picking a welder

[nrossman]

So im going to buy a new welder. I hope to get some opinions for you guys. I'm looking for a 230v mig. I want to stay under $1300. I have been looking at the hobart handler 210, and the millermatic 212. Has anyone used these or have any other suggestions? Thanks for the help.
Neil

the Hobart goes for $855
and millermatic for $1460

[baldwinwb11]

Any one of the big three would be a good choice, Lincoln, Miller, or Hobart. For most of what we weld any one of their 220V machines will do the trick. I use the Lincoln 175, and it can handle 1/4" steel without trouble, 1/2" if you weld both sides. I picked it up at Home Depot for like $600. Go by a post office and get a change of address packet and you will have a 10% off Home Depot coupon inside. I bought my welder about a week before I found this out... DOH!

[Qman]

the Lincoln 175 is a great machine. I have been told it is alot better than the Miller 170 or the new Lincoln 180. I like the M212 myself but will never need a machine that big. I have welded everything on my Jeep to date just wit Flux core and my little Lincoln 3200 (135). I use the 175 very little.

[mingoglia]

So im going to buy a new welder. I hope to get some opinions for you guys. I'm looking for a 230v mig. I want to stay under $1300. I have been looking at the hobart handler 210, and the millermatic 212. Has anyone used these or have any other suggestions? Thanks for the help.
Neil

the Hobart goes for $855
and millermatic for $1460

I have a Millermatic 210, which if course is the predecessor to the 212. They changed a few things between the two but the electronics are identical. Anyway, it's argumentatively the best welding MIG's out there for short circuit transfer welding (which is what you're going to do on a Geep). It's also a tapped machine which makes it an easy machine to set up for short circuit. It also can weld very well in spray transfer (with the right gas) which although fun, really has no application on a Jeep. With that being said, the handler 210 is a very similar machine (made by the same parent company). The main difference is the feed mechanism for wire. The millermatic has two rollers and everything is metal. The feed mechanism is made for industrial applications whre the Hobart is a bit lighter duty. I have a bit of a tool fetish which is why I *had* to go with the Blue welder... but in reality the Hobart version would have more than served my needs for many many years... and probably have even served the needs of my son when I pass it down. It's a great machine, and you can't go wrong with it.

You may also want to consider the Millermatic 185. Also a great machine and will weld anything you're likely to weld on a Jeep. It's much cheaper and also would serve your needs well. Many fabrication shops rely on the MM185 as their work horse as it will beautifully handle up to 3/16" all day long which is typically the thickest material you'll encounter on a crawler.

On Edit: I forgot to mention another difference between the handler 210 and MM210 is duty cycle. However as a home user I very much doubt you'd ever run into duty cycle issues with the handler 210 welding on Jeep.... even with the MM185, I doubt duty cycle would be an issue for anything 98% of us would use it for. For example, a 20% duty cycle at X amount of amps equates to being able to weld for 2 minutes out of 10 minutes... then waiting. Honestly though for what we're doing welding for 2 minutes is burning a heck of a lot of wire. Also, if that 20% is at let's say 150 amps, if you're welding at 75 amps that would equate to 4 minutes out of 10, or 40% duty cycle.

Mike

[SavageSun4x4]

I am on my second Miller and have NEVER had any kind of an issue with them. They very conservatively capacity rated.

I have the Miller 180 and I can do 5/16 single pass and 3/8 -1/2 in multiple pass. 1/2 is pushing the limits but if you preheat you can do it.

As Mike mentioned the Miller is built for commercial duty and between Lincoln, Hobart and Miler...No question in my mind its Miller Time where I am.

Give Troy over at Praxair a call he gives a very goo discount to VJC members (see below)

[nrossman]

We have had a hobart 145 at our shop for about 2 years and it has put up with the abuse of different people using/abusing it. This is making me lean towards the handler 210. And the fact that it is 500 bucks cheaper.

As for the mm 185, the miller website doesn't list that welder. They have a 180 autoset.

[nrossman]

don,
does your 180 have the auto set on it? If so how do you like that feature?

[Hunter]

I second Mike's suggestion. I admit, I am not up-to-date on the current generation of welders. I pusrchased a 185 back in 2000 and it has been a forgotten issue. I have yet to have a malfunction related to the machine. I am still useing the factory gun.

3/16? All day. I can lay some mindblowing beads on 1/4 as well with out the machine breaking a sweat. I have had to lay some long beads in my days at a continous stretch, running the machine at 3 or 4 power setting, out of 6, I have welded 4 foot long welds at a pop without an issue from the duty cycle.

