Welders...Ever use this one?

[Squatch]

I am seriously considering buying the Millermatic 211 Mig Welder this month, but would like to know if anyone has had any experience with this particular model.

https://www.millerwelds.com/equipment/welders/mig-gmaw/millermatic-211-mig-welder-m30024

I'd also like to hear from you if you use another model of Miller welders. Would like general feedback on reliability and ease of use. Thanks!

 

[StG58]

I am seriously considering buying the Millermatic 211 Mig Welder this month. but would like to know if anyone has had any experience with this particular model.

https://www.millerwelds.com/equipment/welders/mig-gmaw/millermatic-211-mig-welder-m30024

I'd also like to hear from you if you use another model of Miller welders. Would like general feedback on reliability and ease of use. Thanks!

The reviews seem positive. Most people say to replace the ground clamp though.

I prefer the Miller machines over Lincoln or Linde machines. The Miller's have a softer arc. Harder to start the weld sometimes, but more controlled and cleaner. My last welder was a Miller 225G set up for tig and stick. Loved that machine, and it made me a lot of money on the side. It was a gas powered portable though, not a plug in.

 

[Squatch]

The reviews seem positive. Most people say to replace the ground clamp though.

I prefer the Miller machines over Lincoln or Linde machines. The Miller's have a softer arc. Harder to start the weld sometimes, but more controlled and cleaner. My last welder was a Miller 225G set up for tig and stick. Loved that machine, and it made me a lot of money on the side. It was a gas powered portable though, not a plug in.

Yeah, I saw that about the clamp. Seems like a simple enough thing to upgrade, though, so I wouldn't let that be a deal breaker for me. Biggest issue I have with the purchase is the governor wants his share. By the time I get the gas, wire, and a cart, the tax is over $150 added to the price...

 

[ohiopatriot]

Don't have that model, but Miller is top of the line equipment. Never an issue with mine, or the ones where I've worked in the past.

 

[StG58]

Yeah, I saw that about the clamp. Seems like a simple enough thing to upgrade, though, so I wouldn't let that be a deal breaker for me. Biggest issue I have with the purchase is the governor wants his share. By the time I get the gas, wire, and a cart, the tax is over $150 added to the price...

Sounds like a road trip to Portland, to me.

 

[Squatch]

My eldest boy lives in Vancouver, WA...could make it a dual purpose "tax free" run...

 

[oldditchdoctor]

I own the 211! I have used it fluxcore, but not with the shielding gas. I made great welds with it, you have to reverse the ground for flux vs gas. I like the portability, and the 110/220 options. I almost stepped up to the mig/tig/stick and sometimes wish I had.
Overall-99.9% positive, just make sure that you use the antisplatter spray and keep the tip clean!


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[Squatch]

I own the 211! I have used it fluxcore, but not with the shielding gas. I made great welds with it, you have to reverse the ground for flux vs gas. I like the portability, and the 110/220 options. I almost stepped up to the mig/tig/stick and sometimes wish I had.
Overall-99.9% positive, just make sure that you use the antisplatter spray and keep the tip clean!


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Thanks, @oldditchdoctor. This is exactly the kind of stuff I like to hear!

 

[Squatch]

Sounds like a road trip to Portland, to me.

So, if I can drag my carcass out of bed early enough to get to Central Welding Supply in Portland before they close Saturday (roughly a 4 hour drive from home), I'll pick up everything but the bottle of gas (Millermatic 211, cart, etc.). That'll save me about $140 in Washington state sales tax. Then I'll swing back up into Washington and pick up the half-doors I've agreed to buy off a young fella just northeast of Portland. Combine that with a visit with my eldest boy and some of his momma's home-cooked Laotian cuisine (man, that woman can cook!), and I've got myself a weekend to remember! Life is good!

 

[lowranger]

Sounds like a great weekend!!

 

[bobthetj03]

We have an older 210 at our shop. Been like a champ for years. Even an idiot like me can weld with it.

