Miller has a pretty decent promotional play / rebate going on these Millermatic 211 machines, and after discussing them here, running one at a neighbors, falling into deepest darkest envy at EdM's recent acquisition , I went for it.
I have 2 big (for this little place) structural aluminum projects on the boards before Winter '16, and the spool gun's going to be needed, TIG's just not that cost effective.

No fancy gasses,....just plain vanilla CO2 and .035 70 S6 this evening,....I really LIKE the results, and am never going to regret this. Guess I'd forgatten how FAST a larger Mig can be .

The auto set is a cool consept

I believe it even has over voltage protection

Greg,

Nice. I dropped by the local pawn shop and they had what appears to be a NIB Miller Spoolmate 100 for $150. Not knowing what I may need in the future I passed. Is this a worthwhile purchase assuming aluminum is in the future?

Greg I couldn't weld chikenchit with duckchit but I see Gracie approves. Welding is something I wish I could do decently. Congrats on the new welder!

NICE!

I'll know more once mine shows up,....it's part of the purchase / promotional deal. I typically LOATH spool guns. They're heavy,clumsy and extremely fatiguing,...as opposed to a "Push Pull" system. What they ARE about is SPEED, and one has to really hustle.

Having the spool gun is really just part of the game,....one will also need an Argon flowmeter, and Argon bottle, as well as a whole array of additional nozzles, contactors, etc.

GTC

Would it be difficult for you to hang your machine overhead and run your wire downhill right out of the welder ?

Did that many years ago when welding aluminum boat docks in the shop. Worked great and this was with a 12 foot cable.

Cross, you might want to look into helium or at least a mix of it and argon for your shield gas.

For aluminum of course.

It appears as though Gracie approves, if Gracie approves I approve.

I tried welding aluminum at a buds one time, after he got done laughin' I just let him do it now.......I hope you bought a 220 vac unit, you can weld so much better with 220 vac.

Nice setup!

Appreciate your bringing that up.

Not at all difficult, and there are some nylon liners that will apparently really enhance that setup. An articulating "Swinging arm" carrying a wire drive becomes more and more common.

The wrinkle is that the changeover time from ferrous to aluminum is almost enough to call out having a dedicated machine for each process,.....and this is a small shop, on a lean budget. Small jobs get TIG, and I doubt I'll see all that much structural aluminum, I mostly work in steel anymore.

Years ago itwas different. I had everyone in the area wondering HTH I was able to get light aluminum structural work out so fast. I was squirt welding the joints with spool gun, than blasting over that bead with my DX 400 Dynasty TIG,.....screaming hot amps through a 5/32" lanthanated tungsten, HIGH freqs, and pulsed. You really had to boogie, or you'd blow holes in things.
......fast and GREAT looking finished product, but also an Argon alligator.

....ran a Thermal Arc multi-process machine at a trade show a coupla' years back, a pulsed aluminum MIG through a light push pull setup, that sucker was AWESOME. ( all $8K's worth of it)
The reverse cone of no nonsense SPRAY weld coming off the end of that wire was a pretty thing to watch, and eerily quiet,....just a steady hiss,....no popping, crackling, blorping or farting, ....no spatter AT ALL.

GTC

Amen, Helium Argon blends DO kick azz. That rig described above was running a tri-mix IIRC.

GTC

Yup, just retired a little Millermatic 130 that's run MILES of .030 on 110 VAC,.....I won't knock it to hard, but will not miss it, either.
In a pinch the 211 WILL run on 110 VAC, if that's all that's available.
GTC

nice to have the right tools AND the ability to use them.

norm

Sweet rig, Greg! Don't you jut love it when high quality and low price get together?

Ed

spray transfer is fun... I suck at it, but its fun. I need to get "nuke good" at it like I am with SMAW structural Lots of good Iso phase money im missing out on, and they pump condition'd air out those damn things, its like fancy shop weldin' :-D

Spray is fun to do and delivers very clean no spatter welds especially in tight inside corners.

Gotta have the machine dialed in just right tho' for perfection.

Well, I'm just knocking down one more cuppa' and am fixin' to finish up a gantry to spot over the water well casing head. I have to pull the simple pump today.

Norm, your post got me reflecting,.....these amazing new tools, at their VERY reasonable pricings, are made possible only by that which we frequently decry,....whilst bemoaning the demise of the tradesman / journeyman blue collar jobs.
*Cad/Cam
*Solid Modeling / 3D printing
*CNC machining / Moldmaking
*Mims
*Robotics/printed circuits
*.........jeez, that's barely the bones of it.

Suffice it to say that it's not all that long ago that we were manually winding armatures and field coils, and sitting in clouds of cellulosic fumes, burning off 6010. There sure have been a lot changes to see, in one lifetime, haven't there ?

