Thinking about a Miller 12VS Suitcase MIG unit...

[ThomasH]

Does anyone have any experience with a Miller 12VS suitcase unit? I have several 300 amp inverter stick boxes (Miller 304XMT CC/CV) and in looking at a MIG outfit that can run dualshield, it would have to be a 250 amp plus unit (like a Miller 252). I can buy a good used Miller 12VS unit for about $900 (not much use), but have no experience with any of the 8VS or 12VS units. Buying a used heavy duty Miller or Lincoln MIG unit that is capable of spray arc and dual shield wire would be double that in price. Any opinions?

Thanks!

 

[Shield Arc]

I never ran the 8VS, or the 12VS. Ran the S32P when they first came out. The door lasted about 30-seconds on those feeders. But I don't remember any problems with them. Make sure you go with the 12VS, that way you can run up to 44-pound spools of wire.
I've had nothing but good luck with the LN-25s every since they came out.

 

[Arc weld]

I haven't heard of too many problems with the 12VS. If you run a feeder off your XMT 304, why do you need a suitcase feeder? A MM 252 would run Dual shield but probably not in spray mode. You could get a new 22 (or 24) Miller feeder to run off your XMT 304's from about $1100 compared to roughly $2000 for a 12 VS. A buddy of mine bought a used LN25 for $800 to use on his 305G but after a few month's a board went out and it wasn't worth the cost to fix it. I think that's a rare problem for an LN 25 though. If I was in a shop, I wouldn't go with a suitcase feeder. There more suited to field work.

 

[ThomasH]

I am in and outside of the shop, depending on what is being welded on. The 12VS is hoped to be a compromise, in buying a heavy self contained MIG unit like a MM252 (portable) and a stationary wire feeder for my XMT304, versus doing wire feed with it. A good bit of the welding that I do is on construction equipment and is stick. I am getting to where I am doing some fabrication of new peices, and thus the interest in MIG. I know where there is a 12VS in good used shape (known working fine), about 7 years old without a ton of hours, that I can get for $750. I am probably going to see it again on Friday and work out something.

 

[Arc weld]

An XMT 304 is a very good welder. $750 is a good price for a 12VS feeder but if you don't have to have a suitcase feeder you could get a new S22 feeder for around $1100 or so. A suitcase is easier to move around but I don't know if they are as reliable long term.

 

[ThomasH]

Thanks guys, I worked out a deal. If it turns out to be unreliable I will have to spring for a 250+ amp MIG welder in the future. That wouldn't be the end of the world either...

 

[jack707]

Suit cases can give you a good weld but there picky to tune up. I work as a boilermaker and we use them on duct work.

 

[ThomasH]

Jack -

Thanks for the feedback. What do you mean by "picky to tune up"? Is it a feed issue, or what? I am planning on welding 1/4 - 1/2" steel with it, and use .035 steel MIG wire as well as Lincoln Dual-Shield which is .045.

Tom

 

[jack707]

it could be the liner some times or the cone or a new spool of wire. when these things are running good they make nice looking welds!. We use either hard wire or flux core and some wire gives a lot of problems on the job site with porosity so there a lot to check to get these boxes running good.

 

[Shield Arc]

Personally I can't tell the difference between my LN-25, and my LF-72 shop feeder.