WeldingWeb - Welding Community for pros and enthusiasts banner

Millermatic 211 old vs new model

1 reading
40K views 39 replies 23 participants last post by  Theebadboy2  
#1 ·
Ok so after lots of going back and forth between a eastwood 250 welder a Lincoln 210 and a miller 211 on july 30 I bought the 211 for the "great sale" they were having

I asked the dealer many times if there were changes coming up and was told no each time. 2 weeks ago I unbox the unit and start setting it up and start making my list of things I now need to buy like tips a welder cover etc etc and I find out the 211 I have was replaced with a inverter 211. Am I pissed yes because I feel like I was steered the wrong way.


Anyway the new inverter 211 anyone here that use inverter migs please tell me what I am now going to be missing ?



I was considering miller for my plasma and tig purchase but now they are on the bottom of my list now.
 
#2 ·
Depends, there are guys that are trying to find the ORIGINAL 211 which you have. Your deal may have been the BEST ever if you got the rebate and the free spoolgun. I have the original 211 and it's great. A friend tried the new and the original and took the deal on the original.
If that's your only machine keep it and just add another 211 for its mate. :D
 
#3 · (Edited)
Might want to read this thread...
http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?526401-New-Millermatic-211

I bought mine around the same time as you, bought it knowing a new one is coming out (my LWS told me thats hwy they had such a great deal on them). I am ok with it being a transformer welder and not the new one for a few reasons...
-I dont like the auto-set, I think it burns way hot, I go by manual settings
-inverters are the hot new rage, but IMO havent been out long enough to prove long term reliability, the 211 transformed based welder are tried and proven and will run forever
-I didnt wanna pass up the $200 rebate + free spool gun
-if I were to buy right now the same class welder and aiming for inverter, with the rebate and price considered, I would probably lean towards the Lincoln 210MP

For plasma I considered Miller, but after doing some reading everyone has said to go Hypertherm... I just ordered a Powermax 45, so we will see if all the hype was worth it. For tig, I am drooling over a Dynasty, but out of budget for now... I wouldnt discount Miller as a product products because your LWS doesnt know what hes talking about or wanted to sell you the old model to clear out inventory....
 
#9 · (Edited)
I bought mine around the same time as you, bought it knowing a new one is coming out (my LWS told me thats hwy they had such a great deal on them). I am ok with it being a transformer welder and not the new one for a few reasons...
-I dont like the auto-set, I think it burns way hot, I go by manual settings
-inverters are the hot new rage, but IMO havent been out long enough to prove long term reliability, the 211 transformed based welder are tried and proven and will run forever
-I didnt wanna pass up the $200 rebate + free spool gun
-if I were to buy right now the same class welder and aiming for inverter, with the rebate and price considered, I would probably lean towards the Lincoln 210MP

For plasma I considered Miller, but after doing some reading everyone has said to go Hypertherm... we will see if all the hype was worth it.


My thoughts exactly!
And I'm glad I made those same decisions.
A good friend recently saw my (original) Millermatic 211 setup, and immediately wanted one...he hadn't heard of the rebate/spool gun deal they were offering until he saw my machine, and is pretty bummed that now they are all sold out, and the new inverter style is all that he can get.
He said he would much rather own the 'older' tried and true transformer model, than the new design.
 
#4 ·
nova if i would have known i could have did a little more reading into it to see if it was worth waiting but that would have been UP to me not the dealer and the dealer is who represents the company.

BD1 yes i got the rebate and the spool gun deal which i kept asking the guy and he said miller runs these deals once or twice a year


i know the transformer units are solid which i am happy about but i was considering a inverter unit(210) so considering 2 just would have been more reading.

BTW i saw that thread but didnt het a lot of info out if it
 
#6 ·
you're down-playing Miller Co. because some dude at the counter steered you the wrong way? I assure you if you call Miller, they will have no records of paying that person to act as an official spokesperson for them, lol.

Come on, man!

I plan to pick up one of the new inverter 211s next month, hopefully.
 
