Miller or Hobart 175

[Pat]

Hi,

On Tuesday I need to go get a new mig welder. My Lincoln Weld-Pak 100 became deceased on 05-22-03. The local welding supply store has the Millermatic 175 on sale for $595.00 which includes a free cart. The Farm & Fleet store has the Hobart Handler 175 on sale for $568.00 and I believe includes a free cart but not sure. I need to ask your opinions about which welder is better, and why you think it is. I tried doing a search here, but can't find any comparison information. For the time being I will be using flux cored wire.........thanks.

[OneQuartLow]

Pat, I have the Miller. A buddy has the Hobart. His has a purge setting but otherwise I have a tough time seeing differences.

Thought way too long between mine, the Hobart, or Lincoln. Looking back I'd worry less and go for bead time. There's quite a bit of "shop religion" between brands but they're very similar in the scheme of things.

Don't put much value in the carts. That makes a good project!

good luck!

David

[cope]

Since the Hobart still has voltage taps, it would be my first choice. I find taps are easier to use for Mig than infinite adjustment.

[Scott V]

Cope,I do like the adjustablity of the infinite controls.The little welders with taps,and wirefeed tracking is a lot harder to get the arc fine tuned like you want.That is worth way more then the plug in play mode of the tap models.Think Lincoln sp plus models,then you will see the light.I like the tap models when they leave off the wirefeed tracking.MM 185/210

Looks like the Oregon boys are gaining on the Texans.

[cope]

Originally posted by Scott V
Cope,I do like the adjustablity of the infinite controls.The little welders with taps,and wirefeed tracking is a lot harder to get the arc fine tuned like you want.That is worth way more then the plug in play mode of the tap models.Think Lincoln sp plus models,then you will see the light.I like the tap models when they leave off the wirefeed tracking.MM 185/210

Looks like the Oregon boys are gaining on the Texans.

Scott, that may be, but this is a man's forum, not a boy's.

[CaptNemo]

That's a great price on the MM175 !!! Jump on it !!
I love my Miller and use it all the time.
I built the cart for my MM 175 out of the angle iron from an old bed frame & some 11 gauge HR I had laying around. I have about 2 hours in the build and an hour in the paint. I bought the casters from Harbor Freight

[Pat]

Thanks for the information. I am leaning towards the Miller because of the advertised 30% duty cycle VS Hobarts 20%. Also I think buying it from the local welders supply store would be better in terms of information or repair turn around time. I wonder why Hobart claims the handler will weld up to 1/4" in 1 pass, and Miller just says the 175 can weld up to 1/4" with no mention of how many passes it would take.......Thanks again

[Dan]

Originally posted by Pat
Thanks for the information. I am leaning towards the Miller because of the advertised 30% duty cycle VS Hobarts 20%. Also I think buying it from the local welders supply store would be better in terms of information or repair turn around time. I wonder why Hobart claims the handler will weld up to 1/4" in 1 pass, and Miller just says the 175 can weld up to 1/4" with no mention of how many passes it would take.......Thanks again

Pat

Since you are located in the the USA, your supplied in put power to a welder should be at 60 cycle per second, which means the HH 175 will have the same 30% duty cycle at 130 amps that the MM 175 has.

Both machines are rated for a single pass fillet weld on 1/4".

Since your local welding supply stores sells Miller they should have no problem getting you a HH 175 too.

One of my MIG machines is a HH 175 and I have been quite pleased with its performance. Also, it does a very good job with the fluxcore wire.

Feature wise I like what I ve seen on the MM 175. However, I would like to log some actual welding time in on one to see if the infinate voltage control has any advantage on one of these wire speed tracking machines. Im wondering how difficult it is going to be to tune the machine in since everytime you adjust the voltage even slightly it changes the wire speed some. Every time you adjust the voltage you might have to adjust the wire some too. I really don t know though since I haven t tried the machine myself yet. To be honest with you, so far, I have heard nothing but positive ( minus Scott V ) feedback on the MM 175

If I test drove a MM 175 and liked the arc performance I would definately buy it over the HH 175 for the price that you have been quoted. However I still feel that the HH 175 is a very good machine.

If possible, you should really try to test drive both machines to see which one you like.

[Scott V]

Dan,thats because of being spoiled by the real leader in that class.The sp 175 plus with infinite controls.

[deere_x475guy]

Pat...beware.....I stated out with an MM175..(loved it btw)...and now look where I am.....lol

Have fun..this is a great board...

[Scott V]

Bob,that 251 is only the half way point for you!This should keep you from (LOL).

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/invision_354mp/

[deere_x475guy]

Originally posted by Scott V
Bob,that 251 is only the half way point for you!This should keep you from (LOL).

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/invision_354mp/

Whew...Scott...right now I don't have to get the wife involved with any purchases......and thats always the best....don't mess with the house money...lol...

The side bizz would have to really pic up for that one..)))

[Scott V]

Originally posted by deere_x475guy


Whew...Scott...right now I don't have to get the wife involved with any purchases......and thats always the best....don't mess with the house money...lol...

The side bizz would have to really pic up for that one..)))

Bob,maybe you could clue Dan in on your secret!

[Hobart Expert Rock]

HI PAT...........WERE YOU ABLE TO MAKE UP YOUR MIND......... IF SO WOULD YOU PLEASE TELL US WHY............. WE ALWAYS LIKE TO KNOW...............HAVE SOME FUN WITH IT...............ROCK.......
[email protected]

[Pat]

Hobart Expert Rock,

I went to the welders supply store this morning intent on walking out of there with the MM175. I was told that they are out of this welder at this time, but expect delivery of some more either tomorrow or Thursday. I made my decision based on the feedback I received from some of the other members on this board. One of the main reasons I am opting for the MM175 is that it has an aluminum wire drive, and the HH175 has the plastic drive. I know this really should'nt be one of the deciding factors, but these 2 machines appear to be so close in most other specifications that I focused on something that I prefer (metal over plastic). Probably poor reasoning on my part, but time will tell.

Bob,

Even though I went in to buy the MM175, I found myself leering at the MM210 they had on display. Right next to it was a Cutmate 375. I told the salesman I would really love to have that plasma cutter, but funds are in short supply at this time. He told me that in another week or so they would be upgrading a large fabrication shop, and would be taking in 3 or 4 Thermadyne? 1100 plasma cutters in trade, and that one of these used ones might be had for around $500.00. I see what you mean about getting hooked on getting the bigger and better equipment. I don't know anything about plasma cutters or Thermadyne?, but if it will cut steel quicker than a torch and is fairly reasonable, I will scrape up the funds for it.