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Miller Matic 211

FOR MUD

FOR MUD

1/2 ton status
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Clayton Del
Looking for some input on this welder. Seems to be the right size for my needs...Light to med fab work...Tubes, brackets, frame mods, etc.
One of the features I like about it is the two plug set up. One for 110v and one foe 220v. Granted you can't thicker materials on 110 but it should make this unit alot more versatile.
 
Best MIG I've ever owned. It's a great machine. Lays a great bead, easy to set up, plenty of power for auto/4x4 fab work. Mine spends 99% of its life plugged in to shop 220 but the ability to take it anywhere and plug it in to 110 rocks (I bought a small gas cylinder for portable use and have a big boy for in the shop). It does of course reduce your max thickness and it hits duty cycle a lot faster on 110. Couple guys I know have much higher-end machines but use their 211s for almost everything because it just welds so nicely.
 
Good, I'm glad to hear. Looks to be a good unit on paper, but you never know.
I'll be placing an order this week....Good thing there's free shipping.
 
Love mine !!!!! IMHO the most versatile welder around, I have honestly run close to 70-80lbs of wire (11 pound spools) through mine with no issues. It does thin sheet metal all the way up to 3/8's with no problem, I've even done some 1/2" with it (cutting edge on skid steer buckets) with 0 failures.
I highly recommend.......the only negative thing I would even say is the miller cart that can come with it is junk.
 
jt512 said:
Love mine !!!!! IMHO the most versatile welder around, I have honestly run close to 70-80lbs of wire (11 pound spools) through mine with no issues. It does thin sheet metal all the way up to 3/8's with no problem, I've even done some 1/2" with it (cutting edge on skid steer buckets) with 0 failures.
I highly recommend.......the only negative thing I would even say is the miller cart that can come with it is junk.
Click to expand...

Who did you get yours from? I'm looking at BR Welding Supplies in White Plains, MD.
 
FOR MUD said:
Who did you get yours from? I'm looking at BR Welding Supplies in White Plains, MD.
Click to expand...

I think I talked to them when I was shopping, they advertise on ebay IIRC, I ended up buying from a shop in Baltimore called Weld World. They matched B&R's price and had it drop shipped at my shop the next day.
Unfortunately Weld World has been bought out by Praxair so I don't know how willing to "deal" they are now that they are no longer "locally owned".
 
How's the duty cycles?


How long can you weld 1/4" before it needs a break?
 
IMO, it's a question of what's more needed, versatility, or power... cuz your paying $500 more for the versatility.. or that could be spent on amps, if your looking for strictly 220...

that was my situation, the 110 didn't matter... power did... some people are vice versa and take full advantage of the dual volt....

either way, Miller makes a damn nice machine and I'm sure it's real nice.....
 
I actually got mine from my local General Air. They beat the lowest online price I found, even with sales tax, and threw some accessories in. Part of this was a big sale Miller was doing around this time of year (might have been Feb.) Not saying your local guys will do it, but give them a try and you might be surprised.
 
Deuling said:
How's the duty cycles?


How long can you weld 1/4" before it needs a break?
Click to expand...

I haven't done enough long beads on 1/4" to really hit duty cycle on 220. Most of the time I set up, burn the 8-16 inches I need, stop, set up the next, etc. Haven't had a plate bumper or the like to try it on. I did hit it a lot on 110 welding at its max, took about 8-10 min to cool before it would cooperate again. I was way overdoing it for 110- should have been on 220 or at least FC wire for what I was welding. Job got done, though, in a place with only 110 available.
 
Yah. I know I'll get a bigger welder one day. Already have a Hobart 140.


So I didn't know if the lower price on the 211 type units is worth it rather than buying the next step up.
 
jt512 said:
I think I talked to them when I was shopping, they advertise on ebay IIRC, I ended up buying from a shop in Baltimore called Weld World. They matched B&R's price and had it drop shipped at my shop the next day.
Unfortunately Weld World has been bought out by Praxair so I don't know how willing to "deal" they are now that they are no longer "locally owned".
Click to expand...

I'll check them out too...I also found Airgas to be close on pricing. My work has an account with them. Going to see what kind of deal they'll give me on gas and wire...Plus their only a few minutes from work.

ryoken said:
IMO, it's a question of what's more needed, versatility, or power... cuz your paying $500 more for the versatility.. or that could be spent on amps, if your looking for strictly 220...

that was my situation, the 110 didn't matter... power did... some people are vice versa and take full advantage of the dual volt....

either way, Miller makes a damn nice machine and I'm sure it's real nice.....
Click to expand...

I think power wise It's going to be fine.
I hoping to take advantage of the versatility end of things. I know I could have used it around work quite a bit for some light work and the place only has 110. I'm also planning to use it on some side jobs where it's not always going to make sense dragging the piece of machine down to my shop for ten minutes of welding.
 
Deuling said:
So I didn't know if the lower price on the 211 type units is worth it rather than buying the next step up.
Click to expand...

I was kinda thinking the same thing..... But how big would be to big? I've ran a Lincoln 180 at my old work for years with out a problem of needing a lot more power.....If I do, I have a customer in the welding business who will take care of me for a fair price.
 
absolutely... and to be honest, I run my 180 at the marina a fair amount, but I have to use my extension cord, and I only have the one outlet at the garage.. a 110 capability would be nice, but I make do..

but I bought the welder for myself at the house really, and have NO need for the 110 there... so for the $$$, the 180 was perfect for me...

tell ya what, I've probably run over a 100 lb's thru that thing, and it hasn't batted an eye.... :bow:
 
FOR MUD said:
I was kinda thinking the same thing..... But how big would be to big? I've ran a Lincoln 180 at my old work for years with out a problem of needing a lot more power.....If I do, I have a customer in the welding business who will take care of me for a fair price.
Click to expand...

Duty cycle for me. My buddy got a 252 and you can burn for a 20 min straight and it will laugh as it cycles the fan for about 5 seconds.


Welded up a truss on an axle that was all plate. 2- 4ft plus straight welds other than repositioning.


But that's not really a nice portable welder either. So ya give and take.
 
and your also talking about a welder pushing 3 g's prolly.. my 180 was 750 on sale... tho I'd love to have a monster dedicated to the Lab...
 
Yeah the 252 is a nice unit. I bought the 211 for just under a grand, though, and it's a lot of machine at that price. I think if a guy is looking at the real low entry level units it would be worth taking the step up to the 211 but most of us don't lay enough beads to justify going to the 252 or bigger. If you need a pro machine, you know it. The 211 will do 90% of what 90% of us on here need and make us look good doing it. In my own case, my MIG needs are basically hobbyist/I do this stuff for fun, not pro, plus I wanted to have more money to put toward my TIG machine.
 
To be honest Id prolly get something like this as opposed to the 252 for my own dedicated shop welder. As im sure it would do close to the same, for about a grand less... And its got lead holders on the side.. Those are nice :D

http://store.cyberweld.com/hoir230migwe.html

I know Hobart is millers cheaper brand.. But mine has served me very well, and id buy another.
 
I almost bought a Hobart... is that a stepped, or infinite, like the millers.. that was the one advantage I liked of the pricier Millers...
 
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