I'm new and need some advice

[Sagefarm]

Hello All,

I'm new here, and need a little advice on buying a welder. I am looking at the Millermatic 140 (with auto-set) but wanted to get some more input before I buy.

My dad and I will be using it for projects around the house. ie, Garden items, repair, sculpture (I'm the artist), and some basic fabrication. We've taken 3 welding courses at our local university, and I am 95% sure we used the Miller 140's for all our projects there. One of the main factors is being able to plug it into a regular garage power socket, not a 220v.

After reading the catalog info, I am a little worried that the max thickness says 3/16". I could have sworn that I had used the schools 140 to weld up to 1/2" (which is rare for us to use that thickness). Now I am thinking maybe i missed something. I'd hate to spend the $$$ on the Millermatic 140 only to be disappointed. However, if it just means that I have to make 2 passes to join the thicker metal pieces, then that's "OK" in my book.


Any and all help is welcome!

thanks everyone!

M.

[aametalmaster]

I don't know what kind of garden items you want to weld but i don't think you will be happy with a 110v welder. I would aim for a small 220v mig even if it means adding a 220v plug. Just my .02...Bob

[EdZep]

Mm180...

...and run an extension cord from your dryer outlet?

[Sagefarm]

The garden items I was thinking were things like trellis for the beans and berries, custom grate for the fish pond, and things like that.

m

[tacmig]

Just a metter of time...

aametalmaster is correct and I'll elaborate just a bit. While the MM140 is a great machine it is limited which means you're limited in what you can do. I have 2 of these machines in my shop and they are used primarily on light rail work in which we do a lot of. However, we also have a MM252 and a 350P that is used for just about everything else. We like the 140's because they are light and can go to the job on our generators without any problem assuming we don't encounter anything out of their class. If you're like the rest of us, chances are you will love to weld and won't want to be limited as to what you can do! There is nothing more frustrating than trying to weld something heavy your machine was not intended to do. My advice is to step-up spend a few extra bucks and broaden your abilities!

MM210 / MM212 and even the 252 are all excellent machines. You can't go wrong with any of them.

Good luck,

TacMig

[6010]

Just my 2 cents.

If you know you are probably never going to weld something other than what you mentioned, then you would be wasting money by buying something bigger. The things you mentioned are not critical welds and within the range of the welder you mentioned. The men gave you some sage advice about getting something bigger because they figure ever one is going to step up and start welding something a little more robust. However, this is not always the case. Just as you give up something when you have the smaller welder, you give up something when you get the bigger one also. You give up the ability to use 110 volts and the bigger welder just gets pretty dang heavy and hard to move around.

So my advice would be to buy the smaller welder if you are sure of what you will be welding and it is within the capabilities of the welder. And later on if you decide you need something bigger, then get it. But don't get rid of the littler welder - it will always have its place. I bet most of the men who tell you to get a big welder have a little one stashed somewhere - and wouldn't get rid of it for anything

[pthunberg]

I have the MM 130 XP an older version of the 140 with no auto set. I primarily use it for welding things up to about 1/8” anything more and it just isn’t hot enough. That said I love this welder, it gets lots of use, mostly because it is so easy to move around. I have run a lot of wire through it with no problems at all. Probably around 25 large spools. I use .024 solid wire at the lower settings for 18 to 14Ga tubing and sheet and .035 for thicker. This welder definitely has a place in any shop. It would not be a good do all machine. It just doesn’t have the heat needed for thicker stuff. If you have another welder or think you will need portability in the future and will buy a larger machine for the shop buy a 140. If not than go as big as your budget and power source will allow, you can always turn it down.

Paul

[SavageSunJeep]

I started with a MM 135 and wish I had bought more...I just recently did and I picked up a MM 180. I added a dedicated 220V line to my garage and the difference in welding is like day and night. The 220v/MM180 is a sweet unit and is good for about 5/16's in welding one-pass. It is a smoother and more fun to use welder in my novice view.