 

[oldditchdoctor]

Still love mine, really wish I’d ponied up the extra dough for the multi! If you can- DO IT! I coulda and shoulda both. Now, gotta shop for a deal on a Tig and Arc..


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[Phil Younger]

I don't have that model- but I can tell you that the Miller folks are awesome (the main office and tech folks are 40 miles from me in Wisconsin). A couple of years back I bought a 1968 Miller AEAD portable 250A rig for $200 at auction, called up Miller and the tech emailed me 1200 pages of Onan engine and Miller welder manuals for it. It had not been run for 5 years but fired right up and ran beads great after a fill of gas.
When it came time to get a mig outfit knowing that Miller makes Hobart I grabbed a new 140 and I love it. Sure the autoset and the dual voltage would have been nice but I have the Miller for high amp stuff and I wanted to save money for either a future tig or acetylene welder. ( I really love welding with acetylene).
Just make sure if on 120v you have a dedicated 20amp circuit (or at least all other loads turned off) and no more than a 30' run of that 20 amp circuit from your main panel for great welds on long beads at higher amps.
And yes- consider buying a real nice ground clamp.

 

[Squatch]

Just make sure if on 120v you have a dedicated 20amp circuit (or at least all other loads turned off) and no more than a 30' run of that 20 amp circuit from your main panel for great welds on long beads at higher amps.
And yes- consider buying a real nice ground clamp.

Thanks for this great advice, my friend. I will definitely be making sure everything is up to snuff before using it for the first time. As far as the ground clamp goes, I've already started looking for a replacement online. Hell, the store I'm buying the welder from may have one right there that they recommend...

 

[Squatch]

I called the Portland store and confirmed that they have the welder and cart in stock. I'm really excited about getting the welder, the half-doors, some father-son time, and some Laotian cuisine this weekend! :thumbsup:

 

[Phil Younger]

Squatch- we have about 12 welders at work- mostly portables riding out on trucks thru rain and salt mist and in the shop we have a new and awesome multiprocess mig/tig setup for our main welder who makes beautiful art out of aluminum, steel, and stainless. But then he is way better than me. Point is we are all Miller for all our production of irrigation water hookups and high cap pump discharges.

You'll like it!

 

[Squatch]

Squatch- we have about 12 welders at work- mostly portables riding out on trucks thru rain and salt mist and in the shop we have a new and awesome multiprocess mig/tig setup for our main welder who makes beautiful art out of aluminum, steel, and stainless. But then he is way better than me. Point is we are all Miller for all our production of irrigation water hookups and high cap pump discharges.

You'll like it!

Fantastic! I'm feeling better about this upcoming purchase every time I read comments like yours. Thanks!

 

[Squatch]

Bought the Miller 211 yesterday, along with a Miller welding mask/helmet that was 50% off. Also picked up some .030" wire (11 lb. spool). Original plan was to get a cart, as well, but it was too big (and didn't break down for disassembly) to put in the back seat of my Lincoln. Wouldn't go in the trunk because of some other stuff I had going in there, too. Oh, well. Looking forward to using it!

 

[lowranger]

Bought the Miller 211 yesterday, along with a Miller welding mask/helmet that was 50% off. Also picked up some .030" wire (11 lb. spool). Original plan was to get a cart, as well, but it was to big (and didn't break down for disassembly) to put in the back seat of my Lincoln. Wouldn't go in the trunk because of some other stuff I had going in there, too. Oh, well. Looking forward to using it!

You know the rules Squatch........"Pictures or it didn't happen" .... lets see a picture of that new welder!

 

[Squatch]

You know the rules Squatch........"Pictures or it didn't happen" .... lets see a picture of that new welder!

LOL Been waiting for you, @lowranger. I got everything loaded into the garage under cover of darkness, and the garage itself is not real conducive to picture taking. And I'm still waiting for my Rockmen and Quaratec orders to arrive. Then I'll get a "family photo" of my growing parts and tools stash. Man, I'm starting to feel like a hoarder!