Miller Multimatic 200 MIG/Stick Welder Review
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Performance
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Portability
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Features
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Ease Of Use
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Value For Money
Summary
Voted best new product (not welding product, product) at the 2012 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, the Miller Multimatic 200 is a revolutionary multiprocess welding machine that combines MIG, TIG and stick welding capabilities in its tiny 29lbs frame.
Combining the quality expected of a respected brand with power and versatility unheard of in portable welding machines, the Multimatic 200 is an exceptional piece of kit any welder would be happy to own.
Why Should You Buy The Miller Multimatic 200?
For a portable machine, the capability of the Miller Multimatic 200 is simply ridiculous. With a heavier output load and solid duty cycle at its level, it equals or outperforms a lot of comparable starter machines with every one of its welding types. In fact, the Multimatic could potentially replace multiple welders that would each out-mass it several times in your workshop.
Control Panel (Front)
It boasts exceptional performance across the range, with clean, solid welds and a host of options that make setting up and tearing down simple and easy.
Bear in mind that the Multimatic is still primarily a portable machine. It wasn’t designed to handle constant workloads, and a comparable cost stationary machine made by Miller will outperform it every time. But if you need portability, versatility and reliability, this machine will beat damn near anything else on the market.
Who Should Buy?
If you need a portable machine with the ability to weld MIG TIG, or Stick, then the Multimatic 200 is for you. Even with every accessory packed on this welder still runs less than 50lbs. It can be powered off either a 120V or 230V power supply, and delivers consistent, powerful performance and stable, beautiful welds far beyond what you’d expect from a machine that’s smaller than a briefcase.
The Good:
- Welds absolutely anything: When Miller decided to call this machine the multimatic, they weren’t kidding. With MIG and stick welding capability straight out of the box and the option to purchase a TIG welding kit that plugs straight in, the Multimatic 200 welds absolutely anything. If your workshop regularly requires the quick, simple MIG process and the quality of TIG welds, or if you’re simply uncertain which type of welding is most suitable for your projects, you no longer have to worry, This system has you covered.
- Autoset feature: Dial in the material thickness and your wire diameter and the Multimatic sets output automatically. Alternatively, if you want to set it yourself for finer control, that’s up to you, and the chart of recommended parameters built into the case makes that just as easy.
- Lift start for TIG welding: Like most high quality TIG welders, especially Millers, when TIG welding the machine features a lift start option, a low voltage starting process that doesn’t contaminate the electrode like a scratch start would.
- Excellent power options: The machine works at both 120V and 230V inputs, with excellent performance at both power options. The unit also comes with a multi-voltage plug built in. Just swap the end of the power cable over using Miller’s no tools required design, plug it in, and start working.
- High power for a portable: With 200A of output at 230V, the Multimatic 200 has the capability to deal with every job you’d expect of a portable welder, and a good majority you wouldn’t.
- Portability: Amazingly, despite the amount of technology packed into this system, Miller managed to fit it all within a single high impact, damage resistant 29lb package. No matter where you go, no matter what job you face, if you have a power supply, the Multimatic 200 will face it down.
- Toughness: The machine is covered by the same material Miller uses on their award winning auto-darkening helmets, so it takes a beating.
- Miller guarantee: If anything does go wrong, Miller will get your machine fixed up and running again with their industry gold standard guarantee.
The Bad:
- Relatively low duty cycle: Whilst the performance of the Miller Multimatic 200 is amazing for a portable machine, it is still a portable machine. It’s comparable in power output to cheaper machines, whether MIG or TIG, but doesn’t give the same performance as a heavy duty, non-portable Miller would.
- Cost: The Multimatic 200 is expensive. It costs more than a single machine of either type would, but considering the sheer power and versatility of the product you’re getting, not to mention the fact that it’s from the company widely considered one of the best welding machine manufacturers in the world, that’s to be expected.
- Autoset spatter: Several users have reported that the machine spatters quite a bit when autoset on higher thickness materials. However, just keeping your work distance close or simply setting the parameters yourself fixes this problem.
See customer reviews on Amazon
- Amperage range at 120V: 30 – 140
- Duty cycle at 120V: 20% at 110A, 100% at 75A
- Amperage range at 230V: 30 – 200
- Duty cycle at 230V: 20% at 150A, 100% at 120A
- Wire type and diameter at 120V: 0.6 – 0.8mm or 0.8 – 0.9mm flux cored
- Wire type and diameter at 230V: 0.6 – 0.9mm, or 0.8 – 1.2mm flux cored
- Wire feed speed range: 70-425 IPM
- Weight: 29lbs
multimatic 200 with full MIG kit
Conclusion
There is a reason this machine was voted best new product. In terms of capabilities, it consistently outperforms anything that came before. If you need a portable welding machine, or need the multiprocess system that lets you switch the type of welding you’re working with, and you want the best, this is it. As they say themselves, when you need the job done and to
The Multimatic 200 can be found on Amazon.
