Hobart Handler 187

[bmxdad]

Looking at a Hobart Handler 187 ... they want around $500.

Worth it? It's a 240v machine and close by. Looking to get back into fabricating, and my new garage is dying for a new welder ...

 

[Tronyadorable]

Cart ? Bottle ? Reg-flow meter ?

 

[bmxdad]

Flow meter and a few small spools of wire. First project will be a cart of course.

 

[Tronyadorable]

Good machine. Runs fine on CO2.
If its super clean.....yeah. I'd grab it for $500
Anything better will be twice that new(and not necessarily better).
That's 1/4" machine. Great for most anything in all reality.
"Here come the 1 amp per .001 "experts" to chastise me....LOL."

 

[nine4gmc]

I've been rocking the Hobart 140 for a couple years now and it's been fine, only one instance where I wish it had more power but you should not run in to that problem with a 187.

 

[wbrian63]

I've got a 187 - and I'm no expert at welding, but so far nothing I've built has failed...

Reliable machine. I've run lots of wire through it and it hasn't caused me any trouble.

It's a little fussy when welding thin material - like maybe the output at lower levels isn't stable. This is work on auto bodies - older stuff that's like .040 or so thick. Sometimes the tacks go in real pretty. Other times it will blow a 1/8" hole in the material - and that's working with material that has been cleaned thoroughly and shows no visible signs of rust. It may be that those areas are thinner than adjacent sections due to the stamping process in manufacturing, but I've often wondered if a "higher quality" machine might do a better job.

Still - for the price offered, I'd jump.

Only issue I'll note is that it is very expensive to adapt this model to use a spool gun, which is really required if you ever want to do any aluminum welding.

I've done welding up to 1/4" without an issue - just be sure to wear a welding jacket - weld sunburn at higher amps is no joke.

 

[sberry]

What wire for welding thin material? 023 will work a lot better but it was designed around 030. The arc on this is first rate. Little problems, tips and splatter around the nozzle make for hard starts but if a guy cant do it with this then a more expensive welder wont help.
One needs to eliminate all issues with gun, liner and tips before suspecting other problems,,, they are very rare but do happen on occasion.

 

[383 240z]

I've had my HH187 for a few years now, and I LOVE it. For $500 with a bottle, I'd be all over it if mine were to die today. Keith

 

[wbrian63]

What wire for welding thin material? 023 will work a lot better but it was designed around 030. The arc on this is first rate. Little problems, tips and splatter around the nozzle make for hard starts but if a guy cant do it with this then a more expensive welder wont help.
One needs to eliminate all issues with gun, liner and tips before suspecting other problems,,, they are very rare but do happen on occasion.

023 wire for the thin stuff.

I do have occasional problem with the wire failing to start the arc when I press the button - kinda like when using a stick welder and the electrode sticks upon contact with the welding surface.

Of course, if I was disciplined enough to clip off the oxidized end of the wire before each effort, it would probably work better. That's kinda hard when I'm trying to **** weld a long seam by skipping along and adding a tack every 1/2 inch or so.

Never have this problem when the unit is set at "3" or above. I think with the lower voltages, any bit of grime (I try to get clean surfaces before I start welding) or oxidization can cause problems.

This is more of an irritation than anything.

 

[zkling]

It's fair at $400 given the condition. They are nice machines, the current equivalent is the 190 which you can get around $800 TYD. Small mig machines IN GOOD CONDITION hold their value pretty well.

 

[bmxdad]

Well ... picked it up for $400. Included 4 reels of wire and all the manuals and paper work. Guy taught himself to weld on this machine 3 years ago ... now my turn.

View media item 44349

 

[Engine]

I think you got a good deal on that one. I have the 190 and after running at least four ten lb. spools of solid and two more of FC, it still works like new. The 187 should be just as good. It should get the job done with no problems.

 

[nine4gmc]

You got an excellent deal on a great machine in great condition, yup, you did well!

 

[CNGsaves]

That's a nice welder for $400 . . . OP nice score !

 

[gungatim]

that is definately a score! I bought the HH175 about 12 yrs. ago and love it. I have done 3/8" with it and .050 wire, but usually use .035. would gladly sell and move up to the 187 series for that price if the opportunity came along...

do buy an aftermarket jackson or other high quality ground clamp, though. You won't regret it...

 

[RRich]

Congrats on a good deal. I would have bought that in a heartbeat to upgrade from my HH140.

 

[zkling]

Told ya so Looks like it was well cared for. What all wire did it come with?

I think you got a good deal on that one. I have the 190 and after running at least four ten lb. spools of solid and two more of FC, it still works like new. The 187 should be just as good. It should get the job done with no problems.

The 187 was the procedessor to the 190, and is a very nice machine. IIRC the only thing that changed between the two was they added 3 more amps on the top end, probably to satisfy marketing.

 

[bmxdad]

Here are the spools I have, both appear to be flux core type. Is it better to learn with or without??

View media item 44361
The original owner had the box hard wired to his cart, so the power cord is only 1' long.

