New, got NEMA 6-50R in garage this weekend Now What?

[Johnnyappleseed]

OK, I'm new got my NEMA 6-50R pulled into the garage last weekend and looking at the Miller Multimatic 200 as my first welder (would this be overkill for my first welder?) .

I am retiring and wanted to play around with some welding open for advise on welders, projects,

and suggestions on other equipment like helmet, gloves, cart, etc.

[pat h]

It would be a good choice I think, it doesn't seem to complicated buy the simplest machine that let's you do what you may ever need I see alot of new guys and some experienced get to involved with all the buttons gizmos and advanced features but wouldn't know a sound weld if they made one, if you want a multiprocess the 200 seems nice I would prefer it over the new 215 they have now, hobart 210 mig only is a nice simple machine that welds great also the miller 211 I think that the name is said to be easy setup

[Aeronca41]

What do you want to do with the welder? Either the 200 or 215 is a good choice because it gives you mig and stick immediately, and you can add the tig kit (and argon bottle) for mild and stainless steel for more money now or later. If you want to do aluminum tig, the 200 or 215 isn't going to provide the AC you need. If you need AC tig for aluminum later, you might consider the MM211 mig for now, and find a used Miller thunderbolt or Hobart Stickmate for stick if you need it right away. (Mig is not good for welding outdoors if it's windy unless you go to flux core wire; stick is not much bothered by normal wind). You could get the 211 and a used transformer stick welder both for around the cost of either of the others if you look around. Both the thunderbolt and stickmate are very simple, reliable machines, and as long as you can weld to try it out before buying, there isn't much to go wrong with either of them-they are virtually identical inside. And, you would have excellent mig and stick machines. Then if you want to do tig later, buy a real tig machine with both AC and DC capability. That was my approach-got a lot of capability right away and saved for the Dynasty later. Again, depends on your plans for the machine. And, keep asking questions. Welcome to the forum!

[H80N]

What do you want to do with the welder? Either the 200 or 215 is a good choice because it gives you mig and stick immediately, and you can add the tig kit (and argon bottle) for mild and stainless steel for more money now or later. If you want to do aluminum tig, the 200 or 215 isn't going to provide the AC you need. If you need AC tig for aluminum later, you might consider the MM211 mig for now, and find a used Miller thunderbolt or Hobart Stickmate for stick if you need it right away. (Mig is not good for welding outdoors if it's windy unless you go to flux core wire; stick is not much bothered by normal wind). You could get the 211 and a used transformer stick welder both for around the cost of either of the others if you look around. Both the thunderbolt and stickmate are very simple, reliable machines, and as long as you can weld to try it out before buying, there isn't much to go wrong with either of them-they are virtually identical inside. And, you would have excellent mig and stick machines. Then if you want to do tig later, buy a real tig machine with both AC and DC capability. That was my approach-got a lot of capability right away and saved for the Dynasty later. Again, depends on your plans for the machine. And, keep asking questions. Welcome to the forum!

OR...........

You might consider the Syncrowave 210....... which will give you a FULLY featured AC/DC TIG... plus Spoolgun MIG and Stick

https://www.millerwelds.com/-/media/.../c/b/ad4-6.pdf

https://www.millerwelds.com/equipment/welders/tig-gtaw/syncrowave-210-tig-welders-m00488#!/?product-options-title=syncrowave-210-tig-mig-package-951616

[pat h]

You said first welder the syncrowave 210 wouldn't be a first welder I assume you're experience is low and if you're retiring your not young being miller sight I would say stick with the 200 or 211 mig million people will spend your money lincoln 180c is 730 at airgas now that's what I would buy now helmets Jackson with 4x5 is about 45 bucks

[H80N]

You said first welder the syncrowave 210 wouldn't be a first welder I assume you're experience is low and if you're retiring your not young

I Strongly Disagree....

Not a thing precluding the Sync 210 from being a first machine.... it is just a bit more capable than many

a beginner could start with it and have lots of room to grow....

What does "not young" have to do with it.....???

[ryanjones2150]

But once cry once. If you're interested in exploring welding, and have the cash to spend, get something you won't outgrow, skill wise, in five minutes.

[H80N]

BTW.... Miller has a Resources Section that provides a great place to get you started....

https://www.millerwelds.com/resources/welding-resources

[Aeronca41]

OR...........

You might consider the Syncrowave 210....... which will give you a FULLY featured AC/DC TIG... plus Spoolgun MIG and Stick

https://www.millerwelds.com/-/media/.../c/b/ad4-6.pdf

https://www.millerwelds.com/equipment/welders/tig-gtaw/syncrowave-210-tig-welders-m00488#!/?product-options-title=syncrowave-210-tig-mig-package-951616

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True! Likely would cost less in the long run. Just depends on the ultimate goal.

[Aeronca41]

But once cry once. If you're interested in exploring welding, and have the cash to spend, get something you won't outgrow, skill wise, in five minutes.

Agree. Once I got past the early foolishness of youth, I learned that lesson....at the cost of hundreds, thankfully not thousands, of dollars.

[H80N]

Food for thought Welding Dragonfly Yard Art Project with Miller Multimatic 215

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxj0EeIp95A&feature=youtu.be

[Johnnyappleseed]

Food for thought Miller Multimatic 215

Yes the Multimatic 215 is very attractive price and seems like it could meet my needs, the only thing I see that may be significant between the Multimatic 215 and the Multimatic 200 is that the 200 TIG goes down to 5 amps while the 215 TIG only goes down to 20 amps. Not to sure how significant that would be, anyone want to comment on TIG at 5 amps?

[H80N]

Yes the Multimatic 215 is very attractive price and seems like it could meet my needs, the only thing I see that may be significant between the Multimatic 215 and the Multimatic 200 is that the 200 TIG goes down to 5 amps while the 215 TIG only goes down to 20 amps. Not to sure how significant that would be, anyone want to comment on TIG at 5 amps?

5 Amps is MicroTIG territory.... you are unlikely to need such a low bottom end... the 20 Amps of the 215 should be fine

[ryanjones2150]

I agree. 15 amp start up is pretty low. Used to be hard to find an entry level machine that even did tig and then one that would start so low. Unless you're doing some extra thing steel, it'll be fine. However, I think the millermatic 200 is a better overall machine.

[Olivero]

Never needed it lower than 30.... I don't even know why you would need to weld something at 30 amps? Blows my mind

But let's talk Helmets.

Ryan found this sweet helmet from ESAB, Its the Sentinel A50, he thinks all the chicks will dig it.....................................

All joking aside though.

Get a simple helmet from Miller, if its a hobby type work, The Elite series will do you just fine. Get some good ole gloves, Classic MIG/Stick or the long sleeve MIG/Stick gloves. They are all great. I pretty much burned through my Heavy Duty MIG/STICK long sleeve, holy cow leather gloves but they are still good. Gonna wear em tonight

I can't say much for the welder but H80N or Aeronca seems to always have the best option figured out when it comes to this stuff. I am more of a helmet fanatic, just ask Ryan. He'll tell ya.

I think if you can get a machine that does it all, go for it. It gives you the most options. I don't do MIG progably because I don't have a MIG machine. I have a Dynasty and an older buzzbox sticker/baby tigger that I bring on smaller type jobs.

But for hobby, if you have all 3 options, what is there you can't weld? Well, thick material... But who needs thick stuff anyways?