Hobart or Century

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Hi All,I'm looking to purchase a welder next week.I'm looking at this Holbart $479http://www.tractorsupply.com/welding...welder-3812040or this Century $439http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053What are the pros and cons Which would you buy and whyThanksSteve
Reply:I had a Century 200 for 14 years.  Never had any trouble with it.  When I bought it on line they advertise  it would weld 3/8 steel on one pass.  Not!  3/16 it would.If I had checked the input amps (22 amps) I would have known.Jack
Reply:I have owned both a Century Mig and Hobart Mig. The Hobart is a much better choice of welder.
Reply:Of the 2 I'd say the Hobart myself.That said, just be aware of the issues with small 110v machines. Read the attached threads in the sticky on 110v migs at the top of this section. The most you can expect to do is 1/8" steel with one of these little machines, and you will need a 20 amp dedicated outlet to do that. Most will quickly outgrow them. They are great if you want to do sheetmetal body work, but overall most are better suited buying a 220v mig as their 1st machine..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:i had a century 150amp machine years ago. it welded great. i backhalfed and put cages in many vehicles with it. didnt have any complaints about it.. i can say it was a damn good welder actually.. i bought it at a place called Pivco about 20years ago...at one point i also had a hobart 165, got it at tractor supply.. actually didnt care for it, it just never seemed right, the wire feed wasnt ever consistent.. i upgraded the hobart to a miller 250a mig welder, that thing was a caddilac, best welder i ever owned, it was a stout machine... the problem with it was it was just to big, cumbersome and heavy for my garage, so i decided to downsize to a smaller welder and  a plasma cutter.. so i sold it, bought a 25amp plasma and a lincoln 180c mig welder and a thermal arc 185 tig welder..if you can afford a lincoln or miller go to one of those brands for a mig... i went with the lincoln 180c, got it from indiana oxygen, seems like i paid $750 with the cart delivered to my door.. its a small compact design, welds awesome, I can highly reccommend it.. throwing this out for you also... those are good prices on those machines, i wont say good or bad about them, just remember they are budget designed machines. if i were going to buy a mig welder that i planned on keeping for the rest of my life it would be a lincoln or miller and it would definetly be a 220v machine no doubt.... adding this, a friend of mine acquired a clarke 160en about 3 months ago, it welds pretty good..Last edited by brucer; 11-04-2010 at 01:51 AM.
Reply:go with hobart they have been around for a long time and have proven technology century machines are cheaper and not designed for heavy use spend the extra money yull be happy with the hobart guranteed.Hobart mega arc 250 Airco dipstick160 air liquide cutting torches arc air gouger and so many more goodiesIf you cant dazzle them with brillants baffle them with bullsh$t