Passport? Advice on mig welders.

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Hi Everyone;Hope this doesn't end up beign a repeat, but I seem to have board issues.    Anyways >>>What I'm interested is opinions on Millers Passport Welder.    My last experience with a Mig welder is over 20 years ago.    Frankly I wasn't happy with the huge thing.    I'm in the market for a welder and had considered an inverter based Stick/Tig machine.    Frankly the experience I have (which is largerly self taught) is most with stick machines.   Friends have tried to steer me to a mig welder.Tat may not be a bad idea as I'm looking for a use anywhere machine.    The issue is that Millers Passport is the only machine that really seems to meet the portability requirement for a mig.    By portable I specfically mean the abiltiy to run on 120 or 220 volts input.When commenting it might help to understand where my interests are.   That would be sheet metalls, likely 18 gage and up, structural steel shapes and stainless steels.    I'm more interested in the praticle limits of the Passport as opposed to the advertised limits.   It seems like the machine has more capability on 220 volts than either of the Miller or Lincoln conventional portable machines.The passport seems to be the only game in town as far as an inverter based machine that is reasonably priced and very portable.ThanksDave
Reply:Howdy Howdy!  I have heard nothying but good things about the miller passports.  Just keep a big tank of gas around as a back up.  As a side note, Inverters are around 85% efficient, so for the same power input, you can get about 20% more power output. also, the arc characteristics are way awesome on the inverter machines.  Keep in mind, an inverter is a beefed up computer...treat it as such, and it'll last a long time.  If you treat an inverter like the tank of a transformer from the days of yesteryear, it won't last the same.  I have both types of machines, and I really enjoy all the adjustability, and features of my inverter setup, and the arc is oh so sweet!  The passport is an awesome machine.  If you can justify the price, go for it.  Personally, I take ANY manufacturers listed material thicknesses to weld in single pass, and times the thickness by 80%.  That seems to bring it's ability more into the real world realm.  Hope this helps, though I haven't really given any specifics   Good machine, go for it.  Brian Lee  Sparkeee27
Reply:Thanks for the feedback Brian!!!At the moment I have nothing and have been avidly looking in the local swap sheets and newspapers for used stuff.    I don't have anything agianst new just the cost.    On the otherhand the Passport really caught my eye.In that past life some 20 odd years ago the migh I used in plant maintenance required the muscles of two men to move to the next project.    For my needs now though the Passport almsot seems to be to good to be true.    Portable and multivoltage input.    The other apparent advantage is that the duty cycle seems to be much better than the other options for portable mig welders.In any event I'm llooking for all the input I can get from users of this machine.    I was originally interested in getting a stick welder as my experience level there is far greater, but the Passport looks like it would do 95% maybe eve 100% of the things I would like to do.    And is is still as portable as any inverter based stick welder.By the way One of my interest in Inverter machies is due to the limited electrical service at my house.    I'm sure some would argue that getting a better service might make more sense, but there is a plan here.   Plus I want the portable aspect.ThanksDave
Reply:With a Price Tag of only $1825.00 for the Miller Passport, I got a job that paid for for it in Three Days.  The  Passport Arc is like a Three Phase machine and on 110VAC it will weld 1/4" and 3/8" on 220VAC.   It's 20% duty cycle, I feel is plenty to weld most common items.The CO2 cylinder inside the machine comes in handy for short welds to.I Highly suggest you buy this unit and start having it pay for itself.  this is a good unit to help build your Kingdom.
Reply:Thanks for the response. Originally Posted by MetalSculptorWith a Price Tag of only $1825.00 for the Miller Passport, I got a job that paid for for it in Three Days.  The  Passport Arc is like a Three Phase machine and on 110VAC it will weld 1/4" and 3/8" on 220VAC.   It's 20% duty cycle, I feel is plenty to weld most common items.
Reply:http://www.millermotorsports.com/mbo...ead.php?t=4358http://www.millermotorsports.com/mbo...ead.php?t=2916Folks that have them seem to like them.  The miller forum has a few threads that have some details about their performance.  Aluminum is a problem but far from impossible, but stainless seem to be very doable (see manual below).  Ebay sellers have them at around $1500 after including shipping.  You might check around for better prices.  Andy emphasises that these units are built for maximum portability, not capabilities, so keep that in mind.http://millerwelds.com/om/o1328d_mil.pdfHere is the manual so you can get more info.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:The Miller Passport is great for welding Stainless.  .023 or .030It has a Stainless mode.   The case on it is also Well Engineered.Maybe look on E-bay for a better price, I quoted list price only.Welding has been the main financial resourse to help me built my Kingdom in San Diego, California and can help you build an empire that is transferable to the next generation.Teach your kids to Weld so they have a trade and can earn extra cash to invest back into their own portfolio.Check out the Miller Electric Helmets too.