Buying a used welder

[BowtieNut]

Would you buy a used welder? I found one on the local craigslist that I think would serve my needs well. It's a Miller, but there's not much info in the ad. The title says "Millermatic 135/175 & M10 gun". I'm not sure why it says both, but on the inside of the ad it says "220V, with cart, used very little, purchased 10/03". He's asking $425. I've never bought a welder before, but my best friend kept his in my garage for years (now he's got his own garage so I need to buy my own welder), & that was a Lincoln Weld-pak 155, & that seemed big enough for everything I needed. I guess I'm just looking for advice from those with more experience. Would you buy a used welder? Anything to watch out for? Does this seem like a decent deal?

When my buddy first bought his Lincoln, he used flux wire for the first year, then changed it over to gas. Can you even buy the Miller for flux-core, or are they all set up for gas? (I don't know yet if this one is set up for gas or flux, but I want to run it with gas, so I may need to consider the added expense if it's not already set up for it. The picture doesn't show any tanks or regs). Thanks for any advice!!!

 

[PAToyota]

Would I buy a used welder? Considering that my MIG, TIG, and plasma were all bought used, I guess the answer is yes... A lot depends on how much you know about the equipment and how you feel about the guy selling it, though.

My MIG (MM250X) and plasma (Hypertherm 1100) were both bought from a guy that was retiring and closing his fabrication shop. Neither is pretty to look at, but he didn't abuse them, went over all the features (showing he knew them well), and let me try them both out before purchase. I had no second thoughts buying them and saved a ton of money.

My TIG (Syncrowave 250DX) was bought from a fab shop that also dealt in new and used equipment. It was something someone brought in as a trade. Again, the guy went over all the features (showing me he knew what he was talking about instead of just being the "used car salesman" type) and let me try it out.

I've been welding with my own equipment for about sixteen years and grew up playing around with my grandfather's equipment. So I have some background with such things. Look for signs of abuse, definitely ask to be able to try it out, and run away if the deal just doesn't seem right to you - even if you cannot put a finger on why you feel that way.

The MM135/175 sounds like he isn't sure what he is talking about and probably copied the info off some webpage. The MM135 is 110V and the MM175 is 220V so it sounds like he has a MM175 unless he really doesn't know what he is talking about. To the best of my knowledge all MM135s and MM175 come with the regulator and gas hose. Everything else for running gas is built into the machine. Yes, you can run flux core - just reverse the polarity and disconnect (or turn off) the gas. Whether it comes with a tank is another matter as is whether he has lost or otherwise misplaced the regulator and hose.

If it is a MM175, you're talking about half the list price. Even with discounts or sales, you'd be getting a heck of a deal if it is in good shape. There is a chance that he watched the cable fab shows and went out and bought it with dreams of being the next OCC or something. Then found it wasn't that easy after playing around a few weekends and is cutting his losses. In that case, your gain!

Hope this helps!

 

[W-Cummins]

If it comes with a bottle make sure that he owns it ( ask to see the paper work ) If it's a rental bottle you will have problems filling it

William..

 

[Ign]

Can you even buy the Miller for flux-core, or are they all set up for gas? (I don't know yet if this one is set up for gas or flux, but I want to run it with gas, so I may need to consider the added expense if it's not already set up for it. The picture doesn't show any tanks or regs). Thanks for any advice!!!

Any wire feed welder will do flux core. You simply don't connect the regulator or tank. The only question is if a welder comes equipped for gas, which means it would need the connection at the machine and the appropriate solenoids to release the gas up the lead. The lead needs a tube for the gas.

However, that's just wire feed 101. Either the MM135 or MM175 will be gas capable, and they will of course be flux core capable.

 

[bhays]

The only way it could be a 135/175 is if it's the new DVI model...but I doubt that. I just bought a used MM210 last weekend and save about $500 over new...same deal..very little use. I am quite happy with the purchase.

 

[Coach James]

We have 2 welding suppliers here and one of them will not fill a tank unless you bought it from them. I don't know why as they would be making money selling the gas, but they won't.
Coach

 

[BowtieNut]

Thanks to everyone for your input, it's a great help. I'm going to try to take a look at this thing in person and see what's up. If it's the MM175 and everything works/looks okay, I will pick it up. Even if it doesn't have the hose & regulator it sounds like a pretty decent deal.

I'd love to save up and get an MM210, but realistically it would be a couple years before I could save up enough for that, and I just can't go that long without a welder.

 

[PAToyota]

The only way it could be a 135/175 is if it's the new DVI model...

The DVI is 110V/220V... The 135/175 are model numbers...

 

[bhays]

I think if it's a 175 and as advertised it's a heck of a good deal. I love the MM210, but I really could have gotten by with a MM175 most likely...figured I will get some savings from being able to buy large spools of wire..

