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bperkins
Joined: 29 Aug 2013
Posts: 5
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 Posted: Wed Aug 03 16 5:50 am Post subject: Millermatic 211 or 215? |
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Hi All,
I've been researching welders (plan to learn to weld and build a pit).
After looking around - it seems the 211 was the one I was most leaning toward.. Then the 215 popped up.
Now I'm a little torn - as far as versatility goes - does DC TIG offer anything? or if I really want to learn TIG down the road - should I get a *regular* TIG welder?
I'm just thinking big picture / long term.. I'm a home user..
Thanks!
Bob |
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gandrfab
BBQ Fan
Joined: 08 Feb 2012
Posts: 203
Location: Edgewater fl
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| Posted: Wed Aug 03 16 10:53 pm Post subject: |
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I have never used one that could mig and tig.
All tig machines can stick weld.
My mig machine can't stick or tig weld.
For cheap home use, I'd go with a Lincoln tombstone.
What ever kind of welding you learn 1st is going to be the easiest. I had tig welders work for me that could not mig weld. |
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gandrfab
BBQ Fan
Joined: 08 Feb 2012
Posts: 203
Location: Edgewater fl
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| Posted: Wed Aug 03 16 10:58 pm Post subject: |
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On that note I think mig is the easiest to learn when using gas.
Flux core is not as easy, fluxcore with gas is a dream to weld. |
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JLCBBQ
BBQ Fan
Joined: 10 Jun 2014
Posts: 164
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05 16 11:37 am Post subject: Re: Millermatic 211 or 215? |
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| bperkins wrote: | Hi All,
I've been researching welders (plan to learn to weld and build a pit).
After looking around - it seems the 211 was the one I was most leaning toward.. Then the 215 popped up.
Now I'm a little torn - as far as versatility goes - does DC TIG offer anything? or if I really want to learn TIG down the road - should I get a *regular* TIG welder?
I'm just thinking big picture / long term.. I'm a home user..
Thanks!
Bob |
I have a 211 and love it. I had never owned a mig before I purchased it, I built my offset with an old Lincoln stick welder. The 211 sure would have made that job easier, and I'm looking forward to hopefully doing another build in the fall with my 211.
There is nothing on a bbq pit that needs TIG welding. I did a lot of TIG in the Navy years ago and it definitely has its place. That said, the 215 with dc Tig capability only, will be limited. You will not be able to Tig aluminum with the 215. It would be good for working with stainless, especially thinner stuff, and I could see it coming in handy for auto body stuff. If you don't see that being a need, I'd stick with the 211. Pretty sure you still have to buy a few hundred dollars worth of extra equipment before you can Tig with the 215 anyway.
I love stick welding, own 2 stick welders, but I doubt the average hobbyist with access to a decent MIG would ever take the time to become proficient with the process. MIG will get you out there working on projects much faster.
So basically, my opinion is you should go with the 211. Good deals are out there on 211s if you are patient. Got mine off Craigslist, lightly used, with a cart and a few other extras for $700.
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k.a.m.
BBQ Mega Star
Joined: 12 Dec 2007
Posts: 26003
Location: Southeast Texas.
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05 16 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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If you are new to welding and a hobby welder you could even look into a smaller wire feed like a Hobart Handler 190 or the Millermatic 190. Both these machines will keep you busy for a long time with projects. The down fall is they require 240v and the 211 will run on 120v or 240v.
If you want to go stick and learn this buy a machine that is AC/DC. Stick is all I do and love it but for a beginner with no knowledge there is a learning curve but if you are willing to take the time there are a lot of videos and groups that can have you basic welding in no time.
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bperkins
Joined: 29 Aug 2013
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05 16 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks all - I had a feeling the 215 was limited in TIG..
