Stick Weld with Millermatic 250

[bad_idea]

My dad just picked up a Millermatic 250 off of a guy he knows. Dad is mostly going to weld auto body with it. For the rare occasion that he needs to stick weld something, is there a way to hook a stinger to this machine? I see an extra hole in the front of the machine above the ground clamp, we have MIG machines at work that have a stinger coming through that second hole.

 

[dr_clyde]

No, the MM 250 is a constant voltage machine.

You need a constant current machine to stick weld.

Some MIG welders are multi-process, but the MM 250 isn’t one of them.

 

[Kscardsfan]

Buy an old tombstone buzz box for a c note at an estate sale and you'll be covered.

 

[kaymccampbell]

My dad just picked up a Millermatic 250 off of a guy he knows. Dad is mostly going to weld auto body with it. For the rare occasion that he needs to stick weld something, is there a way to hook a stinger to this machine? I see an extra hole in the front of the machine above the ground clamp, we have MIG machines at work that have a stinger coming through that second hole.

It'll put out about 200 amps. All he's got to do is change out his wire, and he'll be fine. I don't understand why folks think mig machines can't pour it on and make it stick. I've fixed trucks, cars, tanks, farm equipment and excavators with my MiG machine. No failures.

 

[speed bump]

It'll put out about 200 amps. All he's got to do is change out his wire, and he'll be fine. I don't understand why folks think mig machines can't pour it on and make it stick. I've fixed trucks, cars, tanks, farm equipment and excavators with my MiG machine. No failures.

Lots of reasons to stick weld in non-production or sheet metal settings. Need to run some 309L, stick is way cheaper and you don't need a tank of 98-2. Quick weld outside, burn some 7018. Dirty ugly metal or big open root run some xx10 or xx11. Need to cut something, use some cutting rod. Magnetized metal, use AC.

I am always looking for a reason to run more dual shield or flux core but stick hard to give up for versatility.

That being said I would recommend a cheap inverter stick welder for those times when you need to burn rod. I I have the MM250s ancient predecessor but my little prime weld stick welder has burned a lot of 7018 in 3 years and it is much easier to walk it to wherever I need it.

 

[bad_idea]

I've got a nice AC/DC stick welder in my garage. He'll just bring over anything that needs to be stick welded. Likely won't be often. I do like the versatility of having stick and MIG, and used the stick machine often enough to justify having it.

 

[LopezBart]

For thick metal that has to stay stuck together - I grab my old 250 amp AC/DC Lincoln IdealArc, prep the joints properly and burn some rods. I've built trailers, tractor loader subframes, a boiler, etc... If I did production work, the MIG would be great after the process got fine-tuned and the welds checked. I can tell when a stick weld isn't right; the MIG welds can fool a person.

When the shop is finished, I plan on getting a plasma cutter and a TIG machine to round things out.

 

[dnschmidt]

It'll put out about 200 amps. All he's got to do is change out his wire, and he'll be fine. I don't understand why folks think mig machines can't pour it on and make it stick. I've fixed trucks, cars, tanks, farm equipment and excavators with my MiG machine. No failures.

I don' find that to be true unless you go with dual shield wire. Short circuit MIG does not have the strength of stick using 7018. Dual shield wire does as it's a much hotter process and that machine will handle dual shield wire. I use Lincoln dual shield wire but ESAP makes a very nice one as well. Problem is that you could buy a cheap AC stick welder for what dual shield wire cost. I like DC so I just use my TIG when I want to use stick.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I don' find that to be true unless you go with dual shield wire. Short circuit MIG does not have the strength of stick using 7018. Dual shield wire does as it's a much hotter process and that machine will handle dual shield wire. I use Lincoln dual shield wire but ESAP makes a very nice one as well. Problem is that you could buy a cheap AC stick welder for what dual shield wire cost. I like DC so I just use my TIG when I want to use stick.

We've all got our own preferences. 40 years ago I went out and bought a 250 amp, 100% duty cycle MIG machine and never looked back. I run straight wire, dual shield, flux core, depending on the project. My customers and I have been well pleased with the MIG results.

 

[Bert_]

It'll put out about 200 amps. All he's got to do is change out his wire, and he'll be fine. I don't understand why folks think mig machines can't pour it on and make it stick. I've fixed trucks, cars, tanks, farm equipment and excavators with my MiG machine. No failures.

Stick is just more convenient for a lot repair work. No gas to blow away, super easy to change type of rod, less prep most of the time.