Welder Advice...

[Stang5lgt]

I am getting ready to buy a bigger welder. I have Lincoln 100 Flux core I have had forever. Anyway I was looking at a Hobart 187. Was wondering if that is good choice? Need a better welder to start building parts for the XJ. I plan on cage, sliders, bumpers, roof rack, and tire carrier.

[YELLAHEEP]

I have the Hobart 187 - I love it. 230V is the only way to go when stepping up to make bumpers and such.

Get the Hobart and you'll never look back.

[philip_g]

so uh, whatchoo doin with the old one? :D

[Stang5lgt]

I was thinking about the new Hobart 210 Handler but 187 is cheaper and can weld upto 5/16 compared to the 210s 3/8. I doubt I will ever need to weld 3/8 with a single pass. Just wanted to hear someone else say they were happy with there 187.

[Stang5lgt]

so uh, whatchoo doin with the old one? :DI have not decided on selling the lincoln. If I do I will let you know. It is handy since it can run on 120v. My generator makes 230v so I guess I could live without it.

[90xj4x4]

We have a Miller Millermatic 250 at the shop that I like alot. It welds really nice. Never used a Hobart but have heard good things about em. Good luck!

[hugeorgan351]

i have been weldng for 12 years and used lincoln, hobart and miller and hobart is ok but they have some problems with the inner electrical...lincoln is better but you replace alot of liners for the gun as for miller i say they are the best for the buck...little more expensive but they last...but that is just my opinion...miller does make a 180 that goes for around 900 if i remember correctly and welds 5/16 as well

[jdogg4]

You'll like the Hobart. In the past hobart got knocked around for being the off brand but they were bought out by miller some time ago so quality got cranked up. anything that can do 1/4 for what most of us do with rigs is nice 3/8 to 1/2 is also nice but at that point it's all about a good strong root pass then back layering.
The new Hobarts on the parts list of internals is all miller stuff now.

[Stang5lgt]

Toolking just got a shipment of Hobart 187 recon in. Bought mine for 499.99 plus tax. Pretty good deal. I'm excited.:clap:

[jdogg4]

thats way better than the 800 buck price tag I've seen around.

[Hypoid]

Dayuum...I was just going to say that if you can afford the bigger machine, the extra headroom with the duty cycle is nice to have.

http://www.hobartwelders.com/products/wirefeed/

If 100% duty cycle is that close, or that low, never mind.

[hugeorgan351]

hell if i had 500 bucks i would have bought one also even though i am a miller man

[Hypoid]

Yeah, that is a screamin deal, half the list of the bigger machine. I guess ol stang will have to take a few extra breaks when he's into something heavy. LOL

[Stang5lgt]

I figure I can always get a bigger one later if need be. Now I just need to score a tank, some gas , and a cart.

[Hypoid]

Now I just need to score a tank, some gas , and a cart. I can get you some odds and ends angle iron for that cart, perfect first project.

[hugeorgan351]

build your own that way it will last and you can say that you did it your self....and if you need any advise or anything let me know like i said i have been doin it for 12 years

[Stang5lgt]

I can get you some odds and ends angle iron for that cart, perfect first project.Yeah that would be great. I was planing on building my own. I have 14 chop saw, 7 inch grinder, couple 4 1/2 grinders, and torch. I also have a Lincoln 225 arc welder. I was just ready to step up a little to better mig.

[Stang5lgt]

I pulled the welder out of the box and gun says Miller on the gun handle. You can buy a empty 80 CF cylinder for 145 bucks shipped with valve and cap on ebay. Is that good deal? Does anyone know how much it cost to fill with C25?

[hugeorgan351]

when we had our company we used gases and arc and they are reasonably priced...you can also lease a bottle and go that route...you also have general air

[YELLAHEEP]

I use General Air off of Santa Fe and Rio Grande. IIRC, I paid $150 or so to "lease" the medium sized bottle (can't remember the size but it's about 3.5' tall), then when I need a refill, it's $75 for the CO/Argon mix.

http://www.generalair.com/locations.htm

[hugeorgan351]

http://gasesandarc.com/ here is the link for their number..tell them eric from affordable portable welding sent you and see what they say

[jdogg4]

I pulled the welder out of the box and gun says Miller on the gun handle.

Same company.

I'd go to buckeye gen air or air gas and lease the bottles. I think it's a CO law thing. Most places won't fill a bottle that isn't one of theirs. I know air gas won't and I'm pretty sure gen air won't either. That and they test and control the bottles. well worth it. less on you.

[Stumpalump]

Thats the same welder as my new millermatic 180. You will like it. The only problem I had was the where the lead goes in the machine. It came loose twice and I wasn't getting any gas thru it. Probably my fault for not making it tight and it's been fine since. I got the cart,bottle, larger wire spool,welder and about 45 bucks worth of tips and tools for just over a grand so I'd say you got a good deal. I bought a 50' 10 guage extension cord from lowes. I cut off both ends and wired a 220 plug on one end and hard wired the inside of the welder. If you cut the olds strain relive off of the welder then a standard electrical box bulkhead fits perfect. I can go 90' from my outlet with my old extension cord if I need to. With the tips and tricks Led told me my welds are looking good!

[Stang5lgt]

Thats the same welder as my new millermatic 180. You will like it. The only problem I had was the where the lead goes in the machine. It came loose twice and I wasn't getting any gas thru it. Probably my fault for not making it tight and it's been fine since. I got the cart,bottle, larger wire spool,welder and about 45 bucks worth of tips and tools for just over a grand so I'd say you got a good deal. I bought a 50' 10 guage extension cord from lowes. I cut off both ends and wired a 220 plug on one end and hard wired the inside of the welder. If you cut the olds strain relive off of the welder then a standard electrical box bulkhead fits perfect. I can go 90' from my outlet with my old extension cord if I need to. With the tips and tricks Led told me my welds are looking good!Yeah I have 10 gauge cord from my arc that will work prefect. 50 footer. I knew Hobart was owner by Miller that is one of the reasons I decided on one over another Lincoln welder. Plus I had been reading alot tech threads where the guy was using one. So I figured it was a safe bet.