made everywhere but here.....

[jtbinvalrico]

Dropped by HD check out some router bits and paused briefly at the lineup of Lincoln welders......Still trying to reconcile what I want in a welder with the budget. I'd really like a 140 unit; but I wondered if maybe this Lincoln WeldPak HD I saw there for 289 might be enough for a newbie like myself.

So I'm flipping it around, flicking switches and squeezing the trigger....and on the back it says: Made in Poland. Then I check out the bigger 187.......Made (excuse me), Assembled in Mexico. I thought this company made welders in the USA.

I keep hearing "buy American" when it comes to welders. Are any welders designed, sourced, and built in the USA? Or is it going to be a matter of which foreign-built product is better? I see lots of great reviews on these Lincolns, so maybe it is that the fellas south of the border are putting together some nice welders.......

 

[mrholeshot]

My Lincoln Pro-Mig 210 and Pro-Mig 180 were built in the USA. Miller is US made but I'm not sure about Hobart

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

Yes, many welders are built in the US, but you'll probably need to move beyond looking at Home Depot to find them. Do you have a welding supply store local?

Both my Miller Shopmaster 300 and Lincoln Idealarc 250 CC/CV are US made as are the newer models that replaced them, however both of these machines are in a different class than you are looking at.

 

[pp702nw]

did you mean the lincoln 175? The hobart 187 (as far as i can tell) is us made.

http://www.hobartwelders.com/pdf/comparisons/handler210.pdf

 

[rsanter]

I would recomend you step up a level from the low line stuff at the big box stores
I would recomend you look at the millers and lincolins at your local welding supply
if you think you are going to do a fair amount of welding or if the welding you are going to do will be critical (automotive or under stress)

bob

 

[Stephenw]

Hobart and Miller are both made in the USA, but I understand use some foreign parts inside. I've been happy with my Hobart Handler 175.

 

[jtbinvalrico]

My bad....they call it a 180 HD.

I gather then, that the way to get genuine, American made welding goodness is to deal strictly with welding shops.

My welding, at least for the near term, is going to be very basic....far from critical and nothing supporting life or limb. I guess I'm just annoyed that if an average joe decides to drop 3 bills on a basic welder, and feels compelled to buy American, he may leave the big box store with something quite different.....but then again, maybe those foreign made USA label units are ok for light applications........I don't know.

 

[Z48LT1]

I hate to get political here, but globalization has resulted in off-shoring most manufacturing, and I'm afraid it's a Genie that is not likely to be put back in the bottle. That said, Made 'somewhere else' doesn't automatically mean inferior. Life is complicated, and it's not getting less so, alas. Many power-posters here have done remarkable work using Chinese made tools. Moving on...

Best -- Gary

I've often said, the only thing standing between me and greatness is me. -- Woody Allen,

 

[mrholeshot]

My bad....they call it a 180 HD.

I gather then, that the way to get genuine, American made welding goodness is to deal strictly with welding shops.

My welding, at least for the near term, is going to be very basic....far from critical and nothing supporting life or limb. I guess I'm just annoyed that if an average joe decides to drop 3 bills on a basic welder, and feels compelled to buy American, he may leave the big box store with something quite different.....but then again, maybe those foreign made USA label units are ok for light applications........I don't know.

Welding supply stores carry the same welders as big box stores. Lincoln doesn't sell Lowes of Home Depot a seperate unit. What the big box stores carry are the basic low line welders from Lincoln. You just have better options at a welding supply houses because thats all they deal in. No washers, dryers, lumber or toilets. Just welding supplies. The same Pro-Mig 140 you can buy at Lowes you can buy at national welders.

 

[nate379]

The welders they have at Home Deport/Lowes, Wallmart, etc are bottom of the barrel, barely able to have the Lincoln name on them.

I mean think about it, Lowe's has a 180amp unit for what, $500?? The "same" welder that sells at a welding shop for $700-800. It's not because the welder shop is making an extra $200, that's for sure.

 

[mrholeshot]

I mean think about it, Lowe's has a 180amp unit for what, $500?? The "same" welder that sells at a welding shop for $700-800. It's not because the welder shop is making an extra $200, that's for sure.

The same Pro-Mig 180 you can buy at Lowes will cost you 200 dollars more at National welders. They have the same part number and are the exact same. The only differance is if you have a problem with the one from a welding supply they will fix it or help you with any problems or question regarding the machine. Lowes can't do that. Most of the time a welding supply will talk you out of the cheaper welder and put you in something a bit better. But they are absolutly the same welders. You are paying for a service and most of the time it's worth it because if you buy a welder from a welding supply they normally give you a break on about everything. They don't go out of their way to help a lowes custaomer.

 

[nate379]

That is what I have been told by many people. I don't have facts to back it up other than the model #s aren't the same and they are made overseas. My 175+ is made in USA.

Also Lowe's has A,B, C,D settings and that's it. Mine you can turn the dial A and a **** hair, little less than B, etc.

