Miller 141 , 211 autoset question

[robertearl]

I am having to replace my Hobart 140 after my shop was broken into. They took $12000 of stuff and drank my beer. ( That was low ) Anyway, does the auto set feature just set the unit to what is in the tables or does it sense the current and adjust voltage and speed as it is needed. I am using it on a WWII Ford GPW so the thickest I
will see will probably be 12 gauge, but who knows what the future holds. If all it does is set it like the table, I will probably go with a Hobart to save some money.

Question for those that have had a shop theft, how much does the insurance company depreciate all of the tools? They also took my grandson's new 4 wheeler and my son's WWII Bren machine gun.

Reb

 

[Firebrick43]

I am having to replace my Hobart 140 after my shop was broken into. They took $12000 of stuff and drank my beer. ( That was low ) Anyway, does the auto set feature just set the unit to what is in the tables or does it sense the current and adjust voltage and speed as it is needed. I am using it on a WWII Ford GPW so the thickest I
will see will probably be 12 gauge, but who knows what the future holds. If all it does is set it like the table, I will probably go with a Hobart to save some money.

Question for those that have had a shop theft, how much does the insurance company depreciate all of the tools? They also took my grandson's new 4 wheeler and my son's WWII Bren machine gun.

Reb

registered or demilled?

 

[robertearl]

registered or demilled?

demilled torch cut

 

[readhead]

Sounds like you already know how to weld. Don’t spend the money on the 211.

 

[u2slow]

I have the 211 and I like it. (non-inverter) I don't pay much attention to the autoset thing. Dual voltage is handy because I had it before I had a shop.

 

[Mas78]

I really like my inverter 211. I typically use the autoset because it seems to be pretty close on its settings and to adjust the material thickness I just have to adjust one knob and not even bother opening the cover to look at the chart.

Currently I'm wishing I'd gone with the Miller 215 only because I've started using FCAW-G for out of position welds and it would be great to actually set the voltage and wire speed to the wire mfr recommend settings instead of playing around to get good results.
Seems all the welders give settings for self shielded wire but not the dual shield type.

The Hobart is a good time tested unit that is a cost savings over the Miller.

I also know 3 people that have gotten the Vulcan migmax 215 in the past year and they work good, just not really time tested to see how long they'll hold up.

 

[toolenthusiast]

If all it does is set it like the table, I will probably go with a Hobart to save some money.

According to the Miller 211 manual, it appears to do exactly that.

 

[sk farmer]

not necessarily true that the miller is not worth the money. the miller has auto set which is a feature that can be used or not. if not used the miller offers variable amperage and variable wire speed and or feed rate. it also has the ability to run on 110 or 220 voltage with 2 220 volt plug options for different types of 220 outlets.

so in other words, those are three features that most hobart welders in that range do not have. maybe you want/need those features, maybe you don't but to just say the hobart does everything that the miller does is simply not true.

i wanted those features and find them useful and valuable to me, that is why i have a 211.

 

[ItsNemo]

I'd be going with a machine capable of running on 240 for flexibility in materials, so out of those options the 211 is the way I'd go.

I have the 215 myself and honeslty I've never not used auto-set...just select the material thickness and go. The 215 has auto-set "elite" which lets you adjust the automatic setting plus/minus on both voltage and wire feed to dial in. So basically select 1/8" or whatever, lay a beed, and if it feels hot or cold or fast or slow, can bump it a notch or two in the right direction.

 

[IndyGarage]

I'm another vote for the 211. Yeah the auto-set is for wimps, but it also gives me the best welds I've ever made, so I'm a wimp.

If I didn't have the money, I would buy a Hobart and probably be perfectly happy. But I did have the money and I bought the 211 and I'm happy I did that.

I have a big 3 phase Miller power supply with a wire feeder. I don't think I've touched it since I bough the 211.

 

[rsanter]

I have been welding for a long time and the 211 is the best machine I have owned.
No I don't need the autoset feature but it sure is nice.

It seems to adjust on the fly

 

[u2slow]

Hobart and Lincoln make dual-voltage machines too.

A friend of mine went with the MM180 - also 240v. It was enough for his needs and saved a few $$$

 

[tarmy]

Hobart and Lincoln make dual-voltage machines too.

A friend of mine went with the MM180 - also 240v. It was enough for his needs and saved a few $$$

I used to have that 180…great little machine I used for years. I eventually got a 211 a few years ago and that is a great machine too. I never use the Autoset or the 110v feature…but it too has served me well.