SA 200 or Hobart

admin

Gonna stir the pot here. Used to own a SA 200 and loved it. Wonderful arc and also gouged with it on repair work. What did these machines put out? Plenty, the little 4 banger just barking. Also used a Hobart 300 generator with a 6 cylinder engine. Don't know the model, but a huge welder with a gold paint job. Bout crushed a pickup.   Tell me which one the rest of you old smokies preferred.We're talking burning ROD.
Reply:Definately gonna stir this pot. Sorry. Just remember, a Hobart is nothing more than a Miller that couldn't make it to the "Blue" paint booth.:  The length of a minute depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.
Reply:I have an SA-200 and it is the absolout balls for stick welding. I also have a big gold hobart just rotting away because there no parts avalable for it.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:I keep a Miller PipePro 304 on my welding trailer. Have up to 400 amps of output, and is the best stick and wire arc you'll ever see. I can run 1/8 7018 on it all day and never kick it up to high idle. Only downside is when I do run it on high idle, everybody damn sure knows it.Arguing with a Welding Engineer is like wrestling with a pig... after a while you realize the pig likes it
Reply:I'm not brand loyal. All products have +'s and -'s. To me, they have to stand on their merits.The heavies:SA Lincoln - I love the arc characteristics and serviceability. I can't stand the fussy gasoline engine. Stick process only is a bummer.Hobart 300 - Ford "6" gas. Same situation as TozziWelding's "big gold hobart just rotting away because there's no parts available for it".  I hate that. I (used to) Love the Ford six powerplant.Hobart 350 - Perkins power.  Doesn't have the Lincoln's stick arc characteristics. Multi process capable. Perkins diesel powered. Smooth, quiet, worry free, reliable, economic power.  The Hobart's been running for three days! So?The lightweights:Lincoln Weldenpower w/16hp Briggs - I like the arc characteristics of the little Lincoln. I hate the noise, stumbling pick-up and hunting.Ranger 8 - Was more refined than the Weldenpower. Still noisy.MultiQuip 250 whisperweld - More bulky. Mullti process ready.  Honda power. Name says it all about noise. An all around good compromise. I'd like to hear about the Thermal-Arc Honda power with three phase auxiliary power.Last edited by denrep; 08-10-2007 at 03:41 PM.
Reply:Tozzi & denrep here is a # for old Hobart parts 419-584-0008  ask for Chuck.
Reply:Originally Posted by TeeChipperDefinately gonna stir this pot. Sorry. Just remember, a Hobart is nothing more than a Miller that couldn't make it to the "Blue" paint booth.
Reply:well very good posts all , I have 2 sae-300s now outfitted with ford 240sixs, 1 500amp hobart perkins diesel and one miller 225, there all good machines keeping in mind what there individual limits are ,miller and hobart have a common prob with voltage drop after continued use so the fine voltage reostat gets a lot of use, only big prob I have had has been the insulation covering the hobarts copper ribbon for wire (arizona climate ate it) that is a job I care not to do again , took patients and lots of frosty cold beverage therapy to replace it all. I have to say I am a lincoln man , the only thing that turned out to be a prob was the continental l-6 engines they were great when parts could be had at any welding supply , now they can be quiet spendy and get ready for down time , thats why I swapped engines with 2 ford 240 6s.now mind you I have both lincolns and the hobart on one rig (2.5 ton military deuce) and when I am 50miles from any were and one goes down they can be worked on and put back in service in short order with limited tools , theres my in put
Reply:Originally Posted by reddoggooseI keep a Miller PipePro 304 on my welding trailer. Have up to 400 amps of output, and is the best stick and wire arc you'll ever see. I can run 1/8 7018 on it all day and never kick it up to high idle. Only downside is when I do run it on high idle, everybody damn sure knows it.
Reply:no brainier here always a Lincoln sa-200 see this pic its from 1969 made here in Canada and still going strong... She even has a Car alarm!!! its all signed up and making new pannels and top for it when it slows down up here in Mid December. But she is a dream!!! Best Machine EVER!!! miller and Hobart IMHO suk In fact I take that back ours works great never lets us down cause we use it to keep the front door open!!! but seriously how many do you see around here that are 40 YEARS OLD??? ya thats what i said too!!! In our provincial capital Miller is giving "**special**" deals to guys who own Lincolns. I think if you gotta give deal... fuk the deal get a Lincoln... the only way i would take a miller is if someone gave it to me... in fact once someone traded me a miller 215 for a Lincoln sp125 I replaced everything and rebuilt the aluminum gun and ended up telling them to come get their "GARBAGE" and to bring my machine back. also I know a guy who bought a Hobart and with in two years his blew up and yes (knock wood) mine is still going... In closing I know this may rub alot of people the wrong way but I'm sorry but in my experience Lincoln is the only way to go... I do hear their reps come to the shop fast enough but My Lincoln guy came to my house after work hours and brought me a new spool gun when i needed it the next day!!! now thats what I call service! here is the rack i made with it as well...  IMG]http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b144/weldorguy/Work%20Examples/101_9442.jpg[/IMG]  AND THE MACHINE I LOVE!!!Last edited by weldorguy; 09-04-2007 at 01:52 PM.Best RegardsJay Hollandhttp://www.hamilton-welding.com
Reply:Oh dont be too hard on miller,,,, they just figured out that a pcb is a lot cheaper than a copper transformer and they can sell replacement pcb's at a good profit.
Reply:I learned to weld with an sa200. That's all you saw in the oilfield in those days. Back in the mid 90's I was using a '70 sa200 that had never been rebuilt, didn't use oil and would burn 3/16 jet. None of the guys with classic 1 and 2 s could do it, and I caught the flack cause it was old. My dad is retired now and says the sa200 has to be the most under rated welding machine ever built. He currently runs a ranger 250 (bought when they first came out) has had  zero problems and says it's the weldingest sob he's ever seen. I've used one engine drive miller that was worth having (all were new) and it was a Trailblazer DC. I use an Eagle 10,000 and love it except for the no cv power. I've run 5/32 jet all day long with it with no problems at all, and it runs 7018 uphill really nice. I'm going bigger but mainly for the cv power and it will most likely be red. Just so the blue boys don't get too bent I will admit the smoothest welder I ever used was a dialarc 250 (but it said remanufactured by lincoln electric on it). My Tig is a synchrowave 250DX and I am about to purchase a miller cv/cc inverter. I even like the way the one Hobart I used welded. It was one of the newer ones, late '90's model and it was smoooooth, but lacks the duty cycle I need.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Originally Posted by Burnt Shirt Used to own a SA 200 and loved it. Wonderful arc and also gouged with it on repair work. What did these machines put out? Plenty, the little 4 banger just barking.   Tell me which one the rest of you old smokies preferred.We're talking burning ROD.