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Another welder thread looking for experiences

docjake

docjake

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I have searched and debated for a long time so now I am looking for opinions and experiences with the two.
http://www.hobartwelders.com/products/wirefeed/handler210/
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/millermatic_211_autoset/

The downside to the 211 is the limited duty cycle, but I cannot think of all that many times when I have welded non-stop for three minutes. I usually have to stop, curse, put out the fire(s), drink some beer, grind off booger welds, etc...
Any help from the brother hood is appreciated.
 
infinite voltage is nice... i love my Miller 180, great machine....
 
I also have the miller 180, amazing machine. Makes even the most novice welder make it look easy.
 
I have the Millermatic 211, I love it.

The street price between the two is $885 - $970. So, is the infinite voltage control, and 110V capability worth the difference to you? Also, does the Hobart have the aluminum drive system?

With that said, I think you will be happy with either one, they are both excellent welders.
 
folkenheath said:
I have the Millermatic 211, I love it.

The street price between the two is $885 - $970. So, is the infinite voltage control, and 110V capability worth the difference to you? Also, does the Hobart have the aluminum drive system?

With that said, I think you will be happy with either one, they are both excellent welders.
Click to expand...

I do think the extra hundred something dollars is worth being able to get as much control as I want and the ability to help out friends who don't have the same garage setup as I do makes it worth it to me. That hundred dollars will be made up in owed beer in no time.:D
 
I would go Miller between the two. I'd also consider a Lincoln. Why?, well I know I will stir the **** up with this one but just passing along some comments. I was picking up some more gas for my tank that I use with my Miller 175. I love my welder and have had no problems with it. Having said that, I recently picked up a new Jackson auto darkening helmet from Heath's Welding Supply in Dublin, CA. I was talking to the shop guy about different MIG welders and he was not complimentary at all about Hobart and just as critical of Miller. His opinion was that a Lincoln beat any other MIG welder hands down. He spent quite a while telling me exactly why but to be honest, I wasn't paying that much attention since I own a Miller and it works fine for me. One thing I did remember was that he said each Lincoln is hand assembled and tested. If the unit fails before being certified for shipping, the builder has to come in on his own time and make it right. Miller on the other hand is kind of an assembly line setup.

Does that make a difference? I don't know but it did make me think that if I was comparing Lincoln and Miller, and the price was the same for the same product, I might go Lincoln next time around. I do remember back in the early seventies learning to weld on a monster Lincoln arc welder in HS. He also said that if I walked into any professional welding shop in the bay area I would see nothing but Lincolns unless the shop was sponsored by Miller and they got them cheap or free. Any pro welders here that can let us know if any of that is BS? I also want a plasma cutter so maybe I will get a chance at a Lincoln if they make one...
 
I've used them all over a 20+ year career. My personal experience is Lincoln and Miller are the two heavy hitters out there and it's hard to go wrong with either. My preference is Lincoln though...better electronics IME. You pull the trigger and the arc starts hot and steady every time. Miller's are famous for a colder, spattery start before they smooth out. Not every time, but often enough that you notice. Hobart is a good door stop...it's the red headed step child of welding machines.

To the OP, 30% duty cycle is at max output. At half the maximum output your duty cycle is more like 60%.

FWIW I ended up with a Miller for my home machine. Couldn't find an equal or better deal on a Lincoln at the time.

Rene
 
Desert Rat said:
I would go Miller between the two. I'd also consider a Lincoln. Why?, well I know I will stir the **** up with this one but just passing along some comments. I was picking up some more gas for my tank that I use with my Miller 175. I love my welder and have had no problems with it. Having said that, I recently picked up a new Jackson auto darkening helmet from Heath's Welding Supply in Dublin, CA. I was talking to the shop guy about different MIG welders and he was not complimentary at all about Hobart and just as critical of Miller. His opinion was that a Lincoln beat any other MIG welder hands down. He spent quite a while telling me exactly why but to be honest, I wasn't paying that much attention since I own a Miller and it works fine for me. One thing I did remember was that he said each Lincoln is hand assembled and tested. If the unit fails before being certified for shipping, the builder has to come in on his own time and make it right. Miller on the other hand is kind of an assembly line setup.

Does that make a difference? I don't know but it did make me think that if I was comparing Lincoln and Miller, and the price was the same for the same product, I might go Lincoln next time around. I do remember back in the early seventies learning to weld on a monster Lincoln arc welder in HS. He also said that if I walked into any professional welding shop in the bay area I would see nothing but Lincolns unless the shop was sponsored by Miller and they got them cheap or free. Any pro welders here that can let us know if any of that is BS? I also want a plasma cutter so maybe I will get a chance at a Lincoln if they make one...
Click to expand...



eh, all i would say is i actually have more concern over Lincoln these days since they started being spewed by home depot, etc.... i had a 110 Lincoln unit just up and sh*t the bed on me...

the concern is the same as Dewalt tools in recent years, they are without doubt imo, making another "level" of stuff to be sold in these stores.. is Lincoln doing the same? don't know, but i've been leaning that way...

