my first mig tough choice want a 180?

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Hi ! my first time on hear.first let me say you guy,s have some great info!!! I went to a big orange store and bought a HD 175 lincoln. that was monday night then I found this web site and I took it back today . I thought I was making a good choice until I went through a few hundred threads here. now i,m affraid to make the wrong choice. i,m not a pro in welding at all. I want to do some repairs to my skidsteer trailer like weld a lid on top of were i keep the chain binder,s and tools. I also want to do some welding for some skidsteer attachment,s if I use it ten times out of the year that would be alot for me.any way I think I want a hobart 187 or a lincoln sp 180 T. the money for these welders our the same with in 5 dollars so now the choice is they our both refurbished model,s but here is the thing the hobart as a 1 year warranty and the lincoln as 3 years . the hobart has a better duty cycle at 30% and the lincoln as 25%. the HH-187 has 7 setting,s and the sp 180 T as 4 or 5 . I will be welding 5/16 metal the lincoln sp 180 T say,s they can weld 1/2 metal right on the box it comes in the HH 187 say,s it does 5/16 but as more duty cycle. my best friend has a lincoln sp175 and we just cut a trailer axle down for a wood chipper and that little sp 175 did a real nice job never over loaded once. but I heard that the Hobart 187 is really a miller with a plastic housing which I was thinking maybe thats why it only has a 1 year warranty. will i burn out the HH 187? will the lincoln sp 180 t have a enough power . any info would be nice . thank you for your time if you read all this. Bill in NJ if you fail to plan then you plan to fail. Dad drilled this line in our head for 20 years. still learning!!! LOL !! Thanks for a great place to learn .about welding and alot extra. Bill
Reply:Welcome !I'm pretty new as a participant as well and by no means a PRO, but IMO, I would stay with the "C" model instead of the "T" model.  The adjustments for the "C" welder would have much finer settings and likely easier for a 'Newer Welder' to use...  Also, I don't think you'll have to worry much about Duty Cycle considering your intended 'projects' and useage.  The Lincoln's seem to have better duty cycle's than they state in the manuals or on the boxes...If you can't get a "C" (continuous) welder within a hundred bucks or so in comparison to the price of the "T" (tapped) Model, or it completely 'blows your budget to Hell', then I suppose the "Tapped Version" it is....  220 volt is the only machine I would buy now....As far as Warranty is concerned, I'd really go with the 3 year warranty from Lincoln.  Especially if the 'price' is the same, or around the same for both units that 'you' are looking at.  I suppose you have to gauge how much '3 times' the warranty is worth paying...  I'd be willing to spend up to a couple hundred more with no problem.  Peace of mind and re-sale value is always something to consider when it comes to these machines.Others may think otherwise... and have better information, either way...Just my .02 cents worth...Cheers,/Jman...
Reply:The C models is actually a little more work to dial in for newbies-What are the prices for the refurbished HH187 and the SP180T?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:Get the Hobart, you will be happy with it.You can do 1/2" with it (properly cranked up) multi-pass.  I've welded 1/4" & 3/8" with mine.  I even got it to spray (I think) once on some 3/8".  Didn't make much of a sound, just bright light & lots of metal being laid down.I'm currently working on a test of a Lincoln SP 175.  This may not be much of a test, as it welds cold compared to the Hobart.  It could be the welder too as I bought it used.  Still have a couple small repairs to do to it & we shall see if it needs to go in for some repair.I'm very happy with my HH 175, using flux core or solid wire & gas.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:This is probably a stupid question...........Is, let's say 175amps on a wire machine comparable to 175amps on a SMAW machine???Is there a load/diameter of electrode factor, or is amps amps????Stupid, stupid , stupid, stupidI HATE ELECTRICAL STUFF"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:I like my HH 187 but the warranty is better on the Lincoln..... well, I'd say it's a toss up since the Hobart is more adjustable. Don't suppose you could test the units out and see which one you like better?HH 187Miller Bluestar1EAHP AlphaTig 200X
Reply:I think the MIG's are easier to run because the settings are based on the wire size & thickness of the metal being welded.A 175A MIG should compare to a 175A Stick welder.  The difference (and ease of use) is from the chart & positioning yourself to the work, then pull the trigger.  Not a lot of hop, skips & jumps before you get the electrode to the area to be welded.I don't really have an answer, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express once..................10 years ago.  Samm, you are the expert at Stick welding.  You seem to know what your doing from the projects you post, I'm still learnin.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammThis is probably a stupid question...........Is, let's say 175amps on a wire machine comparable to 175amps on a SMAW machine???I HATE ELECTRICAL STUFF
Reply:It is kinda like  a diesel with 300HP and a Gasser with 300HPboth have 300HP but use it  in different ways.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:Originally Posted by farmersammThis is probably a stupid question...........Is, let's say 175amps on a wire machine comparable to 175amps on a SMAW machine???Is there a load/diameter of electrode factor, or is amps amps????I HATE ELECTRICAL STUFF
Reply:With the correct E71T-11 fluxcore wire the Hobart or Lincoln unit will be able to weld 1/2" in multiple passes. If you plan on running solid wire and shielding gas the Hobart 187 will give you more top end power then the Lincoln.
