Hobart Handler 190?

[e30bradley]

http://www.tractorsupply.com/mig-we...eZip=08807&ddkey=http:LocationBasedPricingCmd

Does anyone here have this welder? how good is it? are parts easy to get for it? Is the spool gun for it any good? I'll be using it for everything from sheet metal to heavy duty flat bed pickup builds. is their a better Mig welder in that price range? I want it to be highly adjustable and preferable 220 volt.

 

[nine4gmc]

I have the 110v Hobart 140 and LOVE it. It came with a miller whip and accessories, welds great and the price was right. I would love to step up to that model(just to swell my head, no actual purpose) when funds get better.

 

[e30bradley]

I have the 110v Hobart 140 and LOVE it. It came with a miller whip and accessories, welds great and the price was right. I would love to step up to that model(just to swell my head, no actual purpose) when funds get better.

How adjustable is the model you have and how thick can you weld with it? ever weld aluminum with it? what I'm woried about with the 190 is the duty cycle.. I see that its only 30% at 130 so what is it at 190? 5%??

 

[V-10 Killer]

My boss has one of those, without the spool gun, and he loves it. I was looking at buying one to learn to weld better, but since 95% of what I wanted to weld was aluminum or stainless, I got a tig instead. Still, from what I hear, they're a great mig unit for the garage hobbiest. There's some good youtube vids of proper setup and use of spool guns, including at least one from weldingtipsandtricks.com. That guys vids are excellent for instruction

 

[metal1313]

i would spend a little bit more, and ver http://store.cyberweld.com/homigweneha2.html it will handle thicker material and should have a better duty cycle, plus it can be powered by 120 or 230v.

also cyber weld is located in linden nj so not far

 

[e30bradley]

i would spend a little bit more, and ver http://store.cyberweld.com/homigweneha2.html it will handle thicker material and should have a better duty cycle, plus it can be powered by 120 or 230v.

also cyber weld is located in linden nj so not far

$72 more than tractor supply. Do you think they could give me a deal if I buy a welder and bottle from them? I'm thinking 80cft Do you know of a nearby 'metal yard' to buy materials from?
The only thing I like more about that welder is %30 at 150 rather than 130.. But I don't need the dual voltage since my garage was just wired with two 220v connections. One for an air compressor and one for a welder.. haven't got either one of those yet. I want to spool gun for ALuminum too.

 

[kc-steve]

I could be wrong but I think it is the upgraded version of the Hobart Handler 187, which if you search GJ you'll find there isn't a bad word about that one. It might even be worth a try to strike a deal on the older 187 at much lower closeout prices, ya know?

Hobart and Miller are under the same management and use many of the same parts. Hobart is really the home welder version of the professional Miller welders. Not much difference really especially at the 187 level. The 187 is very similar to Miller's 180, I think. I know the Thunderbolt and Hobart's version are almost exactly the same.

Steve

 

[metal1313]

i think they would cut you a deal; on a bottle, but yea tsc has a great price.

as far as where to buy metal in our area i use metal supermarkets on north ave in plainfield. good prices and very close to me so convienent. depending on were you are in bridgewater its prob no more than 20mins from you down 22

 

[srmofo]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=155029

too bad you weren't looking just a few weeks ago....maybe call them and see if they can cut you a deal.

I order a 210mvp from that thread. The company was very quick to ship and even sent an apology letter after they mixed up my tracking number. They discovered the error before I had.

,,,or be patient and maybe a similar deal will pop up

I just checked and they are selling the 190 for $694...mine was $26 to shipp IIRC
http://www.farmandfleet.com/products/690871-handler_190_230v_mig_welder.html

 

[kald]

Did you check the prices locally? My TSC has the 190 for less than the link you posted. I just saw it yesterday when I picked up some rods. I want to say $699??

It looks like a good machine and a lot of people love them but I don't like the fact that wire mechanism is mostly plastic.

 

[sberry]

The 190 is a good machine,,, you wont need any parts for it. The only issue is if its big enough, not really the duty cycle but max output. They all work good down low but find myself trying to wring the last drop out of a machine in this class. It will do 1/4, if I had a steady diet of it I would want a heavier machine but I really doubt thats the case here.

 

[e30bradley]

i think they would cut you a deal; on a bottle, but yea tsc has a great price.

as far as where to buy metal in our area i use metal supermarkets on north ave in plainfield. good prices and very close to me so convienent. depending on were you are in bridgewater its prob no more than 20mins from you down 22

okay. I'll probably try that store because I like to buy locally rather than online. And Plainfield isn't far from me at all. Not even 20 miles.

Did you check the prices locally? My TSC has the 190 for less than the link you posted. I just saw it yesterday when I picked up some rods. I want to say $699??

It looks like a good machine and a lot of people love them but I don't like the fact that wire mechanism is mostly plastic.

my local TSC isn't to local. Its probably like 40 miles.. I remember passing it a few times but I've never been in the store.

The 190 is a good machine,,, you wont need any parts for it. The only issue is if its big enough, not really the duty cycle but max output. They all work good down low but find myself trying to wring the last drop out of a machine in this class. It will do 1/4, if I had a steady diet of it I would want a heavier machine but I really doubt thats the case here.

