Canadian owned and operated.
Gone are the days of lugging heavy transformers to the job site. The Miller Maxstar 161 S is the ultimate portable stick welder, weighing in at a mere 13 pounds. Whether you are working on a farm, repairing a shipboard installation, or fixing a gate in the backyard, this machine's compact footprint and included shoulder strap mean you can carry it as easily as a lunchbox. Despite its small size, it packs a punch, delivering up to 160 amps of power to handle steel and stainless steel repairs with ease.
If you have ever struggled with electrodes sticking to the metal or hard-to-start arcs, the Maxstar 161 S is the solution. It features Miller's Adaptive Hot Start™ technology, which gives you a boost of amperage right when you strike the arc, ensuring a clean start every time—even with stubborn 6010 rods. Plus, if you do manage to stick a rod, the intelligent Stick-Stuck™ safety feature cuts the power instantly. This saves your electrode from burning up and makes it easy to wiggle free and try again without the sparks flying.
Power availability is never an issue with the Maxstar 161 S. The package comes ready to run on both 120-volt household power and 240-volt shop power. Changing between voltages is effortless; simply swap the power cord on the back of the machine—no screwdrivers or rewiring required. This flexibility makes it an essential tool for maintenance crews and hobbyists who need a reliable welder that adapts to the environment, not the other way around.
You will appreciate the quiet operation of the Maxstar 161 S thanks to its Fan-On-Demand™ system. The cooling fan only kicks on when the machine actually needs it, keeping your workspace quieter and preventing dust and grit from being sucked into the welder unnecessarily. Combined with its digital meter for precise amperage settings, this welder offers a premium user experience that lets you focus on laying down the perfect bead.
| Additional Information |
|---|
| Brand:Miller |
| Weld Process:Stick (SMAW) |
| Voltage:120/240 V |
| Amperage:160 |
| Duty Cycle:20% |
| Packaging Description:1 per each |
| Process Type:Stick (SMAW) |
| Input Voltage / Phase:120/240 V, 1-Phase |
| Amperage Range:20 - 160 A |
| Output Range / Duty Cycle:160 A @ 20% (240V), 110 A @ 100% (240V), 90 A @ 30% (120V) |
| Portability:Handle, Shoulder Strap |
| Dimensions:10.3 in (H) x 5.6 in (W) x 13.5 in (D) |
| Weight:13 lb (5.9 kg) |
| Warranty Period:3 Years |
| Cooling Type:Fan-On-Demand |
| Item:Welding Machine |
| Input Voltage:120/240 V |
Used this product on the job? Tell other welders how it held up.
great machine
love the weight of this machine and can weld 5/32 rod on 240 volts
Broke after a few months warranry doesnt cover rental
⭐☆☆☆☆ Miller asked me to leave a review, so here it is. I purchased a Maxstar 161 S on March 26, 2026. Within a few months, the machine stopped working. Not after years of use. Not after being abused. A few months. The machine is currently in for warranty repair, which sounds great until you learn what that actually means. I was told the repair could take up to five weeks, and because I need a welder to make a living, I would have to rent another machine for $105 per week while waiting. Let that sink in. A nearly new machine fails, and the customer is expected to spend hundreds of dollars out of pocket just to keep working while the warranty repair drags on. I contacted Miller looking for help. I asked whether they would cover the rental costs, provide a loaner machine, or offer some form of assistance since the failure occurred only months after purchase. The answer? No solution. Just more phone calls and more runaround. A warranty is only as good as the support behind it. If your machine fails and your livelihood depends on it, be prepared to absorb the downtime and extra expenses yourself. I bought Miller because I believed I was paying for quality and reliability. Instead, I ended up with a broken machine, lost time, and the possibility of spending over $500 in rental fees because a product that should have lasted years couldn't make it a few months. Do yourself a favor and ask what happens when your "warranty-covered" machine fails. The answer may be very different from what you expect.
Perfect for what we were looking for.
Great small welding machine. Pricing with a rebate from Miller was definitely a score. Using it in various locations to weld steel curb and works perfectly. We have larger stationary Miller welding machines and are very pleased with how they perform.
I would buy this product again and again
The Miller Maxstar 161 S 110/220 V welder is an exceptional machine. We have been using the same device for over 12 years and it has been used on many construction sites in very difficult conditions. It works with both 110 V and 220 V power, which makes it very robust if the incoming power supply is not too regular. Other portable welders, even from reputable brands, have broken down long ago. Honestly, congratulations to the manufacturer for designing such a reliable machine, and I am really happy to find exactly the same type of device 12 years later. Let's keep the good things alive. If I could, I would give it 100 stars!
This thing is great! Why did I wait so long!
I just got this and am thrilled! This Maxstar is awesome! It comes with decent length and very flexible leads along with quality ground clamp and electrode holder. I have not tried it on 220volts yet but runs 3/32" 7018 great on 110 volt. If you are on the fence, go ahead get yourself a nice welding machine!
I will buy this product
Beautiful
Good and bad points
Haven't had a chance to use it yet but bought it thru cyberweld from miller's website becuase of the discounted price versus buying in a reps store. Got it out of the hard case and it was already damaged. Took it to arcspot Welder repair here in nashville (miller authorized repair site) and the guy said it took a pretty good hit at some point during transit as the brackets that held the electronics were jacked up. I never would have noticed it if my wife hadn't seen the white plastic sticking out between the blue metal cover and the end plate. Who knows what would have happened if I fired that thing up straight out of the box. Cyberweld was semi responsive but it took them 1 to 2 days respond to am email for something that I thought should have been answered within hours, not days. Also I tired calling their help line multiple times and got forced to leave a message and never received a call back. Miller customer service was great when they were open but no help on the weekends kinda stinks. The Welder repair guy said everything checked out ok after they fixed it and he did strike several atcs at max amperage to be sure it was OK. In short, miler customer service was good, product might be good but haven't used it yet, and cyber weld, not so good..don't know that I would use them again
Miller responded
Merchant Response That's not what we want to hear, and we apologize that this was your experience. We have passed your comments on to our team, and they will be reaching out to you. In the meantime, if you need any assistance, please give us a call at 920-734-9821 or email [email protected].
This welder looks and works great hope to have it for a long
Repairs,small projects and its very mobile.
Yes
Great machine
Great Welder
This welder works great and is very compact for how well it welds.
$400 Rebate
$600 Rebate
$400 Rebate
$400 Rebate
$600 Rebate
$400 Rebate
