What owners do with it
How it is used28 owners said
Paid work50%
Farm and repair36%
Hobby and home11%
Auto and fab4%
Process used10 owners said
MIG with gas70%
Flux core30%
Specs
What it does
- Plugs into
- 240V
- Amperage
- 30-300A
- Duty cycle
- 200A at 60%
The machine
- Weight
- 205 lb
- Warranty
- 3 years 3 years parts and labor; MIG gun 90 days.
Prices
34 owner reviews
Got my 252 a year later in '13. I still run a 251 at work as well. The adjustment knobs are stupid sensitive on the 251 but it feels the same while welding. I still have the M-25 gun for light work and a .045 ATTC Lightning gun for running FCAW-G. I use the ATTC Lightning consumables, but figured out I don't like the screw on nozzles much in that brand. Bernard Centerfire stuff is alright but they are more limited on options for nozzles, and the larger series is damn chunky. I've got both Centerfire size adapters in my stock drawer if I ever want to switch it up. I can't say I've ever tried running a .045" tip with .035" solid wire. That could definitely be an issue with consumables that don't have much contact surface area in the tip for the wire to touch (looking disapprovingly at you Tweco Fusion).
I'm also entirely self taught, but have been welding for a living for a couple of years now (all mig). In my experience the only time more than a fraction of a second of pre- or post-flow is necessary is when welding aluminum or stainless steel. If your workpiece is dirty enough that catching it on fire is an issue you should really be cleaning it prior to welding, simply running more gas won't help nearly as much as a moderately clean substrate. Make sure your regulator is set high enough too, usually 25-35cfh is plenty for lighter stuff on mild steel. On many newer machines it is possible to set pre flow and post flow, pre flow isn't necessary on mild steel but a little bit of post flow doesn't hurt, just long enough to keep the puddle in the shielding gas until it isn't glowing any more. I have an older style Millermatic 211 that doesn't have that option, but have never found it to be an issue. At work I use a Millermatic 252, 215 and 255, all of which can do pre and post flow.
I bought mine around 2012 to I built water truck, pup, trailers, and tanks be good to watch a video on that cause I’m not sure. I really know everything about it, but I got by. Use the 250s for a long time never had any problem with Wells breaking on oil field equipment not a professional that’s for sure but I got by.
I'm a professional welder fabricator, self employed for almost 40 years. Retired now, mostly, but still have my shop and tools. I have 5 other arc welding machines. All bigger and more expensive than this one. My engine driven portable stick welder/generator set is (40 years of use, also) is about wore out and neglected, needing work and out of service. I got this little Titanium to fill in when out of reach of my shop and all of the heavy, 240 volts, transformer powered dinosaurs that live there. This one, being my first inverter powered machine, is about the weight and size of a school lunch box. From the good reviews, I took a chance on it. At my shop I still prefer my Millermatic 252 MIG Welder (but with it's 50lb. CO2 bottle it is over 300 lbs.!). So the Titanium Flux 125 plugs into a 120volt cord and needs no gas bottle! The gun lead is only about 5 feet, so you have to put the machine on the table right next to your work. The ground lead is just as short and the clamp is like a cheap car jumper cable (so make a shiny spot to clamp it to). Surprised me how strong it is! It says you should have a 12 gauge cord on a 20 amp circuit and that is no lie. I tried it on my 4000 watt gas generator and it is kinda wimpy for this welder, nearly stalling the engine when you pull the trigger. It could work for some light tacks, but you really need a solid cord and household circuit. With a little practice I was laying a 3" long fillet weld in flat position in the corner between 2 pieces of 1/4" plate that looked like it was welded with a 1/8" 7018 stick electrode rod. Never had the settings over about 1/2 way up! It really surprised me. I know it'd break quick if you just pushed it and didn't let up, but if you use it hard briefly and let it rest in between it should be able to do quite a bit. It is very capable for what it costs! I know I could baby it and get a lot of work out of it if I wasn't in a hurry. After it heated up a little it was harder on my generator than when it started out cold. If you're using a generator? Better have a stronger one than mine.
