Need help with new Miller 211 welder gear selection

[Travinsky]

I have been reading all the forums and have decided to get a Miller 211 now that they have a winter promo going on with $250 rebate and a free helmet. Spoke with my LWS and will be placing order tomorrow, and I need advice for everything I will "need" to safely get started welding.

I will also ask LWS but I would like to walk in well informed and not buy anything I don't need to stay inside my budget.

Will eventually get a dedicated AC Tig with HF start in the future for wife's desire to make artwork with copper but like me she has never welded, so help is appreciated.

Projects I am planning are to make an HVAC security cage, a pet kennel run and another cage for my Rubbermaid 7x7 shed. The shed survived Hurricane Irma roughly 6 months ago but thankfully we only got category 1 winds in my area.

Thanks in advance.

 

[sberry]

4 1/2 grinder, some tips, roll of 030 solid wire and C25 gas bottle.

 

[Travinsky]

Thanks for the quick reply.
I have a Makita XAG03 I use as a metal cut off wheel so I'll get the right discs to use as a grinder.
Do I need any special gloves, clothes or tools since I've seen online sellers with Hobart pliers and gels?

 

[ItsNemo]

Get at least a jacket (the indura ones miller makes are fine) and good pair of gloves...ear plugs and a beanie are also handy.

The rest is all the metal working tools, cutting, clamping, etc.

 

[Travinsky]

Great.
What metal working table should I get or can I just work on garage floor for now to save $

 

[sberry]

Find a plate and a couple of saw horses to start.

 

[tarmy]

This oughta do it...made the table with a 211, got tired of breathing poison gas, fixed that...and made a cart for it and plasma cutter.

Grinders, clamps, ear and eye protection...and gloves.

 

[Travinsky]

This oughta do it...

Hahaha that is awesome and your drill press makes my porter cable look really wimpy. Where did you get the metal to make the table?

 

[tarmy]

Hahaha that is awesome and your drill press makes my porter cable look really wimpy. Where did you get the metal to make the table?

Find a good metal supply shop...make friends with them and tip the guys at Christmas...

I buy stock and scape from them. Now they cut me sweet deals on the tails and scrap prices...

That welding table uses two 4x4 I beams...scrap weight price...the whole table cost about 500...including the slats which are 1/2" x 6" bar stock...the castors were 200 on top of that...

The other thing is get strong cleaning agents...I use Jasco acid...make sure metal is CLEAN FRESH surface before you weld...most important part!

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Gloves really depend what you are working on. I almost always wear at least one, but probably half the time its nothing that wold be commonly called a welding glove. as mentioned before, burn proof sleeves are very nice. The one I sometimes have trouble finding is boots or high shoes with no plastic materials in the upper. A blob of slag will usually bounce right off leather, but if it lands on the nylon tongue, it will burn through, and keep burning while you get unlaced. I'm sure that seems slower than it is.

 

[dkroth]

I suggest TIG gloves instead of MIG gloves. Much more dexterity and tactility. I find I'm more likely to keep them on rather then slip them off and end up burning or cutting myself.



.

 

[neblinc]

Miller makes a nice cover for the 211.

 

[Travinsky]

Find a good metal supply shop...make friends with them and tip the guys at Christmas...

Good advice

 

[Lelandwelds]

See if you can get some left hand only welding gloves. Mine never match and I burn up lefts three times as fast as rights. I like a FR cotton cape and sleeves to weld in. I really like clean cover lenses. Get separate cheap gloves for material handling. I would focus on actual welding consumables or PPE and resist gadgets and extras.

How do you cut metal? Get extra consumables. Get a second grinder. Make friends with a pipe fab, a red iron erection company, or a tank fabricator. If you don't waste their time and have an "in", you should get some sweet materials. Pay above scrap price.

Repair something. Build something.

 

[IndyGarage]

Thanks for the reminder I need to send in the rebate form.

I bought a miller 211 a couple weeks ago. You'll love it. I've struggled putting down good welds for years - it's always been hit or miss.

With that 211 on autoset, I pulled out some scrap metal and laid down the best MIG welds I've ever done right out of the box. Thin stuff, pretty thick stuff - didn't matter.

I wish I hadn't waited so long.

I ended up buying the spoolgun - not sure I'll need it, but with the rebate it was almost $100 off.

 

[blake101]

Bought the 211 last year, you will love it, great choice.

 

[scubadoober]

Just remember it is a $50 rebate on the welder, and a $200 rebate if you by $500 worth of Miller goods on the SAME invoice. That is not the same as a $250 rebate. You may already know this, but your post was a little vague. Here is the link.

 

[Travinsky]

Just remember it is a $50 rebate on the welder, and a $200 rebate if you by $500 worth of Miller goods on the SAME invoice. That is not the same as a $250 rebate.

Yep I just got off the phone this afternoon with an e-tailer and they took the time to explain it in better detail. They also have some free promos that include a helmet and gloves. When I asked my LWS about matching the online free helmet promo, he said he'll just do a pair of gloves. He also doesn't stock the 211, though he can get it in 2-3 days from out of state.

