Technical Millermatic 211

Finally getting a new mig welder since I moved and sold a bunch of tools before moving
Who's got a millermatic 211? Like it? Looks like its $1935.00 . Even shopped online a little havent found a better price yet

Was at a welder supply place yesterday pricing welders, buy a bottle, cart etc etc

 

I have a 6 year old Millermatic 180. It was the smallest 220 volt edition. I am just a amateur welder so my experience is limited. I love the welder. It has proven to be very reliable and easy to adjust. I bought it new at a Miller dealer.

 

I have a MM35. I needed a bit more welder. Airgas had a sale going on (been 30 years) I tried out the 211 (think that was it) and it had a spark welding I just wasn’t used to. Hard to describe.
Miller was there running the demos.
I told the Rep about it, we talked, he said “I know what you want, try this one”. Sold. Miller Vintage.
He went on to explain about the new style electronic controls, vs the older style welders.
He told me the Vintage was like the old MM200, which was a step up from my MM35.
So, depending on what you’re used to, try it out first.

 

I bought my 200 in the late 80's, it came with the Miller gun, the thing is like a firehose. They may have lightened them up by now but If you can, make a Tweco gun part of the package and let them keep the Miller gun.

 

Had one on a jobsite doing lite structural iron. Worked great on 3/8". Had to watch the duty cycle at those amps. But it was awesome.
So impressed that I bought one for the garage. Wire feeder design done well. I'm very pleased with it on sheet metal as well.

 

Many moons ago I welded on a 210 for work, loved that machine. Had a Hobart Handler 180 for a while and its pretty good all in all. Last year I sold some of my stuff to downsize a bit, so now I have a Lincoln 180MPDV, I needed the option for 110v operation every once in a while to help friends out, but this is Inverter tech so its alot lighter, still analog controls. I HATE the Lincoln Mig Gun. Main reason for the change also was the Tig option with Stick also.

If ya have the money get a Analog 210 if you are really wanting a workhorse, they are tried and true.

The modern Autoset junk is fun but has costly repairs.

 

I should quantify this/bring clarity to it.
The first wire welder I used was a 120 volt Miller, wasn’t enough for what we needed. So down the road it went. I found the used MM35 for sale locally, bought it. But didn’t use it it a lot, but got comfortable with it, much more so than off and on stick welding I’d done for 15 or so years
So after a year or two with the MM35, I was helping my dad build a “can” for his Transfer trailer. Just didn’t have the poop needed for the use I was putting it through.
That’s when I went shopping.
I imagine if I bought the electronic controlled one, I’d be fine with it by now, but being a raw rookie I just didn’t want to adapt I guess.

 

I have one I bought about four years ago. Works great! Also have a slightly older one at work that works well too. Pretty sure I got mine online from welder supply as a scratch and dent deal for about 1300. Still has the all the factory warranty.

 

The mig I sold was a Miller 200 , probably 45 years old.

There is a $300 rebate from miller through December

 

I have a Multimatic 215 that I bought a couple years ago. It's the multiprocess version at the same level with digital controls instead of the analog controls of the Millermatic 211.

My only regret with my Miller is not buying it sooner. It works great and is very easy to use.

Miller has a mail-in rebate on that machine right now that you likely qualify for. Check it out here:
- Build With Blue Rebate | MillerWelds
- Build with Blue | Miller Electric (millerrebatecenter.com)
- Millermatic® 211 MIG Welder | MillerWelds

I've heard mixed reviews about the autoset on the 211, but can't comment on whether it is the right machine for you. So far I've only used my Multimatic 215 for MIG and it works great.

 

I've got the analog Millermatic 211, and use it for everything that doesn't call for tig. 0.023 wire for sheetmetal, 0.035 for structural welding. And the occasional flux core for dirty old farmer welding! I'll admit it, there's times when sticking old rusty crap together happens. Sometimes use the autoset feature, sometimes fine tune it to the workpiece. I've used it away from the shop without gas using the flux core wire to fabricate handrailing, and on 110. It's been a good machine for me.

 

I have an older 211 and like it.I believe the newer ones are lighter and wish mine was. I am a professional welder with 2 Syncrowaves 2 MM200 and a 252 so I know how to set up a welder. I didn't want the autoset on the 211 but that’s the only way it came so I tried it and I was pleasantly surprised how well it worked although there’s a hiccup in the beginning when you start the ark that seems like it’s auto setting itself. If you don’t use the auto set that doesn’t happen but it’s more than exceptional. I got it for my home shop and to take on quick road jobs when I didn’t want to run my gas drive machine. It also has way more power using it with 110v than some of the 110v only machines I’ve tried. and it runs .023 for sheet metal nicely.

 

Used mine today. Wouldn’t own anything else

 

Get the cart at harbor freight https://www.harborfreight.com/286-lb-capacity-welding-cabinet-61705.html

 

Ditto. That's the one I have. I put larger tires/wheels and casters on it, so it rolls outside more easily.

 

This 350 lb one ?.... Only thing it looks like it would take up more space with those handle bars sticking out. Could modify it


OR this 100 lb one ?....Maybe too rinky-dink

 

I didn't think I would weld enough to get a good welder. A family member works for a welding supply company and hooked me up with a Systematics MP175. It welds way better than I am capable of, but it does great on body panels.

 

I was ready to pull the trigger on a Millermatic 211 or the Lincoln equivalent, the (215?) to supplement my old standby HTP 120 v mig and replace the Millermatic 175 living in the shop, when I stumbled on a lightly used Multimatic 220 ac/dc multipurpose machine, complete with a HF side cabinet converted to a welding cart, for a little more than the 211 mig only machine would have cost.

Still a significant amount of money to a retired guy, but so far, I’m a happy camper.

I could or should sell both the old HTP transformer 120 v MiG, as well as the HTP Invertig 200 to recoup some of the cost, but I’m comfortable using the HTP MiG set up with .023 wire for sheet metal. Not much learning with that thirty five or so year old machine.