first welder (1 Viewer)

[Dirtsquirt]

Miller 180 auto set

I am looking at the miller 180 autoset.
Is the Hobart a better or equal machine?
Is the hobart of the same quality as the miller?

I like the fact that the spool gun is only 200.00 on the miller.

I guess I am asking am I getting any value for the extra 200
the miller cost.

Thanks in advance

 

[fj40charles]

I am looking at the miller 180 autoset.
Is the Hobart a better or equal machine?
Is the hobart of the same quality as the miller?

I like the fact that the spool gun is only 200.00 on the miller.

I guess I am asking am I getting any value for the extra 200
the miller cost.

Thanks in advance

Hobart and Miller are both owned by ITW (Illinois Tool Works). Hobart and Miller will share many of the same parts in their welders. Mig guns are the same for Hobart and Miller (small sized case) welder. Just the back ends are different.

Millers are marketed to industrial/commercial users. Hobarts are marketed to home/hobby users. