MillerMatic DVI question from new member

[HAWK]

Dan,

The 350P is a nice machine, but for my uses the PASSPORT is way more practical. I already have a 400 amp variable inductance GMAW machine. I sold the Optima pulser so the pulse option is out. Oh well. The PASSPORT will certainly surprise you on the thin stuff as well as the 3/8" material. You will kick yourself if you PASS on it. No pun intended

[HAWK]

ScottV, and toolmaker,

The Miller engineers have already tried the M10 gun as well as a spoolgun with the SGA controller. It just does not do it well. I talked with Kevin in applications concerning the Al welding with the PASSPORT and he told me they had tried several things without success. Believe me if it would weld Al well, then my 30A would not be for sale.

ScottV,

I picked up the rest of the parts for a fill kit. I went the safe route and still have less than $50 bucks in the whole fill station. I used 2 industrial 7000psi constant service rated ball valves, 10,000psi constant use threaded high end industrial fittings to build the manifold assembly, and 20,000 psi burst rated hose which is also rated at 5000 psi constant use. I ge by with a little help from my friends.

[toolmaker]

Cope,

Yea, I really like the MM210 that's why I considered one for home. Strange thing is, I have never tried to MIG aluminum. We don't have the spoolgun. Plus we have the TIG, so I just use it.

[Scott V]

Alrighty then, after doing some more searches here on the Passport, I think I will probably drop the DVI out of the top 2. So now it's down to the MM210 and the Passport. You guys are really not helping when the wife see's the change in plans now . It's hard enough since I have a garage full of full size metalworking machines and constantly buying stuff for them.
One thing I was really impresed with was the quality with CO2. Especially when you consider the refill prices.

One quick question. Now aluminum ability is not really a factor, but has any body tried to change liners and push it through this machine(Passport) for a quickie fix? I have the Sync250 at work, so taking something in to do it after hours is no big deal. I have heard of some people doing this occasionally but would like to know more.

Thanks.

I have not tried but know I am re-thinking trying (buying the one nylon oversized liner for the M-10 gun).Hawk was taking about the run-in speed, causing a problem with the standard type gun setup.

I have a Tweeco spool-gun and box that I could setup for the passport, but I would have to re-wire the contactor it to work. It's setup for my esab inverter with it's own slope setting for aluminum. All the stuff you would end up carrying around, I would be better off grabbing my tig machine with a air-cooled torch and button control.


Here is another question you might ask. Has anybody welded with the 210 using CO2 and C-25? That one I am interested in.

[cope]

If you need portability the Passport is obviously a winner. if not, there is no contsest; go for the MM210 w/spool gun for about what the Passport costs. You know from experience what the MM210 can do.

[toolmaker]

Alrighty then, after doing some more searches here on the Passport, I think I will probably drop the DVI out of the top 2. So now it's down to the MM210 and the Passport. You guys are really not helping when the wife see's the change in plans now . It's hard enough since I have a garage full of full size metalworking machines and constantly buying stuff for them.
One thing I was really impresed with was the quality with CO2. Especially when you consider the refill prices.

One quick question. Now aluminum ability is not really a factor, but has any body tried to change liners and push it through this machine(Passport) for a quickie fix? I have the Sync250 at work, so taking something in to do it after hours is no big deal. I have heard of some people doing this occasionally but would like to know more.

Thanks.

[Scott V]

Curse you Hawk and Scott , I thought I had finally convinced myself that i wanted to save up for the MM 350, however, since reading all your feedback on the Passport 180 in this thread, Im back to wanting/needing the Passport 180. Like the two of you, to me there is no contest between the Passport 180 and The MM DVI. There is no dought in my mind that the Passport 180 is the far superior unit. When my Econotig comes back from the repair shop, I'm going to see if Airgas will sell it for me. I should be able to get $600 to $700 for it since it is in mint condition- don't use it much since i have the Maxstar 150 STH . Also, since I have purchased the MM 251, the old MM 210 is starting to become more of a dust collector similar to the Econotig. So, there is a possibility that it might become the other part of my Passport 180 fund. Yeah, i think i could live with just a MM 251, Passport 180, MM 175, and a Maxstar 150 STH.

You know Scott, I think i liked it better when the machines that you liked were beyond my price range. Scott, your blood use to be pretty yellow, now though, it seems to be turn a shade of green.

BTW Scott, now that you guys have me all fired up again , do you have anymore sample weld pics from the Passport to show off.

Not today, but I am still looking for some 20/22 ga. stuff to try to weld up for the other guy on the fence. (Sundown)

I did buy some bigger tips to try out aluminum with the standard M10 gun.
Not that I need to weld aluminum with it.

