My new welder.

[03protege]

So I just got done playing with this for an hour or so, I am in love. This is such a big upgrade from my **** box HF stick burner. My first line I put down with this unit is better than anything I have done with the HF unit and I have never touched a mig before (and probably have well over 100 hours on the HF unit)

Anyway it looks like a new machine and I payed $380 out the door at a pawn shop, which after taxes is half what the welding shop down the street wanted.

I wanted a bigger unit but for the price I couldn't leave it sitting there and realistically this should handle anything I should come across.


Does anyone know where I can download the manual for it?

 

[Zrexxer]

Does anyone know where I can download the manual for it?

http://www.millerwelds.com/om/o225311c_mil.pdf

 

[03protege]

http://www.millerwelds.com/om/o225311c_mil.pdf

Thank you, I was looking on the Miller website and couldn't find it for some reason.

 

[Chuck McB]

Man I can't wait to get something like that!

 

[Murphy4570]

That's a great little MIG welder. You'll make beautiful welds with it.

 

[Journaler]

That is a nice score. The pawn shops around here don't have anything that clean.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

You'll love it. I just sold one on evilbay a few months back because I upgraded to a 220v unit. That little guy will weld 3/16th steel with one pass all day long. I'm not too keen on the autoset feature, but it's still a nice unit especially from ANY welding machine HF sells.

 

[palmetto slim]

Neat find. Does any one know if this is similar to the Hobart 140?

 

[03protege]

That is a nice score. The pawn shops around here don't have anything that clean.

I really didn't think this particular one ever would but after stopping there twice a week for the past past month or so it payed off.

You'll love it. I just sold one on evilbay a few months back because I upgraded to a 220v unit. That little guy will weld 3/16th steel with one pass all day long. I'm not too keen on the autoset feature, but it's still a nice unit especially from ANY welding machine HF sells.

I am not really sure how the auto-set works. I was dialing in the voltage and feed speed, that is still mandatory right? I was really worried about getting the settings squared away but it seems pretty easy using that chart.

 

[BD1]

AWESOME !!! You did REAL GOOD ! Have fun.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

I am not really sure how the auto-set works. I was dialing in the voltage and feed speed, that is still mandatory right? I was really worried about getting the settings squared away but it seems pretty easy using that chart.

You see where the .024 and .030 setting is on the bottom of the wire speed dial? You click the dial to the wire size you have in the machine and the blue light will light up. Then you select the gauge of the material you are welding on the arc dial and you are ready to weld. It's really just a gimmick to me. From what I read it was Miller's way of trying to surpass Lincoln in the home welder market. The MVP feature on the 220v machines is something that can be put to good use since it will run on 110v electric especially for use on sheetmetal and thinner gauge material. You can then run it on 220v for the thicker stuff.

I actually never used the autoset feature. You will need to fine tune a welder often if you're welding in different positions and different thickness materials together. Basically, a guy who has any bit of welding ability doesn't need an autoset feature. Ones who do not know how to weld should eventually figure it out and realize they don't nee the autoset feature.

 

[03protege]

^^^^ I actually saw that shortly after making that post, I had an "oh" moment. Still through I am with you on it being a sales gimmick.

I was actually having some feeding issues That would occur shorty after I started welding, later I realized this was from heating up. I imagine this welder is in such good condition because the previous owner was inept and could not read. The machine came loaded with a spool of .35 flux wire. I eventually realized he had the drive roll set to .24 sized wire(was actually shaving the wire some), the tension adjustment wheel had no tensions, and best of all it had a .30 welding tip installed on it. I imagine once it heated up it expanded and squeezed the wire. He probably dumped this thing at the pawn for $100 thinking it was broken.

Lastly I just wanted to report back and let everyone know how awesome this machine is. The quality and usability of this versus a Harbor Freight Machine are light-years apart. I can work much faster and end up with cleaner welds. I also notice I am getting much better penetration, so not only is it stronger but it doesn't leave as big of a bead on top which cuts down on my grinding time. If you know you will have uses for a welder, just go ahead and bite the bullet. If you are not sure if welding is for you then I don't see any harm to getting a Harbor Freight unit.

 

[cheechi]

probably have well over 100 hours on the HF unit

To be fair, that's not bad.

Good find, wish there were decent condition welders (or any big tools) in pawn shops around here. Well, besides the horrifically overpriced RAS they won't let me power on.

 

[03protege]

To be fair, that's not bad.

Good find, wish there were decent condition welders (or any big tools) in pawn shops around here. Well, besides the horrifically overpriced RAS they won't let me power on.

The Harbor Freight really did do an awesome job and it payed for itself 100 times over. I will always remember him **tear**


Generally there are no good priced and good condition welders that I see. Up until now the only welders I have seen in pawns are the Lincoln migs you buy at Home Depot.

 

[justanengineer]

Those lil Millers are very nice and simple to use thanks to the modern electronics, but I would pass along a word of caution to anyone buying used or out of pawn - if at all possible test before you buy. Ive ended up with several of those at auctions that looked to be very similar condition to the OPs - brandy new in appearance, but in reality someone had managed to fry the internals very quickly. Unfortunately as Ive been told by the Miller service center in Indy several times, those homeowner welders arent worth repairing once dead.

 

[Gamble]

That's a sweet welder at a sweet price.

 

[mncountrydoc]

We never get that good of deal around here

 

[03protege]

Those lil Millers are very nice and simple to use thanks to the modern electronics, but I would pass along a word of caution to anyone buying used or out of pawn - if at all possible test before you buy. Ive ended up with several of those at auctions that looked to be very similar condition to the OPs - brandy new in appearance, but in reality someone had managed to fry the internals very quickly. Unfortunately as Ive been told by the Miller service center in Indy several times, those homeowner welders arent worth repairing once dead.

Fortunately this one came with a 10 day warranty so I was able to test it out. One of the main reasons I bought this was because of the name. Over on the weldingweb forums Miller is touted to be one of the longest lasting welders out there. I would be pissed if this thing craps out on me.