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Hobart Handler 190 $70 off @ Tractor Supply

Spn1025

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I don't know **** about welding and I don't even know if this is a good deal. Obviously it's no Miller. One sec, I'll post the pic on tapatalk
 
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ishiboo

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My first welder was a 130, same exact machine as the Miller except a thermoplastic drive (versus cast) and of course the taps. Would never hesitate to buy a Hobart.
 
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Ign

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If I had to guess, I would say the Hobarts stay transformer machines for a few years to further differentiate from the Millers.

Maybe....but I coulda sworn the H210MVP came out before the Miller 211. I was active on the Hobart forum at the time & they had sent one or two to regular board members for top-secret testing. Once they were given the green light to discuss it it seemed to be the first the welding community had heard of a compact, handle-carry 210 class machine which was also multi-voltage.

Maybe I'm wrong and just wasn't following the Miller product line closely enough back then??

If I'm right, point is sometimes Hobart gets new technology first.
 

TBone69

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When I was shopping for a MIG last year I learned that the models being sold in the stores such as Home Depot/Lowes are not the same as direct.

I think Tractor Supply sells the exact model you can get from Hobart but I would double check.

I have the Hobart 140 and love it. Would have went the 190 if I had 220 but I'm just a hobbyist and it has suited me well.

Got mine direct from Hobart as I did not have a Tractor Supply nearby.
 

Ign

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When I was shopping for a MIG last year I learned that the models being sold in the stores such as Home Depot/Lowes are not the same as direct.

I think Tractor Supply sells the exact model you can get from Hobart but I would double check.

I have the Hobart 140 and love it. Would have went the 190 if I had 220 but I'm just a hobbyist and it has suited me well.

Got mine direct from Hobart as I did not have a Tractor Supply nearby.

That's part urban legend. It is true for many Lincolns at HD, but not always. I personally use a WeldPak 100 that came from HD. My LWS freaked out and insisted none of the consumables they sold would work w this machine. Dead wrong. I needed the diffuser (or tip mount as its gas-less) as it was inexplicably missing and the one they sold for the "real" machines fit perfectly.
 

Loscaldazar

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Feb 23, 2013
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That's part urban legend. It is true for many Lincolns at HD, but not always. I personally use a WeldPak 100 that came from HD. My LWS freaked out and insisted none of the consumables they sold would work w this machine. Dead wrong. I needed the diffuser (or tip mount as its gas-less) as it was inexplicably missing and the one they sold for the "real" machines fit perfectly.

I think part of the reason this rumor has started is because Lincoln produces welders that have different part numbers for each major distributor they sell too. Lowes has unique part numbers, HD has unique part numbers, the LWS (who probably order through an industrial distributor) have different part numbers. As far as I can tell when I last did research into this, they all come with the same or similar accesories, and the machine is the same except for a few stickers on the front of it (Weld Pak HD vs Weld Pak Pro etc)

Now that I search again, it looks like they may have stopped the HD vs Pro/other weird numbers and letters added just to prevent price matching between competing stores. Odd.
 

Ign

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Also Hobart has great tech support w real people in this country. Call and ask and they'll tell you a Hobart from TSC is identical to a machine from a LWS. My friend bought a H125 from Northern on my recommendation. Local dealer insisted they could not repair. My friend called Hobart, they said BS but sent him the needed parts for free along w directions on how to r&r.

Yes, this is a "my friend did XYZ" story but I was invested as I felt responsible for the purchase as it was per my reco. Plus I'm his go-to guy for welding advice so he contacts me on all matters like this.
 
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Spn1025

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I think part of the reason this rumor has started is because Lincoln produces welders that have different part numbers for each major distributor they sell too. Lowes has unique part numbers, HD has unique part numbers, the LWS (who probably order through an industrial distributor) have different part numbers. As far as I can tell when I last did research into this, they all come with the same or similar accesories, and the machine is the same except for a few stickers on the front of it (Weld Pak HD vs Weld Pak Pro etc)

Now that I search again, it looks like they may have stopped the HD vs Pro/other weird numbers and letters added just to prevent price matching between competing stores. Odd.

I've heard similar stories from Walmart, having "made for Walmart" products. Examples I think I read about were Samsung TV's that had Walmart exclusive part numbers. I don't think there was ever any proof that the products were actually made cheaper.
 
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