Miller Products Question??

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I am relatively new to to metal working but I have a small farm and several properties I manage. I am replacing a 140 amp MIG 120v that has failed. I have been dealing with a local shop and am considering a miller 140 or stepping up to a 211, I just don't know if I want to spend the extra for the 211. I can also get a miller spectrum 375 extreme plasma cutter for a good deal. Are plasma cutters rather useful I hate to spend $1100 on something that won't get much use. So my question is there anyone here who just does odd jobs and maintenance that has bought a plasma cutter and thinks it was a worth while investment. Also will the millermatic 140 satisfy general maintenance maybe 1/4 inch at the most. Sorry for the odd type questions just trying to justify spending this kind of money. The miller 140 and spectrum 375 I think I am getting a good deal, $700 and $1100. but the 211 not so much ($1099)
Reply:the 211 can be had for $950 shipped, or 1100 with spoolgun which gives you aluminum capabilityDynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:If your farm work involves repairing machinery, you will quickly find the 140 doesn't have enough umph.  If most of your heavy welding is outsourced (you hire someone else to do it) you might get away with the 140.  If your farm work involves building and repairing things of say 3/8" or thicker i would even say step up to a larger welder...  A used 251 if you are on a budget.I don't have a 211, but I can say the 211 seems to be universally loved as a right sized welder.  Portable, able to run off 110V etc. and 220V when you need to really burn it in.  A perfect entry level machine.As for plasma - depends what your are doing with it.   If its just rough cutting steel, you'd be amazed what a saws-all and a decent blade can do (not as fast, but you can cut a truck frame in half).  For thin stuff that needs to be cut accurately, try a jigsaw or a circular saw with abrasive blade.  Next step up is a gas cutting setup.  Transportation can be an issue.  The plasma  is a bit safer than gas cutting (less overall heat - but more concentrated heat) but initially more expensive.  Gas cutting is steel only (ferous), Plasma cuts anything that conducts electricty (metal).  Most people find that plasma cutting on 110V gets old real fast.  Consider the plasma cutter a 220V purchase (and thus maybe not so portable for you).What I like about plasma is the ability to quickly follow irregular shapes.  I limit myself to about 1/4" steel and stainless, and have an oversized plasma cutter which lets me cut about as fast as I can draw the line.   It also allows me to gouge which means I can cut off big rivet heads in about 2seconds vs. minute or so of grinding or grinding /drilling.  Got a crack in a large plate?   Gouge out the crack, cleaning pass with grinder, fill with welder.  I think I spend most of my time switching eye protection.Depending how big you farm is, you might find that a welder/generator is a better first purchase (good ones can be expensive).  Just make sure you size it so you can later plug in things like plasma cutters.Con Fuse!Miller Dynasty 350Millermatic 350P-Spoolmatic 30AMiller Multimatic 200Hypertherm PowerMax 1000G3Miller Maxstar 200DX
Reply:The MM140 tops out in reality at 1/8". To do even this you will need a dedicated 20 amp line. The MM211 on 110v will be the same as the MM140. However if you hook the MM211 up to 220v all of a sudden you have a machine capable of doing 3/8". The nice thing is that if you need to take it somewhere you don't have 220v power, you still have the ability to weld lighter steel on 110v because it's dual voltage. Do a search on the MM211 and you will find quite a few guys who have moved up from 140 amp class migs and love the extra power the MM211 gives them..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I'm maybe the odd man out here but as wonderfull as plasmas are, it wouldn't be one of the 1st things I'd plunk that kinda of money down on. If you don't have an O/A outfit yet that's where I'd start, then a bunch of other cutting, grinding hacking devices. I'd be a lot more lost without my torch set and some other things than I would be without my plasma. Yes plasmas are a worthwhile investment. No they are not the answer to all your cutting needs. Personal opinion of course."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:For farm use, I'd probably take the O/A torch over the plasma.  Yeah plasma will cut aluminum, but how much farm equipment is aluminum?  On tractors and plows extra weight is usually a good thing.The O/A will cut steel, weld, braze, loosen bolts, straighten bent implements, unstick rusted collars, etc, etc.  The O/A requires zero amps of electricity.  The plasma just cuts, and it requires 220v and a decent air compressor with good filters to do a good job.How many farms have nothing more than O/A, an AC225, and a box of 6011?I'd actually prefer a good DC stick machine over the mig for farm stuff.  Pull the tractor up to the shed, roll out the lead and get to work.  The mig machine will need to be rolled out of the shed each time since the lead on the gun can't be that long.  Even better would be something like a bobcat or trailblazer.  You can do the work in the field.  In most cases the welder is easier to carry than the broken equipment.  Don't bother with a diesel welder since you probably don't care as much about fuel costs or engine life since you won't be doing repairs 8 hrs a day.Dynasty200DX w/coolmate1MM210MM VintageESAB miniarc161ltsLincoln AC225Victor O/A, Smith AW1ACutmaster 81IR 2475N7.5FPRage3Jancy USA1019" SBAEAD-200LE