Anyone have experience with Miller Passport welder??

[FullsizeYota]

Well??


It's small, compact, light, portable, runs on 110v and 220v.

The only downfall i see is the gas situation, it has a 8lb bottle inside the case, almost comical but it has a hose for a larger bottle..

anyone??

[HalfFastFord]

I've got one and love it. I sold my older Miller 200 and my Lincoln 175. That 8 lb. bottle of CO2 has to be filled by a Pepsi or Coke company. welding shops have no way of creating the pressure it requires. It lasts for a while. I've already run mine several times without any noticible change in the bottle pressure. I do use C25 almost exclusively though, at my shop. Love the portability of the unit and thafact that it can run 110 or 220. Best money I've spent on a welder.

[guidolyons]

Not personally...but there's a few threads if you search. I think you can add a larger gas bottle. Duty cycle is low like... 10-20%.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=570493&highlight=passport

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=326499&highlight=passport

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=457820&highlight=passport

[FullsizeYota]

Not personally...but there's a few threads if you search. I think you can add a larger gas bottle. Duty cycle is low like... 10-20%.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=570493&highlight=passport

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=326499&highlight=passport

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=457820&highlight=passport



I'll research a little better. the guy at the welding place said was around 40% duty cycle.. but thats at full power welding 3/8" plate. for 1/4 i think it would be higher or high enough to weld almost continously on a project... or atleast keep up with me..

Have any of you noticed how ambient temperature affected your duty cycle?? when it's 110-115 things get hot and stay hot. thats i think a legitimate concern since it's so hot here.. anyone?

[guidolyons]

Looks like the passport plus is the new model:
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/millermatic_passport_plus/

230 V operation: 150 A at 21.5 V, 20% Duty Cycle
115 V operation: 110 A at 19.5 V, 20% Duty Cycle
Welding Amperage Range

30 - 180 A (230 V)
30 - 140 A (115 V)
Self-contained gas cylinder provides 25 minutes of welding time. The cylinder holds 12 oz. of CO2 [It's a standard paintball tank]. That’s 25 ft. of weld on 3/16” thick material with .030” mild steel MIG wire.

Cyberweld has the older model pasport 180 on clearance
http://store.cyberweld.com/pa180migwe.html

[FFRubicon]

Was going to post a new thread, but will add to this one instead.


I purchased a new Miller Passport Plus, a few weeks ago. I weld bank vaults on construction sites, I needed the portability, size, and rugged package this machine offers. I also wanted the ability to weld with 220 from time to time, so this one fit the bill. I also picked up the spool gun (only $100 with the rebate miller had), for the few times I need to stick some aluminum together in the field. (For big aluminum jobs, I can always use a friends TIG machine.)


I found the machine online for as low as $1445 (with free shipping) and my LWS nearly meet the online price (with $1480). I went with them as I know where they are, should repairs be needed down the road.

I welded for about 2 hours a few days after getting it, in the shop, and was happy with it's performance. Just what I expected.

Last week, I modified a $20 HF hand truck to serve as a cart for it. I already keep a home brew 20# C02 tank/ onboard air setup on my truck, so it now also serves for shielding gas duty. (see pictures of cart below) The cart is small enough to easily get on and off the truck, and maneuverable enough in the confines of a vault, and the obstacles of a job site.

This past weekend, I used it for the first time in the field, on a vault. I used it for approx 16 hours, between 2 days, and it worked amazingly well. Most of the time, i was welding 16ga sheet metal, but also some 1/4" and 3/8" plate. I'm floored with what this little thing will do. In the time I was welding, the fan would turn on and off from time to time, but I never hit the duty cycle making the temp light turn on. I'm using .030 Wire, BTW.

When packing up after the first day, the welder fell off my cart while rolling it over a curb. It survived just fine, only "tweaking" a metal piece on the front, quickly fixed with a pair of pliers. (I know the MM 135 I was using before, would have not survived so well, it was a pretty violent fall.) I'm going to figure out a way to more positively attach the machine to the cart.

I know this is a expensive machine for the rated output, but for my needs, its perfect and worth every penny. If you are looking for a "do it all" machine, you may want to give this one some consideration, or even demo it at your LWS.

My only constructive with the machine, is that the power cord is not removable. I think I'm going to add a twist lock receptacle to the back of the machine to remedy this.

[DSW]

I agree that thats a sweet machine. I have a friend with one and if I needed a 110v machine for field work that would be my 1st choice. I would build a small tray on the bottom of your cart that the passport would sit in that would keep it from sliding around. A small strap or some bungees should keep it in place and allow you to easily remove it. I know the older miller suitcase feeders came in what were originally pelican cases. Pretty much the most bulletproof, water proof cases I have seen made. These look to be the same.

In reality this is a 220v machine that can be used on 110v current. As I understand it its based on the inverter technology of the small stick machines but with a wire feeder.

[FullsizeYota]

I like the cart, thats pretty cool :smokin: so how do you feel about buildin a rig with it?? how is the 220 capability? it looks like a nice machine but every 110 machine i have used i wanted to throw into oncoming traffic. I feel a 110 machine is worthless to anyone but an old lady doing crafts and making birds out of old shovels.. :flipoff2:

I know they have their place, a 110 machine is fine but i always buy something then try to crank it up.... I would like to know that i have some reserve capacity

[FFRubicon]

I plan to build my buggy with it. I have welded 3/8" plate with it on 220v, single pass. IMO the weld quality was the same as any I've laid down with a Miller 251. I think it will do great for anyone just building for themselves.

Give your LWS a call and set up a demo. Most shops I've dealt with are eager for customers to demo machines. Take a few typical materials you weld with you and see what you think.


On a side note, all the welding done last weekend was done on the same 20# C02 bottle. My calculation was a 20# bottle will last 11 hours of welding (with the trigger pulled). The tank seemed pretty light when I loaded it back onto my truck, but I had filled a bunch of tires on the same tank. Also, the internal tank is a 12oz (NOT 8lb) paintball tank, cost $3 to fill at a paintball place. I have it full, but not connected, just in case I need it.


Short of building rigs in a 24/7 fab shop, it should serve well for building the occasional rig.