Hobart 210 mvp vs Millermatic 211

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First post here, great looking forum and VERY informative.  With that said I am looking to buy my first personally owned welder.  I am fairly inexperienced as far as wire feed welding goes and want to buy my own machine.  I've got a Clarke 130en at my fathers shop that I play around with once in a while but it has to stay there so I am looking for one of my own.  I will be a hobby welder, not for commercial use.  Build a couple smokers, fix some round bale hay rings, small farm work, etc.  I've narrowed down my choices to the Millermatic 211 and the Hobart 210 MVP mostly for the dual voltage capability and ruled out Lincoln due to the convenience it would be to get Miller and Hobart consumables.  I've done some searches on the two machines and I know they are similar being they are both owned by the same company but I never see any specifics when comparing the two besides the composite vs. cast aluminum internals.  Are there any other differences that really make the Miller worth the extra $300 or so?  My neighbor has a Millermatic 130 and was telling me the Hobart's 130 in comparison weld like crap.  I was pretty well set on the Hobart until talking with him as I have no substantial use on either machine so I can't agree or disagree.  It would be nice to have the extra $300 for a nice helmet and some wire/consumables but if it's not worth it I can save for a few more months.  So if you were in my shoes which route would you go or any advice on the two machines/differences?  Thanks in advance.
Reply:If I were in your shoes, I would get the Hobart.  IMO, the real difference between the 2 is that the Miller has an infinitely adjustable amperage control, whereas the Hobart has (I believe 7) taps.  That does not make a difference to me.  I owned a Hobart 187 for a good while and loved it.  You can't go wrong with either machine.Lincoln Powermig 255Hypertherm Powermax 45Thermal Arc 161SOxweld 24R OA TorchStill Looking for an Old Round Top Idealarc 250
Reply:The Millermatic 130 is the one that welds like crap.. The 130 XP is better but nothing to wrte home about.. I owned them both, and had two standard 210 models. Far superior machine,, although 240 volt only. I would buy the Hobart myself, and not look back.. If you were doing a lot of aluminum I might go for a infinite voltage machine, but don't discount how nice the Hobart welds aluminum.Esab/Lorch ET-220iEsab 160i caddyThermal LM-200 Lincoln feedersThermal Pee-Wee 85sThermal 60i- 3phase /RPC powered (Beast)Thermal Drag-gun 35CINE 1500 Klutch 140i
Reply:heres a weld from the Hobart mig .  Post a picture of your neighbors Miller weld so we can compare it Attached Images        thermal arc 252i  -  millermatic 350P -   miller XMT, cp300ts, 30a 22a feeders, buttload of other millers, handfull of lincolns, couple of esabs  -   Hypertherm 1250 G3
Reply:Originally Posted by woi2ldheres a weld from the Hobart mig .  Post a picture of your neighbors Miller weld so we can compare it
Reply:I own a Hobart 210 mvp and i love !! You cant buy anything better for the money take the extra $300 and buy something nice for the wife, Wait better yet take your girl friend out and use the money for a nice hotel room heheha have fun learning to weld with MIG its fun and if you can try to weld as offten as you can you WILL be great in no time at all PRACTICE ,PRACTICE ,PRACTICE ,PRACTICE ,
Reply:Double postLast edited by SuperArc; 05-21-2012 at 12:40 AM.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:The only "practical" difference between the two is the Miller has a "continuous" voltage setting vs a "stepped" (aka: "tapped") voltage setting. Some don't mind the tapped feature, but I prefer smooth continuous.  I have both types of machines and I'm basing my opinion on what I like best. Others have different opinions. For me at the time, I figured I could afford the Miller vs the Hobart.  I'm sure I'd be happy with the Hobart as well. "beautiful" looking welds has more to do with operator skill level, than what machine one has between the two choices given in the original question.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:For farm work, I think I'd suggest a stick welder.As a rule of thumb MIG welders don't produce good welds on metal thicker than 1/8". One of the main reasons is because the working voltage is around half that of a stick welder, Meanwhile the travel speed and the rate of metal deposition is around 30%-60% faster. As a consequence MIG produces considerably less heat input. For things like 1/4" or 1/2" you simply won't get good fusion and penetration. This is the same reason MIG excels at thin sheet metal work, while stick welding just blows holes through thin stuff.If you own a stick welder already, then no problemo, esse.As far as the difference between the two machines, the miller gives you the ability to fine tune the voltage. that's a useful feature when it comes to getting a smooth consistent arc. The "auto-set" feature only produces frustration and confusion, don't use it.  Miller seems to believe that it's customers are so stupid they don't know how to look at the settings chart printed on the inside of the cover flap.Something that seems ironic to me about the auto-set feature, is that those settings charts usually leave something to be desired as far as creating a stable, low-spatter arc.
Reply:Originally Posted by JoshfromsaltlakeAs a rule of thumb MIG welders don't produce good welds on metal thicker than 1/8". One of the main reasons is because the working voltage is around half that of a stick welder, Meanwhile the travel speed and the rate of metal deposition is around 30%-60% faster. As a consequence MIG produces considerably less heat input. For things like 1/4" or 1/2" you simply won't get good fusion and penetration.
Reply:Originally Posted by ThorsHammer...but the two welders you're talking about are both 230v and will handle thicker metal up to 3/8" on the hobart. And thats only on single pass.
Reply:As a rule of thumb MIG welders don't produce good welds on metal thicker than 1/8". One of the main reasons is because the working voltage is around half that of a stick welder, Meanwhile the travel speed and the rate of metal deposition is around 30%-60% faster. As a consequence MIG produces considerably less heat input. For things like 1/4" or 1/2" you simply won't get good fusion and penetration.
