[rustymudder]

I'm looking into getting a new welder, The miller is a bit more expensive than the lincoln and hobart

Is there any pros or cons to these welders? which do you prefer?

[Unlimited04]

they're all good quality and all will do the job.

its like asking Ford vs Chevy vs Dodge.

[rustywrangler]

I am a miller fan but have used all 3. No big differences to note. The hobart is cheaper but uses all miller replacement parts, just about.

[rustymudder]

can these 180amp welders handle 1/4" steel? or is something with more power really needed. I know what the manufacturer's website says, but I'd like to hear from someone with one or something similar.

I have a little 115volt lincoln flux cored welder with a mig conversion on it, it can handle sheet metal, but cant do any thick stuff.
So I'm also considering getting a big stick welder for primarily the thick stuff and keep the little lincoln for the sheet metal. instead of getting a bigger mig.

[rustywrangler]

Originally Posted by rustymudder

can these 180amp welders handle 1/4" steel? or is something with more power really needed. I know what the manufacturer's website says, but I'd like to hear from someone with one or something similar.

I have a little 115volt lincoln flux cored welder with a mig conversion on it, it can handle sheet metal, but cant do any thick stuff.
So I'm also considering getting a big stick welder for primarily the thick stuff and keep the little lincoln for the sheet metal. instead of getting a bigger mig.

I weld 1/4" with my 180 all the time.

[jsc7002]

I like Hobart, they are made in the USA! The others might be as well I dont know, plus my Hobart has been awesome!

[lakailimited06]

my hobart 210 has been great i love it so far...i went for hobart because of the price mainly..

[timatoe]

I've got a Lincoln 175HD, it's basically the same as the 180. I was gonna get the Miller, but got a screaming deal on the Lincoln. I'd buy it again, it's been very dependable.

[MO2500]

Originally Posted by rustywrangler

The hobart is cheaper but uses all miller replacement parts, just about.

i have the Hobart 187 and it's been an awesome machine it handles 1/4" just fine... i bought it as a factory reconditioned model (in reality brand new) for around 500 and it came with a new Miller m10 gun i would recommend it for the price and quality

[wes97]

Originally Posted by mo2500

i have the Hobart 187 and it's been an awesome machine it handles 1/4" just fine... i bought it as a factory reconditioned model (in reality brand new) for around 500 and it came with a new Miller m10 gun i would recommend it for the price and quality

mine came with a miller gun aslo. ive heard that miller actually makes hobart, but not sure if thats true or not

[rustywrangler]

Originally Posted by wes97

mine came with a miller gun aslo. ive heard that miller actually makes hobart, but not sure if thats true or not

miller and hobart are not made in the same place but have the same parent company. They use alot of the same parts. Any miller dealer will repair a hobart. So yes, technically one makes the other by supplying the parts.

[Flingit1200s]

Two of my local welder supply places have told me that Miller and Hobart have the same parent company but that the hobart has aluminum "windings" inside where the miller and lincoln have copper. Supposedly a machine with copper will last longer. I have a 135amp lincoln from home depot. It has a plastic wire feed except for the roller itself. The lincoln I saw at the welding supply place the other day has all metal for the feed roller area. I'm probably going with a Miller 211 next.

[Canfourjeep]

Illinois Tool Works owns both Miller and Hobart. Hobart is making under 250 amp machines to keep with government regulations. Hobart and Miller are almost identical and no one can tell the difference in how they weld . The welders bought at Lowe's and Home Depot are not the same as those bought at a welding supply repair shop that works on Miller can use Hobart parts on it. Also Lincoln has become a hobbyist company and now make commercial and hobby welders. If you bevel the metal a 125 will weld 3/8 in ch metal with no problems.

[Roadymi]

Originally Posted by Flingit1200s

I have a 135amp lincoln from home depot. It has a plastic wire feed except for the roller itself. The lincoln I saw at the welding supply place the other day has all metal for the feed roller area. I'm probably going with a Miller 211 next.

I believe this happens a lot at the big box stores. They coeirce the name brands to build them a cheaper unit that they can sell at a discounted price. Always make sure you are shopping apples for apples. Quality of materials in the drive mechanisms and windings would be what I would compare. Rate them by quality of materials than by price to see which is the better deal.

Another thing to keep in mind is how you plan to use the welder. If you are a week-end warrior that may flip it on once a month, your durability requirements are much different than if you are running a fab shop.

[Jerry Bransford]

One fairly new great feature the current Miller 180 welder has is called Autoset and that automatic feature has certainly helped my welds. What it does is automatically set the wire speed and it does a damned fine job of doing so. All you need to do is set the voltage according to the thickness of the steel shown on the voltage knob and start welding... it takes care of the wire speed for you automatically. And as one who came off a Hobart without Autoset, my welds improved considerably once I got the Miller and learned to trust the Autoset feature. You can easily turn Autoset off & set the wire speed yourself but since the Autoset has worked so well for me, I have never done so. And at least the last time I looked, neither Hobart nor Lincoln have any form of automatic wirefeed speed set feature.

For that feature alone I'd pay a little extra for the Miller 180 Autoset. Not to mention the Miller name. And yes, it'll easily handle 1/4" and most 5/16".