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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 86,196
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 86,196 |
Ouch.
Forge welding ain't always the chit, yanno?
If you take the time it takes, it takes less time.
--Pat Parelli
American by birth; Alaskan by choice.
--ironbender
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,709
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,709 |
Appreciate the fine feedback. I will be home Christmas Eve for a few weeks and will hit up a couple of the local shops.
Conduct is the best proof of character.
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 17,491
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 17,491 |
Ouch.
Forge welding ain't always the chit, yanno? Re-treading horse shoes now, are you? (Would those be Damascus shoes then?  )
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,468
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,468 |
I am a hobby welder, have 220 in the garage so I bought a Lincoln 180, mostly car work sheet metal and what ever needs to be stuck together.. So far a fine machine for the money. You start on the car path and the next thing will be a Plasma Cutter..
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,052
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,052 |
crossfireoops, or anyone else,
What do you know about the Millermatic 200 ?
That one has small stick welding capability included, but I don't know about the quality or performance of the machine. Looks to me to be strictly a hobby machine, although a pricey one.
I also don't know about the light weight of the machine - must be all electronic circuits without much transformer.
Myron
How many peckers can a Pecker Checker check if a Pecker Checker could check peckers?
(stolen from shootinurse)
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 53,303
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 53,303 |
crossfireoops, or anyone else,
What do you know about the Millermatic 200 ?
That one has small stick welding capability included, but I don't know about the quality or performance of the machine. Looks to me to be strictly a hobby machine, although a pricey one.
I also don't know about the light weight of the machine - must be all electronic circuits without much transformer.
Myron Yup, that's an inverter based system,....with the attendant advantages and a few disadvantages. Absolutely SUPERB for moving around a plant doing maintenance or for PORTABLE service,.... delivering fine arc shaping in several modes,....but VERY shy on "slug it out" duty cycle rating,...the area where the BIGGER inverters or the transformers truly excel. .....the sorta' rig you'd WANT in a race car support trailer, or perhaps a large trawler. I can tell you that the "backround" 25K hertz frequency will make for a decent, but not perfect DC TIG ferrous process, and that in the stick mode one will want ear protection, if it's anything like my Dynasty 400. I don't see the Multimatic 200 as a "Shop Machine", myself. Good timing, I'm meeting with a Miller distributor ma�ana, and will get his HONEST opinion about this particular machine,... cheers, GTC
Member, Clan of the Border Rats
-- “Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.”- Mark Twain
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,052
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,052 |
crossfireoops,
You are saying that the the welding current output is 25k ?
If that applies to the stick output, that thing will scream insted of buzz.
Myron
How many peckers can a Pecker Checker check if a Pecker Checker could check peckers?
(stolen from shootinurse)
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,125
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,125 |
What compressor did you get?
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,306
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,306 |
Is it the old 200 Miller? If so it is one of the best wire-feed welders ever built. They still bring $1000+ at auctions around here. I've been offered brand new welders in trade for my 200 but I still own it. I have a 304 now but the 200 is an AMAZING back-up machine that I still use on occasion.
I like 75/25 gas for mostly new metal and a few repair jobs. CO2 works better for dirty metal but the welds aren't as pretty and it's hard to control splatter at higher amps. I tend to use the stick for ugly projects or outside projects.
Get a 220 rig at the highest amperage you can afford as the projects will always get bigger. A 120 machine would be handy with some .023 wire for the thin projects. .035 gets tricky with under 16ga. material.
My ideal welder for a hobbyist (I've been one for many years) would be a 200+/- amp rig that runs on 220 since you have it and the ability to swap .035 wire and .030 or .023 wire by simply swapping the rollers. I think 75/25 gas is worth the expense but my $0.02.
Do not feed the bear!
White Bear sometimes treads on thin ice...
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 169
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 169 |
Is it the old 200 Miller? If so it is one of the best wire-feed welders ever built. They still bring $1000+ at auctions around here. I've been offered brand new welders in trade for my 200 but I still own it. I have a 304 now but the 200 is an AMAZING back-up machine that I still use on occasion.
I like 75/25 gas for mostly new metal and a few repair jobs. CO2 works better for dirty metal but the welds aren't as pretty and it's hard to control splatter at higher amps. I tend to use the stick for ugly projects or outside projects.
Get a 220 rig at the highest amperage you can afford as the projects will always get bigger. A 120 machine would be handy with some .023 wire for the thin projects. .035 gets tricky with under 16ga. material.
