how much is enough of a machine... miller multimatic 215?

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 09:35:53 GMT

go to see Welding Machine for how much is enough of a machine... miller multimatic 215?

I have been debating which machine to buy... for well longer than I want to admit.. I have a cheap harbor freight mig. flux cored unit.. never added c25 to it..I have dreamed of a monster 230v mig and tig unit.. and have considered a few..... At the end of the day.. I am still on the fence.....  So the question at the moment is.. What do you think of the miller multimatic 215I am still really new to welding.. so probably asking dumb questions..What I like... Dual voltage.. I have 220.. but not all my friends do... and my 220 probably needs a new line run with heavier wire to really pull the amps...Mig/Stick/Tig.. all in one... space saver....I know it won't be the best at any. but I like I have options...What concerns me is the max thickness of 3/8"  I assume that is single pass..so I am guessing multiple passes should make up for that?The projects that I see in the near future are...1.  welding table on casters to move around the garage... probably will use square tube 2x2x3/16 or larger and thicker?  Thinking of 5/8 plate for the table top.  Approx table size is 36x602,  Bumpers for my off road truck for a winch... I don't the material list as of yet.. but rectangular tube, plate, and dom tube I think.In project 1... welding the tube to the table top is thicker than the 3/8 capacity of the welder.. So when I join the 3/16 or 1/4 wall tube to the 5/8 plate.. would that be an issue?  Project #2.. Same type of question  welding the tube, plate etc.. Is this welder up to that? or do I need to  look for a much bigger unit?  I know a bigger unit can do one pass etc.. and is quicker.. but if I am willing to spend the time to do multiple passes if needed ... My main concern is strength... I want to make sure what I weld stays together..
ReplyS.  Thanks for all the help!
Reply:Originally Posted by jspfefferI have been debating which machine to buy... for well longer than I want to admit.. I have a cheap harbor freight mig. flux cored unit.. never added c25 to it..I have dreamed of a monster 230v mig and tig unit.. and have considered a few..... At the end of the day.. I am still on the fence.....  So the question at the moment is.. What do you think of the miller multimatic 215I am still really new to welding.. so probably asking dumb questions..What I like... Dual voltage.. I have 220.. but not all my friends do... and my 220 probably needs a new line run with heavier wire to really pull the amps...Mig/Stick/Tig.. all in one... space saver....I know it won't be the best at any. but I like I have options...What concerns me is the max thickness of 3/8"  I assume that is single pass..so I am guessing multiple passes should make up for that?The projects that I see in the near future are...1.  welding table on casters to move around the garage... probably will use square tube 2x2x3/16 or larger and thicker?  Thinking of 5/8 plate for the table top.  Approx table size is 36x602,  Bumpers for my off road truck for a winch... I don't the material list as of yet.. but rectangular tube, plate, and dom tube I think.In project 1... welding the tube to the table top is thicker than the 3/8 capacity of the welder.. So when I join the 3/16 or 1/4 wall tube to the 5/8 plate.. would that be an issue?  Project #2.. Same type of question  welding the tube, plate etc.. Is this welder up to that? or do I need to  look for a much bigger unit?  I know a bigger unit can do one pass etc.. and is quicker.. but if I am willing to spend the time to do multiple passes if needed ... My main concern is strength... I want to make sure what I weld stays together..
Reply:Originally Posted by bevis28You don't need a huge breaker for the MM215Im running mine on a double pole 30 - 120 V: 24.3 A, 60 Hz, single-phase                                                         240 V: 16.6 A, 60 Hz, single-phaseOutput - - - 120 V: 115 A at 19.8 VDC, 20% duty cycle                  240 V: 150 A at 21.5 VDC, 40% duty cycleAs far as the table top, you don't need 350amps to tack it to the frame. The 215 will address that specific task just fine.If you are going to consistently work with materials 3/8 and thicker, the 215 is not the best choice. You would need to step up to something bigger IMHO. Or from what i understandyou can do dual shield and or spray transfer with the 215. But i can't speak on those subjects intelligently as i have zero experience doing it.Most of what seems to be in your wheel house, the 215 would work for ( 2x2x3/16  - 1/4 wall tube ect ).If you decide to move to a bigger transformer based mig, you can throw saving power out the window. There are a lot of members here that can give you more solid advise. Im just a newbie myself.
Reply:Originally Posted by jspfefferI have been debating which machine to buy... for well longer than I want to admit.. I have a cheap harbor freight mig. flux cored unit.. never added c25 to it..I have dreamed of a monster 230v mig and tig unit.. and have considered a few..... At the end of the day.. I am still on the fence.....  So the question at the moment is.. What do you think of the miller multimatic 215I am still really new to welding.. so probably asking dumb questions..What I like... Dual voltage.. I have 220.. but not all my friends do... and my 220 probably needs a new line run with heavier wire to really pull the amps...Mig/Stick/Tig.. all in one... space saver....I know it won't be the best at any. but I like I have options...What concerns me is the max thickness of 3/8"  I assume that is single pass..so I am guessing multiple passes should make up for that?The projects that I see in the near future are...1.  welding table on casters to move around the garage... probably will use square tube 2x2x3/16 or larger and thicker?  Thinking of 5/8 plate for the table top.  Approx table size is 36x602,  Bumpers for my off road truck for a winch... I don't the material list as of yet.. but rectangular tube, plate, and dom tube I think.In project 1... welding the tube to the table top is thicker than the 3/8 capacity of the welder.. So when I join the 3/16 or 1/4 wall tube to the 5/8 plate.. would that be an issue?  Project #2.. Same type of question  welding the tube, plate etc.. Is this welder up to that? or do I need to  look for a much bigger unit?  I know a bigger unit can do one pass etc.. and is quicker.. but if I am willing to spend the time to do multiple passes if needed ... My main concern is strength... I want to make sure what I weld stays together..
Reply:Originally Posted by jspfefferHi Thanks for the reply!Yeah...I wouldn't plan on a new line for this unit at all.. but If I were to go to a 220 only unit...it would be a big one.. and that might need a new 220 line.. as I don't know I trust my existing one..but this unit.. I probably wouldn't even use 220 and if I did my existing line is probably fine..I am definitely a newbie.. but I have big ideas..   Now I just need the funds to buy all the tools...
Reply:I hear you about the HF ... I have a HF dual mig 131.. and overall not really what I am looking for.. However this unit is about 15 yrs old or so.. so maybe the new ones are a bit better.  I know it is always a fine line between too much equipment.. and not enough..Thanks for your help.John
Reply:Hi Bevis..Yeah I hear you... I have both lines.. so I imaging for the heavy stuff I'll drag out my pigtail and cord..... but on the lighter stuff probably give the 110 a try.. the 220 is a bit of a PIA .. but I hear you.. and I totally agree..Thanks
Reply:I am a welding contractor and fab shop. I consider a 250 amp machine to be a minimum size. I have owned several smaller machines, and have been short on amps on all of them. I do have a MM140 that I use for body work occasionally, but don't consider it to be a fab machine. One thing to consider on these newe smaller machines is the duty cycle. They are now generally rated a 30% duty cycle, which is a little skinny, especially when you are already short on amps. Also not a huge fan of all in one machines. When one thing doesn't work all of your processes are down, so you can't just switch to stick and finish up. I am especially not found of crappy chinese machines, plenty of problems and a total lack of support.