Miller 211 ground cable and clamp upgrade

[Deadsquiggles]

So I have a 211 that I purchased new in November of last year and the biggest complaint I have is the ground cable seems a little thin and I also want to upgrade the clamp to the USA Forged full brass style. Is it worth doing this and if so, what's the best way of going about doing this?

 

[Ilikeike]

The last two little millers I bought 180 for home and new 211 at work , I went to tractor supply and bought the full brass style clamps. I like them better.
I didn't change the cable though.

 

[dkroth]

.

 

[Deadsquiggles]

So I did end up grabbing a full brass clamp. As far as connecting it, did you just run the screw down onto the existing connector that’s crimped to the end of the cable or did you cut that connector off and then run the screw down onto the bitter end of the wires?

Also, how did you clamp the ring that’s on the clamp?

This is the clamp I bought: https://m.northerntool.com/shop/too...uIiryR8jEchOuuuFIVhoCwvEQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Ilikeike]

Yep, just screwed it down on the existing end.

 

[tarmy]

Ever tried using a magnet ground? I wanted a longer lead and a better more secure ground. Ran a new 15’ cable and added the magnet ground clamp.

I switched and love it. Same Miller unit.

 

[IndyGarage]

Yeah the 211 has a cheap ground clamp, but it seems to work just fine.

 

[BD1]

The ground clamps use to come with a short thin copper sheet that you would wrap around the stripped copper cable. This is better than just having the screw contact wires.
I use a small soft copper tube and insert stripped cable into it, insert, and snug. Depending on the copper tube, if its difficult to screw down to tighten, remove and use a punch in dimpled copper to compressor more.
I left existing cable length as is and bought an additional cable. Then added a ground clamp on each end. A double ground clamp is handy depending on the work you do.

 

[slowtwitch73]

I 'upgraded' my 211 to the clamp pictured above. Zero difference in weld quality, and a ***** to open very wide. I took it off and put the stock one back on.

 

[Mas78]

For my miller 211 I've left the stock clamp on it as it works just fine most of the time and doesn't require much strength to open the clamp which is good when my daughters want to help me with stuff.

I did pick up a brass clamp from Harbor Freight that I was going to replace the stock clamp with. Instead I had a piece of 4ga wire roughly 2ft long that had an crimped terminal on one end, I just ended up bolting a small piece off 11ga to the end of that cable for when the stock clamp doesn't hold very well like smaller round bar and use the stock clamp to clamp onto the 11ga piece.
I for sure would not want to make this a daily use scenario but so far rarely do I actually need the brass clamp.

 

[Deadsquiggles]

So digging this up instead of starting a new thread, what guns have been run on your Miller 211s? Really want one longer than 10’

 

[BukitCase]

The newer mm211 (inverter) comes with a 10' gun as you know - it can push a 15' gun, but that's it. For spool guns, there's only two - the spoolmate 100 and the 150. the 100 comes with only a 12' cable, so no gain there, the 150 comes with a 20' cable. I'm not aware of anything longer that fits the 211. Both the 100 and 150 are supposedly compatible with old and new versions of the mm211.

https://www.millerwelds.com/accesso...tions-title=spoolmate-100-spool-gun-300371#!/

https://www.millerwelds.com/accessories/guns-torches/spool-guns/spoolmate-150-spool-gun-m30069

The 100 is too much of a toy for anything very serious, not sure about the 150 but looks a bit sturdier from pics.

I've had the transformer version of the 211, came with the 100 spool gun. At the time, 12' was better than 10 and miller did NOT honor warranty if you tried to use a compatible 15' gun, said the drive mechanism wasn't sturdy enough for it.

Later I found a 1/2 price deal on a BARELY used MM252, came with 3 bottles and a virgin 30A spool gun. (the "30" is length if you're not familiar)

Sold the transformer 211 to a bud for as good a deal as I got, later wanted something more portable so kept the mm252 and bought the inverter 211 - no dealer would let me TRADE guns for a 15', so I bought one with the rebate $$ -

Anyway, if you want a spoolmate 150 this

https://www.miller4less.com/product_info.php?products_id=124463&osCsid=7ra19peligg2pcqlbu5e1k8iu2

is very likely the LEAST you'll pay. HTH... Steve

 

[Deadsquiggles]

So I actually have a buddy of mine at work that’s supposed to be selling me his Spoolmate 150. I really just want a longer gun. I know the 15’ M150 mig gun will fit with no issues, and there’s been a few reps on Miller’s forum that said it’ll handle a 15’ gun no problem. I just didn’t know if there were any options other than the M150, I like the ergonomics of the MDX100, just not the length.

