General objective welder manufacturer quality comparison please

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Hi All,I've searched but cannot find a basic overall quality comparison between welders from the popular manufacturers. I don't care about why you like manuf. model xxx-xxxxx as there is an abundance of threads on that already. I'm interested in general pros/cons between Miller, Lincoln and Hobart or anyone else in that league, no harbor freight please. So if you can help with an objective opinion why one brand is preferable over another I would like to hear it. ThanksI copied and pasted this from http://www.weldmyworld.com/blog/2011...supremacy.html"And so the age old debate over who in fact makes the best welding machines rages on in perpetuity.It’s like the Coke verses Pepsi or Miller (no relation) verses Budweiser of the welding equipment world. And just as with those “classic marketing battles,” everyone has an opinion on who’s the best, and why."So maybe I'm spinning my wheels with this question?Last edited by Ullihundi; 01-31-2016 at 04:03 PM.
Reply:Sounds like you answered your own question stating there's an abundance of threads already. I have everything from old Airco to new Miller machines. I have my reasons for that. But you have asked a very ambiguous question that wont get much in realistic replies. Some guys will be very fierce with their replies as far as brand loyalty, but that doesn't get the work done. Blue, Red, it doesn't matter to me, as long as it works everyday.
Reply:SubscribedExpert Garage Hack....https://www.facebook.com/steven.webber.948
Reply:Originally Posted by 12V71Sounds like you answered your own question stating there's an abundance of threads already. I have everything from old Airco to new Miller machines. I have my reasons for that. But you have asked a very ambiguous question that wont get much in realistic replies. Some guys will be very fierce with their replies as far as brand loyalty, but that doesn't get the work done. Blue, Red, it doesn't matter to me, as long as it works everyday.
Reply:Mods just close this thread already.  Save yourselves from the agony. lol. 1st on WeldingWeb to have a scrolling sig! HTP Invertig 400HTP Invertig 221HTP ProPulse 300HTP ProPulse 200 x2HTP ProPulse 220MTSHTP Inverarc 200TLP HTP Microcut 875SC
Reply:Used to be a die hard Lincoln fan but the last couple years have switched to loving Miller. We had some quoting and repairs done and Lincoln's service really dropped the ball. Miller was great to deal with and was very helpful answering questions and being available. I still like Lincoln but my future purchases are going to be blue.
Reply:This question is no different than ford vs Chevy. It all comes down to what you want. Myself the service I get is more important than the initial price. Mike
Reply:Originally Posted by OscarMods just close this thread already.  Save yourselves from the agony. lol.
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749I'll milk it for entertainment purposes for awhile anyways
Reply:Naw, this one ain't bad. When the Chinese machines get brought into the mix however, they usually go downhill pretty fast. We've killed more of those than I can count at this point. It always ends up pretty much the same way at the end.My view is Miller & Linc both have strengths and weaknesses. I repair and sell machinery for a living. But I mainly do Miller mostly due to familiarity and the specific type of stuff I work on. I like products from both manufacturers. Form a standpoint of over the phone service, I think Miller excels, but then again that's only based on my experience.Couldn't really say one is "better" than the other.IMHO of courseExpert Garage Hack....https://www.facebook.com/steven.webber.948
Reply:Old, or antique Hobart would be my choice. Mine are either near, or over 60 years old and still do exactly what they were designed to do when called upon without reservation.SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....
Reply:And, the old Hobarts look cool as hell too Just wanted to make sure that point was covered Expert Garage Hack....https://www.facebook.com/steven.webber.948
Reply:I used to be Miller more then Lincoln, but in my case with Miller's lack of service for me, it'll now be Lincoln for me. I think both red and blue are close to being equal in quality, but the service back up that you expect to receive from a product should play a big part in who to purchase from.