There are alot of welders out there, some with better features, some with better componets. Here is a couple of points to help with the figureing out which is right for you.

*Lincoln and Miller is like Ford and Chevy. Probably the best of the class and arguably the same. Pick what color looks best in your garage if all else fails.

*Hobart is a good budget machine. Only major hang up is service and parts. Hard to find compared to Linc and Miller. But as a home welder, this may be a non issue. I probably put my welder through as much abuse in 6 months as some guys would do at home in 6 years.

For a solid welder, for the home fabricator, any 220 machine in the 150-190 amp range would be fine.


Although, I think the 185 is retired now. Old boxy thing.

[Hunter]

As for the mm 185, the miller website doesn't list that welder. They have a 180 autoset.



Thought so. As I was typing and wakeing up, I remembered the 185 got pahsed out. Instead out came the 180, which is the evoltuion of the 170/172 models. And the 185 was bumped up and became the 210. Of course, this is going back over 11 years.

[Antman]

the Lincoln 175 is a great machine. I have been told it is alot better than the Miller 170 or the new Lincoln 180. I like the M212 myself but will never need a machine that big. I have welded everything on my Jeep to date just wit Flux core and my little Lincoln 3200 (135). I use the 175 very little.

I use the same welder here Flux Core and haven't had any welds fail yet.

Probable the biggest job so far was my rock bars and they have been through

a lot of scraping and banging.

Down the road I'll probable buy something bigger, but for now my 135 is ok.:)

[mingoglia]

Thought so. As I was typing and wakeing up, I remembered the 185 got pahsed out. Instead out came the 180, which is the evoltuion of the 170/172 models. And the 185 was bumped up and became the 210. Of course, this is going back over 11 years.

Yep, I guess I got the number slightly off. It's the 180, not the 185... although I think they may have come out with a 182 this year? I don't know, would have to look but I'm too lazy at the moment. :mickey:

[Griswold]

Buy Blue.

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/3055/dsc03394ml6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[sctur601]

Well at home I have a hobart handler 135 (110v). that I use for most of my stuff I do on my jeep. it seems to get pretty good penetration to 3/16. at work I use a lincoln 175. For the most part I preffer the hobart, mainly because of the gun its alot lighter and alot smoother on the trigger. Which I guess isnt a big deal since you can change the gun on the lincoln. I have always found the miller/hobart guns alot more comfortable, and the more comfort the better the weld. As for my hobart I have probably been through 20 12lb rolls and the drive wheels still look like new. The lincoln has seen alot more use and the parts show a little wear, but nothing that causes any problems.

[SavageSun4x4]

don,
does your 180 have the auto set on it? If so how do you like that feature?
No, I don't have it....I looked at it a lot and I think if I had started out that way then it would be ok, but I just like doing all my own adjustments. Remember that in spite of all the auto adjusts, it cannot compensate for the welder himself. I prefer mine without.

[mingoglia]

Buy Blue.

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/3055/dsc03394ml6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I've always loved that pic Bryan. It brings a tear to my eye with all that blue goodness. :)

[nrossman]

So I went to praxair today and troy made me a smoking deal on a miller 180, tank, cart and some wire that I couldn't pass up. It should be here thursday. Thanks for all the help

[edgmac1jk]

Lincoln 175 I got mine for 380.00 on ebay new in the box works great.

[mingoglia]

So I went to praxair today and troy made me a smoking deal on a miller 180, tank, cart and some wire that I couldn't pass up. It should be here thursday. Thanks for all the help

Good job!

[SavageSun4x4]

So I went to praxair today and troy made me a smoking deal on a miller 180, tank, cart and some wire that I couldn't pass up. It should be here thursday. Thanks for all the help

Great, and thank you for supporting my sponsor...:)

[mingoglia]

Great, and thank you for supporting my sponsor...:)

After all, that's what we're all here to do.... patronize Don's sponsors. :angel:

[howyadoin]

I have used a Miller 172 for years and bought a new 212 a few months ago. Great machine and absolutely no comparison between the two. First project was a new tube subframe for my rear 4-link using 1.75 x .250 wall and had absolutely no issues. You can't go wrong with this machine for the money in my eyes.

[nrossman]

Great, and thank you for supporting my sponsor...:)

I deal with troy alot with my work and I didn't realize he was a jeep guy till you posted it earlier this month. He is a good guy and would recomend anyone going to him for their welding needs.

[howyadoin]

Excellent choice, now go build something!:2thumbsup: