Bernard Q150 mig gun for the miller 211

[benny365]

I am going to get a replacement mig gun for my 211, I like the bernard line of guns. In perticular the q150 that comes standard on the miller multimatic 200.

has anyone here upgraded their gun on the smaller millermatic line of machines?

I can order a 10' 12' and a 15' I like the idea of the 15' whip but not sure if that little drive motor can handle it. I'm confident the 12' would be fine.

weldfabulous.com has the Q1512aa8bm for 170.00.


If someone can convince me that they have successfully used a 15' whip on this size machine, I will go ahead and get that length. otherwise the 12' will have to do.

[Cgotto6]

10' is the only recommended gun lead. Anything longer supposedly burns up the little drive motor.

[nfinch86]

Yes, For years I used a 15ft. mig gun on my Lincoln PM. 180, with " No Problems " at all !

Norm

[stickermigtigger]

Bernard Q150 mig gun for the miller 211

My weld supply told me quite a few folks did this. The motors don't burn out immediately, aren't that hard to change or very expensive. 10 feet just is NOT enough.

[cruizer]

I'd say, put a 20 footer on, burn the drive up, after all it'll be a tech to replace it. Motor is expensive, and so are we?

[H80N]

I'd say, put a 20 footer on, burn the drive up, after all it'll be a tech to replace it. Motor is expensive, and so are we?

My weld supply told me quite a few folks did this. The motors don't burn out immediately, aren't that hard to change or very expensive. 10 feet just is NOT enough.

Not Immediately... BUT....

Motor $82.15 plus shipping from Miller4Less

http://miller4less.com/product_info.php?products_id=6206

Having a Tech install it... probably another $100...

Sounds like it rounds out to about $200

The logic that would drive this decision..?? PRICELESS..

Thiis is a hobby grade machine... might as well accept it's limitations or bite the bullet move up to an industrial grade..

[benny365]

I think I'll pass on the 20 footer, although that would be sweet. I do worry about the longevity of the drive motor with the 15' gun.

I'm going to get the 12' today.

I am just a hobby welder, so I may use 5 lbs of wire a year. I'm confident the drive motor will last pushing 2 extra feet with as little as I use the machine

I'll post when I have a chance to use it and give you my thoughts.

BTW weld fabulous.com is one and the same with Mississippi welders supply for you upper midwesterners.

[Miller Kevin]

Benny,

Whenever I get this question my suggestion is to use no longer than a 12' gun.

I have talked with a number of people over the years that run 15' guns on the small units and in most cases they have no feeding issues. The concerns I have with the 15' guns on the small units (140,180,211) are that they add alot of extra feed resistance. To offset this extra resistance the drive roll tension often gets cranked way down to increase the traction on the wire and that extra tension puts a large load on the entire motor drive circuit and on the motor itself which can cause a premature failure in the drive system.

I will now however have to change my answer in some cases. On the new Millermatic 141 and Millermatic 190 the entire drive system has been redesigned to address those concerns so on these new models a 15' gun is compatible.

[Great White TJ]

Kevin, I have a MM211 and a 252 if you ship me a 190 with a 15' wip I will test it for ya.

[gnforge]

Bernard Q150 mig gun for the miller 211

Benny365 one thing to keep in mind, always try and keep your cable as straight and un twisted as possible. You can have more strain on a 10' lead if always twisted or in S ie sharp bends than a 12' lead that is as straight and not twisted.
I run a commercial welder with a 15' cable and have burnt well over a 33 lb roll wire in a week and I can tell if I have a twist or sharp bend in cable just in the way it welds or feeds. I always keep my cable as straight as possible or a long curve and relax the gun in my hand and let it untwist, it will always want to untwist and you will know where to hold so it has the least resistance and will feed the smoothest and this will allow the least amount of strain on feed system.
Greg

[benny365]

Here are some pictures of the bernard gun. I'll post after I've had a chance to hook it up and use it

[asw01]

Benny,

Whenever I get this question my suggestion is to use no longer than a 12' gun.

I have talked with a number of people over the years that run 15' guns on the small units and in most cases they have no feeding issues. The concerns I have with the 15' guns on the small units (140,180,211) are that they add alot of extra feed resistance. To offset this extra resistance the drive roll tension often gets cranked way down to increase the traction on the wire and that extra tension puts a large load on the entire motor drive circuit and on the motor itself which can cause a premature failure in the drive system.

I will now however have to change my answer in some cases. On the new Millermatic 141 and Millermatic 190 the entire drive system has been redesigned to address those concerns so on these new models a 15' gun is compatible.

Kevin,

What would be your recommendation on max length for same on Multimatic 200? I am very impressed with nearly every detail with one exception: after having a 15' gun on my 251 for years the stock gun seems short.

[Miller Kevin]

ASW,

There are 2 different versions of drive systems used in the Multimatic 200. The early ones were the same as the Millermatic 140, 180 and 211 so a 12' gun max would be my suggestion on those.

A change was made in early 2014 and they coverted to the same drive system that we are now using in the 141 and 190 so a 15' gun is usable on those models.

[eecervantes83]

Could i swap out the motor drives from 211 and upgrade .id like to be able to run a 15 whip with out problems.

[asw01]

Thanks! I appreciate the info. It should be the newer version, as it just arrived last week. For now I'll leave it alone, but at some point I'll want to switch it out.

ASW, There are 2 different versions of drive systems used in the Multimatic 200. The early ones were the same as the Millermatic 140, 180 and 211 so a 12' gun max would be my suggestion on those. A change was made in early 2013 and they coverted to the same drive system that we are now using in the 141 and 190 so a 15' gun is usable on those models.