 

[BowtieNut]

Well, I talked to the guy and it really does seem like a good deal. He said said he bought it for a streetrod project and just never found the time to work on it. It's all set up for gas, and he said he has a "small" bottle on it. No biggie if I can't get that filled, I want a decent sized bottle anyways. Around here they're pretty funny about bottles too, and I know the 2 big suppliers won't fill unless you got the bottle from them. I forgot to ask about the 135/175 thing though. But if it's 220V then it's gotta be the MM175. If he can't tell the difference between 110 & 220, then he really shouldn't be working on streetrods, or anything else. But I'm going to take a look at it tonight, and see if it all looks & works good. I'll let you know how it goes, and thanks again guys for all your help!!!!

 

[pl_silverado]

I think if it's a 175 and as advertised it's a heck of a good deal. I love the MM210, but I really could have gotten by with a MM175 most likely...figured I will get some savings from being able to buy large spools of wire..

haha... i could have gotten by with a mm175 too, but i bought an mm251

 

[PAToyota]

Yep, sounds good! Good luck!

 

[krooser]

I like my Miller 175....I paid $650.00 for it as a car show special....

 

[BowtieNut]

Well, I picked up the welder last night, and I couldn't have asked for it to go any better. He was a super nice guy, and the welder seriously looks brand new. It looks like it hasn't been used for more than 10 minutes of welding. So for $425 I got the MM175, all set up for gas, with a 10 or 15 lb tank (dang near full I think), the welder cart, 6 or 8 spare tips, the spare parts for a bigger spool, welding gloves (again looking brand new), all the original paperwork, and a brand new auto-darkening helmet!!! I don't know much about the helmets, but this one is an Optrel. I didn't see any model numbers or anything on it, but I figure it's gotta be better than what I had before (nothing). I've never used an auto helmet, but it seemed to work good when I laid a test bead at his place. This has gotta be at the top of my list for good deals that I've gotten on tools. Thanks again for your help/advice everyone!!!!

 

[PAToyota]

I'd say you got a good deal! The helmet is $200+ alone!

Congratulations!

 

[BowtieNut]

Sorry to drag this back up, but I'm looking for some info on this welding helmet. I've done a bunch of searching, and can't come up with anything. It looks like a pretty simple/basic helmet, but I'm not very experienced in welding, and have zero experience with auto helmets. It's an Optrel, but has no model number or anything that I can find. It just has one switch on the inside, with a "10" or "11". Slide the switch one way and it covers the "10", slide it the other way and it covers the "11". One for MIG, one for TIG??? Which would I use for basic MIG welding, or does it even matter? Looks like a couple small solar panels on the front so I'm guessing I don't need to worry about batteries or anything? Also, is this considered a decent helmet? I mean I'm sure I won't go blind with it, (I'm guessing maybe 10-20 hours total welding time per year) but should I be saving up for something better eventually? Or is this likely to be good enough for years to come? Anyone else using one similar? Sorry for all the questions, but thanks again to anyone willing to share their experience with me!!!!!

 

[mikeatrpi]

Optrel is a brand from Europe... Sweeden I think? They have a very good reputation. 10 and 11 are the shades of darkness, 10 is good for MIG welding, though you might like 11 better (its a little darker). The solar panels are for detecting the arc, and possibly for powering the autodarkening LCD and / or recharging its batteries.

 

[PAToyota]

Try this site: http://www.westernsafety.com/optrelwelding/optrelweldingpg1.html

Might give you the information that you need.

Oh, and Optrel is one of the top brands. You won't go blind!

 

[customperformance]

Heck were I am at it doesnt matter where i take a tank to get filled, they take it whether its one of their tanks or not as long as you say you own it, they never have checked the tank #'s. I have had one tank I bought from a buddy and it came from his former employer and I had no problems getting it filled. I just say I own the tank and get them filled. I have taken tanks from one supplier to another and none of them seem to care whos tank it was cause they have never told me no cause it wasnt their tank. I now just stick to one supplier cause they are on the edge of town and I live outside of town and dont have to drive all the way into town now.

 

[BowtieNut]

Thanks for the info guys! Now I'll definitely feel more comfortable using this new helmet. I tried it the other day, and to be honest I couldn't even tell when the thing was working. But I wasn't seeing spots afterwards, so it must have been doing it's job. I was surprised at how simple and seemless it was. Much nicer than the old flip-down one I used to use. Thanks again!

 

[PAToyota]

Umm, you should be able to tell the difference. My Miller has a button that you push to turn it on. It turns off automatically when it hasn't been used for a period of time. When you push the button, it blinks dark and light a couple times and then is ready to go. It should be like looking through sunglasses at first and when you strike the arc it should go dark.