Miller Multimatic 200, What do you think?

[dbonne]

I am a self admitted welder addict. I only have 6 different welders, How many F'n welders do I need?

Here's the story, I had a contractor in today and he brings in this Miller Multimatic 200. This is an inverter welder that is truely multifunction. It has a spool feed built in, and has modes for MIG, TIG, SMAW, GTAW, and more. It has optional spool gun, tig torch and a few others.

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I am thinking of liquidating 5 out of the 6 welders I have and taking the money and investing in one unit. Keep in mind that I am not into production, full time fabrication, just a garage warrior looking for a good tool. Good Idea? I need some feedback from some of you who either own one or have used one.

Thanks!

 

[kc-steve]

SOUNDS like a great idea. I am just a hobby welder too. I have a Miller XL Thunderbolt ac/dc, so I am aware of Miller's quality. But one thing that makes me hesitate, the old saying "jack of all trades, master of none."

Steve

 

[zkling]

SOUNDS like a great idea.
Steve

I have yet to find a multiprocess welder that works well in all processes.
Especially in TIG mode. Like most multiprocess machines that does not have AC TIG which kinda blows.

That is really a portable mig machine that CAN stick and tig, but not excel at them.

Like any other tool, what do you want to do with it? Answer that and then see if this machine will be suitable. If I had plans for quite a bit of bench tig work, I would look the other way. This machine is aimed IIRC at the portable contractor that is doing general on site repair. Mig for general use, stick for the heavy dirty stuff, and DC tig for the thinner and precise pipe joints and the like.

What machine(s) would you be replacing with this? I can't really see 5 welders being replaced by this one. Then again I don't know what other machines you have, so....

 

[dbonne]

You guys got a point with "jack of all trades", maybe I should be content with what I got. I know that I cannot replace my portable welder with this multiprocess welder.

 

[zkling]

You guys got a point with "jack of all trades", maybe I should be content with what I got. I know that I cannot replace my portable welder with this multiprocess welder.

What machines do you currently have?

 

[dbonne]

What machines do you currently have?

Here's a list of what I have:

Lincoln Weldanpower 125 (engine DC CC)
Lincoln Weldanpower 225 (engine AC/DC CC CV)
Lincoln SP 255 MIG (DC CV GMAW)
Miller 200DX (DC CC GTAW, SMAW)
Miller XMT 300 (DC CC CV GTAW, GMAW, SMAW)
Hobart Champion 10000 (enging DC CC)

I am thinking of selling everything except the miller 200dx (it is hella handy), and the old weldanpower 225 as it is an old tank.

 

[zkling]

Well it does look like you have some top of the line equipment , but no small portable wire feeder. I guess the Multimatic could fill that void, but.... I would be more inclined to purchase a standard ~150amp wire feeder for <$800. Especially since you already have one of, if not the best portable tig machine out there (DX200) is that a maxstar or dynasty?

I'd probably get rid of one of the small engine drives and POSSIBLY the XMT, again depending on what type of work you do.

 

[dbonne]

Well it does look like you have some top of the line equipment , but no small portable wire feeder. I guess the Multimatic could fill that void, but.... I would be more inclined to purchase a standard ~150amp wire feeder for <$800. Especially since you already have one of, if not the best portable tig machine out there (DX200) is that a maxstar or dynasty?

Whoa, I lied I have a maxstar 150, I am not in the shop right now and am looking up model numbers online! (The 200dx dynasty would be super, though)

 

[zkling]

In that case, it may be time to consolidate and go for an ac/dc tig/stick machine. Again depending on your needs. To me it just seems that you have quite a few redundant machines.

 

[dbonne]

I'd probably get rid of one of the small engine drives and POSSIBLY the XMT, again depending on what type of work you do.

I am a hobby welder with a fetish for things that throw blue arc. I have enough welding equipment to open a welding business, I cannot see having all of that for some weekend welding, on the other hand, I like having good equipment when I play.

Decisions....

 

[BD1]

Keep what you have and add a MILLER 211 to your herd. REBATE IS Good to end of August.

http://www.millerwelds.com/landing/build-with-blue/

 

[zkling]

I am a hobby welder with a fetish for things that throw blue arc. I have enough welding equipment to open a welding business, I cannot see having all of that for some weekend welding, on the other hand, I like having good equipment when I play.

Decisions....

It really looks like you lack AC tig for aluminum, my main money maker. In that case I would probably get rid of the XMT and one of the smaller engine drives. Pick up a ~200+amp ac/dc tig and a portable mig if you want. That way you should be setup for welding anything portable or at the shop, except for maybe welding the crack of dawn.

 

[3oheight]

I looked real hard at this welder earlier this year. I have a miller 140 mig and had some spare cash for an upgrade. I was thinking the multimatic so I could tig as well. I ended up with a diversion 180 tig and later I'm going to upgrade to the miller 211 mig.