My ideal welder for a hobbyist (I've been one for many years) would be a 200+/- amp rig that runs on 220 since you have it and the ability to swap .035 wire and .030 or .023 wire by simply swapping the rollers. I think 75/25 gas is worth the expense but my $0.02. x2, especially on the unimix gas.
-Brian-
Whatever you do, do well.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 53,303
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 53,303 |
crossfireoops,
You are saying that the the welding current output is 25k ?
If that applies to the stick output, that thing will scream insted of buzz.
Myron No, I'm not. The incoming 50-60 Hz is INITIALLY ramped up to a 25K BACKROUND FREQUENCY,....which is than "Shaped",....e.g. chopped back down to lower voltages / higher Amps. You WERE asking about the MULTI MATIC 200, correct? GTC
Member, Clan of the Border Rats
-- “Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.”- Mark Twain
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,052
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,052 |
White_Bear,
No. This thing is a fairly recent design, a very light (29lb.) portable machine that is all electronic. It would be great for a carry-around machine, but I have some misgivings about it.
That is why I questioned it's capability.
Myron
How many peckers can a Pecker Checker check if a Pecker Checker could check peckers?
(stolen from shootinurse)
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,052
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,052 |
crossfireoops,
Yep, my bad. I called it a Millermatic instead of a Multimatic.
Electronic circuit welders are a foreign language to me and I don't fully comprehend how they work. Will have to do a bit of reading up on the newer ways of doing things.
Myron
How many peckers can a Pecker Checker check if a Pecker Checker could check peckers?
(stolen from shootinurse)
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,059
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,059 |
I've owned a few and run quite a few, the Millermatic 211 is my favorite and the one that's in my shop. Can't say enough good about it.
Straight C02 works fine for the vast majority of what I mess with but sometimes I want a better looking weld and the 80/20 argon-C02 provides that. Argon also has a slimmer penetration profile which can be beneficial for fillet and butt welds. C02 has deeper penetration which I like on thicker metal.
No denying the arc density and cosmetics with 80-20. I run a LOT of Argon through my Dynasty DX 400, and occasionally some "Tri-Mix." Just haven't been able to justify adding it to my in house MIG processes. When doing a "parameter development" gig, it's ALWAYS fun to play with the mixes,....it's just a question of economy and local prices, I guess. All that said, I gotta' head over to the local weld supplier and dump some more hard earned back into consumables. Have a fine mornin', Ya'll ! GTC 75/25 works pretty good for hard wire and dual shield too. I've ran tons of straight CO2 at work, but for my shop I use 75/25 as it runs smoother and you get less splatter. I'm not telling you this buddy as I know you are probably one of the most knowledgeable welders here. My mig is also small compared to yours, but it works great for a home shop. It's an older (10 years old) Miller 175 (220) and it works real nice. I've also ran tri mix and 95/5 etc. etc. but 75/25 is where it's at for me doing body work and exhaust type jobs at home. I work in the Marine industry where we run straight CO2 and it's good enough for the coast guard and ABS standards/x-ray quality welds..
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,059
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,059 |
Appreciate the fine feedback. I will be home Christmas Eve for a few weeks and will hit up a couple of the local shops. Ed, we know you don't skimp on rifles. I suspect/hope you will do the same when it comes to picking out the right welder. A miller 211 would probably fit your needs very well. Good luck in your search buddy and I'd suggest pm'ng crossfireoops on this. He has tons of experience in this field...
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,709
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,709 |
Yes, I have decided on the 211. Miller has a $100 rebate going now as well. Looks like I can get one for a grand.
Conduct is the best proof of character.
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,923
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,923 |
Good choice with the Miller 211, a grand well spent.
The Millermatic 135 and .023 would have been been preferable to the Lincoln 175 and .030 on my last auto restoration where almost all of my work was sheet steel.
Dave
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 53,303
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 53,303 |
Good choice dittos
The only thing I'd add on this fine morning is a recommendation that one avoid the cheesy "Cart" that may be offered (the one with plastic wheels and tiny casters, unless it's thrown in for FREE. Scratch building a really good one is a great way to shake out your new machine,....put it through all it's paces, as it were.
Member, Clan of the Border Rats
-- “Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.”- Mark Twain
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,059
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,059 |
Good deal. I'll bet Ed is going to like that machine...
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 14,313
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 14,313 |
Lincoln just came out with a new machine, one that will probably be my next machine. Link Phil
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