I was looking to buy a welder this week. The welder will be used for building a buggy and maybe a trailer. I also might try some aluminum too, so I'll probably be getting a spool gun. The Millermatic 210 and Millermatic DVI seem to be in my price range, but I'm not sure which one to go with. I do like that I could take the DVI to a friends to weld something if I needed to... Is the 210 a much better machine? Is there something else I should be looking at?
Thanks for your input!!
-Nathan
Well, if you decide to go with the 220v machine (not dual voltage) you could save some $ by buying an HTP, their Mig 200 is under $1000, whereas the Miller 210 will set you back $1249 on ebay.
If you really want 110v capability, save a couple hundred and buy a used
110v machine. You see these used more often as folks buy em from home depot or sears, use em awhile, and sell em years later not knowing the value. I see at least one a month in my local classifieds.Also, 110v welders typically have infinite voltage control, rather than taps (or pre-sets) on the DVI. Gives you a little more finite control which you may or may not need.
-Tom
I love the idea of the DVI. Unitil Miller came out with it, HTP was the only company to offer a dual voltage MIG. I believe they call their's the 160DV.
Miller has nice spoolgun solutions.
The 210 is a very good machine. The DVI is pretty much the same machine, so it isn't much of a risk, plus Miller is really good about their warranties.
I own a 210 and 3035 spoolgun. The DVI is proof Miller is doing the homework on the mid-industrial and home market. As long as it does not suck as bad as the Passport it only has a lighter duty cycle than the 210 but it is slick as it gets. Granted this is generation one gear, hence the Passport (I almost bought one but the feedback I picked up here on the forum stopped me cold) It's best to let things go through one build/service production revision before calling it "Credible" The 210 has never let me down, but I don't use it much. It's like anything else, it takes time, field feedback and post mortem review to complete a cycle. I don't know what to recommend but check around the HTP's following. Hold out if possible I guess..
Rob
The passport does not such and is the only 120 volt welder that you can stick 3/16 together with solid wire/gas. The DVI will not even be in the ballpark when comparing them on 120 volt/ 20 amp input .
But look at all the problems with them- it's the only thing that stopped me cold from running out and buying one, I think once they (Miller) get it debugged I'll be a proud owner. I only mentioned it as reference because both units were released around the same time. The history is the ultimate truth, I thought it a bit pricey but for $1,200.00usc I'd expect perfection from out of the box. On to round two...
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