New welder!!

[jaysonb]

After doing a bunch of research on medium size welders, I decided on the Miller "Millermatic 211 MVP" with auto set. What a nice machine!!! The dual voltage setup is great, I can use it now, and when I build a new garage this fall I'll have enough service to use the 220 side of it as well. The overall fit and finish is top notch. It's made in Appleton Wisconsin. The drive roll set up is all cast metal, no plastic. Seems very high quality. I thought that the auto set feature would be kind of a joke, but it works very well, just a little on the hot side. I had to build a cart for it right away, so I used the auto set feature while I was trying to get a feel for the machine, and it worked well. I had enough scrap around the house to build the cart, just had to buy the paint, and the wheels. I think that it turned out good. The handle on the front is a 13/16 snap on wrench.

 

[bestatv]

Great job on the cart and that is one sweet welder.Congrats

 

[plinker]

Miller is top notch kit. Cart looks nice, how'd you match the color?

 

[jaysonb]

Miller is top notch kit. Cart looks nice, how'd you match the color?

The color is only a close match. Got on some welding forums, and found that the guys use rustoleum safety blue. Matches good enough.

 

[BLACK DEATH]

Two questions if i may
Specs on you cart incase i wanna use some of your ideas.
How long does or will that little bottle last for welding? Or just an idea?
Looks good

 

[jaysonb]

Two questions if i may
Specs on you cart incase i wanna use some of your ideas.
How long does or will that little bottle last for welding? Or just an idea?
Looks good

The little bottle is 40cf, and I set the regulator at 15cfh, so it will last about 2 1/2 hours of welding. I did cab corners, inner and outer rockers, cab supports, and other small patches on a 71 chevy, along with what ever else popped up that needed welding, on one bottle. The small bottles are more expensive to get filled for some reason. I thinks it was $35 to exchange it.

 

[srmofo]

I just got my diversion 165 running, and like you, can not believe the quality of these machines. Ive been running some craptastic fluxcore sears welder for a few years now and can not believe the difference.

I opted for a 15 yr lease (pure argon)on a 125cuft bottle because it was only $30 more than a 80cuft bottle. To refill them was $34 for the 125cuft and $32 for the 80cuft. That means it cost me $2 more per year for the lease and I received 50% more argon for only $2 more each fill. If I refill the bottle twice a year, Im coming out ahead with the bigger bottle . The bottle companies almost seem more like a service company rather than a company selling you a product, kinda strange if you have never dealt with them before, and Im sure it changes if you are buying something expensive like helium

 

[brslk]

Excellent welder and nice job on the cart.
I have 4 different welders but if I could only keep 1 it would be that one.
You should definitely go with a larger bottle though.

 

[jaysonb]

When I bought the tank, first fill lasted me almost 2 years. I think that I will go through this fill faster just finding stuff to weld, so I can play with the welder, but I'm not sure that I would use it enough to justify the lease price of a bigger tank.

 

[BLACK DEATH]

We buy our bottles out right here with no lease. We return a bottle for bottle with refill. I think leasing is not worth it unless you do lots of welding. A 120 cft bottle +- is $200. Leasing is $25 a month, not worth leasing to me. Ive never seen a small 40cft bottle like that or they dont sell them here. Only a 80, 120 or 240 bottle here. My numbers may be off but they are something like that.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Nice welder and the wrench is a nice touch to the cart.

 

[eighthd]

I have that same welder. I just finished my cart. But I built mine a alittle bit more beefier, Because i plan on taking mine to work with me.I will post pics latter.

 

[sk farmer]

i love my 211. it sits on a northern tool cart with drawers.

 

[srmofo]

We buy our bottles out right here with no lease. We return a bottle for bottle with refill. I think leasing is not worth it unless you do lots of welding. A 120 cft bottle +- is $200. Leasing is $25 a month, not worth leasing to me. Ive never seen a small 40cft bottle like that or they dont sell them here. Only a 80, 120 or 240 bottle here. My numbers may be off but they are something like that.

My lease is less than $1 a month....someone is hosing you

 

[Jason280]

Great idea with the 13/16" wrench, I may have to use that idea on my TIG cart!

 

[gsport]

great choice in welders.. i've had mine for about two years now, and my first project was a cart too....

 

[71goldss]

I didn't really want to start a whole new thread, so thought I'd bump this one and see what replies may come of it.

I just purchased the MM211 and it's scheduled for delivery next Tuesday. I'm a newbie to welding and this is my first welder. Just curious about the dual MVP 110/220 voltage. I have both voltage sources available in my garage and wondering if it would be best to run it on 220 volts all of the time, even for light welding? Is there any advantage to using it on 110v when I have 220v available? I'm not an electrician, but I've always heard that 220v is more efficient and cheaper to run overall. I downloaded the user manual on Miller's site, but I'm not seeing anything regarding this.

 

[wannab20hatch]

Congrats on the new welder Ive been eyeing the MM211 ever since my dad got one. Its on my future purchase list.

 

[71goldss]

Congrats on the new welder Ive been eyeing the MM211 ever since my dad got one. Its on my future purchase list.

Thanks! Miller's got a rebate promo going from now till the end of May, so decide to take advantage of it. Bought mine from a Miller dealer on ebay.

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

 

[jaysonb]

I would just use it on 220 if you have it available. I love my 211. I have found that the auto set works good on heavier stuff, but on lighter stuff you have to dial it in a little more. Great welder, I think you will like it.

 

[71goldss]

I would just use it on 220 if you have it available. I love my 211. I have found that the auto set works good on heavier stuff, but on lighter stuff you have to dial it in a little more. Great welder, I think you will like it.

Thanks for the info!

