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Okay, so I am getting ready to buy my first MIG welder and trying to decide which brand. I am not a professional welder and have just done some screw around welding before using my friends welders. I will mainly be using the welder for auomotive work (Hot-rod stuff, body work, small frame work). I have a 220 ckt already installed in the garage so that isn't a concern. So I have narrowed it down to two welders, Millermatic 175 and Hobart Handler 180. Now the hobart is a little less expensive and comes with the cart and I have heard that the Hobart is mostly built using Miller parts so is kind of a Miller is Hobart clothing. Is one really any better then the other? And why? If you were buy which would you buy and why?Thanks for the help guys.
Reply:Heres what Ive heard, and you will want to verify this. The Miller is still running copper windings and the hobart has gone to aluminum which is cheaper, lighter, but cheaper. Along with price and weight, is quality. The arc quality wont be as good. I personally wouldnt be happy with aluminum wound machine. I would check on this before making a purchaseOtherwise, think youll be fine with eithergood luckIF it Catches...Let it Burn
Reply:I was recently faced with the same decision. The Hobart with a cart from the local Tractor Supply Store was $648 and the MM175 with a cart from the best local source I could find in Houston was $836.I went for the MM175 as it was more adjustable than the Hobart which if I recall has five taps. I find I need all the adjustment I can get when working on light guage material. I am happy with my choice as it seems well siuted for my needs. I am sure you can get good results with either one with a little practice.
Reply:I'm not sure if you know this or not but hobart is now owned by Miller, so you really narrowed it down to one welder manufacture. I do hope that you looked at Lincoln as there SP175 s very capable machine.At this price level the machines are very similar in performance (between Lincoln and Miller) so choosing should be a case of external factors. For example how close is the store when you need to get supplies.You really won't go wrong with any of them as introductory machines. There may be advantages with variable voltage machines as ooposed to the "tapped" machines. Especially if doing alot of sheet metal work. So I would push you towards the Miller or the Lincoln SP175 Plus. ThanksDave
Reply:D-n-tyke, ........... First off, stay away from any machine that has welding taps or lugs. If you don't, you'll find out too soon that the fine adjustment needed sometimes can not be had with taps/lugs. With these, the amps overlap from one lug to the other and fine adjustment can't be made. With a dial you can adjust the amps to exactly what you want.Secondly, .......... I know that there are people that swear by Hobart, but from 38 years of experience, I wouldn't recommend purchasing a Hobart product. Lincoln and Miller are much better machines and if you were to go around to most any welding shop, you'll find that most all will have one or the other or even some of both, Miller and/or Lincoln. This alone should help in your decision, as to what brand of machine to purchase. After working in the construction trade as long as I have, I've VERY VERY seldom worked at a shop or field job that had Hobarts and if they did, they were never used, or nobody wanted to use them. I think you'll be happier with a machine that you can adjust the amps to exactly what you want, instead of one that you can only get the amps close to what you want.
Reply:I bought the Lincoln 175T , I just couldnt dig up the extra cash for the PLUS version. I could never find a place that had it under 750.00 It all depends on what you will be welding. I have yet come to a situation where I needed the fine tune adjustments. I usually work with 11 - 16 guage metals and have not had any problems working with them. |
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发表于 2021-9-1 01:00:09