Anything welding

The 211 is a good machine be it the older transformer or inverter. The transformer model is a proven machine. The inventer i havent hear anything negative about. It is a lighter machine and has more electronics though.

Issue i would have if you are buying use and dont know how to weld is testing the machine. Guy can say it works but without being able to test it youll never actually know.

 

Pretty much what he said. Transformer is old school tech that’s proven to be reliable.

With that said, my machine is an inverter and I love it. Having used other transformer machines, mine just seems to burn cleaner and more pure, if that makes any sense.

For peace of mind I bought a 2 year warranty on it in case it shits the bed.

 

I have a Miller 211 and like it. Although, I haven't tried other brands to compare it against.

 

Why Miller kept the same Model number is confusing for 2 very different machines

First as long as it works !!! I have heard so many get burned by a seller saying I have no Shielding gas but only hard wire .

The price was so good I got it home now it does not work now looking at a $500.00 cost to fix

Buying used and you have a idea what you want download the users manual most all can be found online. Understand just what it should do

The downfall of the transformer machines is storage if you live in a dry climate like the southwest they last .

The damp climate like we have here in Pa kills them if they live in the garage on barn my transformer machines live in the climate controlled part of the shop.

Inverters outside of warranty when they fail most often it is very expensive If I had to guess at least 50% of the end users choose not to repair

I think the Miller Guns are pretty much as cheap as they can be The new 211 is the same all mine have been switched to Profax

 

I like the transformer machines if the unit is intended to live in 1 place. If you want to transport it to the job, go with an inverter.

With that said, the work now comes to me. I don't need the headaches of commuting to a welding job.

In addition, the bigger, transformer machines are not going to get stolen as easily as an inverter machine. Thieves are lazy. They aren't going to grab the transformer machine when the inverter is so much easier to carry.

 

Ah ok thanks, little more work then just hitting the upload file button

 

I welded up some 2nd gen shock relocation brackets are today.

 

Are they for your truck? I have the same ones and they work great.

 

Not mine, they belong to @CalTacoma09. @foxrcing07 and I have a wager going, so it looks like I’ll be doing his next.

 

You gonna assist in the install? It's a huge PITA but worth it.

 

The sheet metal under my headlights was starting to crack. This can happen from really washboard/bumpy roads. So I cut it all out and welded some 14 gauge in there. I hope it holds, but I won't be surprised if another crack forms somewhere else.

 

Possibly. I just welded some sliders on the other day for someone else and found out there isn’t a whole lot of room to be welding things to the frame. I’m new to welding so it might be better for him to find someone more experienced to do that part. We are gonna have a look on Saturday though, so it is a possibility that I do it.

 

The welding is the easy part, and judging by your welds on the brackets themselves you'd be fine. The shitty part is cutting off all the stock mounts and grinding it all smooth. With one person on each side, it's a days worth of work to do that, weld on the new ones and get everything painted. Also for his resis I recommend the weld on brackets from ruffstuff.

 

It'll just keep cracking. or crack right next to it. I chased the same thing for a while before finally cutting the entire thing out and fabricating a new one with 1.25" 1/8" wall square tubing.

 

I've seen this on other Tacomas as well. Everyone welds in piece and but welds it.

Why don't they just weld a patch over the crack and spread out the stress? Much quicker and stronger.

If this was a spot that was visible, then I would piece in a section and grind smooth to make it look seamless.

I'm curious and willing to be informed.

Thanks

Kirk

 

That’s what I would like to avoid, but we’ll see what happens.

I don’t really know what I’m doing or what the best solution is. This makes sense to me because I’m killing all the cracks so they can’t spread, and making the trouble area stronger. Like I said I don’t think it will be a permanent fix, but I’m curious how long it will last.

 

Got my practice coupons! Gonna throw down some welds tomorrow.

 

Damn, that's gonna give you a lot of practice.

 

I've only been welding up t joints so I'm gonna practice a bunch of different kinds of welds with this stuff. My vertical welding is pretty bad so I'll definitely be working on that.

 

I need to practice uphill as well. I'm going to be trying this technique.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snyKGd4T-Zg