Thread: Welding Machines.. Mig

I have Miller welders. A small 110 side kick, and a large miller matic 250, but have heard good thing about the hobart welders. I have a friend that has one and he likes it., but just like with all of them bottle fed is best. I use 024 wire in the side kick, and 030 in the big unit for all around welding including heavy 1/4 inch frame metal. I actually like my smaller side kick for frame welding better than the big one. I just turn up the heat and it kicks butt.
I say go for it.

I have a Hobart Handler 135, It works pretty good for most things but I wouldnt trust it on anything over about 1/4"..It looks like the 190 is a little bit more of a machine than the 135. But I have a Miller matic 211 for my bigger needs!

I have a Hobart Stick welder I use for heavy stuff...not that I do a lot of welding on heavy stuff..:).. I keep hearing good things about the HH140 which is a 110V mig.. But I think I am going to try and hold out for a 220V ... only time will tell.. .

Yeah I would get the bigger unit It should do it all. keep us informed on your decision and when you get it.
John

get the bigger unit,you can always turn it down,but you can`t turn the little one up that high.

Yes, that is very true!! I wish I would have waited one more paycheck and got the 212, instead of the 211 all the time when I am building axle trusses into the cast of diffs!! I have to make 2-3 passes before I am comfortable with the strength of my welds, with my 211 on 220V and 50A most of the time... but the best part about the Millermatic211 is it is dual voltage, so I can weld frames.. switch the plug end, and go right into sheetmetal!!

Well did ya get the welder? Or just a certificate for the jelly of the month club.

Originally Posted by ghost28

Well did ya get the welder? Or just a certificate for the jelly of the month club.

lol... no jelly yet... got a lot going on right now... need to build a shop and I'm moving... my GC does not expire so thats a plus :)

I think it was more like a truck load of jellybeans!LOL

Well, I bit the bullet today... got the eastwood 175... costs me $238... really wanted the hobart, but my wallet told me I was getting the eastwood...

175 Amp Mig Welder with spool gun - Eastwood MIG 175

It looks like a good unit. And they do have a good return policy if you aren't happy. A friend bought a tig from east wood and it didn't seem to work the way he thought it should, I thought it worked fine, but they took it back no problem. Do you have the co2 argone bottle for it yet?

No bottle yet..that'll be another month or so

Originally Posted by rastus

No bottle yet..that'll be another month or so

Too bad you are not closer. I have a small starter bottle I could have hooked ya up with. Harbor freight sells a real small bottle for cheap, but it will still need to be filled. I bought one awhile back and when I upgraded to a larger bottle my gas co took it in the little bottle as trade.

I agree it looks like a pretty good machine you got there... I think you will enjoy the spoolgun too when you get the chance to test it out... I have had mine for almost 3 years and used it only a couple times,, I dont like aluminum!~

Save the heartache and just get the big bottle.You may not need that much now,but as time goes on it won`t be big enough.

I got a 60LB bottle for mine now! I was tired of going to fill up my 20LB every time I would just get into a good stride it seemed like- I get like 6 weeks out of it now when I am home, welding almost daily!!!

And they always go empty on the weekend!

Originally Posted by RVReddog

And they always go empty on the weekend!

Aint that the truth. Especially on a long weekend. Maybe it's wise to keep some flux core wire around. Even if it does splatter.

Originally Posted by RVReddog

And they always go empty on the weekend!

Yep, that seems to be the case at least 90% of the time!! And I do keep a 10lb spool of flux .030 on hand always- just for such a weekend!