Miller Gold Star Line

[Pat]

Just checking to see if anyone can tell me if older Miller Gold Star machines are tig, mig, or stick specific. Last week at my brothers business I spotted a Miller Gold Star something or another buried in a corner. It is about the size of an apartment sized refrigerator and on wheels. Will be going back over there in the next 2 weeks and just wanted some info so I can start begging early in the event it is something I might want to drag home...........thanks,

Pat.

[Customwelds]

I'm almost sure they are TIG and stick machines. I almost bought an older 330 model Gold Star but decided against it. I wasn't sure about current draw, fit in my garage, or the ability to work on it if i ever needed too. But, if you can get it for a good price, it may be worth the question on the maintenece, if it breaks u could just toss it or something. Maybe an older fellow who was around when these were made could give better info.

[Pat]

Customwelds,

Thanks for the reply. I will have to get a closer look at it when I get over there. The price is always right at big brothers. I think is is just relieved that I don't charge him to take things off his hands....Ha Ha. It would be great if it is a tig/stick combo, and even better if it is single phase 220. I would have asked him last week when I was there but I already had a truck load of stuff, and I didn't want to appear too greedy:)

[Customwelds]

Any time, the one i looked at was a TIG/stick machine and was single phase, came with water cooled torch and stuff and a couple other things like that, it was a good deal. I went ahead and got the lincoln though, i like it.

[Franz]

Originally posted by Customwelds
I'm almost sure they are TIG and stick machines. I almost bought an older 330 model Gold Star but decided against it. I wasn't sure about current draw, fit in my garage, or the ability to work on it if i ever needed too. But, if you can get it for a good price, it may be worth the question on the maintenece, if it breaks u could just toss it or something. Maybe an older fellow who was around when these were made could give better info.

:angel: OK, get it straight, I'm the Old Fart, not an older fellow.
Relax youngun, I ain't gettin on ya, just havin some fun; And, yes, I was around when they came out.
Damn nice machine, both stick & TIG, first generation with digital readout, though I could never figure how you were supposed to read LEDs and weld at the same time.
Those things are tremendous industrial quality power sources that will run 24/7 without stoppin for a drink.
the only DRAWBACK, you have to be REAL careful what you plug into the 115 volt outlet cause as I recall, overloading it can burn out the control transformer in the machine.
If you can get ahold of one, it will last a long time with very few problems as long as you blow the dust out occasionally.
http://search.freefind.com/find.html?id=81519890&pid=r&mode=ALL&n=0&query=gold%20star
Of course, if I got one, I'd print out the information before Miller drops it off line to put up another picture of their POS bike.:p

[Customwelds]

Haha, I figured any other guys that were around back then may or may not refer to themselves as Old Farts, so I figured I'd play it safe. That's pretty much what I thought about the machine too, exept I believe the one I was looking at was just a normal "turn the knob to the mark" type of setting, rather than digital meters. Neat to have, even more so since you can get it cheap!

[Franz]

Oh sure, meake me pull out drawers in my memory like all the dern kids, I got a buddy in OK City, so ya best be careful or I'll put him on huntin ya.

The one you're lookin at was probably bought by somebody who saw about as much sense in the DRO as I did. The DRO option was probably only bought by companys who wanted to run them in production situations, where minimally skilled people would run the machine, and some labcoat guy would look at the DRO to verify the operator was runnin in parameters.
If you can lay hands on that machine right, and check it for function before turnin over cash, haul her home. It should put out a nice arc.

[Pat]

Franz,

Pardon my ignorance, but what dose "DRO" stand for. I have been scanning the web looking for information on that free bridgeport to see what all I can do with it, and very often the term DRO is brought up........Just curious, and also wondering if holes can be threaded using a tap in the bridgeport.........thanks.

[fla jim]

I'm not Franz, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night.:laugh:
DRO stands for digital read out.

[Franz]

Damn, is there a new term for Readouts now? I am OLD.

The DRO on a bridgeport essentially tells you the measurement of movement between the cutting tool and the workpiece. Before DROs you rough calculated that using the hash marks on the handwheels and confirmed with measuring tools. DROs are primarily a production enhancment tool, and major time saver.

Tapping in a Bridgport, that is one H U G E question.
It's about like asking can metal be welded.
Yes, you can tap in a bridgeport, BUT, at your level of skill, I'd strongly recommend against you attempting it. The first thing on the list of things you won't have when you mount a tap is the feel of the tap. Even with a tapping head, you'll get in TROUBLE fast, and unless you have a tap disintegrator and truckload of free taps, there are a lot better things you need to learn first.

[Pat]

Fla Jim and Franz,

Thanks for clearing up what DRO stands for.

Franz,

At the present moment I am not qualified to turn a bridgeport on let alone be tapping some threads. I probably should have worded my question somthing like (in the hands of a skilled person could threads be tapped using a bridgeport). I was just curious about if it could be done. Next week I will be going over to my brothers business where I will be getting a crash course on the Bridgeport by one of his employees. I'm gonna try going every day for 2 weeks so I can at least get the very basics down (if that is possible in 2 weeks)........thanks again,

Pat.

[Franz]

Pat, you are one lucky guy, first you get a free Bridgeport, and now 2 weeks of lessons.
I sure hope you're takin a box of donuts along for the instructor.
With a halfway good millhand, you oughta come out the back end of that class being able to do some milling without crashing the machine.
YUP yer gonna crash one, everybody does.

[fla jim]

Franz is right, a dozen donuts go far to spread good will. I really envy you your bridgeport. In the hands of a skilled machinist it's a very versatile tool. Currently in the Magic Garage I have a HF mill/drill. Here's a picture of tapping a vise jaw off of a bandsaw

[Pat]

Jim,

Thanks for the photo, I need to do the vise modification to my bandsaw also. When the hole is being tapped do you have to manually feed the tap, or once it starts to thread dose the threading action pull the tap in automatically................Thanks