miller vs. hobart

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I am pretty new to welding and would like to buy a mig welder. I will be doing light welding at home. I was looking at the Miller 180 auto set, but for less than $100 dollars more I could get the Hobart 210 handler. Does anyone have any recomendations or advantages of one over the other? Also, When a manufacturer lists the max thickness of material a welder can do in a single pass, is that realistic or would it only be capable of that under "perfect conditions?" I recently took a welding class at night and the instructor said you should spend between $1500 and $2000 in order to get a decent welder. I don't know if I would need something like that or if the couple I mentioned would suit my needs.
Reply:You can't go wrong with Miller and about the only bad thing you can say about ANYthing Miller makes is that it's a bit pricey- but in my opinion you get what you pay for so it's not a complaint.  I've never owned anything made by Hobart but I've heard a couple of complaints about the quality of their newer stuff.  By new, I mean since the company changed owners;  apparently the old Hobart Bros. stuff was top notch.   As for the ratings, some brands do overstate the capacity however with Miller, I think you'll find that if anything, the maximum capacities will be UNDERstated.  In my opinion (and this isn't based on an analysis of the machines you've mentioned nor their prices) go with Miller and you won't be disappointed.Lincoln AC225 & MigPak 140, Lincoln Magnum SpoolGun, Miller Spectrum 375-X Plasma, Syncrowave 200 TIG, Millermatic 252 MIG, Miller Digital Elite, General 7x12" horiz/vert bandsaw, 3' box/pan brake, 20 ton press, milling machine, 12x28 lathe, etc.
Reply:When looking at the smaller machines usually the thickness stated is under ideal conditions. When you start getting into the larger machines 200-250amp+ they are often closer to normal conditions from what I've found.If I was looking at a MM180, I'd look hard at the MM211. Theres definately a lot more machine for the $200 or so difference. You get the ability to use it on 110v at lower power if you need to go portable or 220v and get the full 200 or so amps which will help if you ever want to do alum.I've not had that much experience with the Hobarts. Since the parent company is the same as Miller I sort of look at it as a cheaper line. They have to be cutting corners somewhere to basicly produce similar machines at a lower cost. If money was taking a front seat to power and options, I might think about one. To me personally, if I'm spending that sort of money anyways I might as well save up a bit more and get the better machine. I've been burned going that cheap "money first" road and regretted it in the long run when it cost me more in the end. I know I'll find the use for the extra power and then still want more as I go..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 have not used Hobart machines either, but they are definitely a reputable company. So are Lincoln, ESAB, Thermal Arc, and others. Go pay your local welding supplier a visit if that is possible, talk to them, see what they sell, open the hood of a few machines. If you don't even consider the Lincoln line-up, you ain't shopping with both eyes open, they rock! Some of the best materials and workmanship go into Lincoln's that you will ever find these days. Did I say anything is wrong with Miller, no. I own several of them. But, I saw a KILLER deal come up recently on a Lincoln Pro inverter, it made me sick that I wasn't shopping for that style of machine anymore.  The programs that are built into them are sweeeeet!! I know, you are not shopping for a multi-process inverter, sorry! Just shop around a little bit before you commit, maybe a used machine of better performance will get you further down the road.  Beauty is only skin deep, welds go a whole lot deeper!! :- 250 amps is good, 300 amps is great!  .............Oh yeah, light duty at home...........I got a Lincoln 135 shipping first of the week.  Last edited by tanglediver; 01-02-2010 at 11:18 PM.Reason: I forgot!City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Well, I have used and do use the HH210. When I was field testing it, I ran it side by side with a Miller 210 and the Hobart actually welded better than the MM210 on everything except the upper end. The HH 210 is a very good machine. I used it on two fairly heavy jobs and it held up just fine, so it can run with the bigger units to a degree. It welds aluminum very well and IMO, better than the MM210. I do not think you would go wrong with the HH over the MM180 at all. I have an Esab Multimaster 260 and the HH210 in my shop as primary wire feed units. Unless I am running heavy or dual shield, I usually grab for the HH210 first.QamuIs Heg qaq law' lorvIs yInqaq puS