Welding Newbie gets a Millermatic Pulser MIG

[RaysnCayne]

Hey all,

I've been looking for a used 180-250 Miller for about the last 7-8 months. I missed a really nice 210 with a tank and helmet for $1250 back in January. (I was out of town that week. Doh!) Then I missed a 185 with no tank for $700 b/c I'd never heard of it and wasn't sure what it was. (By the time I figured out it was a good buy, it was already gone - a day after it was listed!) And that's been it around here. Just couldn't find any good mid-size Millers in my area to save my life.

But this past weekend, I finally found a Millermatic Pulser about 2 hours away from me. From what I understand, it's basically a 210 with pulsing and spool gun capabilities. It came with the spool gun, a full-size tank and a few new spools of wire for a bit more than the 185 I missed.

Does anyone have any experience with this unit? I was told the pulsing option allows you to weld thinner metals without as much heat soak. Y/N?

I've tinkered with a couple small MIGs belonging to friends, but I'm basically a welding virgin as this is my first welder. I'm hoping to slowly restore my Biscayne with it and tinker with steel wheels and other miscellaneous welding projects.

 

[Rezeppa]

That is a nice welder unfortunately Miller really didn't (and still doesn't) have pulse mig quite down yet when it came out. I have run one a few times for a sister company at work and we all decided to run it with the pulse off. It is a fine welder and welds great just never found a benefit to the pulse feature on it. We discussed it at lunch and compared i to the new welders and the pulse at the time it was made it just doesn't work well at all. It works the best in my opinion on aluminum because aluminum dissipates its heat so quickly the pulse makes it easy to weld. The concept of pulse mig is awsome it just east well executed on that machine. More questions PM me.

 

[RaysnCayne]

That was the gist of a couple old reviews I saw about it. And I think the reason it wasn't in production very long.

I plan to use it without the pulse for now. Basically a regular 210. (or technically a 200, I think). I'll get comfortable with basic MIG welding and then maybe try the pulse feature to see if it helps or hinders in certain situations.

I'll probably never use it, but I do like the notion that I could MIG-weld aluminum (with the right gas) if I so choose. I've heard TIG-ing is quite the art to master. Maybe MIG-ing aluminum is a bit easier? Probably no where near as pretty or effective, but still.

 

[Rezeppa]

That is still an Awsome welder. Idk what you paid but you will love it. I personally own a 211, Maxstar 150, and a Trailblazer 300D. I would love to have a full size like that but when they come up In my area they are all 1700 or more and at that price I would rather buy new. You will love that welder and now anything is possible in your shop my capabilities tripled when I got my first welder.