HH 135 update

[Maxwell]

Well after much testing, I got frustrated and brought my HH135 back to the dealer.

I have never had success with this welder, and I think the reasons are several. First I do not have an adequate 110V circuit in my workshop. Second (and the reason it went back) the wire speed was WAY to fast and could not be adjusted.

The dealer I am working with has been stellar! They took the unit back and gave me full credit towards the purchase of a larger welder.

I am leaning towards the HH175, but also looked at the MM 175.
I have read Dan's extensive post on his MM175 and on several occasions he said the HH175 is a better machine for a beginner/novice. I'm a beginner, so the HH175 seems to be the right one for me.


I hate to admit it, but I probably should have purchased this size welder from the start.

I'll let you know my results when I purchase

Thanks for everyone's help.

Maxwell

[Maxwell]

OK.. now I need some help.

Just stopped by my dealer and he had the MM175 on sale for $649 w/ a free cart and free cover. While the HH175 is on sale for $549 w/ a free cart.

Still thinkin HH175, but open to opinions. Is $100 extra for the Miller more welder than this weldor needs?

My uses include doing repairs, a little ornamental stuff, maybe a go-cart or two, and other hobbiest type activities.

Give me your $.02 worth.

Thanks

Maxwell

[morpheus]

tough call ... I use my HH175 alot and sure wish my welder had the infinite control like the mm175. not sure if it's worth $100 or not though.

- jack

[Hobart Expert Rock]

MAXWELL...............AH I LOVE IT..........TEST WELD WITH THEM... TRY THEM.............COMPARE..................HEY TAKE THOSE GIRLS FOR A TWIRL..........READ ALL YOU CAN HERE...............THEN YOU DECIDE.... AFTER ALL IT IS YOUR HARD EARNED DOLLARS YOUR SPENDING................LET THE DECISION MAKEING BAGIN......... ..
BESIDES MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD TO TRADE UP AS WELL....... YOUR NOT THE FIRST GUY IN THIS POSITION.............. LET US KNOW WHAT YOU DECIDED ON AND WHY......................ROCK..
[email protected]

[Dan]

Maxwell

Don t make your decision on which machine to purchase based strictly on my opinion of these two machine. I suggest you do as ROCK stated and give both machines a test drive. However, my personal opinion still stands that I feel the HH 175 is the better choice for the home hobbiest weldor. however, if in the future Miller was to remove the wire speed tracking from the MM 175 I have a feeling I would start suggesting the MM 175 (or whatever name they choose to call it) over the current design of the HH 175.

By know means do I think the MM 175 is a piece of junk though. After all, I purchased the machine after I gave it about an hour long test drive. Since the MM 175 has the wirespeed tracking feature with variable voltage it just takes more time playing with both the voltage and wire speed to bring the arc into the sweet spot. However, when you find the right settings the arc is nice and crisp with no spatter. The HH 175 is much simpler to tune in. For 1/8" or 3/16" mild steel with an .035 solid wire and C-25 just put the machine on tap 3 and then some where between about 50 and 70 (depending on the joint design) on the wire speed well bring you into were you need to be. The HH 175 is just a simplier machine to operate.

[Maxwell]

Sweet!

Just got home with the new welder. I choose the HH175, based on the fact that when I went to test the MM175 and the HH175 the guy doing the test with me had trouble adjusting the MM175 as easily as the HH175 when we went fom .250 thick mild steel to .125 CRS.

The weld quality (with me as the weldor) was about the same for both units. The guy with me was a better weldor and he proved it by the looks of his welds. Oh well, I'll get better.

I got it home and hooked it up to power and C25 gas. Reversed the polarity and loaded .03 solid core wire. Struck an arc on some .125 angle iron right next to where I had with my HH135. Much more penetration (go figure) and a sweet sounding arc!

I am very excited and yet I realize that it is just a HH175 (not like a MM210 or something)! But there is nothing worse then a tool that doesn't work properly, and the HH135 I had didn't.

Thanks to everyone here, this is an awsome site populated with great folks formed into a community that I'm proud to be a part of!


Maxwell