[Danny]

Curse you Hawk and Scott , I thought I had finally convinced myself that i wanted to save up for the MM 350, however, since reading all your feedback on the Passport 180 in this thread, Im back to wanting/needing the Passport 180. Like the two of you, to me there is no contest between the Passport 180 and The MM DVI. There is no dought in my mind that the Passport 180 is the far superior unit. When my Econotig comes back from the repair shop, I'm going to see if Airgas will sell it for me. I should be able to get $600 to $700 for it since it is in mint condition- don't use it much since i have the Maxstar 150 STH . Also, since I have purchased the MM 251, the old MM 210 is starting to become more of a dust collector similar to the Econotig. So, there is a possibility that it might become the other part of my Passport 180 fund. Yeah, i think i could live with just a MM 251, Passport 180, MM 175, and a Maxstar 150 STH.

You know Scott, I think i liked it better when the machines that you liked were beyond my price range. Scott, your blood use to be pretty yellow, now though, it seems to be turn a shade of green.

BTW Scott, now that you guys have me all fired up again , do you have anymore sample weld pics from the Passport to show off.

[Scott V]

Scott, for a spare cylinder why not step up to the 20 oz.? It won't fit in the case but it would give you nearly 25% more gas.

I am pretty sure you would need to lengthen the gas hose to make the cylinder lay on it's side. I think for the most part, two cylinders would do it for me. If I am welding 1/8 that is a pretty long weld bead!! The extra 12 will fit in the bag pretty easy too.

[cope]

Thanks Hawk,
I watched them fill them at the sporting goods store with that setup.
I probably will get a larger bottle of CO2 (for fill too) because my esab really runs nice in it's CO2 slope setting. I really like the way the passport runs CO2 also.I have a 80 75/25 just for the passport but I never plug it in. I do need to dig up a extra 12 OZ bottle because that will handle most jobs I would do portable.

Scott, for a spare cylinder why not step up to the 20 oz.? It won't fit in the case but it would give you nearly 25% more gas.

[Scott V]

I have heard it was real high, because Miller did not want to get into the bottle business.

Let me know how your system works.

[HAWK]

12 ounce bottles for PASSPORT

ScottV,

Walmart sells the 12 oz bottles in their sporting goods department for less than $22. I am not sure what Miller gets for theirs.

I did the same on the fill demo at the sporting goods store. I plan to make a fill kit this evening.

[Scott V]

Thanks Hawk,
I watched them fill them at the sporting goods store with that setup.
I probably will get a larger bottle of CO2 (for fill too) because my esab really runs nice in it's CO2 slope setting. I really like the way the passport runs CO2 also.I have a 80 75/25 just for the passport but I never plug it in. I do need to dig up a extra 12 OZ bottle because that will handle most jobs I would do portable.

[HAWK]

toolmaker,

If you get the chance demo a PASSPORT. It is really more machine than what the specs show. You can weld and weld and though the fan kicks on pretty quick it also stops running almost as quick. You can feel the warm air blowing through the front vent and then it's off again.

The PASSPORT inside panel settings are right on for mixed gas and CO2. I have to say this machines arc is incredible on C25 and even better on CO2. Around that's a pleasant surprise with CO2 running $7 per 20lb cylinder for external and quarter an ounce at the local sporting goods store to fill the "paintball" cylinder. That amounts to $3 for the 12 ounce cylinder supplied with the unit.

MAYBE OF INTEREST TO YOU Scott V:

If you use the little internal cylinder a lot, then a fill station may be in order. They can be found on the internet and some sporting goods stores sell them. However, for $9 I found the screw on cap with a side inlet for the gas bottle top. Now all one needs is a ball valve manifold set up and a set of scales to fill. I

[Scott V]

Never mind on the last question. Looked again and found the answer.

I bet you will find the passport has a really good duty-cycle on 230 volts if not pushed to it's upper limits. It's the same about as DVI at 140 amps. ON 120 volt power the Passport kicks it's butt!!!! It will turn into the machine you grab for two or three reasons. It welds nice and is handy is all get out, plus it's very quiet.

I had a MM 185 and a MM130 XP and I would not trade the passport for both of them. Although both of them had there good points too. I figure the passport is about the same in power as the MM185. Even though the voltage of the passport says it's shy. In the real world it's about the same.

I feel it's a better value then the DVI (IMO) even at $300.00 more.
I think it is the only machine out that really welds on 120 volts with solid wire. If you used as many 120 volt welders as me then you would know why I say that.