Why is Hobart 140 better?

[b1ghwx]

Strong consensus that Hobart is the favored welder.... but, nobody ever explains why?

I'm a complete newbie. I want to learn to weld for hobby. Car body, exhaust etc.

I want a solid unit at a good price.

Considering the Tweco 140i for its multi process feature : http://victortechnologies.com/IM_Up...Competitive_Comparison_(84-1312)_July2013.pdf

So all you Hobart fans... tell me specifically why they Hobart 140 would be better?

 

[Loscaldazar]

It's a well proven robust design with great support behind it. Parts will be available for a long time, as well as service centers that will fix it. Hobart=Miller (for the most part, yes I know different factories, etc). Longer warranty too.

It's also a very smooth welder (good arc characteristics) for a 110V machine. You won't be fighting this machine when you are learning.

I was also very tempted by the Tweco 140i. I decided against it because of the higher price, and the fact the fact that 3 in 1 machines you probably won't ever use for the 3 separate process.

A TIG set up is another $130 for the torch, and another $200-$300 for an argon tank and a flow meter (the regulator that comes with it is not adequate for TIG). Are you prepared to spend almost as much as the machine costs for the TIG function? Yes an argon tank can also be used for MIG aluminum, but with a 110V machine, you are limited to a very small range of aluminum that you can weld (about 16/14 gauge), so it's all a waste for it. Not to mention the spool gun is an additional $300 on the cost of the machine.

The stick function is also only DC+/- and there is no AC.

TIG on a 110V machine is also kind of useless (ignoring the cost factor). TIG can take a lot of power to weld (it's not like stick or flux core where the burning of the electrode/wire adds a lot of heat). Very limited in what you can TIG weld. And again, the TIG will only be DC+/-.

So you're paying $600+ for a machine that can MIG weld, and then also stick weld out of the box. TIG and spoolgun/aluminum functions you will spend nearly the same amount as the machine to get. Shorter warranty.

I'd rather have a dedicated MIG welder and a dedicated stick welder that can do AC, DC+/- rather than a machine that does MIG well, only DC stick, and is super expensive for adding TIG.

3 in 1 machines are much more useful when they are a 220V class machine. 110V multiprocess machines just aren't worth the price, as they are pretty limited in what they can actually do.

The hobart 140 is a well proven welder. It'll work great and can be had for as little as $430 or so from Zoro on sale. $170 saved means you can get a welding helmet, some welding gloves (Tillman Elkskins are my favorite, still stay supple even when heated up to high temperatures), a welding jacket, a 3M respirator (I got a low profile with quick release so I can unlatch it, say something, relatch and keep going .... http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/...=5548558+8690968+3294134204+3294529207&rt=rud) and maybe even a Harbor Freight welding table.

You'll also need money for angle grinders and consumables if you don't have that already. The extras for welding soon equal the cost of the machine sometimes!

 

[bob15]

Strong consensus that Hobart is the favored welder.... but, nobody ever explains why?

Favored by whom? I personally prefer Lincoln welders, though the Millermatic 200 I learned how to mig weld on, does have sentimental value.

 

[rednotch]

for me it was cost and reliability, Bought a 140 Hobart very cheaply with a tank and cart threw air gas since the local one was willing to price match a deal I found on line. Its been a great little machine that's paid for itself a few times over. Only down fall is people asking to borrow it. Reminds me I have to get it back from the last person that borrowed it.

 

[b1ghwx]

...So you're paying $600+ for a machine that can MIG weld, and then also stick weld out of the box.

The Tweco is $500 after rebate. I will be getting a gas tank too, either way.

 

[Hiball]

I don't know much about the multi process models, nor am a I expert in regards to the tweco unit. My thoughts after looking at the comparison chart, 32lbs? Stick welding with a 110 unit? Tig with a 110 unit? In regards to Red, Blue or Grey especially in a 110 unit, buy from whomever you feel comfortable with locally. If Tweco does it for you, buy one and do some follow up reviews. I know right now Miller has some good pricing and Helmet/rebate deals going on, cyberweld is damn near unbeatable in price, but don't overlook buying locally.

 

[bobcatdan]

I have no experience with tweco welders so I can't say anything against them. I also don't know jack about tig, mainly I don't care. Where I can chime in is 110 arc is the most pointless thing I have ever seen. Might as well JB weld it.

 

[sberry]

You asked specifically about the Hobart. It is essentially the same parts in the stipped down jacket and doesn't have some features the other ones do. They have manual trannys. These are designed to rip out every ounce of the circuit available and tuned by welders as engineers, sometimes one in the same and are very carefully assembled and have critical forensics right down to shipping packing. They carefully track returns and the second something comes back they on it like fly on fresh turds. Long warranties.

 

[sberry]

They are so good and so few warranty that vendors discount them due to the fact the want consumable sales. TSC has Farmhand welders, its a dumb idea and as one said,, 5% of the sales and 95% of the problems but some counter figures it for a hi margin.
They sell the machine for 169, made 100$ but sold one roll of flux core and that's the end of it. They only make 100 on a Hobart but the guy buys rolls of wire, tanks a new hood, wire for years.
I sold a guy a Hobart 140 in a store once and the bill came to near 1200,,,, hahbahahahaha

 

[brveagle]

This year i got the wild idea to enter into a demo derby competition. Picked up a beater car that ran and realized i needed a welder asap. I had zero experience. Ordered a hobart 140 from northern tool and picked up a bottle from a local shop. Read the manual twice and then dove into the project.

I would highly recommend the hobart due to the ease of use for beginners but also has the balls to work for intermediate use by advanced users.

 

[NUTTSGT]

So all you Hobart fans... tell me specifically why they Hobart 140 would be better?

I believe most agree to the old saying, "you get what you pay for" and I believe that holds true when buying welders.

Although I own a Hobart, personally, I believe that Miller tops the list (MIG) followed by Hobart, then Lincoln. If you want to do some stick welding, it hard to beat the Lincoln tombstone welder for the average guy. I can't imagine how many of those have been sold across the US in the last 50 years.

 

[michaelf]

the Hobart which was pointed out is miller, as well as miller and Lincoln make great 115v welders if you use 75/25 gas and not the flux core wire they send you. For what you say you want to do use Lincoln superarc 54 or superarc 56. read the manual that comes with the machine. Being a combo welder I thought I knew it all, not so, had to read the book several times and follow the instructions. All the other equipment you would need for other processes plus another machine is costly as was pointed out, much, much cheaper to take it to a shop