Need Opinnions!??!

[smokingohiobutcher]

I was wondering if anybody could give me some opinions on a couple wire welders I am looking at. One is the Hobart Handler 125 EZ Welder http://www.tractorsupply.com/welding...welder-3806489
Or the Hobart Handler 210
http://www.tractorsupply.com/welding...welder-3808902

I would certainly like to buy the bigger one, but that will depend on the Money situation....Or if I can talk my brothers into going in on spliting the cost 3 ways!

Anyway I was wondering if anyone has used these and are they any good?
Thanks
SOB

 

[morkdach]

hobrat welders are made by Miller elec they are good welders come with a 3 year warrenty. get what you can afford but the 125 is flux only step up if you can on this one.Miller is a step up from these with more whistles and bells.if you go with the 210 make sure you have 230 vac in your shop/garage

 

[south jersey bbq tim]

hobart will last forever..can't go wrong with it

 

[bbq engineer]

Hey SOB (It cracks me up every time I write that),

I have the HH 210. In fact I used that to build the Iron Maiden (Go ahead, check the post, I'll wait).

It worked flawlessly! In fact, I bought that to replace an el cheapo POS china welder that actually exploded on me. There is no comparison. The 210 also has some power and a duty cycle that is large enough that I could weld continuously. Before, I would weld a bit, and then stand around for ten minutes for the welder to come out of high temp shutdown. I liked the welder so much I bought their plasma cutter too...Am not disappointed. The 210 is spool gun capable as well if you are going to need that.

Also, I bought an "A" stock refurb unit from Tool King...Couldn't even tell that it had been used. It came with a brand new Miller gun, and there were no witness marks on the plug in so I don't think it had ever been plugged into the wall. When I was going over it I found a small dent in the base plate. I'm serious, that saved me several hundred dollars. Got it for $649.00 delivered to my door (at the time everyone else was over $1K). An awesome deal...here's the link, looks like the price has gone up just a bit, but still awesome!!!

http://www.toolking.com/hobart-50052...welder-a-stock


On Edit: Oh, and Morkdach is right. Miller and Hobart are both owned by ITW (Illinois Tool Works), and that is probably why my Hobart welder arrived at my house with a Miller gun on it. Some of their products are suspiciously similar...my Airforce plasma cutter was identical in terms of the layout to the miller model at the time. I have nothing but good things to say about ITW (who also made my Paslode framing nailer)...in fact, what's their stock symbol.....

 

[big country]

I think that the 210 is the way to go. Using the gas while welding makes for a nice clean weld. I believe the duty cycle is 20 to 30% which is ok. I also think that the 210 will do a 1/4" in a single pass. The problem with flux core wire is that it pops quite a bit and there is more time needed to clean the weld. But on a windy day, the flux core is great. Check your local welding supply place and see if they have re-furbished welders. I bought my Lincoln 175 from my local welding supply (Airgas) and it was a re-furbed unit, looked brand new. They said that these came from Home Depot from somebody who used them once or twice and then returned them. From there they are sent back to the factory for a complete overhaul. My welder new, $800 to $900. I got it for $600 and I have never had a problem with it. Works like a champ !!!! Plus gas is cheap to fill your bottles. With the money that you save if you were to find a re-furbed unit, you could buy your bottle, then just pay for re-fills.

 

[smokingohiobutcher]

Well I pulled the trigger today I ordered the hobart 125 ez welder.
I had to go with what I could afford right now. Hopefully I can upgrade to the 210 someday. Thanks to everybody that helped me out.

SOB

 

[tom37]

The 125 will be a wonderful addition. Tho I have never personally used this unit I have only heard good things about them. Its more then you would ever need building smokers. I would not want to try a trailer of any kind with it tho. Possibly with the right skill level maybe it can be done in a safe way, just saying that I myself would not try it.

Bigger isn't always better, go with it and if the time comes stick it on Craig's list and see what you can get out of it. I bought the Miller 211AS and now I wish I had went with the Passport Plus even tho it has a little less power.

If you are to ever upgrade check out the miller and Hobart boards and maybe look in to a 187. Its a pretty fabulous machine.

I have started a new fund for myself. Any time I cook for friends and family I have decided to take what ever money I make profit and set it aside. I am not trying to run a business at all, I just always have people say let me know when you cook and I will buy some. I have seen the profit from fund raisers I have done in the past and it won't take to long to add up a small pile of change.

Good Luck and don't forget to show us what that little sucker will do for ya. If you don't already have an auto dark helmet watch Harbor Freight, they have a pretty nice blue flame helmet going for like 49 bucks. It makes a world of difference.

 

[smokingohiobutcher]

Thanks Tom,
I'm ok with the 125 and excited for it to show up. I recently bought 2 used go karts for the kids and need to do some mods to them and really needed to take the plunge. Plus all the things I want to do to my UDS, and my UDS version 2 is gonna be even better. Not to mention I want to make a charcoal grill for the back yard, and so on blah blah blah.
The reason I wanted the 210 was you can weld aluminum with it if I bought the spool gun for it. My big Vertical smoker is an old doughnut transporting box



...Mostly aluminum. I have some serious mods I wanted to do to it and having my own welder to do it with would be nice. Well like you said maybe someday...for now I am gonna have some fun! Might even have to weld up some shackles and chains for Mrs SOB's antics in the bedroom!

Just kidding

SOB

 

[got14u]

Just a fyi the spool gun is a joke...It really lacks when welding. I have not personally used it but was told by 3 difirent guys that all have 20+ years in welding...nice to see you got the hobart. good luck on your future builds.

 

[oldschoolbbq]

I gotta come see that!!!
Gonna do a build , Huh?
Cool;maybe a Stickburner?
have fun and