Tools & Fabrication - Welding machines

Hi all.

I was wondering if anyone has any firsthand experience with these two Miller machines.

Diversion 165 TIG Welder
&
Millermatic 211 w/AUTOSET

I am wondering if I should do my LQ4/9 swap first, or buy the equipment. I have access to some HD Miller migs at work, but we mainly do sray transfer. I never sprung up the want/need TWO welders on the wifey yet. LOL. I might be pushing my luck. I dunno.:confused:

Anywho.... any input would be great.
Thanks,
---Jim---

I have a 212 and its a great machine.

211 and 212 are basically the same unit except the 212 is rigged for both wire welding and a spool gun for aluminum without having to remove one lead and replace it with the other.

The Autoset feature is amazing.

anyone have a comment on the Diversion 165 ???????

people............?

Every miller I have ever used has welded like butter. My next welder will be a miller.

i got a miller tig at work and it worked good but now that i got my htp invertig i like mine way better, but mine is an inverter style tig welder so its a lil different, welds aluminum way easier

Hi all.

I was wondering if anyone has any firsthand experience with these two Miller machines.

Diversion 165 TIG Welder
&
Millermatic 211 w/AUTOSET

I am wondering if I should do my LQ4/9 swap first, or buy the equipment. I have access to some HD Miller migs at work, but we mainly do sray transfer. I never sprung up the want/need TWO welders on the wifey yet. LOL. I might be pushing my luck. I dunno.:confused:

Anywho.... any input would be great.
Thanks,
---Jim---
For a hobbyist, not a full on weld shop, both are good choices.
I have the Miller 211 w/ autoset. You won't be disappointed. I was VERY skeptical of the autoset but was actually surprised on how close it really was. The adjust was more of a matter of personal preference rather than major adjustment to get the weld right.

The diversion isn't bad either. The only draw back I see is the torch/cable assembly. The hi freq switch is the roller type, which is great for aluminum, ut is quite awkward to try rolling, I prefer the pancake switch, and it is built into the torch lead/handle. I haven't check prices but I can bet they aren't cheap. I typically use Miller Dynasty200 DX and Miller syncrowave 250's and we replace hi-freq switches way more often than we do welding leads. If a guy takes care he probably can make it last. The other thing is too opt for the longest lead you can get. Some of the smaller welders by Miller come standard with a 12' lead and it don't reach shit!!

I can't help much but say i own a 180w/autoset and i think its great. I only weld maybe 2-3 hours a week at most. I got it not knowing anything about welding, and its been a great machine to work with.

can't go wrong with a miller I have 20 units working 10 hour days.

can't go wrong with a miller I have 20 units working 10 hour days.

we use Millers at work too. Last place I worked for too. hense why I want a Miller. You get what you pay for.

The 165 is going to be very power limited when doing aluminum. It's more than enough power to do any mild or SS work you'll most likely want to do. Key element to buying welders of any type is buy as much power as you can afford because sooner or later you'll wish you had more (within reason of course). The 211/12 machine is a great unit and should be powerful enough for 95% of the people buying it. I was pretty surprised myself with the autoset and just how close it was. As mentioned above, I was very sceptical but happy after giving it a try. LOVE Miller!! My oldest TIG machine is about 12-13 years old and I've replace nothing but the torch in that time.