Lincoln or Hobart???????

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I'm looking to buy my first mig for home and was looking at the Lincoln pm180c for awhile and found that Lincoln is offering a $75 rebate. My dilemma now is that I found the Hobart Handler 210 w/spool gun for $899 out the door from Northern Tool or the Lincoln pm180c for what looks like $735 after rebate and tax + about $200+tax  for a spool gun, so about $935 +/-. Now I know BIGGER is almost always better but would I be better of with the Lincoln? The Hobart deal looks too good to pass on, more power+spool gun for less $. Reason being I was going to skip the spool gun for now until I needed one but last summer I need some alum. welded and it cost me $150 so I know the value of having the spool gun. Thanks for the replies
Reply:go with your heart mate,
Reply:The Hobart is a solid performer.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:The Hobart 210 welds aluminum great,and is very forgiving as to wire type and brands. Hard to find a wire it does not run well. The Hobart spool-gun is way better then the Lincoln POS.The Lincoln 180 is a good welder too. I ran my Hobart 210 right along side of my 250 migmaster plus, and and 260 mutimaster. It's short-arc could hold it's own with those machines, at least within it's range on operation. It is quite a bit heavier then the Lincoln machine, if you are going to lug it around with you.
Reply:I don't plan on hauling the thing around and plan on a large tank anyway so it wouldn't be very feasible. A larger Miller machine would be preferred, as I am used to a mm212 at work, but the budget says to stay under $1000 and I haven't found anything good used for under that price. The hh210 looks like too good of a deal to pass on (w/spool gun), If I was getting a larger machine it would be a Miller but unless I can find a good newer used machine for under $1000  it's looking like the Hobart H210 or Lincoln 180c. The Miller m211 would end up around $1200+ w/spool gun so I would just go for a mm212 and wait on a spool gun if I could spend that much.I am just looking if for any reason I should go with the Lincoln besides the brand loyalty of others.Also I have a stick welder for large stuff if needed and torches for brazing.
Reply:lincoln 180C has variable voltage control and diamond core technology and aluminum drive,the  210 handler is a tapped machine low end miller 211 chaser without the dual voltage,however it has a higher duty cycle for around the same money,Now having said that and listening to what you have been saying if i were you i would hold off untill i had the coin for the 212 miller rather than settling for the ugly step sister FelonCaution lurker lives here" hmmm That is serious,pass the ganja and pick up a  24 of MGD"
Reply:Originally Posted by Felonyass Monklincoln 180C has variable voltage control and diamond core technology and aluminum drive,the  210 handler is a tapped machine low end miller 211 chaser without the dual voltage,however it has a higher duty cycle for around the same money,Now having said that and listening to what you have been saying if i were you i would hold off untill i had the coin for the 212 miller rather than settling for the ugly step sister Felon
Reply:Originally Posted by Felonyass Monklincoln 180C has variable voltage control and diamond core technology and aluminum drive,the  210 handler is a tapped machine low end miller 211 chaser without the dual voltage,however it has a higher duty cycle for around the same money,Now having said that and listening to what you have been saying if i were you i would hold off untill i had the coin for the 212 miller rather than settling for the ugly step sister Felon
Reply:The Lincoln big brother- the 216 is a Tapped machineThe Millermatic 210- an older but goodie machine is a Tapped machine.Yes they are good machines but they are not a 210 hobart,The millermatic 252 and the lincoln 255 are variable machines but they are not a 210 hobart whats your point ?I take you have never used a HH-210. Better short-arc then many Miller machine..name the miller machines and the lincolns that its better than.I have used a 210 ironman and found it to be much less of a machine than a 210  miller but it also is not a handler 210the man is asking for opinions ,he doesnt give a **** about brand loyalty or feather ruffling so give your opinion or take your ball and go homeFelonCaution lurker lives here" hmmm That is serious,pass the ganja and pick up a  24 of MGD"
Reply:Thanks, I don't want to stir the pot, just thought this would be the best forum to post in. As I stated in my previous post my budget is $1000 so I just want to make sure that I get the best/biggest bang for my buck. The Hobart is less $ with more power than the Lincoln after adding the spool gun. With the Lincoln I would wait on the spool gun until I needed it to save $ but with the Hobart deal why? It's not like I'm comparing HF to L/M/H brands and it's just for home.
Reply:name the miller machines and the lincolns that its better than.I have used a 210 ironman and found it to be much less of a machine than a 210 miller but it also is not a handler 210
Reply:I guess Felonyass Monk took his ball and went home? Since he has not used any of the machines this thread was started for, it's just as well. I would add the Miller 252 to the list too..