Maybe in the end I paid $200 more, but I got a 50ft 8/2 wire for $50 (sell for close to $3/ft at Lowe's), autodark helmet for $200 ($300 helmet), gloves, etc, etc, etc.

 

[Stephenw]

I've heard that same story for years...

That welder at Home Depot isn't the same as the one at the welding supply (even though it looks identical and has the exact same model number).

That faucet at Home Depot isn't the same as the one at the plumbing supply (even though it looks identical and has the exact same model number).

That lock set at Home Depot isn't the same as the one at the locksmith (even though it looks identical and has the exact same model number).

That drill at Home Depot isn't the same as the one at the industrial tool supplier (even though it looks identical and has the exact same model number).

and on

and on.

I don't believe it for an instant.

 

[wreckercologist]

Hobart and Miller are both made in the USA, but I understand use some foreign parts inside. I've been happy with my Hobart Handler 175.

They are also both owned by the same parent company, Illinois Tool Works.

For the OP..........buy the biggest you can afford.

 

[PrinceMotors]

It was to post in here in this forum and i found too much suggestions here that can help me out.

 

[nate379]

Yes Lincoln. I thought that is what we were talking about? (don't see any mention of Hobart)... wouldn't buy one of those anyhow, they are just a cheapened down Miller.

did you mean the lincoln 175? The hobart 187 (as far as i can tell) is us made.

http://www.hobartwelders.com/pdf/comparisons/handler210.pdf

 

[nate379]

Put it this way. The Lincoln welder that they sell at Lowe's isn't something that is carried at my local welding store, nor can they get it. Their "bottom end" unit is better than what Lowe's sells.

Ok yes it's still a 175 amp (or 180 I think the new ones are) welder, but that' about it.

I've heard that same story for years...

That welder at Home Depot isn't the same as the one at the welding supply (even though it looks identical and has the exact same model number).

That faucet at Home Depot isn't the same as the one at the plumbing supply (even though it looks identical and has the exact same model number).

That lock set at Home Depot isn't the same as the one at the locksmith (even though it looks identical and has the exact same model number).

That drill at Home Depot isn't the same as the one at the industrial tool supplier (even though it looks identical and has the exact same model number).

and on

and on.

I don't believe it for an instant.

 

[knotheads]

i have a miller 35 welder that i bought new in the mid 80s this machine has never failed me in all these years. with my job i have to do a small welding repair once in awhile.i live in a high wind area and found my miller mig cumbersome to drag out for these small repairs.i bought a lincoln 100hd and was very suprised at how well this little welder worked with .030 flux core wire. i cant say wether the welder would hold up to heavy use but for my light duty needs its perfect .

 

[bronc3buster842001]

I have a Lincoln weld pak 3200HD from Home Depot. Had it going on 3 years now. Welds 1/4'' no problem. Its rated for 5/16''. Its only a 110 unit, but does everything I need it to. I think Home Depot quit selling this model. In the future when I build a garage I'll step up to a 220 unit.

 

[GTO]

I've heard that same story for years...

That welder at Home Depot isn't the same as the one at the welding supply (even though it looks identical and has the exact same model number).

That faucet at Home Depot isn't the same as the one at the plumbing supply (even though it looks identical and has the exact same model number).

That lock set at Home Depot isn't the same as the one at the locksmith (even though it looks identical and has the exact same model number).

That drill at Home Depot isn't the same as the one at the industrial tool supplier (even though it looks identical and has the exact same model number).

and on

and on.

I don't believe it for an instant.

I can't believe that we still need to go over this time and time again.

 

[gfd_703]

I love my miller 180. It handles most any small fab job and most repairs around the farm. When it is not enough out comes the old DC stick.

Now as far a big box items being different or the same. I work for a Deere company. We sell everything including lawn and garden equipment. The L series mowers that the box stores sell are EXACTLY the same as we sell right down to the price. We have to send a man out to set them up and we have to service them. The difference is if the shop has one that we sold and one that a box sold in for repair, who do you think will receive service first?

What we do have though is the premium line of equipment that the box stores can not get or sell. The premium mowers are produced in a different factory than the low end machines. There is no comparison in quality or longevity.

Buy the best you can afford because the quality will be long after the cost is forgotten.

 

[PrinceMotors]

Where i can buy the lower supply of machinery and tools for my car in cheaper and near my townhouse here in texas.

 

[Lump]

High quality welding equipment can and will last you a lifetime. And like many things in life, most of us start out with "light-duty" stuff, "because I won't be using it that much." But then, before long, we get using it more and more, and regret not having bought the better equipment. So, we sell our first purchase (taking a loss in the process), and buy a bigger/better unit, which satisifies us for a while. But then, if we stick with it, and start using it more and enjoying it more...we AGAIN must sell it or trade it in, taking yet another loss.

If you are young and starting out as a welder, then buy the best welder you can afford. Miller is a VERY good choice, and the better quality Lincoln welders are also wonderful. But if you buy a cheapo unit to start out...then do it KNOWING that if you decide to weld a lot or weld important things in the future, you will have to replace that "big box store" cheapo unit, no matter WHERE it was made, or what name is on the front.