1/4" doesn't sound that heavy at all.. the thickest metal I can see myself welding would be whatever I need to make an over built flat bed capable of carrying as many engines/transmissions as I can fit on it or pull out in one day Lol.

 

[antinym]

Don't forget that the 210 is without a spool gun, and that's $200 ish.
I have the 187 and it's great for what I need. I would have got this had it been available at that time, as it's $400 or so to add a spool gun onto a 187.
I think you could do 1/4 inch at that 30% duty cycle maybe a little less.
Is that acceptable to you? if not, step up.

 

[e30bradley]

Don't forget that the 210 is without a spool gun, and that's $200 ish.
I have the 187 and it's great for what I need. I would have got this had it been available at that time, as it's $400 or so to add a spool gun onto a 187.
I think you could do 1/4 inch at that 30% duty cycle maybe a little less.
Is that acceptable to you? if not, step up.

Yeah I can probably live with that. I think I'm going to get the 190 with a spool gun.. Its 80 bucks cheaper than the 210 without a spool gun and I don't need the multi voltage capability. What do I need to weld?
Welder, gas, helmet, extra tips? wire, abrasives to prep metal.. anyone know who makes the best wire wheels/cups for angle grinders? apron.. optional? I'll build a welding table and a cart once I get the welder.. know of some good plans for a cart? or anything unique I should build into the table//cart?

 

[b-body-bob]

The welder will come with some wire and extra tips, so you can check out what is in the box before buying more unless you want to go ahead and stock up.

I bought one of the cheap HF carts when I got started. I couldn't weld for, well, at all, at the time so I figured better to get the equipment on a cart and practice on scrap than to scrap a bunch of material trying to make a cart.

 

[bad_idea]

I have the 187. In the 11 monthes I have had it, I have run 30 lbs of wire through it. The only place it has fallen short is production welding 1/4". I tacked up a whole assembly and went to town welding everything. I hit the duty cycle/ thermal overload twice. But it was a large assembly. For home use the machine has been great. I could teach my wife to use this machine it welds so nice. I didn't spend the extra money for a spool gun though, I don't weld enough aluminum to bother. I did find at the time of purchase it is cheaper to buy the machine with the spool gun if thats what you want. Because to add it to the 187 is quite a bit of money.

BTW... Spend good money on your wire, don't buy the cheap stuff. Get what you pay for.

 

[srmofo]

if you want the 190 then check the bottom link I posted in #9. Its over $100 cheaper than what you posted.

 

[kald]

Yeah I can probably live with that. I think I'm going to get the 190 with a spool gun.. Its 80 bucks cheaper than the 210 without a spool gun and I don't need the multi voltage capability. What do I need to weld?
Welder, gas, helmet, extra tips? wire, abrasives to prep metal.. anyone know who makes the best wire wheels/cups for angle grinders? apron.. optional? I'll build a welding table and a cart once I get the welder.. know of some good plans for a cart? or anything unique I should build into the table//cart?

Definitley build your own cart. It will give you good expirence. It amazes me when people buy thier welding carts when starting out.
Making mistakes and learing to fix them is essential to learing.

 

[e30bradley]

more than a year latter and I still haven't bought this welder. I'm still set on getting the 190 w/ a spool gun though. Hopefully I'm getting a timing belt/ head gasket job on a subaru this week and after that I'll be able to order the welder

 

[Jtcrep]

We have the 180 set-up for steel and a 190w/gun for aluminum at my dads shop. There are great. I just bought the 210mvp without the gun for my house and paid $780 ish after a price match from Blains Farm and Fleet.

I would recommend buying whatever brand is carried at a store near you. I could have gone with the miller but no one within 60 miles stocks parts while I can get Hobart three blocks done the road. Good luck and post some pics of your cart when your done.

 

[stonewellmark]

Hobart are Rock Solid machines, a little basic (Taps not variable voltage), but reliable as ANY others. I just got a Thermal Arc 211i, If you can stretch the budget a little bit. Got mine from Cyberweld. It is super smooth in MIG and Stick, ( iIdont have TIG gun yet). Also can be used on 110v or 220v!!

http://store.cyberweld.com/tharcfa21miw.html

 

[chadman]

I have the Hobart 187. Great welder!

 

[Mitchw123456]

I have the 210mvp and had no interest in the MVP itself. I bought mine with a spool gun and if you are planning on doing much aluminum at all I'd buy the 210 also. Its much more convenient to have a more welder than you need than not quite enough. Remember it takes more heat to do alum...

I learned on a hobart 140 and needed/wanted more. It was easy selling my 140 but wish I would've just bought the 210 from the start

 

[460Rustang]

Lotsa good reviews and TSC has good pricing, thats what I was gonna get before this Lincoln 180 popped up.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=222557

 

[e30bradley]

I can't afford the 210.. I don't need to be able to run 110v either. the 190 w/ spool gun is $820, the 210 with a spool gun is $1250

 

[charged355]

210MVP for $849.99 then enter the promo code 172211 and get it for $799.99 w/free shipping!

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200479230_200479230



Or for e30bradley get the 190 w/spool gun for 799.99 then enter 172211 and get it for $749.99 w/free shipping.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200482227_200482227


I'm in the market for a welder to!