Ive been researching welders. Searching the pbb points me to a 220v mig in the 175-215 amp range would be good for what I want to do. I dont have 220v and am of the opinion that buying a 110v mig is a waste of money. I also dont want to wait until I move to get a welder. Enter the MM DVI. Rated abit higher than a MM135 pluged into 110v and just below the MM210 plugged into 220v. Rated for 3/8" in a single pass, same as the 210, but the duty cycle is lower. Price looks like its between the 175 and 210.

link to comparsion chart: http://millerwelds.com/products/mig/allinone_products.html

Looks like a good unit to me, but what do I know. Any pros feel like looking through the specs and posting up an opinion?


Thanks

Ben

I think that the welder would definitely suit someone in your position. I had been looking at the 210 and considered the DVI for the reason that I could take it over to a friend's place even if he did not have 220V. Finally decided that the chances of actually doing that were pretty limited.

I think that the welder would definitely suit someone in your position. I had been looking at the 210 and considered the DVI for the reason that I could take it over to a friend's place even if he did not have 220V. Finally decided that the chances of actually doing that were pretty limited.

the "taking it over to a friends place" is whats selling me. For now, anything I cant get with 110v, I can tack together at my place and haul to a buddies house for final welding. Or rent a 220V generator for a weekend.
Ive been searching the web, not much out there yet, but its all positive. The only argument against it is why not get the MM210 for about $250 more. Well worth the $$ for the extra duty cycle.

If you had 220V, I'd say go with the 210. Since you don't, I'd say wait until you do. If you don't want to wait, then I think the DVI makes perfect sense. Also, as you say, this way you can tack it together and then run over to a friend's place to finish up.

Anyone who has 220V available is foolish to get a 110V welder IMHO. But I think the DVI recognizes that in some cases you will not have 220V available all the time.

So your choices really boil down to waiting, buying a 110V welder now and upgrading later, or getting the DVI now and being able to use it now AND later.

Seems to make perfect sense.

If it were me I would figure out how to get 220V. Buy the correct gauge extension lead and run it to the kitchen or fusebox. Whatever it takes. A long 220V extension lead will always come in handy.

JP

I'd just wire in a 220 rectipticul,

I'm glad most of my friends dont have 220 or i'd never see my welder agane

If it were me I would figure out how to get 220V. Buy the correct gauge extension lead and run it to the kitchen or fusebox. Whatever it takes. A long 220V extension lead will always come in handy.

JP

Good idea, its something Ive thought about, but its not doable where Im at.

Just to add to this thread, heres some good info I found on a welding board. Its mostly about the MillerMatic 210 vs the Hobart Ironman 210, But theres some good stuff about the DVI at the end.

On steel, to take full advantage of the performance advantages that the MM 210 provides over the IM 210 requires the use of at least two different shielding gas mixes. Both units will short arc with C-25. The MM 210 however is capable of outputting higher load voltages on it upper 2 taps then the IM 210. So, if you set the MM 210 up with a bottle of 98% Argon / 2% oxygen, you can spray arc an .030 or .035 solid wire. However, if you just plan on staying with one gas mix like C-25, then the advantage to look at that the MM 210 provides you over the IM 210 is in the area of duty cycle. The MM 210 has a much better duty cycle then the IM 210. To keep this simple, the MM 210 is a heavier duty unit then the IM 210. I will state though if your budget is tight, and you cannot afford the MM 210, the IM 210 is definitely a better choice then one of the smaller 175/180 amp units. BTW, on a 230V input, the output on the MM DVI sure looks very similar to the IM 210. As does the duty cycle ratings across the chart. I suspect Miller just used the IM 210 internal components for The MM DVI. Why am I mentioning this, because the MM DVI sells for about $70 less then the IM 210. Plus, the MM DVI comes with the same dual driven drive roll system that is on the MM 210 and MM 251. The IM 210 has the same single driven drive roll system that is on the HH 140/180.

On the subject of "why buy the DVI when the MM210 is only $300 more?" (same guy):



I agree with you, if the person is going to use the full range of potential that the MM 210 offers over the MM DVI. However, if the operator is never going to use the unit with anything other then C-25 and solid wire, in short arc mode, I don t know if the extra expense is necessary


Since I realisticly never use anything but C-25 and solid wire, the DVI might be a better choice even if I had 220v. Especially since I'm stretching my budget as it is. But on the other hand, Ive NEVER regretted buying a better tool than I could justify $$-wise.

Ben

I actually think the DVI would be my first choice for first welder IF I was buying brand-new (I don't) and if I had the money (I don't) For what I want to do, getting close to the 210 is great, having full power of the 210 is not that much more to impress me with. Variable voltage means portability, something I don't have with my 250-300 amp Millermatic 200. She's a big bitch. I've got all the power I could ever possibly use, I can deposit filler at rates probalby 3x as fast as any reasonable expectation of my future skills, etc etc. Yeah, I can glue 1/2" all day long on a production basis, so what. We're building trucks not ship hulls and dump boxes.

So what did you end up getting anyway?

Anybody look at the Passport? It has the dual input voltage and only weighs 45 lb. That includes the bottle of shielding gas(CO2).

NOT taking it over to a friends place is the bet part of having a 220v welder. Once you get one, it's like having a pickup truck whenever people move. People come out of the woodwork:

"Hey can you weld this up? ...Can I borrow your welder? ...Hey I just need..."

"Sorry. It only runs on 220v."

So it stays at my place, I don't have to cart it around, and it's never used by anyone else unless I'm around. I don't mind helping people out on something really insignficant for free, but I prefer to do it at my place.

:D

NOT taking it over to a friends place is the bet part of having a 220v welder. Once you get one, it's like having a pickup truck whenever people move. People come out of the woodwork:

"Hey can you weld this up? ...Can I borrow your welder? ...Hey I just need..."

"Sorry. It only runs on 220v."

So it stays at my place, I don't have to cart it around, and it's never used by anyone else unless I'm around. I don't mind helping people out on something really insignficant for free, but I prefer to do it at my place.

:D

That's a very good point. Lost on me though I don't have any friends (surprise!) :laughing: