2nd welder - recommendations

[flippin]

I am in the process of building a new shop and another 40' bay for my bassboat. Part of the plan was to build my own Steevo specials with the Lista cabs which I have been collecting over the past few years. Relatively speaking I am a complete newbie when it comes to welding. I have experience with stick, mig and aluminum (spoolgun). My longterm objectives are to learn the craft sufficiently so I can build workbenches, welding tables, and aluminum parts for my fishing boats. I would like to weld both steel and aluminum up to 1/2".

Here is my question; A few weeks ago I found a 211MVP with less than 1 spool of wire burnt. The 211MVP was a stupid price and deserving of a "you ****". Yesterday I purchased an almost new Millermatic 252 with a 30a spoolgun. My plan was to set-up the 211 for mig, and dedicate the 252 for aluminum. I now realize that the 252 can have both mig and spoolgun set-ups simultaneously (haven't checked to see if I can leave both bottles connected) so the 211 is a bit redundant. Given that the 211 was nearly free, and we can never have too many tools, please help find a useful application for the 211 so I can justify keeping both machines. I am terribly impatient (I'm Japanese, we can't even wait for our fish to be cooked) and potentially lazy so taking the time to set-up a machine for a different process is less than ideal given my personality. If you were able to keep both machines how would you set them up to maximize efficiency for the type of welding I described? Different gauge steel spools on each Mig and leave the spoolgun on the 252?

Thank you in advance,

-Paul

 

[Rattle]

I would keep both for sure. The 211 would be easier to be portable with being able to run on 110v. You could have it set up for smaller wire and or flux core.

 

[flippin]

Thanks, forgot about flux-core, good idea.

 

[fiftyv8]

I always thought that I'd like one of these odd welders as a 2nd welder.
They are exceptionally light and good for tacking especially.
However, I don't believe that they are even available in the USA yet.
One thing is for sure they are way over priced in my view, but could be a very handy unit for a lot of reasons.

https://forum.millerwelds.com/forum/welding-discussions/15119-kemppi-welders

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/forums/kemppi.54/

 

[BukitCase]

The 30A spool gun has a separate hose connection that attaches directly to the bottle regulator; the trigger on the gun is progressive; a little squeeze gives you pre-flow gas, further and it engages wire drive and arc. the bottom of the gun handle has a knurled knob for wire speed, which reads out on the welder.

That gun should have your aluminum wire (BTW, "MIG" means Metal Inert Gas, which is solid wire and shielding gas, whether aluminum, steel bronze, whatever)

The mm252 has dual memories; with both guns attached, the welder will automatically switch to whichever gun the trigger is pulled on. Your display will switch so you always know what your settings are for that gun.

Flow settings are done at the respective bottle's regulator, so you could have 15 CFH on one gun and 24 on the other, for example.

I only do steel with mine (I have a 252 with 30A also, and a digital mm211)
But, if I also did aluminum I would probably set the 30A up for that, (mainly 'cause you're not gonna get a regular mig gun to run aluminum worth beans; you'd need to buy a push-pull gun for that.)

Then set the main torch up with C25 and .035 wire, and the mm211 with .023 with (still C25 gas) - I wouldn't go with anything but .035 wire in either, unless I was doing body panels or other really thin stuff; I weld 16 gauge with .035 wire, no problem; you just don't wanna "dilly-dally" unless you like practice filling holes

I ***-u-me'd that because you have the 30A, your welder already has the "dual running gear" so you can keep two tanks on it - if not, I'm pretty sure you can buy one and install it - I also got tired of having to sort out cables with everything on the one torch hanger, so I built a similar one for the drive side of mine, making sure it didn't interfere with opening the side door - the spool gun stays on that, then work clamp and torch on the other side. Much less frustrating.

Kinda hard to see in this pic, the spool gun's under that dark blue "gym bag" on the left - it only gets used when the 15' gun can't reach ...Steve

 

[BukitCase]

Forgot; here's a pic of the "go anywhere" cart I built for the mm211 - it's a roll-around on smooth floors, becomes its own hand truck for gravel, etc, has a drop-down hitch to tow with lawn mower (2" hitch ball), and an adjustable for balance picking eye - the hand truck/picking eye part is intentionally tall enough to also act as a roll cage to protect the gauges, there's a lock down for anti-spatter, a torch holder, a mig pliers holder, and (eventually) a drawer on the bottom.

The welder sits in epdm padded angle and is locked down so it won't shift in travel - the bottle is locked in the corner with 16 ga. flat strap and tightened with coupler nuts/bolts to the frame (I don't like rattly chains)

The smaller casters retract when it's being towed, and the side door does NOT hit any of the cart when replacing wire, setting tension, etc. - it's not perfect, but I wanted to use it in THIS lifetime

Feel free to "borrow" any of the ideas... Steve

Oh, and don't forget that flux core requires polarity reversed from MIG...

 

[speed bump]

With 2 MIG welders I set my little Century 110v machine up for sheet metal with 0.23 wire. It has a tiny gun, weighs almost nothing and is great for that application. My Millermatic 200 is currently setup with 0.30 wire and I break it out when I have to weld stuff over 3/16" thick.

 

[dr_clyde]

I would keep the 211 set up with .023 wire and use it for small stuff, and keep .035 in the 252.

I wouldn't keep the spool gun out and attached unless you use it at least weekly. It will get really dirty and beat up, leave the spool in it and put it in the cabinet or in a toolbox drawer ready to go.

You can buy or make dual cylinder rack for the 252, but unless you're using that aluminum gun lots, I'd just get a smaller cylinder of argon and attach it when you need it.

 

[flippin]

Feel free to "borrow" any of the ideas... Steve

Holy **** Steve, thanks so much for the incredibly detailed response. I will set-up exactly as per your recommendations as they appear to perfectly suit my needs.

In appreciation,

-Paul

 

[sberry]

I actually have 4 feeders, 023/030/035 and one with spool gun. My most used is the 180 with 030, about 95% of it, most used machine I own.
A 211 and 252 would make a good combo.

 

[BukitCase]

Paul, you're entirely welcome; it's your thread, if you want more pics of the go anywhere cart just ask.

Dr. Clyde's right about keeping the spool gun safe, new they're over $1k now - I didn't have an extra drawer big enough for mine, that's why the gym bag coveres it. I also bought some of this
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0008JF8U0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I actually bought one that's a little heavier, no longer available.

It's like those chinese finger puzzles, the 1-1/2" will expand enough to fit over the connectors on the 30A, then you can tape one end and work the sleeving down to cable size, just need to work from taped end and make 2-3 passes. Seems like a lot, til you price the replacement cable for the 30A.

I used one of those sleeves on the spool gun and another on my 20' plasma torch, those ain't cheep either -

I'm just a hobbyist, use maybe 70 lbs of wire a year, max; so if Dr.Clyde or Sberry say otherwise, I'd probably listen to them instead of me

...Steve

 

[sberry]

I am not sure I used that much wire either. I made 1 weld recently took an hour or so. I had another one not too long ago, about half an hour and was in the shop but nice day out, doors open, instead of hoisting it around did it stick vertical just to have a few minutes practice.