Hobart 175 vs. MillerMatic 175

[Zyvek]

I've narrowed my choices down to these two, so far there is only a small price difference (HH $590, MM $647) so it seems like a no brainer to get the MM with the infinite vs tap voltage control.

However, I've noticed the HH says it does aluminum while the MM requires what looks to be an expensive gun to do aluminum...

Can anyone shed any light on this?


Thanks.

[Roger]

Welding aluminum with standard MIG gun is frought with wire feed problems, and birdnests and more but it can be done. Spoolgun only has to push wire a few inches not 10 Ft so much less feed problems. This is true for both HH175 and MM175.
If you are going to buy MIG gun for your welder get one that doesn't need extra expense of control module. That can make larger welder close to same price as 175 welder with spoolgun, and module.

If you are buying a MIG welder to weld aluminum first try it welding aluminum to see if you like the way it welds the aluminum you want welded.

[Hobart Expert Rock]

ZYVEK.............WELCOME ABOARD.........FIRST THING I NEED TO SAY HERE IS THAT COMPARISON IS FINE..........WE ACTUALLY ENCOURAGE IT.........SET DOWN AND WELD WITH BOTH AT A LOCAL DISTRIBUTOR MOST HAVE DEMO ROOMS..........HECK EVEN TAKE SOME OF YOUR OWN MATERIAL WITH YOU...................... NOW KEEP IN MIND THAT MILLER/HOBART ARE OWNED BY THE SAME COMPANY.................. AND WE WORK QUITE WELL WITH EACH OTHER....... STEVE AND I HAVE BUSINESS CARDS THAT SAY MILLER ON ONE SIDE AND HOBART ON THE OTHER.......... .... SOME OF US ARE MULTI TALENTED............... ..... IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS THE DECISION IS YOURS.........AFTER ALL IT IS YOUR HARD EARNED CASH YOUR SPENDING........... WE ALWAYS LIKE TO KNOW WHICH ONE YOU CHOOSE............ LET US KNOW..... ROCK
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[Sberry]

I think the avg guy will become frustrated running alum on a feeder in a hurry. Before I had tig I used to prefit all the stuff and run it down to a friendly shop to have it done for what little I needed. The real good reason for a feeder is steel as its still a steel world for the most part unless you have something specific in mind. 99.5% of the welding we do is steel. About 4 or 500 more and you have a 210 which really impresses me for the type of machine at that cost. It will run 035 short arc well.

[Zyvek]

Thanks

Thanks for the info!

To be honest I should point out that I'm not going to be welding aluminum anytime soon, but since this board has convinced me to get a 220v vs a 110v, I'm kind of looking long range into what my future needs/skills may grow into... instead of finding out later I wish I had gone the next step up!

But other than the voltage control, aluminum seemed to be the difference between the MM and the HH... it kind of seems like a nice feature that the HH does alum "out of the box" while the MM requires and new gun and controller...

I'm guessing that the HH manual says something to the effect of "use a different gun liner to avoid contamination..." where the MM is a more of a pro model and they want you to do it the "right" way with the short feed gun? Is the HH doing something hokey for the aluminum MIG process?

How much of a big edge does the HH have for being able to do aluminum without extra accessories? For that matter can I do aluminum with the MM by just changing out the gun liner?

Thanks!

[Hobart Expert Rock]

ZYVEK.............. THE GUNS ON BOTH MACHINE'S ARE MANUFACTURED BY THE SAME COMPANY......... I HAVE PUT SPOOL GUNS ON BOTH THE MM/HH UNITS........................... IT JUST WORKS BEST.......... IF YOUR NOT GOING TO BE WELDING ALUMINUM IT IS A DEAD ISSUE........... BOTH MACHINES ARE MANUFACTURED IN THE SAME FACILITY ABOUT 15 FEET FROM EACH OTHER...............ROCK........................
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[BillC]

Re: Hobart 175 vs. MillerMatic 175

Originally posted by Zyvek
I've narrowed my choices down to these two, so far there is only a small price difference (HH $590, MM $647) so it seems like a no brainer to get the MM with the infinite vs tap voltage control.
<<SNIP>>

Zyvek,

It is certainly your choice, but I think there are more than a few on the list who, with hindsight, would pay the premium NOT to have the infinite voltage adjustment as it also means wire feed speed tracking. The consensus seems to be that it makes it much harder to dial in.

