Welding Tips and Tricks

I thought I had settled in on buying a 211 Miller. But the 252 at the suppler is being offered to me for a reasonable cost. Should a person jump up to a 252 for the cost difference? Can a one man home shop justify the premium cost of going to a 252? I know this really is up to the person and what they do in there shop but after using xmts for 20 years I am spoiled. The extra amps would be nice. Would a 252 run of a 40 amp breaker if you did not max it out. All my welding has been 035 0r larger just never really welded with smaller wire. For welding tubing can there be a argument made for running 030 current density etc?

Two things.
What is the MAXIMUM thickness your going to be welding????
What is the PORTABILITY, AS IN 115????

~John

Hss tubing thickness 180-250. Not really worried about the 115 aspect anymore. Plan on a 200srt latter.

gundog wrote:I thought I had settled in on buying a 211 Miller. But the 252 at the suppler is being offered to me for a reasonable cost. Should a person jump up to a 252 for the cost difference? Can a one man home shop justify the premium cost of going to a 252? I know this really is up to the person and what they do in there shop but after using xmts for 20 years I am spoiled. The extra amps would be nice. Would a 252 run of a 40 amp breaker if you did not max it out. All my welding has been 035 0r larger just never really welded with smaller wire. For welding tubing can there be a argument made for running 030 current density etc?

Gundog,
I would absolutely go with the 252. However I think you need to look at your projects you will/might be doing in the future. Are you going to need all 300 amps or will you be around 150 amps? I will lay it out how I see it in my opinion. The only real advantages I see in the 211 for a shop is the MVP and portability. The 252 has so many more features and is able to be upgraded a lot more than the 211. The 211 will only run up to .035 solid wire, while the 252 will run .030-.052 very easily. You can upgrade your gun and able to go to a push/pull for Aluminum. You will have pre and post flow, which is very nice for SS and Spray applications.
I have my 252 on a 40 amp breaker with no problems. The Max open circuit voltage is 38v.
The .030 wire will run fine on the 252, although do you really feel that this is the wire for your application? .035 is very universal. It does very well on short-circuit and will spray as well.
Another thing to consider is the duty cycle. I have only tripped my over-temp of my 252 once, running .052 wire pretty much maxed out. The 211 will require a lot more cool down time if you ever use it for any large projects.
Don't think I am biased on the 252, as I would like to get a 211 for some of the smaller jobs I get from time to time. One thing to always remember, it is better to have the extra features and amps and not need them, than to need them and not have them.

Spec sheet for 211
http://www.millerwelds.com/pdf/spec_sheets/DC12-54.pdf
Spec sheet for 252
http://www.millerwelds.com/pdf/spec_sheets/DC12-49.pdf
-Jonathan

Friday I will most likely pick up witch ever one I am getting. I might be kidding myself that the 211 fits my needs a 211 might do it but it might be a mental hang up I have . After a life time of putting it in heavy it would be hard to go light.

Buy the best you can afford, take care of it, have it make you money, buy more....

Keys to success...

~John

I love my 252! Go for it and don't look back. More power is always better, especially if you plan on adding a spool gun for AL someday.