miller 252

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I am looking a buying a miller 252. My lws has a miller thing going on tomorrow, with savings, so I thought I would pull the trigger so to say. I was wondering if the 252 is any good, or if there is a comparable model priced a little cheaper? Thanks. p.s. I hope, this is not another stupid @$$ question like my other welder question was.
Reply:Maybe a 251 would be a good choice if you could still find a new one on the shelf, or a slightly used one.  They only made them for a couple years.  251 is spoolgun ready with digital readouts.  252 is spoolgun and push-pull gun ready with digital readouts and angled drive.  I don't know of any other differences.  I am happy with my 251.  I bought it 3yrs ago maybe, it was the last year before the 252 came out.
Reply:How is the 212 compared to the 252. I can get a new never used demo for 1386.thanks
Reply:The 7 output range (voltage taps) version of the 212 or the more recently variable voltage with Auto-Set version of the 212. I'm suspecting the 7 tap version.
Reply:i herd they use alum. to make the 252 instead  of copperthats why there so much llighter than the 251
Reply:the 212 in not the auto set. its the plain jane without dig readings or anything
Reply:Originally Posted by mark123How is the 212 compared to the 252. I can get a new never used demo for 1386.thanks
Reply:I know you can't compare apples to kiwis. but I was wondeeing if anyone had, had any problems with either machines. thanks
Reply:We've only had our 252 for about 3 weeks, with very little prior experience at MIG welding (although extensive experience with stick). So far we are very happy with the 252's performance, but the only real project that it's had has been some 16 ga mild steel boxes about 2' cube in size (all seams were welded). When we first got the 252 we tried running several different settings on some scraps of mild steel with thicknesses up to about 1/2", and it did quite well, once was set right for what we were welding (still learning MIG). We didn't buy the aluminum capability yet, but are planning to do so.CharleyL
Reply:We bought the new 252 at work about a year ago.  And to be honest I had very little mig experience.  Our fabricator is the one calling those shots, but we are very happy with it.  He has a 251 himself and is happy with it as well.  I was so pleased with the 252 that I bought one about 3 months ago and it has done everything I asked, and is a very smooth machine.  Most of the time my settings start right on with the chart.  We bought the spoolmatic 30a gun a while back and although we haven't used it very much it seems to work well.  There are some aluminum projects on the docket coming up in the near future, so I will know more later.  All I used it for was to repair some irrigation pipe.Millermatic 252"Don't worry, he's got a welder, he can fix anything"
Reply:I just purchased a pre-owned Millermatic 252 a couple of days ago, according to serial number it appears to be a 2009 model; furthermore.  First thing I did when I got it home was to pull the case (outer shell) and inspect and clean it up.  Upon inspection, the coil windings are heavy copper (not aluminum).  Here are a couple of quick pics of the rig. Attached Images
Reply:I'm hoping for some more input from 252 users as well.  My fingerprints and drool have been on my LWS' 252 for some time now.  The "trigger" was almost pulled a couple of times but at $2,200 I need to do some homework first.Lincoln AC225 & MigPak 140, Lincoln Magnum SpoolGun, Miller Spectrum 375-X Plasma, Syncrowave 200 TIG, Millermatic 252 MIG, Miller Digital Elite, General 7x12" horiz/vert bandsaw, 3' box/pan brake, 20 ton press, milling machine, 12x28 lathe, etc.
Reply:I paid $1400 for a pre-owned rig; furthermore.  I had been on the fence looking on craigslist, ebay, etc. and had my heart set on a good pre-owned 252 if one came available.  Just so happens, I made several offers on a couple MM251s in the Dallas area, but the asking price from both of those rigs were over-priced for the current market and the onwers were not realistic about a good reasonable cash offer.  Just when I had decided to give it a rest, I saw an ad for the following "Millermatic 225" on craigslist.  After a little research, I quickly learned there was no such animal and called the guy and asked if this was a MM252?  In deed it was and the next day I made the drive from OKC to pick it up.  Great welder that had not been used much since new!  I feel good about it and think I got a good deal on the rig; furthermore.  Since that purchase (three days ago), I caught an ad on eBay of a body shop in the Northeast USA that was asking $1400 firm for their rig also.  I would have loved to have bought it for a little less, but after visiting with the owner face-to-face and close inspection, I think I got a very good deal on an exceptional welder.JTL64
Reply:They are great machines. They have a nice soft arc with a wide sweetspot range. The lincolns and thermal arcs have a much stiffer arc so in that regard it is all about personal preference. I have no experience with any of the other brands. If you go to the lws and talk to them they will usually work out some deals with other items and gas fills. If you look at it that way you can generally get the machines for a few hundred less in the long run. I would definately try to demo some of the similar class machines if possible to get a feel for what you like. I believe my windings are aluminum but dipped in same varnish as any other windings giving them the dark copper color which makes it hard to tell difference.Millermatic 252Lincoln 175 plusTA 185tswTA 161stlhypertherm pmax 45Victor torchHenrob torchAn S10 for each day of the week
Reply:S obsessed I must confess, this is my first MIG rig so the color of the winding could have thrown me off as they do have the appearance of copper (with a slight glazed finish).  This could be the "dipped" process by which you speak of.  During my schooling @ the local Vo-Tech, I started out on an Esaab rig, moved to a a couple variations of the Lincolns (including the 255XT), and then on to an older Miller (I think it was a 302 or 304 with a wire feeder system - not sure).  In any case, I spent a lot of time between the machines and that's where I decided that I preferred the Millers.  Just getting my 252 set up, it runs like a dream and my beads are better than ever.  One caviot is that I am left-handed and when I was taught to weld, all of the techniques were backwards for me so I had to improvise in in wleding methods - the Miller seemed to be much more forgiving for my particular welding techniques.  The main reason I purchased is for aluminum fab for my business (more structural that appearance), so in a month or so I will add either the 30A or 15A gun to the mix.  Will probaly end up with a TIG rig next year as I also will have a need for stainless fab projects too.
Reply:Doesn't the 252 come with a pulser option that the 251 didn't have?