My Millermatic 251 just arrived... Passport?

[Bob Sigmon]

The 'vertical table' is about 2" X 2". I thought about making a larger table but I found that it was easy to use just as it was. It has actually allowed me to make cuts that would have been hard if the table had been larger.

Let us know how you like it when you get it! The hydraulic feed is very nice and easy to hook up and unhook for vertical.

[neophyte]

Also I'm already looking at a fill station for the CO2 bottles. My buddy has a 20lb CO2 tank, scale and fill. His is a non-dip tube tank so you have to flip it upside down to fill. I'm just going to buy the right DIP tube tank - but I'll have him fill my first couple of tanks on the Passport when I get it.

I picked up my fill station on Ebay for 31.00 plus shipping. the sellers name was supply(n)demand. I believe this unit retails for 59.99.(pic attached) The least expensive bottles I found were at actionvillage.com @ 12.99. I bought my 20# Co2 tank w/syphon tube from a gent locally for 125.00. He works for the gas outfit up here and had a spare tank at home for his kids paintball guns. I think I saved a few bucks?

BTW
I have been splitting the rent with a chap on a welding shop for the past couple of months fabricating handrail. I have watched him on numerous occasions dragging his Co2 tank around the job sites with his little (65 lb & wire) RED 110v outfit. Yesterday was the first time we took my Passport out with us to the jobsite. His response after using it to tack up grab-rail on a flight of stairs?? "That's sweet", he said.

Jesse
Rub-it-in - Rub-it-in...

[unixadm]

Holy saw teeth Batman, a mitering bandsaw for at 199.00 plus shipping. It's imperative we acquire one for the Bat Cave!

Be sure to give us an update after you have had it awhile. Would be great to read a review after you have run it through the paces.

That is incredible!
Jesse

.... Easy does it Robin

Go over to http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/index.php?

Do a search for "Homier" and you'll find several posts with pics of the unit. From what I read, everyone is happy. It's the same unit Grizzly sells for about $500 shipped. The shipping price quoted on Homier's website was $150, however I bought the Bandsaw, MIG Cart and a Digital Caliper and shipping was only $122 from IN to Sacramento, CA. So the shipping cost on their site is just an estimate - once you go through the order process the price should be lower. I'll surely post a quick update once I get it. But from what I've read, it's a good solid unit for the price that will do a great job in a home shop.

[unixadm]

You'll like that saw a lot! Be sure to order some bi-metal blades. I really like the 20-24 VP bi-metal from Grizzly. I use it for everything.

Even though the table (if you can call it that) is small, I use it lots in the vertical position and it works very well.

You got some great tools and I think that when you get the Passport, you'll want to find a reason to take it around and weld "portable".

You can fill your own internal bottles if you get a CO2 tank with a dip tube and a fill unit and scale from a paintball supply company. I got mine at anythingxtreme.com

Bob - you're one of the reasons I bought this saw. I read your posts on the Hobart forum about the Grizzly unit. I even bought 2 blades last night (Bi-Metal, 20-24 VP), the exact sames ones you use from Girzzly! Did your saw come with a verticle table? I emailed Grizzly and they said the saw didn't come with a table - so I'm confused about that.

Also I'm already looking at a fill station for the CO2 bottles. My buddy has a 20lb CO2 tank, scale and fill. His is a non-dip tube tank so you have to flip it upside down to fill. I'm just going to buy the right DIP tube tank - but I'll have him fill my first couple of tanks on the Passport when I get it.

[neophyte]

I also needed a small band saw and after doing some research and reading on the Hobart forum, I saw people recommending this little unit:

https://www.homier.com/detail.asp?dpt=&cat=&sku=03111

It's the exact same unit Grizzly sells for about $500 shipped. I got it for a little over $300 shipped. It will do a nice job in the home shop. For the price, I don't think it can be beat (performance of feature wise) and the guys who have bought this thing have been nothing but pleased with it.

Holy saw teeth Batman, a mitering bandsaw for at 199.00 plus shipping. It's imperative we acquire one for the Bat Cave!

Be sure to give us an update after you have had it awhile. Would be great to read a review after you have run it through the paces.

That is incredible!
Jesse

.... Easy does it Robin

[Bob Sigmon]

You'll like that saw a lot! Be sure to order some bi-metal blades. I really like the 20-24 VP bi-metal from Grizzly. I use it for everything.

Even though the table (if you can call it that) is small, I use it lots in the vertical position and it works very well.

You got some great tools and I think that when you get the Passport, you'll want to find a reason to take it around and weld "portable".

You can fill your own internal bottles if you get a CO2 tank with a dip tube and a fill unit and scale from a paintball supply company. I got mine at anythingxtreme.com

[unixadm]

Well I didn't pull the trigger and order the Passport today. I think I'll wait a month or so as I've bought a Dynasty 200DX, MM251 and the Cutmaster 51 in the last 3 weeks. I don't have an immediate need for a 110V welder so I'll just hold off a bit. I have a spot amongst the Blue's Brothers in the garage for the Passport though.

I did a little more welding with the 251 tonight. It's tough not to get a nice bead with that machine. I almost like the 251 better than the Dynasty!

I also needed a small band saw and after doing some research and reading on the Hobart forum, I saw people recommending this little unit:

https://www.homier.com/detail.asp?dpt=&cat=&sku=03111

It's the exact same unit Grizzly sells for about $500 shipped. I got it for a little over $300 shipped. It will do a nice job in the home shop. For the price, I don't think it can be beat (performance of feature wise) and the guys who have bought this thing have been nothing but pleased with it.

