Miller 200 Welder - Advice for Potential Purchase

[JRC3]

A month or so back one of my best friends told me his brother asked if he wanted his welder. The brother retired last year and has been having some health problems and I think he wants to simplify things. He's the guy who never married or had kids and worked like 55-60 hours a week and bought tools he barely ever used. I know his brother and have worked on his house a few times...

Anyways I asked my buddy about the welder and the brother said $500. I know that's a super deal, but need to know what to look for. What should I hope comes with it? Tanks, regulators, wire...? If I had to guess I'd assume it's 15-20 years old. I'll try and get pics later. I want it to do a little repair and light fab stuff. I have more than enough amperage in the garage. I'm a total noob here and is it more than I need?

Thanks.

 

[Wiz02]

A month or so back one of my best friends told me his brother asked if he wanted his welder. The brother retired last year and has been having some health problems and I think he wants to simplify things. He's the guy who never married or had kids and worked like 55-60 hours a week and bought tools he barely ever used. I know his brother and have worked on his house a few times...

Anyways I asked my buddy about the welder and the brother said $500. I know that's a super deal, but need to know what to look for. What should I hope comes with it? Tanks, regulators, wire...? If I had to guess I'd assume it's 15-20 years old. I'll try and get pics later. I want it to do a little repair and light fab stuff. I have more than enough amperage in the garage. I'm a total noob here and is it more than I need?

Thanks.

Sounds like a great deal, I'd ask for all the consumables that he had. If he's downsizing and getting rid of the welder, why keep anything related, including what you listed and items like a helmet, gloves, jacket, fab table, ground clamps, pliers etc.

BTW asking the GJ if a tool or product is more than you need is just plain crazy talk. And if you don't want it, and it's in such nice shape, I would consider driving out to get it for that price.

 

[GaryM909]

Buy it and like Wiz said ask for all the consumables even if you have to pay a little extra. The stuff is worthless without a machine and a pain in the *** to sale separately.

 

[Walkers]

If it is a Millermatic 200, it has been out of production for a couple decades at least, but it is a well known machine and performs well. It came with a GA-20 gun, which was okay, but lots better available now. You will want a regulator and a gas bottle with it.

 

[speed bump]

I gave $500 for mine a couple years ago with a regulator and they had replaced the gun with an M-25 (which is way nicer than the stock gun). It was a decent deal on a decent machine. Getting one with a tank at that price in my opinion would be a smoking deal.

Since it sounds like it only has a little use it probably isn't an issue but look at the connectors and make sure they didn't get hot or crack. You can buy new ones from a decent miller dealer though.

The newest machines will be able to use a modern Miller spool gun (there is a serial number break down on Millers website).

Only thing I find odd about mine is it really doesn't seem to like smaller wire and running on the bottom end of the settings. 0.035 it's pretty happy 0.030 it gets pickier about settings.

 

[dtt454]

i have one of those, paid about the same price you said, only i got it more than 10 years ago. its a pretty straightforward machine, some of the parts arent available anymore but most all the common stuff you can get from other places. if it hasnt been used for a while you might as well figure on getting a new regulator or rebuilding the one you have. its a good machine though.

 

[JRC3]

When I first looked at similar to compare I thought it might be worth 2-3 times that...But the more I look I don't see enough out there to really compare. It isn't going anywhere and there is no rush but I do have a thing or two I need to weld. Soon I will ask for pics and what he has with it. I just know it's barely been used, but age may have a few things past their prime as it might be older than I thought.

 

[BigMike782]

If it is a Millermatic 200 it is one of the best stand alone MIG machines ever made.
There is little avaible for the original GA-20 gun but Miller "back end" guns are every where and all over in price.
If I got that machine I would pull the wrapper and blow it out then check the jack plugs to make sure they are tight. They have a tendency to loosen over time and can melt from the resistance.
That machine is stone age simple and is controlled by relays instead of circuit cards which is an advantage if it needs repairs.

 

[Ashgrove]

Just spent a nice afternoon in the shop with my MM200. My dad and I went 50/50 on this machine in 1982. BigMike is correct - one of the best ever made. At a trade show 10 yrs. ago one of the Miller reps told me "Don't ever let one of us talk you into trading it for a newer machine", although the new pulse mig machines do temp me!
According to the sticker we put inside the door to record wire usage we have burned thru 147 44lb. spools of wire over the 40 yrs. Repairs - one jack plug, one gas regulator, and at 38 yrs. replaced the gun with a Bernard.
You can't go wrong with this welder, easy to get the hang of and a machine most people will never outgrow.

 

[dnschmidt]

BTW asking the GJ if a tool or product is more than you need is just plain crazy talk.

This ^^^^^

 

[oldmachinenut]

They will have to pry mine from my cold dead hands.

 

[brownbagg]

$500 miller 200, all you need to be concern with. "you want cash"
just pay it

 

[brownbagg]

the closest thing to the miller 200 is the hobart 235, and they are $1500(new) every day, the 200 would be 8-900 used, new cloest in miller $2000

 

[dnschmidt]

From what the OP has said this is as close to brand new as it's likely to get. No fabrication shop used until it died special here. Just owned by somebody, like me, that buys stuff just because he can and likes tools. Why he wasted his time posting this message instead of picking it up is the real question.

 

[isb cornbinder]

If it is a Millermatic 200, it has been out of production for a couple decades at least, but it is a well known machine and performs well. It came with a GA-20 gun, which was okay, but lots better available now. You will want a regulator and a gas bottle with it.

I have owned my Miller Matic 200 for over 40 years. I did not like the OEM GA20C gun, so I replaced it with a German Made BINZEL. Totally reliable machine. Each machine came with a hose and regulator. The consumables, like wire, gun parts and gas are the operator's options. Get as much as you can. If you are going to do any welding, you will need the extras.
My MM200 is an AKMATIC sold at Acklands.
I also bought Miller plasma cutter and a Miller185 for TIG.

 

[JRC3]

From what the OP has said this is as close to brand new as it's likely to get. No fabrication shop used until it died special here. Just owned by somebody, like me, that buys stuff just because he can and likes tools. Why he wasted his time posting this message instead of picking it up is the real question.

LOL. I just have zero clue but would like to have a welder, and this seems like a great no mistake choice from what you guys are saying...So basically you guys twisted my arm. I'll text him I want it and will go get in a week or so .

Thanks for the input and advice. Will post it up when I get it.

 

[Walkers]

Only thing I find odd about mine is it really doesn't seem to like smaller wire and running on the bottom end of the settings. 0.035 it's pretty happy 0.030 it gets pickier about settings.

gun length plays a big roll in how well it runs smaller wire. If your M25 is a 15’, then it likely doesn’t run the thinner wire well. You can temper this by using the smallest liner available that will fit the smaller wire, or using a Teflon liner. I have found that my MM200 does run better on the bigger wires though, with .035 and .045 being the best.

 

[Tomstir]

They will have to pry mine from my cold dead hands.

OOHHH....Is that what yours currently looks like? Wow...that's nice!!!

 

[oldmachinenut]

OOHHH....Is that what yours currently looks like? Wow...that's nice!!!

Thank You!