Question about welder

[Guest ibe_waiting]

I am considering buying a Hobart Ironman 250 mig from notherentool.com. Does anyone have one that can tell me if it is a good Quality welder?

[Filmjay]

When it comes to welders, you can't go wrong with one of the big three...

 

Hobart, Miller, or Lincoln Electric.

[Mayolives]

Dude,

Try the advanced search function and read!

[grumpyvette]

"I am considering buying a Hobart Ironman 250 mig from notherentool.com. Does anyone have one that can tell me if it is a good Quality welder?"

 

ITS A DECENT WELDER BUT LOOK CLOSELY AT THESE WELDERS

 

http://www.welders-direct.com/merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WD&Product_Code=907324

 

http://www.welders-direct.com/merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WD&Product_Code=500408

 

http://www.welders-direct.com/merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WD&Product_Code=907321

 

for the extra $200 I choose the MILLER 252, its got more features, more AMPS, it can use three sizes of wire and generally its got better support and better parts, extra optional accessories, I talked to several welding shops before buying my miller 252 and everyone suggested the new miller 212 or 252 over the similar hobarts if the price was similar.

But you can save some cash if you want too, the miller 212 will do about anything most guys need to do on a car.(I bought the 252 rather than the 212 miller mostly because I’m a tool junkie)

 

Before spending $1500-$2000 on any mig welder ,ask questions here

 

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/communities/mboard/forumdisplay.php?f=4

 

Don’t forget the SHIELD GAS and tank/regulator ETC. you can’t MIG weld and get decent results without the GAS shielding.

[Guest ibe_waiting]

Thanks for the links, but it looks like welders-direct is $200 more for the ironman 250 than northerentool and the millermatic 252 seems to be the same thing as the ironman 250 and it is my understanding that hobart is made by miller. Please corect me if I am wrong.

[grumpyvette]

saying the ironman 250 is the same as the millermatic 252

is like saying all girls look alike, the differance in internal parts is worth the differance in price, again ID strongly suggest asking detailed questions here

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/communities/mboard/forumdisplay.php?f=4

BEFORE spending a dime on EITHER WELDER

[k14]

Go with a Miller.

 

I recently bought a Hobart Handler 180. It welds fine, but the available spool gun is over twice the cost of the comparable Miller spool gun. By the time I had the Hobart set up the way I wanted, I could have had a better Miller machine.

 

I think Miller owns Hobart, but many of the parts, such as a spool gun, are not interchangeable. Go to a local welding supplier and have a salesman go over the units side by side. With the economy being sooooo slow, they may cut you a deal.

[grumpyvette]

heres a responce I got an a differant site

 

 

Excellent choice on Miller 252 welder. I worked as a certified welder for a major utility in Michigan for twenty years. Our main process was MIG welding. The only brand we used was Miller welders. Not because they were less costly, but that was what the majority of the welders wanted. We used straight CO2 for tensile strength but a CO2/ARGON mix produces a much nicer looking weld. I would recommend not using flux core wire. Copper coated wire is a good idea as you don't experience rusting on the unused wire in the machine.......... HUTCH

[Brad-ManQ45]

Ibe:

 

PLEASE pay atttention to what others have said. I did my due dilligence and bought a MM175 - it is simply a better deal that the Hobart - and it is not just the insides - Hobarts have plastic cases and use aluminum wiring/coils whereas Miller uses copper.

 

The Miller 252 IS a great machine, but so is the 212, and both accept the same spoolguns.

 

I remember when I bought mine, for another #300 I could have gotten the 210 AND a spoolgun thrown in (this was 6 years ago).

 

Since I didn't and don't need to weld aluminum, the MM175 was the best buy for me at the time.

 

I think the MM212 would be for you, if only because resale value will be higher as a percentage of what you paid, and more professionals and knowledgeable amateurs will gravitate toward it - you'll have an easier time selling it if you ever have to.

 

JMHO