Don't get me wrong the 135/140 is a sweet setup and the 180 is now available in "auto-set". I don't know enough to know if auto set is a good thing or not.

I picked up my MM180 off e bay with no tax and free shipping from Indiana Oxygen and could not be happier.

[tnjind]

I have a Hobart Handler 135. I have probably ran 250-280 pounds of wire through it so far. I have other welders, larger mig and a tig. But the little 135 is the most versatile machine I have.
If the 135 crapped out today then I would have to replace it. period.

[Sagefarm]

All very good input guys! I really appreciate it!

[opsranch]

110 Welders

Don't sell the 110 mig machines short. I have had two, both Lincolns, the first wore out after years of steady use and abuse. The second one is still going strong. I wouldn't want to be without it. If I replace it it will be with a MM140 (not auto set). They are easy to carry around and very versatile. They are limited with solid wire and gas. Best really for 1/8" or less. With .035 and flux core wire you can easily weld 3/16" to 1/4". The keys are, absolutey clean metal, very short "stick out" and proper speed. They will run off a small generator and can be plugged in anywhere.
For a first welder they are perfect, but can't be compared with a 220v machine like my MM210. But they are not competing. Go with the MM140,
you won't be disappointed.

Bob

[SavageSunJeep]

If I replace it it will be with a MM140 (not auto set).

For a first welder they are perfect, but can't be compared with a 220v machine like my MM210. But they are not competing. Go with the MM140,
you won't be disappointed.

Bob

Why NOT auto set? That said even tho I am all new to this I am not sure I would want it because I would rather do my own adjustments...but I want to hear what a pro thinks.

Albeit I started out with a MM140/110V I found nothing but limitations. But then I work on my Jeep and most of the stuff I do is 3/16 to 1/4. Not being a pro welder and having a smaller machine only held me back. I am SURE that if I were a better welder it is not a problem.

Same, same in my world of computers. An expert user can get by with a LOT less RAM than a novice. But then you "know the ropes".

[opsranch]

Why not auto set?

Don,

Auto set seems to me to be too limiting. When you are welding different types of steel (I use a lot of scrap that is of unknown origin) in different thickness, its nice to find that perfect heat and wire speed to make it weld nice, like welding 10 ga sheeet metal to 1/16" or 1/8" angle. Inside my MM210 I bought in January there is a chart that gives the recomended settings both steel and aluminum (that dual gun set up is so cool), I've found that they are just a place to start. Each job with new materials, positions, and weld type
needs to be fine tuned. That's all I meant. My experience with auto set (with a 140) is about 10 minutes, so I am no expert.

Bob

[SavageSunJeep]

Don,

Auto set seems to me to be too limiting. When you are welding different types of steel (I use a lot of scrap that is of unknown origin) in different thickness, its nice to find that perfect heat and wire speed to make it weld nice, like welding 10 ga sheeet metal to 1/16" or 1/8" angle. Inside my MM210 I bought in January there is a chart that gives the recomended settings both steel and aluminum (that dual gun set up is so cool), I've found that they are just a place to start. Each job with new materials, positions, and weld type
needs to be fine tuned. That's all I meant. My experience with auto set (with a 140) is about 10 minutes, so I am no expert.

Bob

That was my thinking, but what would I know. True, it seems that everything I do I have to "fine tune" wire speed and amps. So far what I have noticed is that my MM180 always needs less amps/wire speed than the chart calls for.

Yes auto set seems more like a gimmick type thing to me.

Thanks for the reply.

[[email protected]]

keeping an open mind

If you'll keep an open mind and perhaps consider some smaw. I'd take a look at a thunderbolt xl 225 ac/dc. its 220v and takes more skill but for a low price welder I don't think you can beat the quality. I think you'd be happier with It than with a low price 110 volt mig machine with a short duty cycle.
Just trying to get you the most for your money.

Rick