#7 · (Edited)
The new machine is light and portable but if you drop that sucker its going to break since miller is putting cheap sh1t plastic and after looking at the 141 and 190 they feel and look like sh1t to me in person, don't get caught up in the miller bullsh1t overkill! What so portable when you're dragging the SOB around with a bottle of gas? Only portability is when you're doing some flux core welding and its not like you can carry the machine on a shoulder strap around the job site with ease unless you got the strength of a silver back gorilla but then again I have seen some welders that look like gorillas so who knows right ??? The original 211 is just fine no matter the weight its still somewhat portable but also its much easier to install a 8" spool compared to the new machine which looks to be a pain in the a$$ along with spool gun calibration ( WTF ?), original is plug & play to weld instead of f#@king around with settings all day. The original can also be purged by flipping the spool gun switch and I am sure the new machine would probably flip the phuck out if you tried or blink some lights at you ? who knows but the new machine does have the little knob in the middle (if you like playing with knobs). The knob in the middle (pun) makes the use of welder a little better supposedly because you won't have to change the polarity? the stupid part of the whole thing is if you put the knob to the co2 weld setting you still need to look at the chart which you have to do on the original but no need to touch any knob ! WTF ???? Only useful for the autoset feature, which I don't use on mine because its basically for beginners or the lazy.

Overkill your original 211 kicks a$4 and has been proven to be a reliable machine over the years so no need to worry about the new inverter machine being overly superior compared to the original because that transformer will sure as hell be around when the inverters take a dump. I know you feel cheated but don't because your machine is proven to last! Probably the last of the reliable machines before everything goes to cheap plastic and electronics or expandable welders so if you're missing out on anything its playing with knobs, cheap plastic and settings :laugh:.

Just my opinion,

Miller sure makes good equipment but I don't think the new light industrial or hobby migs are going to cut it and probably get upgraded in shorter amount of time compared to the original 211 which had a long run, miller rep (my source) admit they are getting their a$$ handed to them in sales since the lincoln 210 mp came out plus the choices of imports and 3 in 1 machines so they're losing cash especially in the affordable entry type machines. When it comes to miller you pay for the customer service and the quality but ultimately its all about money and its a matter of time quality goes out the window especially when building welders with brittle plastic or making the customer pay for expansion packs. With imports getting better and better its just a matter of time one will take the lead and give the major players a run for their money, probably already do since tons of people are buying AHP welders and that's money the big guys aren't making.

Consider miller if you got cash or if making a living off the machines for everything else there are other options:waving:
 
#11 ·
To get a spool gun with a 200.00 rebate....is an awesome deal IMO. And IMO...The old transformer will still be working for many years. Its almost bulletproof.

Inverter machines are not as reliable. They do seem to perform great. But there is a trade off IMO. I'd have no problem buying a used transformer based welder while I tend to shy away from used Inverter based machines.
 
#12 ·
I'm like others here, I bought the older 211 recently knowing the new one was already out. I bought it because I saved a few hundred and I know it is proven. With that being said I also have owned a Dynasty 200dx right since they first had the new blue lightning technology, somewhere around September 2008 or 2009. That machine is bullet proof if the owner takes a few precautions. I don't leave my machine plugged up so a power surge or lightning strike won't wipe it out. I also never turn my machine on or even plug it in to a generator till the generator is running wide open. I do these things because a miller engineer told me to do so. Inverter technology rocks and for any of you guys that don't think so or think they're not proven are simply living in the past. I wouldn't be afraid of the new 211 I'm sure it rocks. Enjoy which ever one you have.
 
#15 ·
i was not trying to stir the pot but just was a little teeded off. I know the "older" transformer units are rock solid i just was looking into seeing if the "new" techonlogy was a improvement or it was an improvement to the bottom dollar.


Well good thing is i installed the sub panel in the garage now im not poping my 15 amp breaker that i had. Will be posting pics and go from there


thanks again
 
#16 · (Edited)
I will just bet the new 211 inverter is a excellent welding machine, with all the slope settings available. CO2,C-25, Flux-core, and aluminum slopes will really fine tune the machine to the process. It really does make a difference in weld quality. Be nice if it had a inductance control, and then it would be about the perfect little mig machine. (IMO)

I do think the short, and fat style will really make the machine stable, and less likely to drop it.. might be a bit funky looking but the two handle setup is a very nice design. angle drive , and being able to run a 15 ft gun is very nice, and much better then the older unit..
 
#19 ·
Everyone KNOWS you should never trust the shmuck behind the counter......all they know how to do is sell:rolleyes:;)

In the OPs defense he was waited on by a salesperson that most likely is only there for a pay check so when he took that persons word and then finds out they were either mis-informed or (most likely) lied, he's pissed.

