We have an older Miller 250 with Auto-Set. I have significant welding experience plus 3 years of schooling in it. The Auto-Set I thought was gimmicky at first too but after using it, it's got to be the greatest invention in welding. There is never any effing around and ruining 2 hours of fab work because the settings are out. The material thickness setting is bang-on every time. I was looking at buying a Multimatic 215 but Lincoln released their SquareWave 200 TIG machine so I got into that instead. My first Lincoln and was very impressed with the machine. Was looking to add a MIG and was going to get the Lincoln 210 MP. About that time Miller released their Multiprocess 220. It does MIG and AC/DC TIG so I sold my SquareWave and just got this new Miller a month ago. I've only used the TIG so far and the Auto-Set is bang-on. I'm disappointed though in the quality on this Miller compared to the Lincoln. The foot pedal is bulky and cheap-feeling compared to Lincolns, the cup on the torch is off-center, the regulator has that open "T" handle on it so it gets spun out of adjustment if you even get near it  and many of the connections have a cheap, flimsy feel to them. It's a $3000.00 machine so I expect perfection. The Lincoln has a low profile knob on the regulator with a positive feel to it, the foot pedal is smooth, and all the connections are solid with a high quality feel. The Miller did sell itself to Me though because our 250 is such a good machine. This new 220 I bought because you can adjust the post-flow (cannot on the SquareWave) you don't have to change drive rolls for wire thickness (Miller has a clever set-up to do it) and the all-in-one package. Miller has Fan-on-Demand which means the fan only runs while you are welding. The SquareWave has the fan roaring in your ear as soon as you flip the machine on. This drove me absolutely crazy because I like it quiet when I'm working. As far as duty cycle goes, all of these compact inverter machines are around 20% full bore. You won't be running it full tilt on anything if you are working in your garage. They are designed for most of us repairing a car hauler or putting on a quarter panel so you will be sitting more around the 60% 1/8th and under. My take away? If Lincoln made a machine to compete with the Multiprocess 220 I would have bought it. Check out the Lincoln 210 MP before you buy the Miller. It's around the same price or you can upgrade and get it as a TIG package or as a Spoolgun package  
Mo' Farts
Moderated by "tbagger".
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Re: Miller MiG
[Re: Grizzly]
#2832667
10/14/20 12:23 PM
10/14/20 12:23 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,921
Richmond, Indiana
19swinger70
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,921
Richmond, Indiana
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I have had a Millermatic 251 for about 16 years. Great machine, never any issues. When I go to replace it, I will buy another Miller. The new generation machines look really nice. Check out some of Mike Finnegan's youtube videos, Miller is one of his sponsors. He has a nice new machine he uses in his home shop.
1970 340 swinger. sublime
1967 barracuda fastback BB
55 Plymouth Project
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Re: Miller MiG
[Re: Grizzly]
#2832882
10/14/20 11:30 PM
10/14/20 11:30 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,696
Bitopia
jcc
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
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If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,696
Bitopia
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My thinking on duty cycle for the home/hobbyist user, its just a CYA rating for the manufacturer in full commercial use, which I understand. I suspect its also very ambient air temp related/factored, and wonder if the machines have an internal temp sensor that shuts it down if one goes way over aboard on Duty cycle. If that happens often, the user is obviously pushing the machine, otherwise, I would not worry about duty cycle.
Anybody have any downsides to inverter use machines in home settings, like "noise" in the electrical circuits effecting computers, etc?
Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
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Re: Miller MiG
[Re: jcc]
#2832887
10/14/20 11:39 PM
10/14/20 11:39 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,270
Morrow, OH
markz528
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,270
Morrow, OH
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Anybody have any downsides to inverter use machines in home settings, like "noise" in the electrical circuits effecting computers, etc?
I have had a Lincoln Precision Tig 225 right under my computer for many years and have not had any problems. The computer is usually on as I stream music on it.