I’ve ran these since they first came out. The biggest problem I’ve had with them is the thermal shutdown. If you try to use Dual shield wire or Outershield, it will get hot and shut down if you do not improve the ground clamp and ground lead. I have a 251 digital that will run all day long with anything I use it on. In my opinion the transformers that came in the older machines are quite a bit better.
User error... the clamp is a little cheesy, but it getting bent like that is probably due to a bad ground and the clamp arcing and getting hot. Popping 15amp breakers... no kidding. It clearly states it was designed for a 20amp feed. The 15amp adapter is just to get you by. Lastly, wearing out liners? How are you wearing them out so fast? Sure flux core is dirty, but not on the outside of the wire, you know the portion rubbing on the liner... Ive been packing around my Forney for about 5 years now, and its been flawless. Was better than the lincoln it replaced, at half the amount of money. Sure, it doesnt compete with my Miller 252, but its not supposed to. Its a great little machine. In the right hands of course.
I use the exact same machine at work. I run .035 solid steel wire with 90/10. The only issue I've ever had was the rollers getting gummed up with the green goo that comes off ESAB wire. I run a tweco gun with a 23-37 nozzle for getting into tight spots. SCREW-ON nozzle is a must.
My machine at home is the older version with a tap switch instead of the digital voltage. Separate wire feeder. I plan on modding the wire feeder to add pre and post flow so it will run more like a 252. It uses the same transformer as a 252. Welds great with a Bernard gun.
I have one at work. It died recently, I think. I haven't had time to diagnose it yet.
I have 2 of them I use full time. Very great machine. Mine are wired 480volt
Actually, that is the most important question for any welding machine. The 252 is 60%, that's why I went with a Panasonic @ 80%. Side by side, the Miller guy was taking breaks every 10 mins where I was running beads all day. Miller 252 is still a good machine. There are things I like and dislike about both. We would run .045 wire at 25 amps in the Gunslinger and basically plasma cut 1/4" plate. Lol
I always run a larger tip than my wire as well. Seems to run smoother and the tips, for me, last longer.
I have one at my shop with the double bottle rack and a spool gun and I love it. Fantastic machine if you dial them in just right. Only issue I've had with mine is the dials have gotten funky and jump all over the place when I make adjustments. Hopefully it's just something that I can replace but it is a little annoying.
We got a 252 with the mdx gun and it didnt last 2 months before it started giving us trouble. The liner kept working its way lose, took it in under warranty they put a new liner in. That one lasted a month and did the same thing. Imo Bernard is the best! We got one on our 350P and it does not quit!
I run hot , less spatter
I used one of those at a factory, it was an awesome machine! I got it runnin real nice and loved using it to build everything!
My fav machine so far!
I got the 200. Little brother to Yours, I really like it after I upgraded the whip to a 400 amp unit!
I run one 10 hrs a day at wrk..great machine but it has a shelf life after burning so many hrs
I have the same one. .045 tip with.035 wire. Post flow 5 seconds. I have a 35A Spool Gun for aluminum that I got from a friend for $200. I bought the welder new in 2012 as well. I've went thru a couple trigger micro switches, and a couple liners. But we did a lot of welding remanufacturing flatbed trailers, and 80 foot extendables for a steel company, we remanufactured dump trucks and equipment trailers for towns and counties. Plus a ton of log trucks and trailers. It's been a great machine for us. Edited for fixing autocorrect. 2nd Edit LOL. I'm running a fuel injected Miller Trailblazer 302 on my service truck, and can run the spool gun if it with the adapter.
I love those machines. I've done thousands of pounds of wire through 1 of those machines. I run a Bernard whip on it.
