I did a search on that model and couldn't find anything in all the posts for welding, hopefully I didn't miss one.
Not too concerned if the presets aren't perfect; I can dial the voltage and speed to get what I want, just want to see if others are finding it to be a good machine and capable of welding up a race car chassis.
I do a reasonable amount of fab work on my car like welding steel tubing, chassis tabs and other plate items 1/8" and 3/16", rarely ever see 1/4". Not needing an AC TIG for aluminum, my friend has a TIG I can borrow whenever I TIG thin aluminum (we all know thick alum = good machine with tons of power = $$), so the DC would be fine.
Does anyone out there have one of these and weld similar items? I have never MIG welded aluminum, but would get the Spoolmate 100 spool gun and go for it if others find it to be a good tool for alum up to 1/8".
I have been borrowing another friend's Lincoln 180 and that has covered all of the steel welding needs I have had thus far, so I believe this Miller to be comparable.
Haven't used the Miller and I'm not an experienced welder but I've been researching a bigger machine to replace my little Lincoln SP135+. After a lot of reading and spec comparison I ended up ordering a HTP MIG 200. It should be delivered this week, so I'll be able to give better input as to build quality and performance shortly. At half the price of the Miller and WeldUSA's service reputation it was hard to argue. http://www.usaweld.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=20
I also ordered their 221 Invertig and 600 plasma cutter. A friend has the 221 TIG and is very pleased after a few months of light usage. So it's not a total gamble.
thanks for the inputs. In regards to the HTP stuff, the TIG my friend has that I mentioned is an Invertig and works pretty well for the alum thin stuff. His is like 10yrs old so it is a 205 or something like that, they have the 221 now. I was looking at that brand as well if I want to split up and have multiple machines. Still hoping someone might have some experience with the multiprocess machine and can chime in. I like the idea of maybe having one machine that does everything I would need.
thanks for the additional feedback, sort of taking some time here to really figure out what I want to do. I keep thinking I won't need to do a bunch of aluminum where the AC TIG would matter but then I start to think if I had an AC machine, I would probably do more which means buying two separate machines...
Big advantage for me is its a 110 welder when it needs to be and at least to 1/8 and even some 3/16". At the limits it seems to 'turn itself down' So if you are welding at 3/16 and turn the settings to 1/4" you aren't going to get more umph. But you shouldn't be doing 1/4" on 110V anyway (or IMHO 3/16).
The welder is super smooth welder. Ask anyone about welding with Miller's Passport. Same thing with the 200, just a bit more power, lighter weight but no internal CO2 bottle.
On 220 it welds exactly the same on the lower settings. You cannot tell the difference. Duty cycle is slightly higher on 220. Of course on thicker settings its much better.
The gun is really nice as well. Tough to get parts for it (have to order tips and nozzles - the Q gun is typically for bigger welders -everyone stocks .035 tips, but nothing smaller and the size of this gun is smaller than the full size 300 amp version.) Bottom line, for now mail order the parts.
The autoset is pretty good. IMHO the wire speed might be a bit too high, but the nice thing about it is you can take Miller's settings and tweak from there - very very easy to tweak.
Bottom line, its a very very nice MIG welder. However, it is $1800 or so (Miller sends you a welding table so knock a few $100 for that). The Miller 211 might be a better deal (closer to $1100 street price). As for TIG, its an emergancy TIG - it has gas valves, you can use foot pedal, buy no high frequency start (none of the 'all in one' machines seem to have this) but again, it will do it off 110V. More importantly it will stick at 110.
Bottom line. Its a very nice welder. Very smooth, spatter free (well, low spatter anyway), consistent welds.
The only real cons is the price.
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
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anybody use a Miller Multimatic 200?
which means buying two separate machines...
Linear Mode
