Finally found a MIG!

admin

After much much searching and missing out on a couple deals I finally found and got a MIG machine today! The only machines I considered are miller or lincoln 210-255 and had to be spool gun capable. There was a lincoln 255 local to me but would have cost quite a bit to make spool gun capable plus buy the spool gun yet, asking $1400. Then there was a lincoln 210 with spool gun for $1300 which I called about right away but the guy said someone is coming for it within the hour (2.5 hour drive from my house). After an hour he calls back and said it was sold... I was quite upset I missed out on that one! Then this morning at 11:30 a guy listed a millermatic 250, first $1000 takes it.  I was there 2 hours after he listed it and have it home, all cleaned up, and ready to go. Wrong plug! Have to wait till tomorrow to lay the first bead with it. No spool gun yet, came how it is in the pics but a little dusty. It has been awhile since I looked at them, any of the (I believe they are called) spoolmate 2's work for this machine? Any recommendations for a spool gun to use with this machine?Finally I can "just throw metal at it till it sticks" instead of TIG welding everything.
Reply:Awsome machine, used one for the last 8 yrs at work. always ran dualshield and straight co2 through it, and always a workhorse! Good luck with it, great machine!I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Equipped with the 10-pin/14-pin module, the current Spoolmatic 15A/30A or Spoolmate 200 are a direct connect to the 10-pin and the older Spoolmatic 3 is a direct connect to the 14-pin.http://www.millerwelds.com/products/...gun-chart.htmlMM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Thanks much!After some reading I see some models have a hot start feature some people don't like and a couple other dislikes by regular users but they all say they are great work horse machines and will just keep going and going.I pulled the serial number off the machine hoping to find more info but having a hard time finding anything. It seems I can't search millers forum without being a member either. I did see you post there though Duane. Serial number is: KE732206   if anyone can shed some light on year and possible mods for this model I would greatly appreciate it!
Reply:Ive got one identical to it. The arc is a little harsh, and its quite picky on settings in short arc. However, when you get it dialed in it does just fine. It does very well in the upper amp settings which is where I use mine the most. Ive welded everything from stovepipe to 16 in. i beams with mine.Millermatic 250Lincoln 180TLincoln SP-135Miller Thunderbolt AC/DCThermal Arc 161SAirco 300 Heliwelder
Reply:That serial number is from the latter half of 1994.http://www.millerwelds.com/service/s...reference.html1994/July KE6686951995/Jan. KF780420"USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumThat serial number is from the latter half of 1994.http://www.millerwelds.com/service/s...reference.html1994/July KE6686951995/Jan. KF780420
Reply:Originally Posted by Wstmrlnd89639Ive got one identical to it. The arc is a little harsh, and its quite picky on settings in short arc. However, when you get it dialed in it does just fine. It does very well in the upper amp settings which is where I use mine the most. Ive welded everything from stovepipe to 16 in. i beams with mine.
Reply:67 or 68 Camaro???
Reply:That's a very nice machineEnjoyBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:The welder has 4 volt input settings. 200v, 230v, something else relevant and likewise. With normal residential 220v which setting do you set the welder to, the 200v or 230v?
Reply:230V which is the nominal voltage with 220 and 240 being synonymous.And what's wrong with an '80s machine?  I'll put my '81 MM200 up against any machine of comparable output. MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55230V which is the nominal voltage with 220 and 240 being synonymous.And what's wrong with an '80s machine?  I'll put my '81 MM200 up against any machine of comparable output.
Reply:Dead on bro, I have a MM185 that I bought new, gotta be close to 20 yrs ago and that thing looks and runs flawless. Just a heavy bastard for side work so I recently bought a MM211, which is my new little hot rod of a mig, and very portable. Don't have the thump of Ol betsy, but not a tap machine so very tunable. Love em both equally!I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Heck we still have a Miller Matic 35 White face it still does the job It was about $1200.00 when Glen bought it newit was re vamped in 1999 or 2000 with a new drive motor and contactor by miller and that is the only thing beside a new liner that has been done to itBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:Well, all wired up and set right, got a small loaner bottle till my bottle comes back tested and filled (hopefully). Welder hums just nicely (little strange not to hear a fan running all the time), laid down a few beads and played with the power and feed. Came in the house and read some stuff on MIG welds. Went out and tried some more settings and beads. I am simply amazed how fast you can move along with a MIG!  Going to try a couple joints and a couple spot welds today and then go back to work on the car. I can see I will enjoy this MIG for a long long time! Now the question is does a guy just throw out or get rid of the little pos flux machine or save it for something? Any kind of projects or "other things" that can be built out of an old wire feed? Set it up with solid wire and use it as a feeder for the TIG?
Reply:Found out tonight that the curly CFL bulbs don't like being next to MIG welding.
Reply:if you want any suggestions on volts / wire speed with a given thickness shoot me a pm. I tend to run on the hot side of things, and every machine will vary a little,Millermatic 250Lincoln 180TLincoln SP-135Miller Thunderbolt AC/DCThermal Arc 161SAirco 300 Heliwelder
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55230V which is the nominal voltage with 220 and 240 being synonymous.And what's wrong with an '80s machine?  I'll put my '81 MM200 up against any machine of comparable output.
Reply:Originally Posted by Wstmrlnd89639if you want any suggestions on volts / wire speed with a given thickness shoot me a pm. I tend to run on the hot side of things, and every machine will vary a little,
Reply:It takes quite a bit to get the FOD to come on.  It's actually kind of rare to hear it.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:Got the fan to come on three times today, glad it works!Picking it up pretty quick. Pretty much jumped into some of the worst welding positions possible. The sheet metal gets pretty thin in spots where it was bent or formed or rusted. Then t-joint welding that to just under 1/4" square tube, overhead. I obviously burned threw in a few spots that I will go over again after grinding everything down nice. I am thinking of making and adding in a few more support/gusset pieces at the back side of the connector.Loving the new MIG!First, not sure if ever mentioned here, a little tip to keep your TIG torch hand off the hot metal.The steep learning curve weld, you can see a couple of the spots I blew out the thin stuff.Backside of the weld.
Reply:ditch the old flux machine for a couple bucks on craigslist, and buy some spare consumables.Dynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:My MM210 takes a 3035, but the 252 may be a different gun because the 3035 is relatively low amperage, especially for such a powerfull machine.  Thats was a good score and most of them came with an argon solenoid and connector ready to just plug and play.  My 210 came with the two cylinder rack/cart and a 25 foot whip for about 1300 new, so you did pretty good.  Tokk about 5 minutes to hook up the spool gun. (took longer to find the wrench...)  Have fun and congrats on the Miller.BobI'm spending my Kids inheritance, I dont like him that much anyway!!!!!!Enuff tools to do the job, enough sense to use em.Anybody got a spare set of kidneys?  Trade?
Reply:Originally Posted by Guardrail67 or 68 Camaro???Did a quick fix after work today on the new mig. In this pic from the day I got the welder you can see the hose support is broke right at the plastic coupler. So pulled the hose off and pulled the pieces of the old support off the hose. I found a nice snug pipe to stick in the support so I could put it in the lathe and match the original recess in the support.And all back together. I am sure this will help prevent bird nesting some and possibly gas flow?And a pic of the inside I didn't get before.