I've been running these machines for 10+ years, they're great! I hate the new mdx style whips though, the original were so much better
I’m going to try .045 tip with.o35, I’ve been burning up them tips running over 30 volts
I have an everlast 253 mig. For the money it is an amazing machine. Better in my opinion than the Miller 252 at my old job.
Really? I use one at work and I think it's great.
I love my 252 makes me look like a descent welder some times lol and i like the truck my 2500 is the same color
I would personally jump up to .035 wire. You are doing some thick stuff. I weld for a living all day with a miller 252. But I personally own the omnipro 220, mig max 215, and tig max 205 all from vulcan and they are all very good.
The Millermatic 252 and 350P are both transformer machines. Lincoln's Power Mig 256 and 350MP are both transformer machines as well. Any of those four are very solid machines. I haven't used 350P yet, but I've used the other three and been very impressed.
I have a Miller Syncrowave 200 TIG machine that was built in 2006. I bought it used in 2008. It doesn't have all of the features of the inverter machines, but it does excellent welds and it's a very solid unit. I also have a Miller 252 MIG that I bought new about 6 years ag. It's capable of welding up to 1/2" plate and, with proper gas can do spray MIG. It's also good for sheet metal with .022 wire and the matching liner and tip. In my humble opinion, you can't go wrong with Miller machines, but Lincoln machines are also very good. Buy American whenever possible,
My Miller 252 MIG wil do 3/8" and 1/2" Steel very nicely. I use CO2 for shielding gas because it's inexpensive and I'm only welding for myself so a bit of spatter isn't an issue. I have a Miller Syncrowave 200 for TIG and they both have their place. With proper settings a MIG welder will provide excellent penetration.
Woah, am I wicked late to the party here! That thing is sweeeeet! Does a great job, too. 👍👍 In all reality, that's all I'd ever need over here, too. Thankfully, though, I ended up with a Miller 252 industrial unit. I didn't know the ground clamp is supposed to shine, lol! Mine has many years of hard use on her. Yours sounds alot better than mine. I've already repaired the ground cable once. Might be time for a new clamp, too (and trigger assembly, since that's been busted since I got it). I've never changed a spool on it yet - had it 5 years so far! The spool is huge - 30+ pounds if I remember right. Just used it today on the upper control arm camber adjustment nuts on the ol' Grand Marquis - she's getting a complete front-end overhaul, so I can go to the alignment shop ONCE this time. Hopefully they remember to tighten them this go around ... 😬
I have an older version of the Lincoln 180, had it for 8 years, and it may have changed since then but mine is a very good machine, I've put hundreds of hours on it with no problem other than changing liner and consumables, even with thicker plate like 3/8" and 1/2" as long as its beveled and using multi pass, I don't use the factory settings tho, I run "d" on volts and barely over "4" on wire speed or "e" and "5.5" on heavier stuff. I run miller 252 pretty regular too and it is a better machine but in a different class, haven't used the miller you have there so I can't say on it
I second this. I worked at a chemical plant where we use a miller 252 for all our shop fab work. This was the machine I learned to mig weld on and its awesome. I welded short circuit as well as spray transfer with ease on a couple projects. Did A LOT of stainless running tri mix gas and I also agree that the pre and post flow was a super nice feature to have. I even used this machine to practice and learn dual shield flux core.
The Miller 252 is awesome I've used it before!
Review videos
Stacey David's GearZ Miller MIG WeldersApr 18, 2011 · YouTube ↗
Millermatic 255 vs Multimatic 255 Review and ComparisonDec 6, 2023 · YouTube ↗
About My Millermatic 252 Mig Welder #welding #shop #farm #weldingmachine #arossweldingMar 31, 2024 · YouTube ↗
Millermatic 252 MIG Welder 208/230 Volt Set UpJan 26, 2024 · YouTube ↗
Machine Minutes - Millermatic 252Jan 28, 2025 · YouTube ↗
Millermatic 252Aug 16, 2024 · YouTube ↗
