Size Matters?

[novis]

I am a novice welder to say the least. I have built a few projects but still do not feel I get great results each and every time. Projects are bike rack, some sheet metal repair, exhaust work, misc small repairs, storage racks, etc. Often feeling like I am completely incompetent at setting up my welder. Now to the real question.

I currently have a MM250 set up for .035 wire with a M25 gun. This was a usedmachine I bought due to the price. Age is probably 10-15 years. This thing is big, as you all know, taking up much space in my smaller garage. I like the looks of the Miller 211 for both its smaller size, capacity to run 110 if needed, and still being able to weld all the way up to most sizes I would need,e.g. 3/8.

Would selling the 250 to replace it with a 211 for the big reason of size, possibly some help with setup using the auto feature, (I know purist probablythink these are useless but think about the part time welder who uses it once every six months etc.) make any sense? I know the 250 can do anything, but again it's big and probably way more machine than I need. Thoughts?

[Rezeppa]

I like it. I have a 211 and 2 mm250's and 3 252's. at work. My 211 can do ALMOST everything I do with the 250's at work. If I need to weld anything really thick or extremely structural I multipass or stick weld it anyway. Sounds like you have thought it out and know what you want to do.

[kvwall]

I agree with Rezeppa. I've got a 211 that does anything I need it to do so far. If you're just doing some light welding a couple times a year, you can't go wrong with the 211. You can probably sell the 250, buy the 211 and have money left over.

Be advised, the auto set feature on the 211 is ok, but not all it's cracked up to be according to some guys out there. It won't work with flux core or aluminum.

[Broccoli1]

By the time you make a cart to hold the machine and a bottle the foot print is about the same so don't change machines on that parameter.

If you need the Dual voltage of course the MM211 wins.

I don't mind the Auto-Set- it works as it it should and is fine for Hobby work and you can turn it off so the AS feature doesn't really matter, it is just a bonus.

The AS feature will NOT help you learn how to set up the machine since it doesn't indicate what the settings are. You select wire size and then turn the dial to the material thickness.

[novis]

By the time you make a cart to hold the machine and a bottle the foot print is about the same so don't change machines on that parameter.

I'm not sure how this is possible when the 250 is something like 30" long without the bottle and another 8" maybe on top of that for the bottle platform. The 211 is a 1/3 if not smaller than the 250 and you can build a low profile cart to keep things vertical and the foot print down.

Maybe I am wrong and looks are deceiving?

[MMW]

It sounds like the 211 will be what you need. The 110v is a big selling point over what you have now. I think what Broc was trying to say is don't swap machines for the auto set as it won't make you any better at welding. You can build a compact cart for the 211 if space is that critical. The store bought carts for the small migs are basically the same footprint as a 250 size machine.

[reggie]

I am a novice welder to say the least. I have built a few projects but still do not feel I get great results each and every time. Projects are bike rack, some sheet metal repair, exhaust work, misc small repairs, storage racks, etc. Often feeling like I am completely incompetent at setting up my welder. Now to the real question.

I currently have a MM250 set up for .035 wire with a M25 gun. This was a usedmachine I bought due to the price. Age is probably 10-15 years. This thing is big, as you all know, taking up much space in my smaller garage. I like the looks of the Miller 211 for both its smaller size, capacity to run 110 if needed, and still being able to weld all the way up to most sizes I would need,e.g. 3/8.

Would selling the 250 to replace it with a 211 for the big reason of size, possibly some help with setup using the auto feature, (I know purist probablythink these are useless but think about the part time welder who uses it once every six months etc.) make any sense? I know the 250 can do anything, but again it's big and probably way more machine than I need. Thoughts?

learn to use what you have,if you can turn it down.it's not to much