GTC

Cross, the folding table with wheels, is that permanentely attached? I have a Black&Decker Workmate and I am always carrying it around.

Oh, and good set up.

Wayne

crossfire;
Thanks for the photos and congratulations on the upgrades.

Before I ask the technical question I've got to say that Gracie and Sam's dog are among my favorite canine models here - Gracie seems to be so happy to get her photo taken all the time.

Anyway sir, I see your welder is sitting at 20° or so canted upward. Is the angle critical and what is the advantage?

Thanks in advance and all the best to you this upcoming week sir.

Dwayne

Years ago folks steered me away from trying to wire weld aluminum on a production basis. Interesting seeing how it's straightforward now.

The squared-away, orderliness of your shop always impresses, 'Cross. Enjoy the new unit's abilities and have a good one out there.

Yup. For years we would not allow FCAW on any of our equipment (O&G stuff) and now it is pretty common.

yes and what we cry about the most is all new power rigs , trucks hoes, bulldozers, drill rigs, ect cant be fixed by you and me
only by tecs at 140.oo an hour or more but they sure produce more work, and what's comming next is the robotic computer screen controled desk jocky operator leaving us OLD schoolboys shaking our heads :confuse

norm

Well there, THAT is out of the way, and where it belongs



......and I didn't kick the ladder out of the way and wind up stranded up there. Actually that whole lashup went together one piece at a time, telescoping together as it sprouted.
Lord bless and keep our boneyards full, this I humbly beseech you.
....Ya' just can't BEAT a MIG when "show Quality" is not the objective, but rather slamming something that will WORK, and getting it done pronto-like.

Thank you Lord for that crop of 3X3" HSS that I grabbed in town yesterday being EXACTLY the right length needed to get the height required at a simple 45*. Please,.... Continue to bless and keep the makers of these fine American truck muffler clamps, too.



Guess as long as I'm invocatin' and beseeching,...

Lord, please let me find the sucker rod that's given up at a shallow spot in the string, and I promise not to put the thing in top gear again unless it's real cloudy

One reason I was hired at a company in California was, during my interview they laid a part in front of me and asked, "How would you make this?". It was a welded steel assembly. I asked the monthly quantity, got the answer, and replied, "cut the sheet metal with a laser, form it, and weld it with a robot."

They had been importing a Chinese product, and wanted to start selling a US made product. Both the products and production line I designed worked well, and 18 years later, they are still doing it pretty much that way. Volumes got high enough to justify a big blanking press, and a 2nd Lincoln robot. I got the satisfaction of creating a few jobs in the USA.

I eventually moved on to greener pastures, running a smaller company. But it's real interesting, to wire weld aluminum

Mornin' Hoser !

Dwayne, actually that setup is as azzbackwards as one could manage, but keeps the Lawyers happy,...it's almost impossible to tip.

The OPTIMUM spot for that wire drive would be 3' ABOVE the workpiece, and pointed down at 15* or so,....the first 4 feet of lead supported dead straight. Suffice it to say that "convenience" goes out the window, and we're no longer dragging it around the shop lickety splitsky.

Best I can say is ALWAYS try to keep that feed / lead as STRAIGHT as possible, and use wipers and wire lube / cleaner.

GTC

All that. And shipping manufacturing jobs overseas. A lot of that equipment is for sale, cheap, because of our high unemployment.

Very nice shop and plenty of outside space.

At 71, I'm just learning to tig weld, using a Miller Dynasty 200DX I picked up used/remanufactured/used some more, on oBoy. Got a couple argon bottles on c/l. Getting better at handling the filler rod. Though I'd done some stick welding projects, decades ago, so far I've only used what I've learned to tack together some steel and some stainless pieces I fabricated, so I could then have a pro complete the welding; these had to be perfect for a client. Have to admire anyone with well honed tig welding skills. And I don't mind paying a pro for this, as I often have done in the past.

Tied to this was my purchase of a (ancient) vertical mill and lathe and a new mitering bandsaw, plus the precision layout, measuring and setup equipment that go along with more refined metalworking. And the major reorganization of my already seriously overcrowded (primarily wood) fabrication shop, which is a dust hole.

UMmmm, I THOUGHT that I'd just said that. Sorry if it was obtuse.

Want to REALLY learn how to manage a Tig Puddle and Filler Rod ?

.....learn to Oxy-Acetylene weld at a master level,....FIRST.

Fatigued, a bit arthritic and muscle achy here all the time now, so I see my TIG skills largely in the toilet.

Best high precision welders I've known were gals.

GTC

All,

Weld string's been lifted, no sucker rod damage evident, so plugging the frost weep in the lift pipe (48" down casing) and resealing the VERY leaky top gland is underway.

