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Millermatic 211

qmdv

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Dec 20, 2012
Messages
54
Thinking of buying my son a mig welder. He is working on an old VW and will not be doing anything heavy. What you think about the Millermatic 211. Will work on 110 or 220. Can weld up to 3/8 steel on 220.
 
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tarmy

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May 28, 2014
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4,662
Location
Nor Cal
I have welded a ton of things with both the old and new version...great machine and will serve him well.

Check out Cyberweld web site. Great pricing, knowledgeable people and a huge selection.
 

PugetDude

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Joined
Mar 13, 2013
Messages
22,319
Location
Superstition Mountains, AZ
Bought my 211 from Cyberweld,
Love the welder, my welds improved overnight.
Wish I'd bought it at my local welding supply after having a warranty service issue out of the box- Cyberweld was no help, ended up taking it to the local dealer (with egg on my face) Turns out the local guy would have matched the price and thrown in a set of gloves and comped my bottle exchange.
 

jm71lt1

Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2010
Messages
12
211 is great welder for home hobby use. Plus it’s light enough to take it somewhere if needed. Got mine from Cyberweld. Very happy with it and Cyberweld.Buy it and you won’t need another welder unless you start welding big stuff.
 

BukitCase

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Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Messages
1,075
Location
Oregon
Like Tarmy, I've owned both versions - sold the transformer one to a friend when I got a half price deal on a mm252 with un-used spool gun, 3 tanks, and about 30# left on a 33 # spool of .035 wire.

Missed the smaller one enough I bought the inverter version; wanted something more portable for lighter stuff. Still have the MM252, neither machine will leave my posession til they "pat me in the face with a shovel"... Steve
 

BigGarage

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Jun 5, 2019
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2,344
Location
Just south of Detroit, MI.
Thinking of buying my son a mig welder. He is working on an old VW and will not be doing anything heavy. What you think about the Millermatic 211. Will work on 110 or 220. Can weld up to 3/8 steel on 220.

I bought one a few years ago to use to weld new floorpan halves in my truck. My Brother & Nephew confiscated it and still have it and welded them in for me:). I still don't know how to use it.

Dennis
 

dcs13

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Joined
Feb 19, 2006
Messages
161
Location
The Hill Country ,Texas
The 211 is a nice welder.. If he's doing sheetmetal work, the 140 is an awesome machine for the task. I use the MM140 for body work all the time. It will handle some thicker stuff, but not as well as the 211.
And yes, Cyberweld is a great place to buy...
 

IndyGarage

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Joined
Apr 29, 2010
Messages
9,673
Location
Indy
I bought mine a few years ago - sold off my other small welders. I still have a big 3-phase mig with a wire feeder that I keep .045 wire on.

Since I bought the 211, I've used it exclusively. Even for big stuff that I would normally pull out the big welder for. It has such a nice arc and I really like the autoset. It runs fine on 110 too - normally I don't even bother pulling out the 220 cord. I would highly recommend one.
 

BD1

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Joined
Mar 18, 2007
Messages
4,602
Location
north side
The 211 with auto set will make you think you are a good welder


Think you are a good welder ? [emoji23]
The auto set provides one control setting. You don't need to adjust voltage and wire feed speed. Set dial on metal thickness as a starting point and increase or decrease.
There's nothing wrong with that.
Doesn't matter how you arrive at end result. As long as you have penetration. That's why we always say to do test run on same material thicknesses , cut apart ,and or do a bend test.
 

Jackfre

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Joined
Dec 26, 2010
Messages
4,406
Location
N CA
I had the 135, the predecessor to the 140. It was a nice little 110v machine but really very limited. You need the 220 to get the penetration on the heavier material. A 220v machine quickly becomes a must as your skills progress. Welders, to me fall in that category of buying at least one size over what you think you need. I've had a 211 non-inverter, machine for probably 8-9 years. It has been excellent and is a capable machine that has held up well. I've run it on 110, but it is kinda ho-hum and I get back on the 220 right away;) It is an excellent machine.
 

AFSOC

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Joined
Jan 15, 2008
Messages
67
Location
NW Florida
I love mine. I have one of the new inverter style 211s. The Auto Set is right on the money but you can go manual if you have some extenuating condition you need to compensate for. I don't like the ground clamp that Miller sends with it so my wife gave me a heavier one, labeled by Lincoln, for my birthday.
 

rattle_snake

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Joined
Jun 25, 2015
Messages
5,170
Location
Chandler, AZ
Love me my 211. 2x on a better gnd clamp.

Autoset works well enough most of the time, but some people have to hate it just because it's different and convenient. Kind of like a cell phone or a automatic transmission. Dang new inventions! You don't know how to drive and should not get behind the wheel if you can't use a clutch!! (grumble grumble...)
 

