New Machine Day! Millermatic 350P

[dr_clyde]

Very exciting day at my shop when the salesman's truck shows up with presents in the back.

Good things come in big boxes with "Miller" on the side.

Finally got my MIG welding game sorted out. This thing runs like a dream. I'm stoked to start running some jobs on this welder.

The old and the new.

I also ordered a Aluma-pro 25' push pull gun for it that should be here friday. I have some aluminum jobs in my future where pulsed mig is the answer.

Thanks for looking.

 

[sberry]

Ok, I will be first. That's a dandy. I never used one but seen some ptchurs, looked like an easy way if a guy has enough to do. Getting it all brandy new will last a goodly long time in a job shop.

 

[4 FN 27]

Nice!!! Insert clapping here!!!

 

[Bellaireroad]

Sweet...you win the lottery?


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[dr_clyde]

Sweet...you win the lottery?


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Haha, nope. Just investing in my business.

 

[Firstram]

That is money well spent, I'm jelly. I had the pleasure of using the aluma pro on a 350P late last year on an aluminum job, I never new life could be so good!
I used to be happy with my 30A + flex neck, now not so much.
How will you deal with software? I'm under the impression that machine uses different programming for alum and steel.

 

[dr_clyde]

There are 3 different kinds of 350p machines. There is the regular one, which I have, there is one that is designed for aluminum bodywork and one that is designed for structural aluminum exclusively.

The normal one will do pulsed spray with aluminum, it has a program pre-loaded. All you have to do is tell it what gun you have hooked up.

 

[zkling]

Congrats, those are very nice machines. Only thing I was disappointed in was how cheap feeling the rear wheels are.

 

[dr_clyde]

Congrats, those are very nice machines. Only thing I was disappointed in was how cheap feeling the rear wheels are.

I will admit , the running gear isn't anything special. I will say there is an improvement over the old MM250 in that the cylinder platform is much closer to the ground making it easier to load a big 330 cubic foot cylinder.

 

[DerekV]

Nice machine...looks just a little more powerful than my 211

Buddy of mine just got one for his business, you're gonna love it

 

[tarmy]

You ****...

 

[doojus]

For a push/pull aluminum setup, I debated between this unit and my Lincoln PowerMIG 350 for many a night. I went with the Lincoln, but after about 200 lbs of 4043 wire I wish I went with the Miller, the Lincoln was really fussy to get set up right and it's hard to find the right consumables. Welds really nice once you get used to its quirks though.

 

[dr_clyde]

I have a friend with a Lincoln 350MP. I didn't like the programming and the way the user interface was setup as much. They're still nice machines, but like you said, quirky.

I'm a Miller guy at heart though. My Miller machines have never let me down.

 

[jonesg]

Haha, nope. Just investing in my business.

Its only got 2 knobs.
HF has 8.

 

[dr_clyde]

Nice machine! I have a twin to your "old" Millermatic 200 with the skp35 panel and the spool gun.

The old 200 is going to go to my dad's shop. I don't need 4 wire welders in my one man shop haha.

 

[dr_clyde]

Its only got 2 knobs.
HF has 8.

HF "beats" Miller with 8 knobs vs only 2! That's 6 more knobs to adjust things with! What professional quality!

 

[Strouty]

The old 200 is going to go to my dad's shop. I don't need 4 wire welders in my one man shop haha.

That sounds like blasphemy, I would gladly have four in my shop. Currently I have 2 wire feed, one stick, and three spool guns.

 

[Tennessee Cattleman]

Very nice welder, congrats.

 

[dr_clyde]

That sounds like blasphemy, I would gladly have four in my shop. Currently I have 2 wire feed, one stick, and three spool guns.

Its more of a space thing...

I'll still have the Dynasty 200 w/ coolmate 3, the Invertec V300 w/ LN-7, the Maxstar 161 and the MM250.

Sold my lincoln SW tig 200 to a buddy, so with the 350P I will still have 5 welding machines. I can't run all 5 at once!

 

[sberry]

I have 4 feeders, 2 stick and a tig. I could really get by most of the time with 2. If I was in the real fab biz would have 1 or 2 more, probably one running dual, maybe something to spray 045.
One thing that kept me out of the heavy biz was being stuck on small rural power. If I was going to do it would have looked to get out on better road and 3 phase.
If I was going to fuss with alloy would have a Dynasty.

 

[yaidunno]

Beautiful machine! Congrats.

 

[pcmeiners]

Wow, really cool toy, I mean tool. Have fun

 

[zmotorsports]

Congratulations on the new welder. I looked (and drooled) over the 350P back when I was looking to upgrade but couldn't justify it so went with the MM251. I've been very pleased with the MM251 but the few times I used the 350P it sure was nice.

 

[dr_clyde]

Congratulations on the new welder. I looked (and drooled) over the 350P back when I was looking to upgrade but couldn't justify it so went with the MM251. I've been very pleased with the MM251 but the few times I used the 350P it sure was nice.

Yeah, it's probably overkill for 75% of my wire welding work, but that for that remaining 25% it really shines.

I still have the older MM250 for short arc work, so what really sold this machine to me was the pulsed spray. It have some fairly big steel projects I'm working on at the moment, and the pulsed spray really ups the productivity. The increase in travel speed, lack of spatter, and reliable good looking welds really speeds things up.

I had to weld a bunch of brackets for a timber frame gazebo the other day, and they were all fillet welds on 1/4" steel. This thing laid down the nicest beads without even breaking a sweat.

I have the Aluma-pro gun on it at the moment, and I'm trying to master pulsed spray wire welding of aluminum. I have some projects in the pipe with LOTS of aluminum wire welds, and I really don't want to be trying to find my bearings on customer work. It's a lot more fussy than TIG, imo. The settings have a very narrow range, otherwise you end up with either a cold weld or a hole.

 

[zmotorsports]

Yeah, it's probably overkill for 75% of my wire welding work, but that for that remaining 25% it really shines.

I still have the older MM250 for short arc work, so what really sold this machine to me was the pulsed spray. It have some fairly big steel projects I'm working on at the moment, and the pulsed spray really ups the productivity. The increase in travel speed, lack of spatter, and reliable good looking welds really speeds things up.

I had to weld a bunch of brackets for a timber frame gazebo the other day, and they were all fillet welds on 1/4" steel. This thing laid down the nicest beads without even breaking a sweat.

I have the Aluma-pro gun on it at the moment, and I'm trying to master pulsed spray wire welding of aluminum. I have some projects in the pipe with LOTS of aluminum wire welds, and I really don't want to be trying to find my bearings on customer work. It's a lot more fussy than TIG, imo. The settings have a very narrow range, otherwise you end up with either a cold weld or a hole.

Yeah, I agree the biggest advantage was the pulsed spray feature which I don't think I would ever need or use but it sure is a sweet machine. You should be able to make back the outlay for it quite easily.

 

[sberry]

Wire is like that. Something I wish I would have tried and mastered is torch welding alum. Would have been great for minor portable work.
I will agree the spray is really good for customer work. In Jakes market really good welding is everything, its a custom shop.
My work needs to be professional but the customers all think its great and its not quite as demanding for finish. I have 3 wire sizes for light work and a lot of experience, it all looks great. I am a master clean up artist too without making it look ground up.
If there are enough hours in a week or month the machine can be free or make money especially if one is paying men. I am in a spot I cant make anything new pay. If it would that would be on my short list.
A 251 is a heavy feeder too. It will spray 045 steel right along with a better gun. I cant help but think the 350 would be some better especially in production. I don't even have a spray machine setup. All general light repair and mostly out of position.