 

[BukitCase]

Good deal for you - now you know if your buddy's givin' you a good deal or not; you're welcome :=)

One thing I've yet to figure out - all 3 Miller mig's I've owned (still have 2) have the cooling air being sucked into the FRONT (where it's MOST likely to contain ****) - never did understand that, especially with a 10' gun that's really not even THAT long as far as the distance the welder can be from the work area...

My "work-around" for that is I keep a 2'x3' piece of plywood around, and lean it up against the face of the welder so there's plenty of air getting to it, but NOT a direct line of sight - hopefully this at LEAST slows down the heavier particles. Don't see how it'd hurt, and it may even help a little... Steve

 

[Deadsquiggles]

So I just realized in post 11, I stated that I wanted a gun longer than 15’. What I meant to say is I want a 15’ gun, and I need one longer than 10’. I’m seriously considering just pulling the trigger on a M-150 since I’m 98% certain my LWS carries consumables for it. I wouldn’t mind a Bernard gun, I just not familiar with their system of consumables and if they’re available locally. I don’t want to be restricted to online purchases, just in case I forget to order them.

 

[HenryAZ]

Ever tried using a magnet ground?

I went with one of those a few years ago. Magswitch switchable neo magnet, with stud for attaching cable. I believe it is more versatile than a clamp. The bottom has a rounded out part for attaching to round objects.

 

[GaryM909]

I put one of these on the cable end and then welded a ½" bolt to an old pair of vise grips. I have been using it for over 10 years.

 

[tarbellb]

HF had your brass clamp for 60% cheaper....

but anyways for a good new gun, do yourself a favor and look at the HTP Flex Neck gun
https://www.ebay.com/str/welders4less

Awesome quality, cheaper then most, have run miles of wire through mine.

 

[Cryptic1911]

I wanna get one of them magnetic ground clamps

 

[Deadsquiggles]

HF had your brass clamp for 60% cheaper....

but anyways for a good new gun, do yourself a favor and look at the HTP Flex Neck gun
https://www.ebay.com/str/welders4less

Awesome quality, cheaper then most, have run miles of wire through mine.

For an HTP replacement gun, which of these two has the correct power pin end and 2 pin electrical connector?
1. https://usaweld.com/collections/mil..._style_mig_welding_gun?variant=29079727308883

2. https://usaweld.com/collections/mil..._auto_arc_hobart_mac_tools_and_miller_welders

 

[HenryAZ]

I wanna get one of them magnetic ground clamps

Magswitch ground clamp, available in 300-600-800 amps. On/off switchable neo magnet.

 

[tarbellb]

^^^^ These are not as cool as they seem

I have one, some serious cons:

_ cant ground to non magnetic materials ie SS, Brass, Bronze, Aluminum, etc...

_ not good for grounding to smaller items, weight and footprint impede

_ unless you get the pipe cut version, does not grip round tube well at all

Not great unless you only weld steel on random, big, none tabled items.

IMO a smaller lightweight copper clamp is the best.

 

[Deadsquiggles]

So my HTP mig gun showed up today. Definitely as ergonomic as my MDX100, if not more. Trigger angle is a little weird but comfortable. Swapped the flex neck for the rigid swan neck. This is when I noticed how different the set up of the liner was compared to Miller, nothing secures the liner at the gas diffuser, but it didn’t seem to cause issues. Got it all hooked up and ran some wire through it. Initially I had some issues where I’d pull the trigger and nothing would happen, and then a few seconds later, it’d feed no problem. The machine doesn’t seem to have an issue pushing the wire the extra 5’. Welded on some scrap and only had one instance where it didn’t feed when I pulled the trigger. I’m gonna use it some more over the next couple days, and I’d it continues, I’ll give HTP a call.