[HAWK]

The Passport is an awesome machine. Maybe Dan will pick one up soon too! I sure hope so as winter apporaches and he is still without. I really don't know if I can read his "Passport" woes all winter long. Come on Dan and jump in....

[HAWK]

Everybody has their own preference for shielding gases. Mine is 90ar/10CO2 or 92ar/8CO2. I do weld with variable inductance and or variable/tapped slope machines. It is much easier to dial in the exact arc I am a looking for in a particular application.

The MM251 is an SCR output machine with a fairly soft arc. It will be softer yet with the 90ar/10CO2, but I did not find it to be un-satisfactory at all. Dan and I have slighty different styles of welding and his preference and mine are different. However, I think we both agree you can start with the 90ar/10CO2 and always pick a botle of C25 later.

[Scott V]

It runs very nice on C- 25
The bead lays out smoother for me.
That said, I am real happy with C02.

You will love how it welds on 120 volt power.
It's shocking how much power they get out of it.
That's if you compare it to your average 120 volt unit.

I like Quimby's too, because they are local for me.
They always use to beat Airgas on the price of
gas.

[unixadm]

Dan,

Thanks for the heads up. If I were you, that MM175 would be gone. I just sold mine the other day for $675 with the econo cart, and the Miller cover. It was about 2 years old and the guy picked it up locally. That cash went towards my 251. My hobart might bring $400, so that isn't a lot of funds towards a $1325 welder, but it's better than nothing. I do know that the Passport would probably be the most used welder in my shop, with the Dynasty as second and the 251 as last because I don't do a lot of heavy fab. I just wanted a good MIG so that when something comes along or I need to do a lot of welding at once, I have a machine that can go the distance.

I've done a lot of research on the Passport and except for the the lack of aluminum capability, most all comments have been very positive. I did see some pics of lack of penetration at some of the stock settings with C25, but they resolved that with some settings changes. Looks like a winner to me and I know when Hawk says it's good, it's good. From reading the forums, even Scott V is pretty picky about the machines he recommends and he likes the Passport too. So I'm going to pull the trigger tomorrow and order one up from Quimby. Does the Passport run well on mixed gasses, like C25? Or is it best just to stick to CO2?

[Danny]

Just so you know, Dan hated the short-arc on the 251 with 90/10 gas.
He almost did not buy that machine because of it. Just from using
the 251 with 75/25, I am pretty sure I would not like that machine
if the arc was any softer. I find machines that can be dailed or have
a sharp type arc, do much better with 90/10. The MM-350p is the
type of machine to run 90/10 on. I run two bottles but
now with pulse, I could really limit the use of 75/25 (if I wanted too)

It been a while now, since I ran a 251 with C-10 in short circuit transfer, however, I do remember that the 251 pretty much sucked with it. For one, the puddle didn t wetout very well, and this was even when i tried upping the voltage quite a bit. Besides in reality 90/10 is a poor choice for a general purpose spray transfer - short arc shielding gas. The mix produces excellent penetration in spray arc mode, however, in short arc mode, it is a low energy gas mix that is going to start having potential lack of fusion issues on material over an 1/8" thick. On the 251 I'd recommend going with C-25 for short arc, and 90/10 CO2 or 92/8 CO2 for spray arc. BTW, if you happen to want to spray arc SS too, then I would recommend going with 98/2 oxy as your spray gas mix.

BTW, all this discussion of the MM Passport isn t helping me much. Now, I m back to wanting one myself. Thanks a lot guys, you have me eye balling my very seldomly used plasma cutter and dust collecting MM 175, thinking they'd make a healthy start toward a MM Passport for me. If the arc quality of the Passport is a good as advertisedit definitely wouldnt be a dust collector around here.

[Scott V]

Just so you know, Dan hated the short-arc on the 251 with 90/10 gas.
He almost did not buy that machine because of it. Just from using
the 251 with 75/25, I am pretty sure I would not like that machine
if the arc was any softer. I find machines that can be dailed or have
a sharp type arc, do much better with 90/10. The MM-350p is the
type of machine to run 90/10 on. I run two bottles but
now with pulse, I could really limit the use of 75/25 (if I wanted too)

[unixadm]

Thanks Hawk for your awesome info! Very much appreciated. I'll pick up a tank of C10 and see how it goes. I think I'll also order up a Passport tomorrow. I even saw someone was able to get a spray arc with that machine which was pretty impressive. I have read nothing but good things about the Passport, except the lack of aluminum support. For me I don't think that will be a big deal as I plan to add a spool gun to the 251 down the road and I have a portable TIG.

[HAWK]

One gas: 90ar/10CO2

That depends on how crisp of a short arc you really want. For me the 90/10 is the mix of choice. It gives a nice crisp short arc and really blows a nice spray too! You do NOT need the 98 ar/2O2 as the MM251 has plenty of power to spray without the added O2 for preheat. Try a bottle of 90AR/10CO2 and see what you think. If you are not satisfied with the short arc, then keep it for spray and p/u a bottle of C25 for short arc. Honestly, I think you will hang tough with the 90ar/10CO2 and not look back. One awesome welder-one great shielding gas-2 great weld transfer methods!