67 Coronet 500 9.610 @ 139.20 mph
67 Coronet 500 (street car) 14.82 @ 94 mph
69 GTX (clone) - build in progress......
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Re: Miller MiG
[Re: jcc]
#2832907
10/15/20 03:46 AM
10/15/20 03:46 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,555
Freeport IL USA
poorboy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,555
Freeport IL USA
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My thinking on duty cycle for the home/hobbyist user, its just a CYA rating for the manufacturer in full commercial use, which I understand. I suspect its also very ambient air temp related/factored, and wonder if the machines have an internal temp sensor that shuts it down if one goes way over aboard on Duty cycle. If that happens often, the user is obviously pushing the machine, otherwise, I would not worry about duty cycle.
Anybody have any downsides to inverter use machines in home settings, like "noise" in the electrical circuits effecting computers, etc? The 20% duty cycle isn't just to cover the companies butt, it really means if you want the welder to keep working, you need to follow the duty cycle. A 20%duty cycle means in every 10 minute running cycle, you can weld for 2 minutes and have to let the machine run to cool off for 8 minutes before you start welding again. Most of the "cheap" welders with a 20% duty cycle do not have an internal sensor that would shut them down (that would probably save a lot of those welders), what they do is start to slowly loose power up to the point they will barely function. By the time the operator figures out what the problem was, the damage has already started. Then after every time it gets overheated, it looses function in a shorter time, until it pretty well doesn't function at all. I have a friend that bought one of the "better" harbor freight welders because it was 1/2 the price of a Lincoln or Miller (both of which had a 100% duty cycle). His intended use was to occasionally weld body panels on cars, but like most, the welder is getting used for a lot more welding then originally planned. It worked very well when hi first got it, but only has a 20% duty cycle. That welder is only about 6 months old, and a couple weeks ago he was telling me that if they were welding a frame patch in, the welder seemed to loose power about 3/4 of the way through. I asked him if he was welding for a couple minutes, then giving the welder an 8 minute break before welding more. He asked me if I was crazy, they were welding for more then a 1/2 hour at a time, only stopping when they needed to make the next part, for as long as it took to make the part. I explained what a duty cycle meant, and told him he was burning the machine up. I don't believe he believes me. His right hand man stopped over yesterday to get some steel from me, he told me the welder was loosing power in about 20 minutes now. I figure that in about a month, he will be down to the 20% duty cycle just before it won't work anymore. This will be the 2nd welder in a year, and he melted down a 20% duty cycle plasma cutter 6 months ago. Gene
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Re: Miller MiG
[Re: Grizzly]
#2832922
10/15/20 07:09 AM
10/15/20 07:09 AM
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 59
USA
Kippy
OP
member
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OP
member
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 59
USA
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We have an older Miller 250 with Auto-Set. I have significant welding experience plus 3 years of schooling in it. The Auto-Set I thought was gimmicky at first too but after using it, it's got to be the greatest invention in welding. There is never any effing around and ruining 2 hours of fab work because the settings are out. The material thickness setting is bang-on every time. I was looking at buying a Multimatic 215 but Lincoln released their SquareWave 200 TIG machine so I got into that instead. My first Lincoln and was very impressed with the machine. Was looking to add a MIG and was going to get the Lincoln 210 MP. About that time Miller released their Multiprocess 220. It does MIG and AC/DC TIG so I sold my SquareWave and just got this new Miller a month ago. I've only used the TIG so far and the Auto-Set is bang-on. I'm disappointed though in the quality on this Miller compared to the Lincoln. The foot pedal is bulky and cheap-feeling compared to Lincolns, the cup on the torch is off-center, the regulator has that open "T" handle on it so it gets spun out of adjustment if you even get near it and many of the connections have a cheap, flimsy feel to them. It's a $3000.00 machine so I expect perfection. The Lincoln has a low profile knob on the regulator with a positive feel to it, the foot pedal is