Reply:Dan   I must admit they are nice welds and very clean.I stand correctedBrand X said  I would add the Miller 252 to the list too.. Did the bad welder hurt your feelingsheres a quarter go call someone who caresFelonCaution lurker lives here" hmmm That is serious,pass the ganja and pick up a  24 of MGD"
Reply:Thanks Dan, that was the kind of answer that I was looking for. I wasn't sure if the Hobart had much more top end to make it worth steeping away from the Lincoln. It sounds like the Hobart does a better job with the spool gun from other posts that I've read and I would like to be able to work with some thicker steel except some body work on my Mustang so I'm leaning toward the Hobart. Just wondering how Hobart would be with parts down the road compared with Miller or Lincoln?????? I just don't want a machine in 5-8 years that I can't fix if it brakes.also thanks to the rest.
Reply:hobart welders under 250 amps are made by miller. so parts should be around a long time
Reply:Originally Posted by Felonyass MonkDan   I must admit they are nice welds and very clean.I stand correctedBrand X said  I would add the Miller 252 to the list too.. Did the bad welder hurt your feelingsheres a quarter go call someone who caresFelon
Reply:jjpp,Here's my .02cents worth of opinion.   First point:I'm like you.  I wanted a home welder for "home."  I'm not a professional.  I bought the Lincoln power mig 140c.  (Read on...)   It's only the 120VAC model.  I wanted it to be able to bring it over to a buddy's house in the event I had to do minor weld projects.  I could use any common household outlet (preferable a 20A circuit).   Second point: I bought that little 120VAC welder to be able to wheel it around to the side of the house and weld up my wrought iron gate.  I don't have 240VAC outlets on the other side of the house, nor could I move the gate to the welder.  So, my first point is "portability" and the availability of 110-120VAC power READILY AVAILABLE.  Third point:  ' I learned from a pro welder (makes a living at it) that even for us "beginners," stay away from STEPPED (aka: TAPPED) voltage welders.  In other words, the Hobart you're looking at!  Get the CONTINUOUS voltage adjustment.  I've learned that being able to just slightly "fine tune" that particular control has made a HUGE difference for me in welding projects.   I believe the Hobart you're looking at only has the STEPPED voltage control.  If you're going to spend almost a grand for a machine, get the CONTINUOUS.  Fourth point:I wish I would have bought a 240VAC welder now afterall.  But, then I wouldn't have the portablility available to me that I mentioned above with the little 120VAC unit.Fifth point:I wasn't aware of the Miller 211!!!!!!!!!!!  What a FANTASTIC MIG machine!  Look, do a Google search with their "product" search engine  http://www.google.com/productsLook up the Miller 211 and you'll find it for maybe just a few bucks over or below $1,000.  Here's the benefit of that machine and which is why I will be buying that one in the future:    1)  It puts out more power than the 240VAC Lincoln 180 series or Miller 175 series welders.      2)  It has CONTINUOUS voltage settings and not the poor man's TAPPED settings.     3)  It can run on both 120VAC or 240VAC outlets, making this the most versatile machine out there for it's size and class!!!!!!!!!!!!    4)  Yes, when running 120VAC (common household current), the total output power runs the same as any Lincoln, Hobart or Miller 140 series machine.  But.... Should you ever get a 240VAC outlet in your garage, you can UPGRADE by simply changing the AC plug cord adapter that comes with the Miller 211!!!!  You now have an instant power boost!How bitchen is that????????????   Continuous voltage settings, portability, power when needed, 120 or 240 voltage settings!!!   That little Miller beats the Lincoln and Hobart for that size and class hands down!  Again, just my .02cents worth of opinion based on experience and learning the hard way.  (i.e. nobody telling me the info I just told you.)Finally,,,,,,,,  Save up for the spool gun later.  One doesn't put together a "work shop" all at once with all one purchase.  It takes time to build up one's garage shop with tools piece by piece.  Trust me, you'll wish you had the 211.  As of right now, Lincoln or Hobart doesn't offer similar machines that do what the 211 does.  peace out!Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:I agree with superarc.My name's not Jim....
Reply:Lincoln! There is no substitute.
Reply:Just to update the thread, I ended up purchasing a Miller 211 with a spool gun. The lws store had the Miller road show last Monday and the price was to good to pass up. Well at least in the begining because as we all know after you buy a tank, helmet, cart etc. at the discounted prices you end up spending more than you planed on. Lets just hope you know who doesn't find out the whole price.
Reply:disregardLast edited by DeereMan; 06-23-2010 at 04:06 PM.