Keep Lincold Weld-Pak 100 + Millermatic 211?

[yesindeed]

I am a just-retired, half-@ssed backyard handyman. I do like to putter around working on my '88 Jeep Wrangler, and my '67 chopped Harley . I just got a Millermatic 211 because i finally ran a 220v line out to my driveway. I used it this week to put a fabricated rear bumper on my jeep. My other MIG is a Lincoln Weld-Pak 100 (a real one from a welding supply shop, not the home depot HD model) with the gas attachment. (I now grabbed the CO2-Argon bottle for the Miller) I have used this for over 15 years, and i can surely now say, the MM211 is worlds better. Here is my dilemma: Do i sell the Lincoln, (with the gas attachment, for maybe $250) and just keep the MM211, or do I load the Lincoln up with fluxcore wire, and keep it for an easy-to-carry around 110V, somewhat portable machine? The MM211 is a bit heavy to bring around, especially with the bottle. I can just throw the Lincoln in the back seat, and go with it (even though i have never used it away from my house in over 15 years). It is in pristine condition, so it is almost worth keeping it for any unseen uses. Any comments?

[DSW]

Tough call.

I'm not a big fan of FC wire myself. It has it's uses, but I usually have better options. On 110v the 2 machines with FC would probably do almost the same thickness FWIW.

I just picked up a cheap parts machine to fix the POS import I started with. I haven't used it in years and it just sat 1/2 forgotten in the shop attic. When I saw a parts machine cheap on CL I grabbed it. My thought was to load it with .023 wire for those occasional on site repairs for thin things and sheet metal. Adding a few light tie downs on my buddy's ladder rack, fixing holes in the truck floor etc, instead of having to drag out my full sized 220v mig over to his place or arranging to hook up with him at mine. If I had the MM211 I'd use that hands down over my 110v mig, but it is nice not to have to swap rolls of wire anymore or drag out the spool gun to fix small sheet metal jobs. I used it over Christmas to fix a hand rail at my parents where 220v was not an easy option.

In reality though, I doubt I'd really miss the little 110v machine. It's more of a luxury. I've managed to make do without it for years, and if I really had enough work to justify a 110v machine, I'd rather have the MM211 with the little bit more umph on 110v. I could easily see selling it for decent money and using that money for a tool I'd use more.

[Sandy]

Heck set it up with all .023 hardware and use it on thin stuff.

[ed mac]

ive had my weld pak 100 for about 15 years to
and thats what i do keep flux core in it great
for small jobs when i dont want to use the mm251
if you dont need the $$ why sell it

[yesindeed]

Heck set it up with all .023 hardware and use it on thin stuff.

Would the .035 fluxcore wire work for that? (I happen to have a new roll of that size laying around...)

[yesindeed]

ive had my weld pak 100 for about 15 years ......
if you dont need the $$ why sell it

That has pretty much been my motto. That's why i have about 25 years worth of my toys laying around, just can't bear to part with them. What would an excellent condition Weld-Pak 100 with the gas attachment be worth?

[Sandy]

Would the .035 fluxcore wire work for that? (I happen to have a new roll of that size laying around...)

Nah. The .023 hardware I was referring to would be the .023 liner, tips and gas for the solid.023. Ideal for thin sheet and tubing and itty bitty jobs. Leave the bigger wire for the 211.

Using that .035 flux core on a very small machine is trying to make a big machine out of a little one. Not much advantage in that. It's easy enough to swap the 211 back and forth from solid to flux core when you want power & penetration.

[ed mac]

i use the 035 thats what it came with new
and can get the wire at home depot any time
just bought a 10lb roll was using a lot of 1lb
rolls and there $10 each the 10lb was $44
i tryed a HF roll its junk

[Broccoli1]

FYI- no matter where ya bought the Weldpak-100- it be the same machine

[dakook]

Thats what I do . except is with a HD3200 and a 255XT. Once I got the 255 just keep a spool of NR-211MP in the HD3200.

[accentphotography]

Just a noob to welding but I have a Weld Pak 100 and I enjoy it. Just went to a 220v Miller TIG and in as much as I would like a 220v MIG, I will keep my Weld Pak 100 for the ease of portability and loaning it out to friends. I think it makes a great thin gauge portable welder but thats just my opinion.

That gas conversion sells for $130.00 on ebay and you could always use it on another 110v welder if someone needed that alone.