He says that the 215 with TIG option is really popular and I saw a couple of them in the store. He can match the $1875 internet price on that one, but again no promos.

I'll swing by tomorrow morning to see what accessories he has that will fill the $500 requirement to get the $200 rebate.

Now I have a question, would you pay $120-$165 in taxes and not get a free $100 Miller helmet and gloves in order to support an LWS that you've never dealt with in the past?

 

[tim_]

Now I have a question, would you pay $120-$165 in taxes and not get a free $100 Miller helmet and gloves in order to support an LWS that you've never dealt with in the past?

I wouldn't. But you'll be going to them for shielding gas anyway.

 

[rsanter]

I suggest TIG gloves instead of MIG gloves. Much more dexterity and tactility. I find I'm more likely to keep them on rather then slip them off and end up burning or cutting myself.



.

I was going to say the same thing. A good set of propers sized TIG gloves is a good thing.
I also have a set of arm shields things. They are slip on sleeves as I often go into the shop in short sleeve shirts. I don’t use them for quick work but if you are doing a lot of welding they are a good thing. I also have a long sleeve fire retardant shirt that comes in handy

 

[IndyGarage]

Yep I just got off the phone this afternoon with an e-tailer and they took the time to explain it in better detail. They also have some free promos that include a helmet and gloves. When I asked my LWS about matching the online free helmet promo, he said he'll just do a pair of gloves. He also doesn't stock the 211, though he can get it in 2-3 days from out of state.

He says that the 215 with TIG option is really popular and I saw a couple of them in the store. He can match the $1875 internet price on that one, but again no promos.

I'll swing by tomorrow morning to see what accessories he has that will fill the $500 requirement to get the $200 rebate.

Now I have a question, would you pay $120-$165 in taxes and not get a free $100 Miller helmet and gloves in order to support an LWS that you've never dealt with in the past?

$1875 for the 215 doesn't seem right. My local place - Indiana Oxygen, or online as IOC had the 215 available too for I think about $250 more than the 211 which was $1197 or something like that.

I didn't go for the 215 because the TIG option only works with steel, not aluminum, and I think I would never use the stick options. Also, it doesn't come with the TIG gun or the Stick leads (perhaps at the $1875 price it does come with those things).

The other thing I didn't like about it was the digital readout - they look cool when new, but it's the kind of thing that looks outdated and causes problems 10 years down the line. I like the old school dials on the 211.

The machine cases look identical between the two.

 

[tarmy]

The other thing is to buy a good fire extingher...and don't be cheap...if you note my pictures you will see a good one right next to my set up...

And hang out for a bit when you are done...make sure nothing has a hot ember...

 

[crewchief888]

my suggestions would be
spare cover plates for your welding hood
pair of mig/stick gloves
pair of tig gloves
pair of fabricators gloves
consumables, contact tips, ect.
couple pair of comfortable safety glasses
full face shield
FRC jacket

i wear fabricators type gloves most of the time welding or cutting.

i have a larger "tool" bag thats big enough to hold my hood, jacket, and gloves for easy transport if i'm working away from my garage (ie: at a friends garage).

personally i havent worn a full leather welding jacket since i was in high school, long sleeve shirt or FRC "greens".
i find FRC's at local thrift stores, and a friend of mine can get them from his place of work for me once in a while. i have enough jackets to last me a "lifetime"

 

[Travinsky]

4 1/2 grinder, some tips, roll of 030 solid wire and C25 gas bottle.

How many hours does a 40 cf bottle of C25 last with 3/32 Mig on stainless exhaust or mild steel for example?

Seller on Amazon has one but other members say places will take my new bottle in exchange for a crappy one when I need a refill.

Only plan maybe 1 hour per week of use though wife is also planning to use for artwork.
Thanks to all

Nevermind I just watch ChuckE2009 on YT and 40cf is 2 hours. So not getting that and will see how much for 125cf.

 

[Travinsky]

Ok just found the Hobart 190 w/ Spool gun on Amazon sale for $769 last night and purchased that instead of the Miller 211 along with most of the gear that you have all recommended. I wanted the 211 but since it looks like there is a transition going on for an AIO to have AC/DC (ESAB and Everlast), I decided to wait it out until Miller and Lincoln have one too before getting one.

Thanks to all for your support and happy that I got me a USA made machine.

 

[IndyGarage]

Ok just found the Hobart 190 w/ Spool gun on Amazon sale for $769 last night and purchased that instead of the Miller 211 along with most of the gear that you have all recommended. I wanted the 211 but since it looks like there is a transition going on for an AIO to have AC/DC (ESAB and Everlast), I decided to wait it out until Miller and Lincoln have one too before getting one.

Thanks to all for your support and happy that I got me a USA made machine.

Probably a good choice. At $769 with spoolgun the Hobart 190 is just over half what I paid for the 211 with spoolgun and the discount - so it's clearly a better value.

I'd say the only thing you are missing is the autoset (which I actually like a lot) and the dual voltage capability. And of course the 190 is the older style rather than the inverter style - makes it quite a bit heavier. I'm not convinced that is an advantage for the miller - I suppose time/reliability will tell.

Enjoy your welder.