Welding Tips and Tricks

I’ve got a lot of welders, every single one is transformer. For stick I’m always going to use transformers, but MIGS: Miller 130xp, MM35, 211 w/MVP and Lincoln 3500hd, sp100, sp135, new style 125hd, 140hd, 180hd and a few others just to name a few. I’m not hurting for another machine..... but I’m curious if a new Miller 211 inverter would be any less dependable than my 211 transformer version. I believe in KISS, and the newest millers are anything but KISS. I’ve heard a lot of bad press about board issues in them.

I don’t see my 211 getting replaced, it’ll always be around. I’m looking into maybe grabbing a 211 inverter the next time i see a cheap one - IF I’m not going to spend $500 on a new board on it within a few years. I’ve never had a machine die. I attribute that to only owning transformer welders. You’re pretty much in control of their destiny IMO. I’m worried that is not the same for miller inverter welders.

One1,,,I was away from the transformer welders for quite a while chasing other ideas. I kind of look at the inverters like the way computers came into the world. Did I have computers in school? No. Did I have lots of real horsepower? Yepp. Am I open to change? Reluctantly, yes. I do not give my new welders a heavy workout by any means. I do use everything they can give me at times. Haven't had serious problems....yet and hope I don't. But I do know, if something is manufactured it is susceptible to "breaking" and I'm willing to accept that. Have fun, do the best one can and enjoy.
Bill

Here's an interesting thread on your question.

https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/f ... ost3422914

I have an account there and I’ll tell you what I told them.

60 years in a metal fab shop in Atlanta running 5 days a week. 3 years in my home shop running 4 days a week. Completely original.

I have absolutely no problem with someone using what they have been using for quite a while. I have to use the space that is available to me at the moment and needed something with a small foot print. It's all good.
By the way, is that a shadow of fred flintstone in the background that I see? LOL.
Stay safe, brother...I'm only picking.

i'm not sure i can even buy a new transformer machine. the only ones i've seen new are those cheap bottom end pos.
the other issue is that many transformer machines have other electronics, DC conversion, wire speed control, amp control, wire feeder, all of which wears and breaks at some point. the transformer is fine its just nothing else on the machine is. (we get plenty of those coming up for sale 2nd hand, working but worn out and no parts available)
the only true reliable transformer machine is an AC stick welder because its only a transformer.

From new furnaces to I Phones all late model electronics in order to be price point cheap have a short time life.. My 30 yr old Motorola brick phone works but can't/won't carry digital signals. So it is upgrade every 2 yrs failed or not.

BillE.Dee wrote: By the way, is that a shadow of fred flintstone in the background that I see? LOL.

Can’t be, he wouldn’t know how to drive my daily home.

Not me; you couldn't give me a transformer welder.








Not all inverters are built the same. They might/will react differently to hard-use. Mine (current ones) have over-current/over-temp protection that my Miller 211 didn't have.

kiwi2wheels wrote:Here's an interesting thread on your question.

https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/f ... ost3422914

Thank you for posting that, a very interesting thread.

kiwi2wheels wrote:Here's an interesting thread on your question.

https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/f ... ost3422914

What is interesting about that thread to me is the brand and tech bashing. The OP had a particular issue that seems to be the catalyst for a less than competent repair shop to have caused him numerous other issues. I have the same machine he does, and it has never skipped a beat. Ever. And I bet I have 10x the hours on it. And I have a 14 year old Dynasty inverter that it too welds like new with a few thousand hours on it.

Transformers work great. Can't really buy them anymore new, and parts can become obsolete in them as well. Power consumption, weight and size are major considerations in operating them.

Aaron W wrote:

kiwi2wheels wrote:Here's an interesting thread on your question.

https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/f ... ost3422914

Thank you for posting that, a very interesting thread.

For those wanting to read more he posted on the Miller and Welding Web forums as well

I would suggest that the energy savings from running an inverter offset the cost or repairing or replacing. CPU specialist have long known that computer parts are like lottery tickets. You might not win but if you do the payoff is great. Inverters are no different. They have a known cost and average life expectancy, win the lottery and you get one that lasts twice as long, therefore costs half as much. Transformers are reliable, and predictable, there cost of operation is undeniable.

Transformers work great. Can't really buy them anymore new

Where did you ever get that idea? Miller and Lincon still sell quite a few different transformer welders brand new: Syncrowaves, the Millermatic 212 and 252 (at least for a while), the original Lincoln tombstones (AC225 and AC/DC 225), the Idealarc stick welders, Powermig 256 and PowerMig 260, all of their PrecisionTIG welders

Louie1961 wrote:

Transformers work great. Can't really buy them anymore new

Where did you ever get that idea? Miller and Lincon still sell quite a few different transformer welders brand new: Syncrowaves, the Millermatic 212 and 252 (at least for a while), the original Lincoln tombstones (AC225 and AC/DC 225), the Idealarc stick welders, Powermig 256 and PowerMig 260, all of their PrecisionTIG welders

Mostly from Manufacturer's website directly:
https://www.millerwelds.com/equipment/w ... ers-m00488
The Synchrowave is now an Inverter, no longer a Transformer.
Their new MIG boxes are also Inverter based.

The new SW from Lincoln is an inverter. Yep, their older PTig boxes remain transformer.

Only the low end Syncrowave is an inverter (which by all reports is a huge POS). Syncrowave 250 and above are still the same old tried and true design. I doubt Miller will ever stop making these. For some jobs they just can't be beaten.

https://www.millerwelds.com/equipment/w ... ers-m15601