BukitCase

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Apr 11, 2017
Messages
1,075
Location
Oregon
They do seem to hold their value - here's a local one
https://corvallis.craigslist.org/tls/d/crawfordsville-mig-welder/7166860552.html
wants $1150, older version; gotta be 10 years old, and only $200 cheaper than brand new inverter version -
https://store.cyberweld.com/mi211migwewi.html

The CL one does come with a cheesy little cart and a 40cf bottle; looks to be in good condition. For $200 difference, I'd def take the newer one; Miller addressed pretty much every (mostly minor) complaint I ever had about the transformer version... Steve
 
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lis2323

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Dec 25, 2016
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Having a welding machine “for life” is fine and practical but there’s ALSO nothing wrong with a change of scenery or wishing to upgrade. Same as cars and women.....just something to keep in mind.

And no I’ve never had a 211, ****** OR inverter.
 

AFSOC

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Jan 15, 2008
Messages
67
Location
NW Florida
Having a welding machine “for life” is fine and practical but there’s ALSO nothing wrong with a change of scenery or wishing to upgrade.

You're right, as with any of us, it will be the OP's sons prerogative to decide whether or not he chooses to switch out or trade up or down welding machines or processes. The OP is considering gifting his son a MM211 and asked for opinions on that machine.
 

BD1

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Mar 18, 2007
Messages
4,602
Location
north side
The older Miller 211 transformer model by me sell in a day or two.
I'll see it posted in AM and by afternoon it's gone.
Not cheap either !! Most are at $900 to $1,000 00. Not cheap but it's a high demand machine.
Miller did a closeout sale where you get free spoolgun with the 211 .
It was a heck of a deal.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

BukitCase

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Apr 11, 2017
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Oregon
"Same as cars and women"

Not quite; it's never cost me NEAR as much to get rid of a WELDER or a CAR :evil: ... Steve
 

sberry

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Jun 18, 2005
Messages
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Brethren, Michigan
The auto set is fine. The features were so they could raise the price. But for 700 or so can still get a basic with 5 speed ******, a Pro Mig 180 type. Not sure if Hobart still makes a 187? I should look at the product line. So much has changed in the last while.
 

lis2323

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Dec 25, 2016
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I think the Hobart 187 was replaced with the Hobart 190 which had plug and play provision for spool gun.
 

mike93lx

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Dec 9, 2013
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Richmond, VA
The auto set is fine. The features were so they could raise the price. But for 700 or so can still get a basic with 5 speed ******, a Pro Mig 180 type. Not sure if Hobart still makes a 187? I should look at the product line. So much has changed in the last while.

The 211 alternative in Hobart is a 210mvp. It's a transformer, so 80ish lbs, but dual voltage and basically the same power as a 211.bbno autoset. I've had my eye on it for a while, pricing is 800-900
 

BD1

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Mar 18, 2007
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What about an Everlast welder? Once my shop is done, a new MIG and TIG will be one of my first purchases to replace my old Miller welders.
https://www.everlastgenerators.com/...products/fa57479c13567fb329297e46f4d9c802.pdf


No, not for me. IF you want a import check out Harbor freight. I'd buy from a brick and mortar store before online. Harbor freight has extended warranty.
Depending on what you decide, I would buy from local welding supplier. Get machine, a tank, and accessories as a package deal.
As for cylinders, call suppliers before buying any privately . Find out what their policies are. This can be a frustrating experience. Just saying.
If you buy new you'll have it for a long time.
Choose wisely. I had to choose wisely five times so far. [emoji23]


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Jackfre

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Dec 26, 2010
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Location
N CA
Miller addressed pretty much every (mostly minor) complaint I ever had about the transformer version... Steve[/QUOTE said:
Can you please expand on that a bit Steve? What did you see as shortcomings and what were the mods Miller made?
 

sberry

Banned
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Jun 18, 2005
Messages
35,747
Location
Brethren, Michigan
Follow electrical service guide for
240 VAC in Section 5-3. Do not use
plug rating to size branch circuit
protection.
I see they changed language a bit for the new machines. They list the minimum ground as 14 and that would only apply if the power wires were 14. I think these are still allowed on a 50, the language and the listed breaker is somewhat confusing and still applies to the wire size. In other words the wire size is used to size the breaker.
Thje 240 only models come with a different cord, they come 12, no adapter, 50 end. They list 14 for power but called for a 12 ground.
 

Jking24

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Joined
Feb 27, 2018
Messages
258
I have a 211mvp you can't go wrong it will weld pretty much anything the average guy would get his hands on. I also have the aluminum spool gun for it and for a spool gun it does a really nice job
 
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