Hi everyone. I have been doing aotobody for the past 30+/- yrs.. I have been using a Solar 2175 at home for quite a few years mabey 14-15, I bought it used for $500. At my regular 8-5 work I have used a Solar, a little green colored mig (welded nice I liked it) until it quite. We got a new Solar to replace it, I hate it and wont use it. when the owner took the other older Solar home we got a Lincoln SP175 I horded that one and left the other new Solar to the other Tech..
So when my Solar 2175 at home took a dump (the drive motor quite) I looked at both the Lincoln 180c and Miller. I wanted something that was top shelf. I desided to get a Millermatic 211 after some long and carefull coincideration and internet reading. I got it this past Saturday. I went to Lowes and bought 25ft of 10/3 cable and made an extention I should have made a 30ft but oh well I can make another shorter one when I feel like it. I use 220v so having 110 is not something I really need cause it will stay in my garage.
I am really use to the Lincoln and I like it it welds nice and is really good for autobody work. I have tried the Miller (I haven't had a whole lot of free time) with some 14ga I have lying around and on the autoset setting using .030 wire I was blowing holes after getting the puddle going. I was shocked at how east it blew through the steel. I've tried to use the settings they have under the cover and found it was over penetrating and the wire was flying out compaired to what I am use to. There seems to be real truth to "no 2 migs weld the same". I figured there would be some slight differances but what I have noticed is there is a huge differance between the Linc. SP175 and Miller 211. The Miller in the real short time I have used it seems less forgiving but that could be because I haven't got enough time behind it and has enough balls for anything I will be welding (sometimes 1/4in for odd repairs). The Miller wants the user to move faster then the Linc. but I'm hopeing that it is in finding the settings I'm use to with the Lincoln cause when I use the dials lable marks its speed is 2x as fast with more overpenatration. Makes me look and feel kinda like a rookie welder in training.
The one coincern I really have now is if this Miller is too much for auto panel repairs, is it going to be gentle enough for the thinner guage metals or should I have gotten a lighter duty mig such as a 140/180? The ability to go to 110v if needed could be a plus to someone needing it and I have read (not tried yet) that using it in 110v will tame it down a bit so mabey that might be what I need to try, any thoughts or experiance compairing 110/220v?
Thanks,
Dave
So when my Solar 2175 at home took a dump (the drive motor quite) I looked at both the Lincoln 180c and Miller. I wanted something that was top shelf. I desided to get a Millermatic 211 after some long and carefull coincideration and internet reading. I got it this past Saturday. I went to Lowes and bought 25ft of 10/3 cable and made an extention I should have made a 30ft but oh well I can make another shorter one when I feel like it. I use 220v so having 110 is not something I really need cause it will stay in my garage.
I am really use to the Lincoln and I like it it welds nice and is really good for autobody work. I have tried the Miller (I haven't had a whole lot of free time) with some 14ga I have lying around and on the autoset setting using .030 wire I was blowing holes after getting the puddle going. I was shocked at how east it blew through the steel. I've tried to use the settings they have under the cover and found it was over penetrating and the wire was flying out compaired to what I am use to. There seems to be real truth to "no 2 migs weld the same". I figured there would be some slight differances but what I have noticed is there is a huge differance between the Linc. SP175 and Miller 211. The Miller in the real short time I have used it seems less forgiving but that could be because I haven't got enough time behind it and has enough balls for anything I will be welding (sometimes 1/4in for odd repairs). The Miller wants the user to move faster then the Linc. but I'm hopeing that it is in finding the settings I'm use to with the Lincoln cause when I use the dials lable marks its speed is 2x as fast with more overpenatration. Makes me look and feel kinda like a rookie welder in training.
The one coincern I really have now is if this Miller is too much for auto panel repairs, is it going to be gentle enough for the thinner guage metals or should I have gotten a lighter duty mig such as a 140/180? The ability to go to 110v if needed could be a plus to someone needing it and I have read (not tried yet) that using it in 110v will tame it down a bit so mabey that might be what I need to try, any thoughts or experiance compairing 110/220v?
Thanks,
Dave
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