Sanity check and poll for guidance for newbie

[mwoliver]

Hey guys,

I'm just about to buy my first welder and the choices are enough to boggle the mind. I've read so many forum posts and watched so many videos that I've gone beyond the point where I had made up my mind to the point where I'm nearly as unsure as before educating myself. At first I was going to go for a Hobart Handler 140 since I don't have 230V in my garage (yet) and had fairly made up my mind. Then I found this welding forum, and others, and started watching videos on YouTube about different MIG welders from different manufacturers. I was about ready to plunk down the cash for a HTP MIG 2400 machine and run 230V for it. Then I started researching multi-process (MIG/TIG/Stick) machines because I figured that I didn't want to limit myself to just one process when learning. That lead, of course, to more forum reading and more YouTube and more :confused2: about what I really wanted. I want variety of education, for sure, and variety of materials, etc. The variety of materials meant mostly aluminum (for now), and that leads to more questions about whether to do that via spoolgun (MIG or MIG/TIG/Stick machine) or TIG (different TIG/Stick or TIG/Stick/Plasma machine)). For sure I want GMAW/FCAW capability at the very least, but the indecision kills and I'm really ready to stop debating with myself about this and get going.

I have narrowed my decision to a Miller Millermatic 211(i) (probably with a spoolgun) or a Miller Multimatic 200. I know that both will meet my current power supply limitations while allowing me to grow into 230V when available. At this point I am leaning toward the Millermatic 211, even though it's only GMAW/FCAW, because I figure that in the long run I'd rather have a AC/DC machine for TIG/Stick (and perhaps plasma, such as the Everlast PowerPro 256s) so that I could could TIG aluminum (which I couldn't do with the Miller Multimatic 200). I know that it's a little more money in the long run, and the Multimatic 200 is nice(ii), but if variety and education are my goals then it makes sense to me right now to pick up the Miller 211 and get my feet wet with GMAW & FCAW while I bank a little more money for the other machine rather than settling for a compromise in the Multimatic 200.

Opinions and guidance are most welcome and appreciated.

Now that I've written all of that, and calculated that the HTP MIG 2400 isn't that much more $ than the Millermatic 211, I am still :confused2: ...

Thanks,
Mike


i -- I chose the Millermatic 211 over the Hobart 210 MVP because of (probably) better resale if I ever do get rid of it, finer-grained voltage control, reputation (yeah, I know both are owned by ITW) and that the price difference is only a couple hundred bucks.

ii -- I've seen comments about the Multimatic 200 case being a little cheaply made, that it may have been rushed to market, and that the cost/availability of consumables for the (very nice) Bernard Q150 gun weigh slightly against this machine (for me).

 

[Shield Arc]

Get one each of these, and all your bases are covered.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Since, Everlast's name came up, If you look at my avatar, we've been selling MTS welders since 2010. We have up to 400A. We have both the MTS 200, MTS 250S for small comparable units though. You'll be better off thinking in terms of a separate plasma though regardless of what unit you get (TIG/Stick or MTS).

 

[mwoliver]

Get one each of these, and all your bases are covered.

Perhaps I'll get there one day, but each journey starts with a first step and I can't justify marathon-worthy shoes without yet completing the first mile.

Thanks for your input Shield Arc, your posts are some of the most enjoyable I've read.

 

[Shield Arc]

If you go with the V350-Pro and a spool gun, you may not need a Tig welder for awhile. Here is some 16-GA aluminum I did with it.

 

[Reyer Farms]

Check your sanity at the shop door. There is no perfect welder- but most are good operating at what they are designed to do. I suggest praying about it, welders are known for their unwavering loyalty to a particular flavor of machine. It's mostly because God tells them, God said it and that settles it. - Note : read previous statement again in humorous font -
Pick one that will do most of what you want to do and start out. Consider consumables and associated costs of machine. Remember that no matter how good the reviews are,and how wonderful it welds the machine will need to be worked on- who will preform such repairs and is it repairable?
Personally, God tells me to more stick welds because I'm too broke to buy big spools and lease more bottles. God has blessed me with an ample assortment of coated electrodes of the free variety. I feel it's the most cost effective welds that make me money. Red and yellow, blue and white strike an arc and watch the light.

 

[Ken45101]

FWIW, I bought the 211 a couple of years ago and I have been very satisfied. For what I do, I wouldn't want anything smaller. I did add a stick welder for learning and heavier welding (1" stuff) but the 211 has been a very good welder.

 

[woodlandfarms]

So does your shop not have 220 in it, just 110? Or is it 220 Capable but no outlet.

 

[mwoliver]

So does your shop not have 220 in it, just 110? Or is it 220 Capable but no outlet.

Capable but no outlet, so it means running the wire to the load center. Not a big deal and could be done if I can't start with a 120V machine, but since I've yet to read anything bad about the Millermatic 211 then that's probably where I'm headed... probably :laughing:

Thanks fellas, much appreciated!

 

[sixdogs]

The guys on this welding forum are some of the smartest guys around and offered me great advice and saved my bacon. Let me rephrase that to guys that actually worked as serious welders and have pics of their welds and experience to back it up. I too was swamped with advice until I narrowed it down and went with the best advice from those with the stats to back it up.

The best advice I got, however was to take a welding course at a tech school. I did and with the help from this forum my welding skills improved dramatically. While I can't, and don't want to weld an aluminum soda can like many here have done, I could hold my own with maybe 80% of production welding guys around doing in-position welds. The advice from experienced guys here gave me the confidence to make it.

Regarding equipment, I always went with the best known and most expensive brand name equipment around on the belief you get what you pay for. So far, so good.

In the end, just pick something and do it. Just my two cents.