Reply:it isn't very complicated.it really comes down to red vs blue as grey is made by the same as blue, but at a better price point if you can sacrifice software features.so, its like comparing cars. different manufacturers excel in different classes of machine. chevy makes a legendary light duty pickup, but if i want a workhorse diesel, i would definitely buy dodge.in my experience, lincoln has the market for workhorse machines. whether engine driven or huge transformer based machines, the lincolns do best at their simplist. i think they fall short in the inverters and "complicated" machine categories both in software integration and usability.millers are great "button and dial" machines. very useable, and comprehensive in layout of controls/ adjustments. whether xmt or dynasty or maxstar, they have inverters nailed and perfected, while still being respectably durable. so, in the shop, inverter/ multi-process category: millerin shop, transformer: lincoln with miller just a scoche behindengine drive, multi-process: miller with lincoln a scoche behindengine drive, cc only: lincoln with miller not even attemting.that being said, i have never personally seen a lincoln destroy itself in any category. i have seen errors, i have seen issues. i HAVE seen more than a couple millers let all the smoke out, with a little extra for good measure , and not from being loaded, or abused. sometimes they just let go. but at the same time, i work with 95% miller, so it makes sense that i would see more than a couple throw in the towel. maybe this isn't so simple. . . . . .hmmmm what about ford???and just to make things interesting, lincoln gets extra points for being very  independent, and for how much they have contributed to the industry, if they didn't create it all together. i guess they are similar to ford in that aspect. they  have been around.hobart bros as stated made some great stuff, and also have tons of history. but the "new" hobart like i said is basically "economy" miller, which doesn't make it bad at all, but will not give you a competitive edge over red or blue unless you are building a business on 110v wire feeders, which i have used plenty and would choose over any other, based on bang for bucksLast edited by 92dlxman; 01-31-2016 at 08:31 PM.bosses stuff:trailblazer 325maxstar 200my stuff:sa 200fronius transpocket 180100 amp Lincoln w/f97 f350 DITKevin
Reply:I have owned Lincoln, Hobart and Miller machines. Never needed service on any of them. To me they are all good, it just depends on the deal you find. The only welder I bought new was the Hobart Handler which has been flawless. All my other machines I bought used. I think used is a much better way to go if you can afford to take your time and search for a deal. If I was welding for a living, I would take a different approach.Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:I wanted American made, great warranty, availability of parts, service, and affordability. My 3 final choices were Miller (too much for my budget), Lincoln, and Hobart. Hobart had the better warranty so that is what I bought.  I would own a Miller in a heart beat if I had the $$$$. This is just my opinion.
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749Naw, this one ain't bad. When the Chinese machines get brought into the mix however, they usually go downhill pretty fast. We've killed more of those than I can count at this point. It always ends up pretty much the same way at the end.My view is Miller & Linc both have strengths and weaknesses. I repair and sell machinery for a living. But I mainly do Miller mostly due to familiarity and the specific type of stuff I work on. I like products from both manufacturers. Form a standpoint of over the phone service, I think Miller excels, but then again that's only based on my experience.Couldn't really say one is "better" than the other.IMHO of course
Reply:Originally Posted by M J DI like Chinese, they have good buffets .
Reply:Originally Posted by M J DI like Chinese, they have good buffets .
Reply:Good point to also remember is that Hobart has the same parent company as Miller (ITW)Hobart has mostly ended up as their "budget" line of machines, marketed more towards light users and hobbyists. That's not to say that the Hobart line is junk by far, but that generally speaking, they lack the premium features and expanded model selection that Miller does.Expert Garage Hack....https://www.facebook.com/steven.webber.948
Reply:Originally Posted by SlobDepends on the breed of the day. German Shepherd Pie isn't too bad, Slab of Lab is good too so can be a toss up.
Reply:Canned Collie and Pickeled Pekenese are quite tasty as well Expert Garage Hack....https://www.facebook.com/steven.webber.948
Reply:Originally Posted by M J DI like Chinese, they have good buffets .
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveMy nurse friends tell me never to eat at the one here.They get too many sick people from there and warn everyone they know, unofficially...
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749Naw, this one ain't bad. When the Chinese machines get brought into the mix however, they usually go downhill pretty fast. We've killed more of those than I can count at this point. It always ends up pretty much the same way at the end.My view is Miller & Linc both have strengths and weaknesses. I repair and sell machinery for a living. But I mainly do Miller mostly due to familiarity and the specific type of stuff I work on. I like products from both manufacturers. Form a standpoint of over the phone service, I think Miller excels, but then again that's only based on my experience.Couldn't really say one is "better" than the other.IMHO of coursei tried lol.maybe cars arent a good comparison. try dirt bikes.at one point in time, one manufacturer may be best in a certain class, while another dominates a different, but at the end of it, they all do a great job and are only slightly different from each other, as long as you are color blind.and referring to my previous post, "useablilty" is subjective to an extent. those who learned one machine will prefer it over the otherbosses stuff:trailblazer 325maxstar 200my stuff:sa 200fronius transpocket 180100 amp Lincoln w/f97 f350 DITKevin