Good Luck!

[randomwalk101]

same

I am facing with the same dilema. I am a newbie..a very newbie. I'd like to take up on the hobby and just weld stuffs here and there around the house etc....and may be once a blue moon will do a piece of aluminum.

1) From the feedbacks above, I guess the concensus here is to go with the HH 175??

2) Secondly, since both are manufactured from same company, why is one brand more expensive than the other when the have the same capability (yet the Hobart 175 seems to have a little more than Millermatic 175) ??

Thanks for your insights.

[Dan]

Infinate voltage control is an overrated feature on most short circuit transfer machines like these 175 amp machines. For example, to short arc 1/8" or 3/16" mild steel you need a load voltage that falls between 18 and 19 volts. On every tapped voltage selection machine that I have ran there is always one tap or even possibly two (depending on the number tap selections) taps that fall with in this range for the wire speed required to weld these thicknesses. One of my MIG machines is a HH 175 and tap #3 will put you in the above mentioned voltage range. Now were I work I am the main weldor , part of my job is to train the guys that I work with so that hopefully they will become better weldors. My experience so far has been that these very inexperience weldors have a much easier time tuning the machine into an acceptable metal transfer with a tapped machine, because most times after a few test welds it is quite obvious which tap they need to use for the material thickness that they are attempting to weld. Once they determine the proper tap it then just a matter of messing with the wire speed some to produce the best metal transfer possible. These same guys tend to have a more difficult time with an infinate voltage control. They have to many control to operate , and just don t quite understand what each control does to the welding arc and metal transfer. So my opinion is that a tapped voltage selection machine like the HH 175 is an easier machine for an inexperience operator to tune the arc in on. Just my opinion though.

[Hobart Expert Rock]

RANDOMWALK101.............WELCOME ABOARD........ARE WE GOING FOR A WALK ABOUT..........Sorry couldn't resist that........Yes both are owned by the same company...........the Millers 135/175 are designed more for the experienced welders or folks in the maintance departments of factorys for portability.........

The Handlers are designed for the home hobbiest retail type folks... Farmers, ranchers, hobbiests, maybe even into the muffler shops..........

I think the real determining factor is you..........What are you going to be doing......... Another thing that helps is to head on down to the local welding distributors in your area. Take those girls for a test weld.......... That way you can determine first hand which one you like.................After all you might like one more more than the other....................

Remember it is your hard earned money your plopping down....In the end only you can decide..........So let the decision makeing process begin..........And in the end let us know what you decide and why...............We always like to know and how did you find this site....................Be safe............................Rock
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[ChadRat]

Oh my! Is the world coming to an end? Did Rock find the cap lock key? I thought he welded it down.

[Roger]

I will let everyone in on the secret for begginers using infinate voltage control. Pretend it has tapped voltage switch, adjusting the voltage in large jumps that weldor can easly see the effect. lAfter lots experence you still home in on you setting that way then play with fine volts last.

Infinate voltage control undocumented feature, it is much easier to accidently adjust infinate voltage control while adjusting wire speed with your gloved paw.

[Hobart Expert Rock]

Hey Chad Rat.......... Yes I've found the caps lock key........ Well in caps I was able to see better but.........That is another story...

Check out the process section for a brief explination...... This is why I'm going to use No caps from now on............. .... Requires 13% less storage............. ./....Enjoy..............Rock........
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[Franz]

So Rock, do the new magnifying goggles also improve your view of other things besides the Computer screne?
My wife claims hers also improved her golf game.

[Hobart Expert Rock]

FRANZ...........Well I have noticed the golf game is still pitiful indeed. However I've also noticed the Female Golfers as well who seem to be shooting much better than me.......Hmmmmmmmmmm so does that mean I should watch the hip rotation and how they flex their wrists at impact to the ball.............. Hmmmmmmmmm well what have I been missing...........I think I'll halft to inquire into the golf game and get some tips.............What do you think... .......................be safe.......................Rcok/////

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