.....next time you see a pic of that 211 it will be missing alla' those stupid safety and model labels ( I mean I KNOW what the damned thing is). That stick on labeling stuff gets RASTY /discolored when hit with weld spatter, and grinder chips, and the only time to get it gone is when NEW,.....once aged at all, and hit by IR and UV it'll rip the paint off.

GTC

Very nice, there was a time in my life I would have killed for one of those!

I've done a fare bit of O/A welding as a lad and even more brazing. The first time I picked up a TIG torch and glued some stainless together, I was in heaven. My mentor at the time was impressed as well and commented that I must have burnt some gas in the past.

TIG is an awesome skill to have but slow if not required. Tough to beat MIG for speed but the old stick is always required for outside or sticky situations.

What gas do you run in your MIG, Cross? I did straight CO at first and still do for dirty projects but 75/25 is my go to as it is a cleaner looking weld at higher amps.

I picked up a slightly used 304 Miller with a S60 pusher a few years back and won't have a lesser machine in my shop except for some .030/.023 work on the thin stuff. That thing flat out welds. I use it for everything from MIG to TIG to stick to arc gouging and it's been flawless. I try to use a big 40 oil burner for the gouging so I don't wreck a good outfit needlessly.

I noticed that you don't seem to have any insulation on your shop walls. How do you stay warm in the winter months? I need heat for half of the year.

No insulation ?

Well,....not yet, I'm still trying to get this place half azzed squared away.

Gas,....STRAIGHT CO2 is still the economy choice,....
and if and when I need to boot that, I mix my own, I've got Argon for the Dynasty, and I believe there's a big helium bottle out there somewhere.....Haven't counted "Owner Bottles" or stacked up alla' the Ys, Ts, or adapters, but they all seem to be here.

The last time I did any serious playing around with mixing gasses, I remember being really impressed with the addition of MINUTE (e.g. .05 to .2 %) Oxygen, to CO2 Argon, and CO2 Argon / Helium.....mostly when running FAT 3/64" wires. IIRC, it seemed to lay down a smoother boundary zone when capping.

Big 40 dittos, my friend,.....and semper E 7024, E 7018 when one just HAS to dump a string of metal where there ain't any, and have it HOLD.

I've had mine (Big 40) since 1982,....and am finally "overhauling" it.

GTC

I love welding with a splash of O2 in the gas mix but I don't always have the patients to prep my work for it. It seems that it needs to be CLEAN to burn an oxy mix.

I welded some boilers with a tri-mix and that was fun but I had everything brushed and degreased perfectly. Also did a bit of 95/5 for some fancy production spray transfer MIG. I didn't care for the weld but that's what the smart guy spec'd. I prefer a little texture to the weld profile.

75/25 is not as cheap as straight CO2 but most of my welding is on .125" and over material. It's not uncommon to have the wire pusher up to 750IPM on some of the larger jobs and straight CO2 just doesn't cut it for me on those projects.

Don't forget to show us some pics of that loomynum project when it happens.

CHIT !

My apologies for not answering this sooner.

That "Dolly" was a Flea Market score,....as pictued, and intact it only required shortening,
....the Workmate just sits on it, and can be lifted off. Beats the chit out of packin' the thing around on blown out knees.

Roll on, Owayhee !

I like that welder you have on the trailer. Have one just like it, powered by a flat head continental

Crossfire,

I thought push pull spool guns are required for aluminum welding?

I think spool guns are single drive but its point of use, little spool right there on the gun.

Nice stuff crossfire.

Yep no need to waste a long string of wire when it goes tits up.

I do use a felt wiper fob wetted with some kind of amazing stuff(lighter fluid i think)that keeps the liner clean.

Guess I am out of my league.

I should have said aluminum is hard to push through the cord... So spoon is better

NICE dood!!! Color me green with envy.
My next will be he Lincoln Square Wave TIG 175. My BIL has one that I use from time to time and it's just what I need.

A spoolgun has a small spool mounted right in the gun as ND stated. About 6" +/- of liner to contend with. Only current and gas being fed through the hoses. They are good for smaller use projects. A push/pull has a wire feed similar to what we use with steel to pull the wire off of a large spool and feed it into the liner. The hand-held gun has another drive that grabs the wire and feeds it out the rest of the way.

Aluminum is just to soft to feed over and distance by only pushing it. It bends and plugs the liner or if the drive rollers are too tight the wire gets a heck of a curve to it.

I'm craving an aluminum project after all of this welding talk.

Hey ND, do you have any new F-150 body panels that you need stitched together?

Greg,

I walked into my LGS/Pawn Shop yesterday and they had two used Millermatics for sale, $495.00 each, take your pick. One 211 and one 210. How do I tell if they have been taken care of or abused? Is that a good price for either of them?