So ... I went and bought 10' of 10/4 , which is the same on the box. I was going to pickup a plug and outlet, but what do I use? There is the 50amp 4 prong with straight pins and the 30 amp 4 prong and the single pin that has an L shape to it. What is the most common?

Seems the original was a 50amp style, but required circuit is only 30amp?

 

[zkling]

Almost all 230v welders come with a Nema 6-50P, which is a 50amp rated plug, 3 prong, grounded.

 

[bmxdad]

**** ... should have been three wire? Maybe I can get a refund ... McLendons is usually pretty good on this.

 

[bmxdad]

10' of the correct wire, now to find a good plug / outlet combo.

What is everyone using for a plug? NEMA 6-50 3-prong?

 

[bubinga]

Just noticed TSC has the 190 on sale for $670.00.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/sto...ftrk=gdfV27960_a_7c2509_a_7c10868_a_7c1021027

 

[zkling]

10' of the correct wire, now to find a good plug / outlet combo.

What is everyone using for a plug? NEMA 6-50 3-prong?

That is the most common. 6-50 P/R

 

[bmxdad]

Well, I replaced the power cord with a 14' length of 10/3 SU cord and added a NEMA 6-50 plug on the end. Going to be wiring up a NEMA 6-50 receiptical using #8, but using a 30amp breaker. I'd use a 50amp breaker, but no need for something that heavy ... besides, know one has one locally for my box

 

[tedsters]

Well ... picked it up for $400. Included 4 reels of wire and all the manuals and paper work. Guy taught himself to weld on this machine 3 years ago ... now my turn.

View media item 44349

I had one for 4 or 5 yrs its a rockin little welder get you a bottle of C-25 and put a spool of 0.30 wire on it for welding steel up to 3/8 the specs say 5/16 but you can weld 3/8 with a single pass i have done it and the only reason i got rid of mine was to buy a MillerMatic Vintage that will do 1/2 with ease but i wish i would have kept the HH187 its a sweet little welder practice on some clean steel and build a nice cart for the welder and post some pics, you got a nice welder

 

[bmxdad]

Can a #12 ground wire be used with #8 hots or is something bigger required. I thought you could go two lower but can't find where I read it ... maybe I dreamt it.

 

[sberry]

10,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[bmxdad]

Yea, 1 step down ... perfect, thanks

 

[wagon]

Here are the spools I have, both appear to be flux core type. Is it better to learn with or without??

it's easier to see what you're doing with gas- FC makes a mess and doesn't lay a pretty bead. if you're gonna be welding in the shop, use gas wire.

70S6 is the standard for gas wire. Don't forget to change machine polarity when changing to solid wire from flux core, and set gas flow to ~15-20cfh

why does he have aluminum spools?

 

[wagon]

if you want to do 030 (recommended) get some extra tips. that gun uses miller consumables, and the 030 tips for that are miller part # 000067. tips should be about $1.50 a piece.

 

[MrJason]

I bought my Hobart 187, back in 2005. I use the hell out of it. Duty cycle is lower than I'd like, as it will get weird on long, hot passes.

However, I would 100% suggest the Hobart 187, as a beginner MIG welder. Multitude of parts, exceptional manufacturer support (as a division of a larger company) and I still have that welder. I used it over the weekend, and it's what I would call, "the ideal job shop welder for the everyday wrenchead".

Any questions about the performance, please let me know. The only struggles I had with the unit, were based upon the gun. Which was remedied with a no-questions asked warranty swap.

-Jason

 

[bmxdad]

why does he have aluminum spools?

Yea, I noticed that to. don't you need a different gun for aluminum?

Any questions about the performance, please let me know. The only struggles I had with the unit, were based upon the gun. Which was remedied with a no-questions asked warranty swap.

-Jason

Will do ... thanks. I got a HF welding table for $50, so will be trying it out this week.

 

[zkling]

it's easier to see what you're doing with gas- FC makes a mess and doesn't lay a pretty bead. if you're gonna be welding in the shop, use gas wire.

70S6 is the standard for gas wire. Don't forget to change machine polarity when changing to solid wire from flux core, and set gas flow to ~15-20cfh

why does he have aluminum spools?

The guy probably had it setup to run argon for aluminum and flux cored for steel. You can pretty successfully push 0.035 aluminum, especially 5356, though a standard mig gun with a little care.

 

[sberry]

Yea, 1 step down ... perfect, thanks

10 good to 6 wire and 60A

 

[383 240z]

The guy probably had it setup to run argon for aluminum and flux cored for steel. You can pretty successfully push 0.035 aluminum, especially 5356, though a standard mig gun with a little care.

Really??? That's very handy to know. Anything else I'll need? Other than argon, and the wire? I have a few small welding projects that I would love to do with aluminum if I could. I figured it meant I would have to go to my buddies shop and use his TIG machine. Keith

 

[zkling]

Really??? That's very handy to know. Anything else I'll need? Other than argon, and the wire? I have a few small welding projects that I would love to do with aluminum if I could. I figured it meant I would have to go to my buddies shop and use his TIG machine. Keith

Use the largest dia spool you can, keep the gun cable as straight as possible. Use one size larger tip. Teflon liner.