I'm pondering the purchase of a Miller 210 mig welder, vs. a more
expensive 300 amp machine. It'll be my only machine, and I'd like to be
able to weld small, light steel (.065 wall), as well as aluminum(
probably no more than 3/16) and up to 3/8" steel with it....hum,
decisions, decisions, money, money.

Of course the welder salesman tells me a 210 will do it all (with a
spoolgun), but I know the discussion has come up that a 185amp TIG
machine isn't hot enough for aluminum; i.e. it takes a LOT of heat to
do it since aluminum wicks away the heat so fast.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Ronnie Lyons
Meridian, Idaho

My Thermal Arc had better not hear you say it can't weld AL that thick,
or it might stop. I think if you where to weld 3/16 AL all day the 185
might be a bit small, but for a hobby/light fab machine it is great.

I looked at the 210, but ended up going with 2 machines, a Miller 175(?)
and the TA185TSW. Seemed like it was the better idea. I have never
MIG'd AL, and you would have to use the spool gun with the 210.

I have done many pieces of 1/4" AL with my 185.

Rod

Ronnie wrote:
I'm pondering the purchase of a Miller 210 mig welder, vs. a more
expensive 300 amp machine. It'll be my only machine, and I'd like to be
able to weld small, light steel (.065 wall), as well as aluminum(
probably no more than 3/16) and up to 3/8" steel with it....hum,
decisions, decisions, money, money.

Of course the welder salesman tells me a 210 will do it all (with a
spoolgun), but I know the discussion has come up that a 185amp TIG
machine isn't hot enough for aluminum; i.e. it takes a LOT of heat to
do it since aluminum wicks away the heat so fast.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Ronnie Lyons
Meridian, Idaho

Ronnie wrote:
I'm pondering the purchase of a Miller 210 mig welder, vs. a more
expensive 300 amp machine. It'll be my only machine, and I'd like to be
able to weld small, light steel (.065 wall), as well as aluminum(
probably no more than 3/16) and up to 3/8" steel with it....hum,
decisions, decisions, money, money.

Of course the welder salesman tells me a 210 will do it all (with a
spoolgun), but I know the discussion has come up that a 185amp TIG
machine isn't hot enough for aluminum; i.e. it takes a LOT of heat to
do it since aluminum wicks away the heat so fast.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Ronnie Lyons
Meridian, Idaho


That should do a good job on 3/16" stock.

John

On 28 Jul 2005 11:04:38 -0700, "Ronnie" wrote:

I'm pondering the purchase of a Miller 210 mig welder, vs. a more
expensive 300 amp machine. It'll be my only machine, and I'd like to be
able to weld small, light steel (.065 wall), as well as aluminum(
probably no more than 3/16) and up to 3/8" steel with it....hum,
decisions, decisions, money, money.

Of course the welder salesman tells me a 210 will do it all (with a
spoolgun), but I know the discussion has come up that a 185amp TIG
machine isn't hot enough for aluminum; i.e. it takes a LOT of heat to
do it since aluminum wicks away the heat so fast.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Ronnie Lyons
Meridian, Idaho

The chart on the Millermatic 210 suggests settings for up to 3/8"
aluminum with .035 wire and pure argon. The chart does not go below
14 gage for aluminum.

I've not tried Al with that machine yet, (still on my ta do list)
but I've found the chart to be good guidance on all of the steel
welding I've done with that machine. If anything, it's conservative.

I can say for a certainty that the 210 will do 3/8" steel very nicely.
Also does .065 steel very nicely, did some of that tonight. I was
rather surprised at how well it welded 5/16" dia rod to .062" steel.

It'll go down to .032" steel no problem with .030 wire.

I can't imagine it having any problem with 3/16" aluminum since the
recommended setting is 5 (out of 7) for heat and 65 (out of 100) for
..035" wire or 75 for .030 wire. But I haven't done it yet.

I like my Millermatic 210 a lot!
..