Ed

Have the local Miller rep do a pre-purchase inspection.

Thank you, sir! They are right across the street from the LGS/Pawn Shop.

Ed

You're on a roll.

Your yard and shop would leave anyone a little envious... I've used the Millers, but have always for some reason or the other purchased Lincoln's. My Power-Mig 255 rigged with spool gun, and a 140c also rigged with spool gun, Victor cutting outfit, and a cut-off saw does everything I'd ever need to do. Would some day like to have a little Tig set-up though.

You've got a great looking place.

Phil

Bumped for tnscouter, and his commendable effort to get his young scout bangin' iron.

GTC

Okie had this nailed,today,.....GAS WELDING OUTFIT FIRST !

That Millermatic 211 looks like a really nice unit...

FWIW, I think that since the op knows nothing about welding & welders, now might be a good time for him to learn...make it a father/son learning experience...win/win

there it is

Greg - thanks for this post. So good to see your spiffy new rig and read this stuff from some knowledgeable folks. I know you will make the best of it and look forward to seeing some fine product. Am especially envious because am no longer "allowed" to do such welding - so just sold the last of such equipment - the big Lincoln Pipeliner mounted on a well set up 1972 GMC one ton. Gone but not forgotten

Paul, mentioned a Lincoln Pipeliner...

I'm one of the best gorilla welders there is, so now you know my experience level on welding and welding machines, but one of my BIL's is a welder. Been doing it for 35 years, makes a good living, so I guess he knows what he is doing. He has got a big diesel lincoln in his shop and that is the smoothest welding machine, I ever fooled with. I've used Miller bobcats, and they are good machines, lincoln tombstones, miller electrics, etc.,but that lincoln just outshines them all.

Yes, the old DC machines are

Another tool in the mix eh? Picasso is jealous.

My ex wife worked for many years @ http://www.baesystems.com/en/home?r=US as a welder. Her small body size allowed her to access many of the difficult weldments that the guys couldn't get to and was literally famous for her skills in the shop.

Chic could lay down some wire.

My grandfather was taught to weld by a woman. He always told me "women make the best welders because they tend to have better manual dexterity than men do". He had the utmost respect for women welders. He also liked the movie flashdance.... He was a dirty old man/welder...

After she left BAE due to budget cuts she went to Harley-Davidson and welded rocket engines for the US Navy.

Supersonic target drone engines. Girl could lay down some wire !!!

http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-37.html

For some reason, It seems that Harley-Davidson and Rocket engines should not even be in the same sentence to me!
They (rocket engines) don't leak oil do they?!!

Ride a V-Rod once. It's a rocket.

Not really. I almost fell asleep waiting for the one I rode to get to 130.

I pushed this thread back up, and had to go get after a rather boring / plebian run of soldering,....brass to tinned steel. Nothing fancy,....CHORE type work.
Having just rang off with one of the local Fire Denizens, and looking towards the afternoon's tasking I commented on as to how the proper use of solder is becoming a bit rarer,....another one of those skills that we'll see phased out,....like Gas welding as the primary and FIRST year of a 4 year welder's apprenticeship.

I'll tell ya' what,....a BIG shakeup in aAmereican "Vo-tech" philosophy is long past due,....and we're seeing the consequences.

At such a point in time that an "American" state brings in a "Floatel" fulla' azz kicking young CHINESE welders to build a bridge that will connect AMERICAN roadways, ....WTF else CAN we call this, ....except CONSEQUENCES.

I say it's time to put a somewhat bored, whiny and overfed nation back to WORK.

GTC

Speaking of soldering. Have you used this flux ? Fairly all around flux and great for tight fitments as it really sucks the solder into the joint.

I use it primarily for stainless to copper.

http://weldfabulous.com/harris-sclf...e=c&gclid=CMqX442d_ckCFQyPaQod8L4Ivw

Yes, I have, and it's really GOOD !

The packaging absolutely SUCKS,...and needs to be kept out of direct sunlight, and in isolated BOTTOM SHELF storage, though.....The consequences of the plastic bottle giving up, and dripping downward over one's plunder are nothing cheerful.

'nother packaging bitch / kvetch,.....TOO much product from TOO large a spout,...one needs but the smallest quantity to get fine results,....the issue dispenser just pukes the stuff all over the place.

DESTROYS bluing

Isolates well with common blackboard chalk or welder's soapstone,....finely crushed sheetrock wall board in an isopropyl alky base makes a better "dam", for really fussy stuff.

Good Nitric / hydrofluoric acid mix,...neutralize it with LOTS of washing soda.

BEST with HW 95-5 solder,....good for common lead tin in dirty, "radiator REPAIR" SITUATIONS.

gtc

Best I have seen were Filipinos and Koreans.