Reply:Bill in NJ,The machines you listed or are thinking about are all pretty close in power.  There is not a lot of difference in them.  Although Dan (and others) say the Hobart 187 is pretty nice and has a -little- bit more top-end grunt.But they are all pretty much in the same general 'class' as far as power goes.Dan,Note that the max recommended workpiece/plate thickness for Lincoln NR211-MP wire (E71T-11) in 0.030 or 0.035 or 0.045 wire diameter is 5/16 inch.  Multi-pass or not and it doesn't matter how much snot the machine has, Lincoln says the max plate thickness is 5/16 inch for that wire in those sizes.NR211-MP in sizes 0.068 or larger is rated for plate thickness up to 1/2 inch max.Lincoln NR212 (E71TG-G) is rated for plate thickness of 3/4 inch max.Those plate thickness limits are based on the wire itself and not how many amps the machine is or is not producing.Sam and Sandy,Amps is amps.  But the voltage used to make those amps happen can vary depending on the welding process being used.  And the power being input into the weld is the product of (voltage x amperage) or [ P = E x I ].  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Moonrise,I am aware of the thickness limitations of Lincoln's.030 , .035, .045  E71T-11. This is why my post stated with the "correct" E71T-11. Admittedly, I was a little lazy by not posting a more detailed response. For my 1/4" and thicker self-shielded  fluxcore needs, I run a Hobart .045 Fabshield 21B. Hobart's literature on Fabshield 21B states it is good for up to 3/4" material. They don't mention any particular wire size range for this thickness.
Reply:Dan,Yup, the Hobart Fabshield21B (E71T-11) wire mentions 3/4 inch thick in the product spec sheet.As to why Lincoln has those thickness limitations on the NR211-MP wire, I have no idea.  But they do.Not everyone is aware of the (relatively) recent stated thickness limitations for the NR211-MP wire, so I try to mention it when the situation seems to warrant it.    The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Thanks for all the feed back ! I understand both the  H187 and the L- 180 sp our very close in spec,s .so long story cut short I bought the H-187 at tractor supply for a few reason,s they have a gas programe to fill the tanks . they have the mig on sale . I paid $599.00 for brand new and that gave me the 5 year warranty. they have all the parts and will help me if I have any problem,s. My friend will be back next week so I will test it with him he has much more expirence the I do . I do not no if this is good or bad but the H 187 is about 10lb pluse pound heavery the the L 180 Well I did notice it when I picked it up so I do not no why I heard the hobart 187 was made out of plastic parts it sure did not feel like plastic. John at tractor supply said save the reciept and if I do not like it for any reason He would take it back so that made me feel very safe in buying the H 187 . I can not wait to get started on my backhoe project! I,m taking a three point hitch backhoe attachment D-100 and mounting it to a skidsteer attachment. next choice is should i get the band saw for $250 0r a 14  inch chop box for $119.00 it looks like you could just go on an on with tools but it is all fun for now. thanks for all your good advice it is all good . best of luck Bill in NJif you fail to plan then you plan to fail. Dad drilled this line in our head for 20 years. still learning!!! LOL !! Thanks for a great place to learn .about welding and alot extra. Bill