I have run the old 211 and it's a great machine. I have not seen or run a new 211 so I have nothing to offer there.
 
#20 ·
I havent ran one either, but was down at my LWS picking up a spool of wire and BS'ing with the guy (same person/shop I got my 211 from). He said a few of the local construction companies around here picked a couple up, said in the shop they didnt notice a difference, they said out in the field running off a generator the newer style 211 (inverter) based ran a better weld.
 
#23 ·
I have the new one. It has a little drive motor wobble, that others have too (ChuckE2009's also has it if you look at his video for it). Miller service center says to just compensate by adding tension. It works but I never really liked that, even though the arc on it is real nice. Earlier this year I think I may have ran it past duty cycle, and the service center had to replaced the board. Oh well. Thinking of selling it at a loss, even have a spoolgun for it. Still works though. Anyone need a 211 inverter? :D
 
#33 ·
Well yes and no. If the tension is too light, the roller grabs onto the wire only on half the revolution (for example at a setting of 2). That should be more than enough tension if it ran true, but since it doesn't and the drive wheel moves away from the pressure roller, less pressure is exerted during that portion, thus it slips unless you compensate with tension in the 3-3.5 range. I can get away with 3 on the stock 10ft M100 gun, but with the 15 ft HTP 250A gun, there is more liner friction due to the length, so it needs about 3.5. Not so much of a problem with solid wire, but excessive tension on flux-cored could cause flattening of the wire profile, IF you accidentally set too much tension.

Does it still "work"? Absolutely. I just have to take those "little extra precautions".
 
#34 · (Edited)
Doesn't your Rebel 215 have an issue with the lower drive roll shifting side to side? :D
I had a PowerMIG 180C for 7 yrs that had a lot of drive roll wobble it never showed up in the arc.


With the quick change drive roll installed my Multimatic 215 has a very small amount of drive roll wobble. With spring tension applied from the upper pressure roller the wobble seems to be almost non-existent. Out of all the MIG units I 've ran my 215 probably has the most consistent C-25 MIG arc I've ever experienced- very forgiving arc. This is manual mode. Not impressed with the auto-set. The weld engineers who came up with the auto-set values need to go back to welding school.:D OK the .030 1/8" C25 auto-set parameters on newer machines then mine is going to be legit and pretty darn good
 
#35 · (Edited)
I don't have any drive issues with the Rebel. The roller is tight to the drive axle shaft. I can put the roller on and slide it past the wire guides so that it is slightly out of allignment but only if I don't pay attention when changing rollers. It does not do anything that causes feeding issues when the grooves are set and alligned properly. Once set it stays where it should. No problem, no slop and no wobble wobble. It is possible my machine is missing a bushing or something behind the drive roller but it has never caused any problems once I realized and learned about making sure wire guides and roller grooves are properly alligned. Since I have not had any issues with it I never really looked into getting a bushing, spacer, washer or anything that would ensure 100% sure fit everytime with out a little effort on my part to allign the drive rollers.
 
#38 · (Edited)
No one on purpose. Accidents happen, components (lifting gear, castors, etc) fail without warning, humans are imperfect. My Dog knocked over a jack once (had jack stands, fortunately), and an AC225 twice (no jackstands lol). If you've never dropped anything expensive or delicate on accident then you haven't worked enough or are God like in your control of yourself and all things around you. I have the newer 211, and it doesn't have too much wobble, fortunately. I've never had a problem with it using solid or flux core and really love the arc. If it's just the drive wheel causing wobble I would fill it with brazed metal, or epoxy (jb weld), and cut a new true bore. shouldn't be too difficult to do yourself or expensive if you want to get it machined
 
#39 ·
Well true, true. I'm not sure my hobby lathe would make it any better, lol. I really do love the arc on it though, and the 211 has the AutoSet parameters dead nuts on target, unlike the 215 that some have wacky programs. We bought one at my school for the high school solar car team, and that one works great. Even though we are a STEM school, I'm exposing these nerdy kids to some real hands-on work/projects that is really challenging them.

I'll be posting mine in the for sale forum this weekend, I just can't decide what would be a good price with the spoolgun and all the accessores. I'm sure someone else can get a lot of life out of it still.