Before buying, I read every review I could find and watched youtube videos, and it seems everyone was using 110v for light stuff, and 220v for heavier stuff and with the spool gun for aluminum. Was just curious why not 220v all of the time if power source is available?

My first project is to do some auto body patch panels after first practicing on an old panel that I have. Everything I've read states to use .023 wire, but the auto set is only for .030/.035 wire, so I hadn't really planned on using the auto set until I get into heavier stuff, if even then.

 

[mharmon]

I have the 211. A few months ago I finally hooked it to 220. I don't know if it is me justifying the wiring cost but it seems to weld better on 220 even on the exhaust I normally weld.

 

[kevin47]

The little bottle is 40cf, and I set the regulator at 15cfh, so it will last about 2 1/2 hours of welding. I did cab corners, inner and outer rockers, cab supports, and other small patches on a 71 chevy, along with what ever else popped up that needed welding, on one bottle. The small bottles are more expensive to get filled for some reason. I thinks it was $35 to exchange it.

A little more expensive...You ain't kidding...Exactly why I'd never buy a welder where I have to use a small bottle...

 

[71goldss]

I have the 211. A few months ago I finally hooked it to 220. I don't know if it is me justifying the wiring cost but it seems to weld better on 220 even on the exhaust I normally weld.

^^Another reason for my question. I already have a 15' 220v extention cord that came with a Lincoln ark welder that I inherited a few years ago and have never used. It's already set up with the correct plug ends, so it would be great to just use that with 220v instead of the expense of buying a new heavy gauge 110v cable. I probably should have a 110v cord anyway for sometime when I need to go remote with the welder, but trying to limit my expenses for what I really need at the moment.

 

[affende]

I didn't really want to start a whole new thread, so thought I'd bump this one and see what replies may come of it.

I just purchased the MM211 and it's scheduled for delivery next Tuesday. I'm a newbie to welding and this is my first welder. Just curious about the dual MVP 110/220 voltage. I have both voltage sources available in my garage and wondering if it would be best to run it on 220 volts all of the time, even for light welding? Is there any advantage to using it on 110v when I have 220v available? I'm not an electrician, but I've always heard that 220v is more efficient and cheaper to run overall. I downloaded the user manual on Miller's site, but I'm not seeing anything regarding this.

Good choice. I keep a Miller 211 in the gang box on my service truck. Great machine.

Run it on 220 ... use 110 only if you have to.

 

[jaysonb]

A little more expensive...You ain't kidding...Exactly why I'd never buy a welder where I have to use a small bottle...

I think next time I need to exchange the bottle, I will just get a bigger one. I already had the small bottle from my old 110 welder, and I thought that it would be nice to keep it portable, but I haven't taken the welder anywhere, so I'll get a bigger bottle.

 

[71goldss]

I would just use it on 220 if you have it available.

Run it on 220 ... use 110 only if you have to.

Sounds good!

Thanks guys!

 

[jaysonb]

Thanks for the info!

Before buying, I read every review I could find and watched youtube videos, and it seems everyone was using 110v for light stuff, and 220v for heavier stuff and with the spool gun for aluminum. Was just curious why not 220v all of the time if power source is available?

My first project is to do some auto body patch panels after first practicing on an old panel that I have. Everything I've read states to use .023 wire, but the auto set is only for .030/.035 wire, so I hadn't really planned on using the auto set until I get into heavier stuff, if even then.

When I was welding the panels on my 71 chevy truck, I used .023 wire. It is the way to go for sure, for welding sheet metal. It seems that you can really dial in the 211 to weld nice on sheet metal. It was a night and day difference from the cheap 110 welder that I had.

 

[sk farmer]

When I was welding the panels on my 71 chevy truck, I used .023 wire. It is the way to go for sure, for welding sheet metal. It seems that you can really dial in the 211 to weld nice on sheet metal. It was a night and day difference from the cheap 110 welder that I had.

i would guess the guys who swear the stepped hobart is just as good have never tried to weld really light stuff. i am very satisfied with my 211 and the nearly infinite adjustment it offers.

 

[71goldss]

When I was welding the panels on my 71 chevy truck, I used .023 wire. It is the way to go for sure, for welding sheet metal. It seems that you can really dial in the 211 to weld nice on sheet metal. It was a night and day difference from the cheap 110 welder that I had.

A bit of a coincidence. Mine's a 71 El Camino. Replacing the typical lower front fender area with complete patch panels. Last summer my son came over with his Century 140 and patched a couple small areas on the quarters behind the rear tires on each side. Looks good, but I may decide to redo with complete lower panels from wheelwell to bumper if I have good success on the fronts. Would probably be fine the way it is, but I think I'd feel better knowing nothing is going to expose itself later on after painting. The car has been in Calif. all it's life, so really no rust other than the typical areas where leaves and moisture get trapped in those areas.

BTW my son owns a pretty nice custom 70 stepside.

 

[71goldss]

i would guess the guys who swear the stepped hobart is just as good have never tried to weld really light stuff. i am very satisfied with my 211 and the nearly infinite adjustment it offers.

^ One of the main reasons I chose to spend the extra on the 211 over the Hobart. Plus, the blue matches my new Quincy compressor! LOL

Pretty funny how Miller and Quincy both have what they call their "True Blue" warranty. I wonder if they're trademarked? Hmmm...there may be a lawsuit in the making?

 

[sberry]

I havnt used a 211 but if the auto is toasty I would like it. I wanna save it from just burning thru. For autobody it makes sense to use small wire but these 200A class eat 030 for a snack and yes it also makes some sense to run it on a wire aint only half loaded drawing twice the power. I happen to use 10 wire cords and circuit for these, I always want it wide open, figure it cant hurt.

The stepped Hobart is about as good. I got a Lincoln SPT is almost perfect with 3 settings and its only got a 5 speed in it.