Looking hard at MM210....

Want it to do lite and heavy stuff. Will need it when I do V-8 engine swap on Toy and also body work on '69 GMC.

I ain't never struck an arc......except when I once welded my screwdriver to a 110V outlet I was working on. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Any opinions on the Miller compared to the cheaper Hobart welder?

The MM210 is an awesome unit. Definatly something you can grow into. If you don't plan on welding every day, I'd pick up a MM175 and put the extra money on other tools. Torch set, grinders, gas set-up, a good helmet, etc. If you have the money then get the 210 and everthing else. The duty cycle on the 175 is only 30% but it worked great for my projects.

I have the MM185 and love it... if I were to ever buy another welder, I'd buy a MM210...

Then there is this new one for 300 less than the 210:

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/millermatic_dvi/

And here are the specs on the 210:

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/millermatic_210/

We've got a 185 at work I'm going to try to play with....it's out of production, but seems rated more like the DVI.

Anyway, tax refund time is coming so I need to make up my mind. Just hate the idea of renting bottles all year round.

Get the M210, after using it just once you will be glad you got it. I dont know why I used anything else after I got mine. It will do anything you need it to from lite to heavy.

Looking at gas..........

It appears you can use either an Argon mix or straight C02 for plain steel MIG welding.

Ain't called the local welding gas suppliers yet to inquire about gas and if bottle rental is required(I'm sure it is).

I'm wondering about the price diff tween Argon mix and C02 gas, and if there are alternate and cheaper sources for C02.

My bar owner buddy gets his C02 in standard large high pressure bottles from Coke. He says they only ask for bottle deposit and no rental fees, just swap bottles and charge for gas when empty.

How do you guys get/pay for gas?

Way back when I got my first bottle, I looked at renting vs. buying the bottle. Renting made sense if you used it a lot. If you had it filled up every so often (I forget how often) there wasn't a charge for the bottle. However, I knew mine would sit for months between uses so I bought the bottle. Actually "bought" the bottle as it is really something like a 99 year lease due to some sort of legal issues with bottles, pressure testing, and such. They still swap bottles when I take mine in for a refill -- I don't get the same one back.

I was checking that DVI model out as well. One nice thing would be the option of 110 or 220. I have 220 in the shop, but it would be nice that I could take it over to a buddy's shop and weld for him even if he did not have 220. Sort of pricey, though. Been looking at plasma cutters as well and don't think I could swing a new MIG and a plasma...

I'm in the same boat as you; the 210 would be my choice. Air Liquide is found throughout the country; we have a local shop here which also services them if needed.

On the bottles; they get inspected in the same fashion as do fire extinguisher bottles for corrosion, galvanization, etc, as PAToy mentioned, but not in the same frequency. This is something you can discuss with your material distributor too; they're required by law to stay up on this stuff.

The explanation I got on the inspections was that was the reason for the 99 year lease (or whatever it is). They still "own" the bottle and test it every so often -- part of the reason that they swap the bottle instead of refilling yours and giving it back to you. They said that if you "owned" the bottle then you would be responsible for the testing.

In any case, the lease works well for me. It doesn't matter if I am back to fill it up every other week or once every two years. Just pay the fee to have it filled and don't have to worry about it.

Not to hijack, but has anyone else looked into the DVI?

You ain't hy-jacking.

Hoping folks will also discuss the Hobart 210, the DVI and anything else that will help me make up my mind.