Closeout MM180 good for newbie?

admin

I also am getting ready to start learning to weld. I looked around at various machines to start with with a few requirements in mind. I wanted at least a machine that ran on 230V and put out 180 amps. I didn't want to cheap out and get a harbor freight welder as I have heard mostly bad stuff about them, and I wanted one that could run a spool gun eventually so I could weld aluminum too. I finally settled on a Millermatic 180 Autoset that I found on closeout for $649 shipped. I know it's an older machine but it comes with the Miller name and support and should be more than I'll need for some time to come. I don't even have any projects lined up. It's just to learn on and find stuff to make with. http://www.weldersupply.com/P/1081/M...c180AutoSet907 What do you guys think about that deal? I feel like I stole the damn thing or something. The other machines I was looking at in the same category were either a lot more money or less quality. I did like the TA Fabricator 181i but it's made in China for one and for two by the time you get the tig gun and pedal you'd have about $500 more in it and even then people were bitching about the tig being DC only and lift arc. When I get ready to tig I'll look for a dedicated machine. I don't really know what I want to do yet anyway but I just wanted to learn the hobby. It would be nice to eventually be able to make stuff for the boat or even sell stuff for other people's boats to supplement my income but that's not the main reason. I did look into classes at the college here but they only have one and it's a 17 month class that costs almost $3500 by the time you pay all the fees. I'll probably look around for something on a lower scale or just learn it myself. It's not a career anyway just something I want to do...I've definitely been working out the youtube video's. There's a lot of good information on there.Anyhow, the machine is supposed to show up today and it will probably be next week before I get gas and safety gear to wear thanks to a hacker that got into my bank account a few days ago. I'm excited. It's something I've always wanted to do. Thoughts?
Reply:Can't do any better than that. Forget school for mig, watch the DVD, YouTube, and ask questions here.You did good.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Thanks man, that's what I was thinking. Usually I'm a latest and greatest kind of guy but that machine should keep me busy for quite some time before I want more. Add you go up on the machines the cost goes up exponentially. I just didn't want something that I'll out grow in a year. I didn't need the best one out there.There does seem to be a wealth of knowledge here. Looks like a great community.
Reply:That is a great machine. It is basically the 220v side of the MM211.Go get your gas, safety gear, and some scrap metal!I remember opening my first welder, a MM140, setting it up, looking at my buddy, and saying "Now what!?". Don't worry, once you start, analyze your welds, and adjust, you will soon start making progress. This site is a great resource for you as there are pros and hobby welders (like me) that run the entire spectrum. So someone on here will know exactly what you are doing, what is wrong, how to correct, etc.Welcome to the Forum. Add your location to your profile as there may be a member close enough to help you or recommend local sources for metal, gas, etc.Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply:I ordered a bunch of those project kits from Lincoln electric foundation that should be here tomorrow to practice with. As a matter of fact I can't prove it but I'm pretty sure that's where the hackers got my info from. Like a idiot I made an account there and used the same name and password I use for my banking along with my debit card to pay. They had my bank and my log in all from one transaction. They logged on, cancelled all of the bills I had set to pay the next day and made a new biller account and tried to send a $550 payment to it. Luckily everything is set to email confirmation so I was able to cancel all of it before I lost any money. Live and learn. That would have put me in the dog house for a few months. At least when I get new cards everything else I need is local. Btw, I'm I'm Ocala Florida.
Reply:I seriously doubt that the Lincoln foundation hacked your bank account.   I would guess that you do have a major security issue with your computer and you should have someone with computer expertise look at it ASAP. If you don't find the real cause of your security problem, it WILL happen again.As to the welder, I would suggest as a next step to look for a good used stick welder, such as a Dialarc or Idealarc. This will give you the ability to weld thicker metal than the MIG can handle, as well as setting you on a path to spending all your spare $$ on more tools and equipment. JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:I never said the Lincoln Electric Foundation hacked my computer. I'm still not sure how but that is the transaction that I made where the hackers got my information from. I scanned my pc with an updated antivirus and an updated Malwarebytes and neither found anything. For good measure, I also scanned my phone and my tablet with Lookout and neither one of them found anything either. It's my own fault but when I made the account at LEF i used the same credentials that I used for my online banking account. I always heard that was bad to do but never thought they could actually do anything with my online banking but see how much money I had in the bank and who I sent it to. As it stands they didn't get anything from me because the bank sent me an email about the new ebiller they set up. They went in and cancelled a few payments I had scheduled and set up a new credit card payment and tried to send $550 to it which I was able to cancel and delete because of the verification email. I'm one of those people that you said I needed to get to look at my computer for me. I don't know anyone more qualified honestly. Trust me when I say it's clean. I in no way meant to implicate LEF in any way or to insinuate that they were trying to steal from my account. All I know is that the transaction I made with them is where the people that tried to steal money from account got the bank and login info to hack in. Whether that was from them getting hacked, someone packet sniffing in my node or from intercepting the transaction on the open www I have no idea. All I know is that it happened and now all of my accounts have been changed and all of my login information is now random and secure. Live and learn. Thanks for the suggestion about the stick welder. Once I get the hang of everything it seems like a natural progression to learn stick and tig. I'm afraid I'm already on the path to staying broke for a while. It's unreal the things I see I need now just to get to where I have what I "need" to do this right. It's going to be fun though once I do.
Reply:If that miller 180 is the transformer version of the "newer updated" inverter 180 id say that that is a better welder than the newer version.  Just my opininon and certainly others will disagree but for mig, i think ur better off with the transformers.  Simpler with more reliability.  Tig, the inverters give u a lot more features so i see the benefit there.Dynasty 200DX   (2014)Millermatic 211 (2015)Optrel 864   (2014)Smith Medium duty MBA 30510 (Xmas 2014)Tennsmith 16ga 4ft finger brake (2015)Trailblazer 325 EFI and excel Thermal dynamics Cutmaster 82Miller maxtron 450