which Miller welder

[Scott Hightower]

Bigger is Better if you can spend the extra cash. However, the 180 has plenty of power for your project.

Scott
Fab Manager
Welders360

[deuce_454]

bigger is better... a big heavy used welder will outperform a new one dollar for dollar....

i borrowed a 400 amp ESAB MIG welder the other day, and it just put down a bead that looked almost like it was tigged

[David Pozzi]

Compare duty cycle, when you get on a big job on thick metal where you really turn the welder up and weld a longer time, the smaller welder will turn off when it get's hot. Duty cycle is the number of minutes you can weld out of every 10 minutes. A 5 min duty cycle is 50% duty cycle.

98% of the time you won't need many amps to do the job, but if I could upsize for only $100 or so. I'd do it.
David

[johnnymac46]

I know im a little late but thanks for the help deciding on a welder i went with the 211 MVP it works awesome.

The auto darkening helmet was a great investment as well. I would highly recommend getting one to any one who welds.

[GregWeld]

Nice!

Personally -- I HATE my Miller Elite helmet. I'm older... as in DIRT OLD... and many times (light gauges etc) it just won't be light enough for me.

I almost always use my OPTREL or my Speedglass.... they'll adjust to "5".

Just tossing that in if you find you can't see well... and seeing is EVERYTHING in welding.

[johnnymac46]

I haven't had any problems seeing yet, but then again I'm still 23.

However I do have problems with my hearing already thanks to four years of carrying a machine gun and explosions(training only not war symptoms dont want to give the wrong impression) so I use these little guys at work and on my car they are awesome ( http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-.../dp/B001T7QJ9O ). They are battery operated to cancel loud noises (wives) but can be adjusted to hear ambient noise, and they are MP3 compatable.

Just another piece of gear I thought some people might like

[GregWeld]

Yeah --- that hearing can be an issue..... lets see... I've played the drums (still do) for 50 years -- and I'm an internationally licensed pyrotech... HUH? What'd you say?