smooth, and all the connections are solid with a high quality feel. The Miller did sell itself to Me though because our 250 is such a good machine. This new 220 I bought because you can adjust the post-flow (cannot on the SquareWave) you don't have to change drive rolls for wire thickness (Miller has a clever set-up to do it) and the all-in-one package. Miller has Fan-on-Demand which means the fan only runs while you are welding. The SquareWave has the fan roaring in your ear as soon as you flip the machine on. This drove me absolutely crazy because I like it quiet when I'm working. As far as duty cycle goes, all of these compact inverter machines are around 20% full bore. You won't be running it full tilt on anything if you are working in your garage. They are designed for most of us repairing a car hauler or putting on a quarter panel so you will be sitting more around the 60% 1/8th and under. My take away? If Lincoln made a machine to compete with the Multiprocess 220 I would have bought it. Check out the Lincoln 210 MP before you buy the Miller. It's around the same price or you can upgrade and get it as a TIG package or as a Spoolgun package Thanks Grizzly, much appreciated. Im a little out of date with the newer technology of welding machines out there but that Lincoln I will be looking into. I like the fact that I can stick weld if need be
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Re: Miller MiG
[Re: Kippy]
#2832933
10/15/20 08:15 AM
10/15/20 08:15 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,427
PA
PLATINUM6BBL
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,427
PA
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I thinking of buying a Millermatic 211 MIG welder for home garage use. I weld as a profession (retired) and I have a CV/CC inverter Miller machine and two wire feeders but they are bulky and a PIA in my small garage.
This machine im looking at is advertised at either 110 or 220 volt input depending on how many amps your running and has a max of 230 amps, although I dont know the duty cycle.
I can get it for under 1400 including shipping and it comes with a regulator as well
The only thing I dont care for is this auto advance feature this machine has, which I feel is only a gimmick but it can be turned off and used on manual
Any feedback is appreciated Duty cycle is 20% on 115A at 19.8 VDC or 40% on 150A at 21.5 VDC. Auto-set feature is one thing the guys who have never used it before find they love. Sold 2 to our local alignment shop after they lost their Lincoln's in a flood. They can't believe how much better the 211 welds over the Lincoln's they replaced. One thing to remember is that for 10 years after your purchase, if you have done your warranty registration, you are given all the updates as they come along. All you do is download the new program on to a flash drive, then upload off the drive & into your welder and BAM you have the new stuff added. Lincoln service has sucked for us for years now and Miller has always gone above & beyond.
1969-1/2 A12 LOH Road Runner A4 w/ M6S
13.34 at 104 PSMCDR 9/06 in Mopar Action 8/07
12.95 at 105.94 F.A.S.T. 11/06
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Re: Miller MiG
[Re: Kippy]
#2833213
10/15/20 11:24 PM
10/15/20 11:24 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,003
Salem
Grizzly
Moparts Proctologist
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Moparts Proctologist
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,003
Salem
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You bet, Kippy, you will be impressed with any of these machines as I was coming from the Miller 250MP. Check out the Miller Multimatic 215 for a fair comparison to the 210 Lincoln. I apologize for not being able to give you a review of the stick and MIG on my Multimatic 220: I just got it and don't have 220v in the garage so I'm just messing around on 110 TIG doing some stainless and aluminum. So, to that, I will add that both the SquareWave and this 220 can do some decent work on a 110 source.
Mo' Farts
Moderated by "tbagger".
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Re: Miller MiG
[Re: Kippy]
#2833621
10/16/20 08:07 PM
10/16/20 08:07 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,236
Fairview Tennessee
SV_MOPARS
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,236
Fairview Tennessee
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i have a older miller 250, awesome machine, i also have a miller 211, also an awesome machine, the 211 is 110 which makes it way more user friendly and it is way better for sheet metal than the 250, BUY THE 211 YOU WILL BE HAPPY! and it is also good for heavier welding, but not like the 250.
Last edited by SV_MOPARS; 10/16/20 08:11 PM.
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