Millermatic 250 advice

[ShopJr.]

I was on Craig's list looking for a welder and I came across a great deal in my town. I read some reviews on the welder for sale and not very many of them were saying anything good. So my question is doe
s anyone here have any experience with the millermatic 250 and is it as bad as everyone says or is everyone that has nothing good to say about it just inexperienced?

 

[zkling]

It will boil down to condition price and your needs. They aren't all that great on the low end which is most people will complain.

 

[sberry]

Most of the time I think its the person and not the machine but I got a Lincoln model that doesn't have much of a fan club and is low on the used market and I think with good reason. I don't know what the actual math is, the only guy I know with one figures its great but he don't know squat.
I think there is better to choose from, why start with a loser?

 

[HotRod68Camaro]

I had a 250 when they were new, and now have a 251. I never had a complaint with it. Granted, i bought it new and kept it in good shape. I'd say depends on the condition of it.

 

[sberry]

What is a great deal? The next generation was fixed right up, the 251 and the 252 are spiffy. A lot here depends on the use, a real farm shop needs a 250 class and up to a point,,,, which is where any time becomes money and needed a full size without bells and whistles would consider the Hobart 230 brandy new and get past a very reasonable cost. Toss another 500 on top of used and get new. The deal on used isn't often on the machines but extras like consumables and bottles that may come with a deal.
I could buy a used feeder on spec but if I was feeling less than confident and wanted to start off on the right foot would take the Hobart for a spin.
It comes with glowing review by a couple of the best testers in the country that are worth about a 1000 reviews by avg user.

 

[kevinwilly]

I have a Miller 250MP which is the 250 with a microprocessor controller. Same "guts" as the 250, though. I got it for 350 bucks, which is the only reason I bought it. At that price it'd be dumb NOT to.

When I worked at a welding shop, we had several Miller 251's, a couple 200's, which are quite a bit older, and I think just one 250 (in addition to a bunch of bigger CP300's).

The 251's and 200's just welded a LOT better than the 250 for some reason. Especially on stainless and thin sheet metal. It wasn't like the 250 was a bad welder. It just seemed a bit hard to dial in for precision work. Kind of hard to describe.

Anyways, the 250MP I have at home is exactly the same way as the old 250 in the shop. Not a BAD welder, but a bit finicky/inconsistent.

For the right price it's worth considering. If I could buy my 250MP again for 350 bucks, I'd do it. But if I could get a 250 for $350 or a 251 for $700? I'd buy the 251 in a heartbeat.

 

[TractorJeff]

ShopJr, your first post on buying a welder should have been on weldingweb not here. But to each his own! I was close enough to you, I'd buy it

 

[matt_i]

I've had a 251 for about 10-12 years now, forget exactly. I built a 2 ton gantry with it which has done a nice job. It does a good job with heavier stuff, although for the most critical things made of structural steel I'd probably use 7018 stick these days.

 

[koditten]

I've welded together close to 300 trailers like the one in my avatar with my 250. I've used to weld sheet metal up to some pretty thick structural iron.

If one showed up on CL for cheap, I would grab one in a hurry.

I too read up on how they were not the best machine. After finding this out I decided to get me a MM185 (I think?). I figured I better have a spare. That was 15 years ago. What a waste of $1500. I do think the MM185 welds better, but not enough for me to pull it out of storage and blow all the dust out of it.

 

[sberry]

Yes, I am sure the math got exaggerated and some guys have had good luck with them.

 

[vpd66]

I purchased a Millermatic 250 brand new in 1995. I've owned it ever since and its been a good welder. When I bought it I wasn't real happy with the type of arc it had and learned to live with it. I was used to welding with the old Millermatic 200s and 35s, but this welder just welded different. It can be too touchy to get dialed in but it does weld great. I've ran about every size wire though it (.024,.030,.035, and .045) and it welds good with them all. I've tried different gas mixes also (75/25, 80/25, and straight CO2) and straight CO2 actually seems too be my favorite. Just my 2 cents

 

[bobcatdan]

At work for pretty much my personal use, I have a 250 running on 480v. I love the thing and find it very easy to use. I think it makes me look like a better weldor then I am. Hands down I like better then the Lincoln 255 I had at my last job. It made me really think about a 252 for home. In the end being realistic of my needs at home, I settled for a 211. If I found a 250 for a price I couldn't pass, I'd buy one. I know guys say a 251 or a 252 is better machine, but I still consider the 250 a nice unit.

 

[creativecars]

Would $700 be a bad price for a 250 with big bottle, long lead, about 15' and 30'? cord. It is usable with a big spool of wire.
Just saw a guy with one today.

 

[koditten]

I wouldn't pass that up.

 

[creativecars]

I wouldn't pass that up.

Hummm, not you got me thinking??? I was really wanting a Lincoln MP210. Only $300 more, but will not have the top end this should.

 

[homebuilt burner]

I've done a fair amount of welding with a 250 miller and felt it was a good welder. I would buy one if the price was reasonable. We had them at the last two shops I worked at and never had trouble other than when we over worked one ( I am talking about welding for hours straight not just on and off but trigger pulled for 95% of the time for 4 or 5 hours)

 

[zmotorsports]

I am curious about when you say "are they as bad as everyone says"? I welded with one at work for years and the only problems I had was when my co-workers treated it poorly and I had to give it some TLC.

I have a MM251 at my home shop and it has performed flawlessly for the past 8 or 10 years that I have had it.

If the price is right and it doesn't appear to be abused, I wouldn't hessitate for a moment to get the older Miller 250.

Mike.

 

[koditten]

I have the MM250 and the MM185 sitting right beside each other. They do weld differnt, but not enough for me to choose one over the other. The only reason I grab one of the other is the 250 has a longer power cord and I can reach the other side of the shop.

I've actually used the 250 to weld back together the medal frame on my eyeglasses. got me a couple weeks until I could get new frames.

700 bucks for any Miller 240v machine is a steal!

 

[Heavymetalmechanic]

I used one for 5 years at my last job, I never had any complaints. It took some practice to get it dialed in right for doing thin material however. Be prepared to purchase a few sets of roller/drive wheels in different sizes as well as spools of wire and contact tips. We ran 0.045 wire for day to day use. I had them order in a spool of 0.023 with tips and wheels when they asked me to start doing panel work. I would also look into replacing the liner in the whip.

I would open all covers and take a look at the transformer coils. Based on the condition of the varnish you can sometimes tell if it has lived a rough life.

I would love a heavy duty unit like a 251 or 252 but I don't have the space or budget for one. My MM211 covers most of my needs, I have access to industrial units at work for heavier jobs.

 

[sberry]

I have a Lincoln 255 Wirematic that doesn't have much of a fan club built in about the same era I have an SP:T too and the little one is a way better machine. I was disappointed in the big one from day one and if I had much demand it would be replaced.
I put a new roll of wire in the other day and it runs like **** again. I got to investigate. The new wire is WA and the old which ran good was China house brand from LWS, it ran about as good as any wire I have ever used in the thing and was disappointed when they changed.
I am not sure how a flavor change in wire can make such a difference but Dan who hangs at Miller forum frequently tests wires and confirms that it does.
As for welding web, yes it is good but there is enough confusing info here for a starter.