Which MIG? Hobart, Lincoln, or Miller?

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Hello, new here. I am buying a new MIG machine this week, and have narrowed it down to 3 machines. I. Hobart Ironman 210II. Millermatic 210III. Lincoln 215I have been told by a local welding supply shop that I deal with at my work (which isnt a fab shop) that anything below 250 amps from Hobart, is made by Miller (ITW). The Hobart and Miller machines look identical, but there are a few differences and price is one of them. So, of the above 3 machines, which one would you choose and why? thanks,clay
Reply:MM 210. Miller support is the best around. Lincoln is trying to catch up and from what I hear and read, they are suceeding to a degree. The HH 210 is not the same machine. They are a little under the MM in all aspects. Go to Hobart's forum and do a search. This topic has been beat to death a few thousand times. There is some good info on the machines from the users point of view there.
Reply:MM210.  The IM210 is far less machine than the MM210.  Look at the duty cycles.  I run a MM210 and couldn't be happier.Hank
Reply:Lincoln PM215 or 255!!!www.jmfabrications.comLincoln Precision TIG 375Lincoln Precision TIG 275Lincoln Power MIG 255Lincoln Power MIG 140CMiller Dynasty 350 (x2)TD Cutmaster 80
Reply:I just bought a MM210 this morning, 7:15 a.m. . I've never spent that much money that early in the morning,lol. I have three (Red) welders in my shop this will be the first Blue one, think I made a good choice though. The duty cycle is 60% at 160 amps, and will weld 3/8 in a single pass.Bruce
Reply:Everyone that has a MM210 loves a MM210. Can't go wrong with one.
Reply:MM210 for sure Its all blue!
Reply:I havn't ran a PM215, although the next up 255C is a damn fine machine. I have been nothing but impressed with mine. Smooth machine all around.Patriot Performance AutoLincoln Power Mig 255CLincoln AC-225 StickVictor Journeyman O/AQuincy QT-5 Compressor
Reply:Take a quarter, paint one side red, the other blue (see where Im going with this one?)Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:Hobart, Lincoln, Miller..... its as old as Dodge, Chevy, Ford.All great brands and will stand up to alot. You will be happy with anything all these companies produce.Patriot Performance AutoLincoln Power Mig 255CLincoln AC-225 StickVictor Journeyman O/AQuincy QT-5 Compressor
Reply:If I had the money for a new mig right now it would be a MM210
Reply:Depends on what I was going to do. If I was going to work the mig welder hard like in an industrial environment than I would go with the miller, But if I just want a good sized welder for home I would look to see who is the closest dealer in my area and do a price comparison. For home use Miller and Lincoln are both great welders. In my opinion though miller has the edge over all the competition. But as Patriot Performance said, its like a ford, Chev, or dodge. You are not going to know where your luck is until you start finding out for yourself. I am a die hard Mopar man and love my millers.Miller DVI2Lincoln Precision Tig 225Thermodynamics Cutmaster 38Everything else needed.
Reply:I have my own small shop at home, since retiring after 38 years in the construction trade (pipefitting) and have a Miller 251. The 210 was my first choice, but I went with the 251 and am happy. Over the years I've used Lincolns , Hobarts and Millers many times. I owned a Lincoln SA200 when pipelining and have to say that it was one of the best machines I've ever owned, for the purpose it was used for.My own opinion is keep your choice between Miller and Lincoln. Between the two it's a toss up. As for Hobart,  from my experience over the years, having the misfortune to use this brand on occasion, in the field and in a few shops and I will say VERY FEW shops, if I had a large boat I wouldn't even have a Hobart machine aboard, because they wouldn't even make a good boat anchor. I know that lots of people have and swear by them, but from my past experience using them, new or used, they were nothing but a headache. If you really want to get a good idea of what's preferred, drop in a few fab shops and take a look at what each shop is using. Lincoln and Miller will probably be in 9 out of 10 shops. This should give you an idea of the 2 choices to go with.Good luck with your new machine and I hope you'll be as happy with your choice as I am with mine. Just remember welders are like cars, there's lemons with all brands, just limit your choice to the best sellers and always ask about tech support. When problems do arise, fast and good tech support is important, to limit down time and money loss.
Reply:could not be happier with my mm210. its an amazing machine and really stands up to a lot of use. never experienced a duty cycle shutdown. i usually run it with the voltage at 4 and wire at 55. welded hours straight without stopping except to change position with no problems. you wont be dissapointed with the miller.
Reply:Originally Posted by jamlitI am a die hard Mopar man and love my millers.
Reply:Hmm, Ford and Mopar are my favs but not Lincoln & Hobart. Confused? I am. Craftsman 230a Buzz-box,  Lincoln 140T & 180T, Century K2789, PUROX W202 O/A14" cheapo chop saw that cuts straight and square!A toolbox of the cheapest Chinese tools money can buy"Real" tools all old reliable Husky/Craftsman/Proto stuff
Reply:I gotta say that Miller has demonstrated numerous times that they have a customer service that IS OUT OF THIS WORLD!  Its been something like 6 weeks since I bought my first welder (a demo unit from Airgas), and Ive gotten a total of 1 phone calls and 2 emails from Miller (and 1 phone call and one email from my Airgas salesperson) checking to see if Im a happy customer.  Thats five (5) contacts in 6 weeks from a company that honestly could ride on its coattails for business.  To me, that says that they actually care alot about thier products, the customers, and a reputation.  As Ive said before...I'll buy American as soon as I find something American worth buying.  Miller set the standard that I will be looking for.  A high American made standard (finally)!         ThermalArc 185MillerMatic 180 w/ AutosetVictor Cutskill Oxy/AcetyleneThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38and spite!
Reply:Lincoln for me i use a millerdelta weld 302 at work and its junkmy last job i had a PM255 loved it and Lincoln is bring out a new pm350 for us to try for a week freeChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:I use to own a Powermig 300 and it was not a bad machine, good really.I used a 255C today and a new Powermig 350. I am keeping my Esab's that's forsure.  Really the powermig 255C is not a bad unit either. All are at a certainlevel but it's mostly what you like in wet out, quality of arc , etc... I would buy a MM-210 or a Esab Migmaster 250. Attached Images
Reply:I bought a MM175 - not quite the level of machine you're looking at, but in the ballpark.I took lessons on Lincoln equipment but am glad I got my Miller.I felt more comfortable with the level of customer service given the little guys by Miller and Hobart.For production use, I wouldn't consider Hobart, but Miller and Lincoln are bothe excellent machines - as are Hobarts, but Hobarts have more plastic and aluminum than Millers compared to aluminum and copper.  I am talking of parts and wiring here....
Reply:On dealing with the Millermatic 350P I use at work, I have found that Miller's tech support is nothing short of AWESOME!  Their welding machine is great too!That said, I use an HTP MIG200 at home and have been very happy with it for about the last 15 years.    If I was buying a new MIG I would be looking at the  HTP MIG2400 and the Millermatic 251, but what I would really like is a Millermatic 350P like what I use at work.   Of course that is BIG $$$ too!