Reply:Originally Posted by DanCrank my Migmaster 250 or Ironman 230 up to were they're outputting 24+ load volts and 200+ amps, and you'll have no problem producing good fusion between the base metal and the weld metal on 1/4". Weld bead penetration won't be shallow either.
Reply:Originally Posted by SuperArcI must say that welding 1/4" is definately NOT an issue for a hobart 210 or miller 211.  Those welders don't even break a sweat at that thickness.
Reply:Originally Posted by DanIf my life depends on the weld, and the joint design and the position of the weld allowed it, I'd be running a Handler 210 or Millermatic 211 near max output on 1/4" steel. So, either machine would definitely work up a sweat if I were running them on 1/4".
Reply:Originally Posted by ThorsHammersounds like A, lack of confidence in your welder, and B, a waste of consumables and energy. Not to mention that to much heat can cause just as many problems as to little.
Reply:The 200 amps 21-22 load volts is about all my Esab 200 has. I feel pretty good at ..250 steel If I use 98-O2 gas, it will spray-arc pretty well. Seems like the machine is more limited in short-arc and less so in a spray-arc. I think by design, it won't run larger wires then .040 aluminum, and .035 solid wire. It has a real decent little spray-arc, where the HH-210 really would not get there. For limited use, it works pretty well. Not that the gun would last very long..Esab/Lorch ET-220iEsab 160i caddyThermal LM-200 Lincoln feedersThermal Pee-Wee 85sThermal 60i- 3phase /RPC powered (Beast)Thermal Drag-gun 35CINE 1500 Klutch 140i
Reply:I used a Millermatic 130XP for a long time and it never let me down. It definitely has its limitations though. I started out with flux core and then switched over to gas wire. It did better with the flux core. I upgraded to the Thermal Arc 181i and havent looked back. Really like my 181i. Sorry I have to stick iin a good word for the TA 181i, awsome little machine.
Reply:I owned a Hobart 187 for a good while and loved it.
Reply:Sorry for not seeing this thread sooner but I did end up getting the HH210mvp about a week after posting for 826.xx out the door locally.  I thought this thread died.. So far it has been working great.  Done a few projects and made a little extra money as well....also welded some  .25 inch steel with. 035 flux core with plenty of penetration on a cab/chassis hitch repair
Reply:Excellent decision. You'll love it and it has plenty of power. "Hey I didn't come to look and learn, I came to turn and burn.... If I can't light up, I'm gonna light out!"-JodyIdealarc 250 "Fatman"MM 252MM 211 "Little boy" Victor Torches
Reply:you'll enjoy that welder.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:So to bump this is....looking at getting a mig welder. I am torn between these 2 welders....or the Hobart Ironman 230. Most of my welding is 3/8" and less. All thicker stuff would be multi-pass. I have a Miller dialarc 250 that can handle the heavy heavy stuff. So do I go with a big fullsize beast, or a smaller/portable welder?
Reply:Bringing this back as well.After reading this thread I was thinking about getting the Hobart 210 over the Millermatic 211 based on the huge price difference.HOWEVER....Miller has their rebate going on right now. The difference in price between the two is only $40.For this little price difference would it be better to go with the MM211 over the Hobart or do you consider the Hobart to be a better machine?I was also thinking of getting the Spool gun and other consumables which gets me to the $400 rebate.So in actuality once I buy everything it would actually be about $160 cheaper to buy the MM211.Plus I get a free Miller helmet if I buy the MM211 which I would not get with the Hobart.Both machines will cover my home hobbyists needs and allow me to weld aluminum.
Reply:Isn't there a big difference between these two machines now, since Miller went to a new inverter based 211? Half the weight of the old transformer machine?Originally Posted by stoneaxeIsn't there a big difference between these two machines now, since Miller went to a new inverter based 211? Half the weight of the old transformer machine?
Reply:I'd buy the new MM211 Inverter in a heartbeat.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:I am googling now but I don't see any mention of the new inverter being better or worse
Reply:Originally Posted by travr6I am googling now but I don't see any mention of the new inverter being better or worse
Reply:Originally Posted by JoshfromsaltlakeAs a rule of thumb MIG welders don't produce good welds on metal thicker than 1/8". One of the main reasons is because the working voltage is around half that of a stick welder, Meanwhile the travel speed and the rate of metal deposition is around 30%-60% faster. As a consequence MIG produces considerably less heat input. For things like 1/4" or 1/2" you simply won't get good fusion and penetration.
Reply:Originally Posted by travr6I am googling now but I don't see any mention of the new inverter being better or worse
Reply:I ordered the new inverter 211, a 150 spoolgun, and M15 or M150 mig gun that is 15' long, from cyber weld today. The inverter is nice and light.............unless the one at the welding shop had no guts. Most of my work is in the garage and will be on 250v, just like my Miller 375 inverter plasma, which has been great, but it will be great to be able to take the machine where 250v isn't available, on occasion.
Reply:I am ordering the Millmermatic 211 due to the rebate.It is $1065 at Welder's supply or $1138 with a free helmet at Cyberweld. You get a $200 rebate at either.I just got a new credit card that gives $100 cash back.So I will be getting the MM211 at a total cost of $765.I can't really say no to that.As soon as the credit card comes in I will be ordering.I called my local welding supply company and the best deal they could give me was $1299 + tax for a total of $1377 otd. This would have been $1077 after rebates.Welder's supply company it is.I have been putting this purchase off for a while now. Thanks for the information and insight.This should work well for my home hobbyist needs.Last edited by travr6; 10-01-2015 at 11:33 AM.