I'll go for the 211 - it really seems to be a good all around welder.. And much like a new pit - 1 size bigger than I will likely need.. |
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JLCBBQ
BBQ Fan
Joined: 10 Jun 2014
Posts: 164
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05 16 11:01 pm Post subject: |
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| k.a.m. wrote: | | if you are willing to take the time there are a lot of videos and groups that can have you basic welding in no time. |
I would strongly recommend watching YouTube videos from Jody at welding tips and tricks. Just search"weldingtipsandtricks" and it will pop up. He has great videos on pretty much every weld process you can imagine. I watched a lot of his stuff before I bought my MIG just to familiarize myself with the basics, and I feel like it really helped.
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JLCBBQ
BBQ Fan
Joined: 10 Jun 2014
Posts: 164
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05 16 11:40 pm Post subject: |
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| bperkins wrote: | Thanks all - I had a feeling the 215 was limited in TIG..
I'll go for the 211 - it really seems to be a good all around welder.. And much like a new pit - 1 size bigger than I will likely need.. |
You won't be disappointed, it's a great little machine.
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gandrfab
BBQ Fan
Joined: 08 Feb 2012
Posts: 203
Location: Edgewater fl
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| Posted: Sat Aug 06 16 12:09 am Post subject: |
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| JLCBBQ wrote: | | k.a.m. wrote: | | if you are willing to take the time there are a lot of videos and groups that can have you basic welding in no time. |
I would strongly recommend watching YouTube videos from Jody at welding tips and tricks. Just search"weldingtipsandtricks" and it will pop up. He has great videos on pretty much every weld process you can imagine. I watched a lot of his stuff before I bought my MIG just to familiarize myself with the basics, and I feel like it really helped. |
Some, like me do great from videos.
I taught one guy to tig
That just wasn't getting it by.
Holding his hands and putting my foot on top of his on the foot peddle. Sitting across the table doing it off hand for me.
1st time I welded lefty. |
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bperkins
Joined: 29 Aug 2013
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Sun Aug 07 16 4:32 am Post subject: |
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I'm burning up Youtube on Welding Videos
and working on my list of things I need to start.
and on the lookout for an old 120G tank to cut up.
Thanks! |
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Smokin Mike
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 02 Dec 2008
Posts: 3142
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
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| Posted: Sun Aug 07 16 5:04 am Post subject: |
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| bperkins wrote: | | and on the lookout for an old 120G tank to cut up. |
Where are you located Bob? I got a 120 compressor tank that's been sitting in the yard for a while now. I'm not sure if/when I'll ever get to it.
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bperkins
Joined: 29 Aug 2013
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Sun Aug 07 16 7:16 am Post subject: |
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Boston area..
I was just in NC last week - but I don't think I could get it on carry-on! 
thx |
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gandrfab
BBQ Fan
Joined: 08 Feb 2012
Posts: 203
Location: Edgewater fl
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| Posted: Mon Aug 08 16 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Call around to your local scrap yards, and check machine and weld shop auctions. |
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pdog83
Joined: 11 Jun 2017
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Mon Jun 12 17 12:56 am Post subject: |
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| I was torn between the millermatic 211 and the multimatic 215 also. I ended up going with the multimatic 215. I most likely will never use the dc tig but the digital controls is what made be go with it over the 211 and I bought my 215 right before Miller increased the price by $100. Its a very smooth machine to weld with and I love it! |
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Phils67
Joined: 14 Mar 2017
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Mon Jun 12 17 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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My Mig machines Mig weld and my Tig machines Tig weld.
I have been welding for 30+ yrs. and have never been a fan of do-all machines, to me they have been built for a purpose and will be used accordingly.
Now.........I have been wrong before, these new inverter machines are the cat`s pajamas, but I`m still not on board for the multiprocess machines, doesn't mean that they aren`t right for some..... just not me... |
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xring01
BBQ Fan
Joined: 03 Sep 2010
Posts: 128
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| Posted: Mon Oct 23 17 1:14 am Post subject: |
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I bought a 211 almost a year ago...
I have not had the opportunity to use it much, but from what I have used it for... it rocks...
Pleaser note, my prior welder was a thrashed Hobart 110-120 that needed alot of parts replaced to make it run right. When I priced out all the parts to rebuild it... I just decided to buy a new 211.
Very Glad I Did..
I might be building a smoker soon... But I just dont know what I want to build yet...
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