buy used miller or new hobart?

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I have a coworker that has a Miller Thunderbolt XL 225ac/150dc that he wants to sell. He's asking $475.00. It's barely used at all and has 50' leads added with Tweco holder and ground and the wheel kit added. I can get a new Hobart Stickmate LX 235ac/160dc for $489.99.Is the upgrades on the Miller worth it or should I go with the Hobart and have a warranty? I know these two units are otherwise identical.Thanks in advance for any advice.
Reply:I wouldn't pay more for the Miller name, but with the upgrades it's a good deal IMO.
Reply:Miller...with the 50' leads, tweeco stinger, wheels, already cheaper plus no sales tax...much better deal imo...-DoogieMiller 350PMiller Trailblazer 325 EFI w/ Excel PowerLincoln LN25 suitcase welderXMT 304/22a feederMiller Syncrowave 350LXMiller EconotigHobart Handler 140(2) Uni-Hydro 42-14Hypertherm 65 plasmaWEBB Gap bed lathe
Reply:Originally Posted by shawnkI have a coworker that has a Miller Thunderbolt XL 225ac/150dc that he wants to sell. He's asking $475.00. It's barely used at all and has 50' leads added with Tweco holder and ground and the wheel kit added. I can get a new Hobart Stickmate LX 235ac/160dc for $489.99.Is the upgrades on the Miller worth it or should I go with the Hobart and have a warranty? I know these two units are otherwise identical.Thanks in advance for any advice.
Reply:Like stated they are both really excellent machines. I bought the Hobart and loved it. I gave it almost new to good buddy that suffered a fire that wiped out his whole shop and every tool he had collected for over 30 years with no insurance. He came here one day to use it, and when done I loaded it in his truck.If it were me, I'd prolly go with the Miller because 50 foot leads ain't cheap and it will certainly sell faster and demand higher price over the Hobart someday.
Reply:Originally Posted by derekpfeifferMiller...with the 50' leads, tweeco stinger, wheels, already cheaper plus no sales tax...much better deal imo...
Reply:a lot of people worry about inverter welders not lasting long. i have had HF welder over 4 months now using every week end thats less than $50/month and going down every day as welder should last a lot longer. many have had them for many years already.at less than $2/day i do not worry about if anything (like a inverter welder) might break eventually. i would get a convenient easy to carry small welder and use it. people spend more than $2/day on coffee and pop. i'd rather have a easy to carry with one hand inverter welder than a hernia or bad back trying to move a heavy old fashioned one
Reply:Yup, but he is trying to decide tween Miller or Hobart identical tranny welders.
Reply:I would say the used Miller is the way to go.  Just the extras make it worth the money in my humble opinion.
Reply:Originally Posted by wornoutoldwelderYup, but he is trying to decide tween Miller or Hobart identical tranny welders.
Reply:I'm with WNY TOMB on this one. But maybe you have to suffer with at least ONE transformer welder to appreciate the new inverters! I will say you won't lose any sleep over the reliabiality of either of these welders if you do go that route.
Reply:I see used transformer stick machines so often on CL cheap that I wouldn't bother with new. I've seen AC/DC ones regularly in the $200-300 range, and occasionally even cheaper. If you are patient $50-100 ones occasionally show up, but they may be off brand names like Craftsman, Montgomery Wards etc..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I have never seen an old tranny machine NOT work...I'm certain many have failed, tho....most likely due to low input voltage over a long time.Inverters are nice. I got one that cost 3K...But I know it will go titz up and be non repairable lots earlier than a tranny machine.This thread is not about inverters compared to trannys. It's about Hobart compared to Miller tranny ac/dc machines.
Reply:Lol@ harbor  fright.
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1be careful... those tranny machines might get outlawed soon
Reply:Originally Posted by Fnord5Lol@ harbor  fright.
Reply:Get the Miller and be done with all this talk of Inverters! Its SAD when a Poster asks a specific question and half the people just want to spout off on how something off subject is better!Isn't that considered STEALING a Thread?Like a guy saying he needs a truck and everyone telling him a car.
Reply:Originally Posted by WNY_TomBa lot of people worry about inverter welders not lasting long. i have had HF welder over 4 months now using every week end thats less than $50/month and going down every day as welder should last a lot longer. many have had them for many years already.at less than $2/day i do not worry about if anything (like a inverter welder) might break eventually. i would get a convenient easy to carry small welder and use it. people spend more than $2/day on coffee and pop. i'd rather have a easy to carry with one hand inverter welder than a hernia or bad back trying to move a heavy old fashioned one
Reply:Originally Posted by soutthpawWow, 4 months!  Gotta be a record for reliability.
Reply:Miller it is. I even got him to come down to $460.00. I'll pick it up tomorrow evening. Thank you guys for the advice on this decision. Very much appreciated!