MIG welder deals?

[flip4eva83]

Im looking for a decent 220v Mig welder. The cheapest I can find is http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...=-1&keyword=welder&storeId=10051#.UFx0po1lSZg. Are there deals out there to be had still. I dont really want to do used, also what kind of quality are the Clarke welders?

 

[b-body-bob]

Tractor supply has a Hobart Handler 190 on sale through the 23rd for $649. Someone else will have to advise if that's a better deal than the Lincoln HD.

This pages shows the original price ... http://www.tractorsupply.com/hobart-handler-reg-190-mig-welder-spool-gun-ready-1021027

 

[flip4eva83]

Thanks

 

[skeletonizer]

Tractor supply has a Hobart Handler 190 on sale through the 23rd for $649. Someone else will have to advise if that's a better deal than the Lincoln HD.

This pages shows the original price ... http://www.tractorsupply.com/hobart-handler-reg-190-mig-welder-spool-gun-ready-1021027

In all the reading and research I have done lately I am under the impression that the Home Depot Lincolns should be avoided. Cheap drive internals being the main complaint.

I do not recall reading a bad thing about the Hobart.

I ended up buying used. I found a like new (literally) Millermattic 180 for $700 with a cart.

If I were to choose between the HD Lincoln and the Hobart I would choose the Hobart.

 

[sberry]

The HD machines are fine, they work very well and Hobart should be pushing their "genuine" angle for all its marketing worth and taking the gift Lincoln has handed them with all the confusion. Having said that I will agree about the 190 on sale as being about as good as it gets.

In all the reading and research I have done lately I am under the impression that the Home Depot Lincolns should be avoided. Cheap drive internals being the main complaint.

Reading and research are different, remember, a lot of reading is opinions, isn't a fact. Second, if it was so in a lot of the search for cheaper they found better, sometimes the customer insists,,, none of that new fangled stuff for me, ha. My old SPT had a plastic thingy, when they first come out with this model. Also some things are not worth the nickle to cheapen, at the end of the day they would save 10$ and have to add another layer of parts and stock. It flies by on the line and they change jackets on it depending on a couple features and where its sold.

 

[sberry]

I see the Lincoln still has the 5 speed in it, running 030 solid in it is about as good as it gets. I doubt they changed anything but the cover from back in the day when it was listed as a 130T. Competition has gotten way better since then I am sure if they did make change it would have to be for the better but this is as good as any I have ever used.

This unit has made thousands and thousands of welds, way beyond what a hobby shop could ever give it. Needed 3 repairs, none which would ever occur under less severe environment. Maybe 22 years, rode the cart for 15 or more, sits next to a bench where its used daily.

 

[TinKnocker]

the nice thing about the hobarts is that tractor supply has replacement parts in stock for them. if it is important, the hobart is usa, and the lincoln is mexico.

 

[383 240z]

I have a HH187 LOVE IT. Would jump on a HH190 if I was buying right now, Same as a HH187, but is spool gun capable. Keith

 

[03protege]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004USV5UC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have been looking at this model but the dual power usage is important to me.

 

[sberry]

Good unit, I haven't ran one on the 120V but have the fore runner of it, a HH210 with spool, has about replaced my tig.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

I see the Lincoln still has the 5 speed in it, running 030 solid in it is about as good as it gets. I doubt they changed anything but the cover from back in the day when it was listed as a 130T. Competition has gotten way better since then I am sure if they did make change it would have to be for the better but this is as good as any I have ever used.

This unit has made thousands and thousands of welds, way beyond what a hobby shop could ever give it. Needed 3 repairs, none which would ever occur under less severe environment. Maybe 22 years, rode the cart for 15 or more, sits next to a bench where its used daily.

Is that a SP170T? If so, I have the same unit. Got it off of craigslist a couple of years ago for $75. Very good machine. I also have an SP100 for sheetmetal work which has NEVER let me or my dad down. It's almost 20 years old and between the two of us, I'd say we pushed about 60+ spools of 12 lb wire through it with no problems at all other than a liner.

My bucket list unit is a Millermatic 200 which are as rare as unicorns in my parts. If I see one on CL they usually go within a couple of hours for good money. One day I'll get lucky.

 

[srmofo]

the hobart 210 mvp is also on sale again at Blains farm and fleet.
http://www.farmandfleet.com/product...pingengine&utm_source=googlebase#.UFzw6FG8rch

heres the thread I bought mine from. Very reasonable shipping considering it weighs about 75lbs
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=155029&highlight=hobart+210+mvp

 

[BD1]

Do you have a blains farm and fleet by you ? They have the Hobart 210 for
$794.99 and the Lincoln 180 for $649.99

 

[sberry]

Mine is old enough it was called a 130T but the input at rated is the same as the 170, was before they got in a race to glorify the numbers.

srmofo, have you got your unit yet? I can tell you its about 10% or a pinch more poop than the 180 Lincoln that we are talking about, you can tell a little on the top end if you wring it out. Its got a good arc, there is a spot or 2 it could use another gear in but its not bad and you would really have to work to find it.

We field tested the earlier version before it hit the market, had the meters all over it, since bought a new DC amp meter but we were pretty critical and it took all of about 10 seconds to see it was a fine machine. I used the Lincoln as a comparison, ran them right next to each other, back and forth. Unless I had a real steady diet of auto body run 030 solid in it. No reason to jump to 035, it will run it but doesn't help the top end much, the designer tuned it for the 030

BTW, tailor made circuit for these is a 10/30 but they are allowed to be on circuits to 50A

 

[laskt9]

I'm getting the thermal arc 181i. Its a 3 in 1 and pretty dang good for the price. I convinced my work to get one so I could try it out

Sent from my SGH-I927 using Tapatalk 2

 

[winmck]

I'm getting the thermal arc 181i. Its a 3 in 1 and pretty dang good for the price. I convinced my work to get one so I could try it out

Sent from my SGH-I927 using Tapatalk 2

I have one and love it so far!

 

[flip4eva83]

Well, I went to tractor supply to pick it up the Hobart. Last one they had was the display, on sale for $649, I thought I was going to go in there and get a really good deal because they also do military discount. Turns out they dont do military discount on high priced items, so I ask about an open box discount, they no longer offer open box discount which was 50% by the way, because people would come in poke a whole in a bag of seed just for the discount.....So what did I do, Home Depot picked up the Lincoln 180 for $669 plus 10% off. I was close to $650 out the door with tax. Now I need to build a cart for it.

 

[srmofo]

Mine is old enough it was called a 130T but the input at rated is the same as the 170, was before they got in a race to glorify the numbers.

srmofo, have you got your unit yet? I can tell you its about 10% or a pinch more poop than the 180 Lincoln that we are talking about, you can tell a little on the top end if you wring it out. Its got a good arc, there is a spot or 2 it could use another gear in but its not bad and you would really have to work to find it.

A

Yeah IIve had it for a few weeks now. I havent had much time to play with it yet other than firing it up and making sure everything worked as it should.

The main reason I went with the 210 was because of the 120v capabilities. I never know if I might need to do a repair somewhere else one day that doesnt have a 220 circuit available and I only like to buy big equipment once. Plus the local welding shop carries mostly miller/hobart stuff so parts are readily available compared to lincoln parts.

the box setting were pretty accurate on the 220v, but when I switched to 120 they took a bit of tweaking to get the bacon sizzle

I doubt Ill ever need the top end capabilities of this machine but its there if I do.