my bud is a pro for over 40 yrs and he'll use nothing but Miller...

i love my bargain Parker plasma, that thing rocks for about 1/3 the cost of the big manufacturers offerings..
 
ryoken said:
eh, all i would say is i actually have more concern over Lincoln these days since they started being spewed by home depot, etc.... i had a 110 Lincoln unit just up and sh*t the bed on me...

the concern is the same as Dewalt tools in recent years, they are without doubt imo, making another "level" of stuff to be sold in these stores.. is Lincoln doing the same? don't know, but i've been leaning that way...

my bud is a pro for over 40 yrs and he'll use nothing but Miller...

i love my bargain Parker plasma, that thing rocks for about 1/3 the cost of the big manufacturers offerings..
Click to expand...

Which plasma do you have?
 
Another vote for the miller 180. My wife played with it with no welding experience. 10 minutes later she was putting down better beads than me.:doah:
 
Desert Rat said:
I was talking to the shop guy about different MIG welders and he was not complimentary at all about Hobart and just as critical of Miller. His opinion was that a Lincoln beat any other MIG welder hands down. He spent quite a while telling me exactly why but to be honest, I wasn't paying that much attention since I own a Miller and it works fine for me. One thing I did remember was that he said each Lincoln is hand assembled and tested. If the unit fails before being certified for shipping, the builder has to come in on his own time and make it right. Miller on the other hand is kind of an assembly line setup.
Click to expand...

That's kind of funny. I like Lincoln and Miller, I own a Miller. Nothing wrong with either, but for the guy to say that, is funny. Miller is made in Appleton, WI, USA and they'll let you visit their factory if you want. However, when I was in the weld shop I looked at the Lincoln 180, "Made in Mexico". So it's kind of ironic he's making fun of Miller's manufacturing and hailing Lincoln's, when you go visit Millers factory in WI and see how they build it, and Lincolns??? So how does he know that?

I'm not knocking Lincoln, they are based in Ohio and make good stuff. I am just trying to say he doesn't have any basis to knock Miller...
 
Desert Rat said:
I would go Miller between the two. I'd also consider a Lincoln. Why?, well I know I will stir the **** up with this one but just passing along some comments. I was picking up some more gas for my tank that I use with my Miller 175. I love my welder and have had no problems with it. Having said that, I recently picked up a new Jackson auto darkening helmet from Heath's Welding Supply in Dublin, CA. I was talking to the shop guy about different MIG welders and he was not complimentary at all about Hobart and just as critical of Miller. His opinion was that a Lincoln beat any other MIG welder hands down. He spent quite a while telling me exactly why but to be honest, I wasn't paying that much attention since I own a Miller and it works fine for me. One thing I did remember was that he said each Lincoln is hand assembled and tested. If the unit fails before being certified for shipping, the builder has to come in on his own time and make it right. Miller on the other hand is kind of an assembly line setup.

Does that make a difference? I don't know but it did make me think that if I was comparing Lincoln and Miller, and the price was the same for the same product, I might go Lincoln next time around. I do remember back in the early seventies learning to weld on a monster Lincoln arc welder in HS. He also said that if I walked into any professional welding shop in the bay area I would see nothing but Lincolns unless the shop was sponsored by Miller and they got them cheap or free. Any pro welders here that can let us know if any of that is BS? I also want a plasma cutter so maybe I will get a chance at a Lincoln if they make one...
Click to expand...

tRustyK5 said:
I've used them all over a 20+ year career. My personal experience is Lincoln and Miller are the two heavy hitters out there and it's hard to go wrong with either. My preference is Lincoln though...better electronics IME. You pull the trigger and the arc starts hot and steady every time. Miller's are famous for a colder, spattery start before they smooth out. Not every time, but often enough that you notice. Hobart is a good door stop...it's the red headed step child of welding machines.

To the OP, 30% duty cycle is at max output. At half the maximum output your duty cycle is more like 60%.

FWIW I ended up with a Miller for my home machine. Couldn't find an equal or better deal on a Lincoln at the time.

Rene
Click to expand...

I agree with both these guys 100%. Rene and I both have been pushing Lincoln welders over Miller for years on here. I have extensive experience with both. What Rene says of the differences between the two is 100% correct. I ended up with a Lincoln PowerMIG 215 at home.

Don't buy a welder at home depot or lowes. Ever. Turn in your man card if you do.
 
why shouldn't you get a Lincoln at home depot? shouldn't be ANY different of a Lincoln welder than you buy from a welding supplier... unless of course what I said is true....

my experience says yes, home depot is getting lesser quality Lincolns than you might get direct from Lincoln, etc..... my friend bought it there, donated it to me, and it just up and sh*t the bed...
 
thats not the point... i do too..... the point is, it shouldn't matter with the machine...
 
There might be no difference in the machine, at that point it is the customer service you are paying for. That and the fact that if you took your broken welder to the nearest TSC and asked them questions about it they would look at it like a moon rock.
 
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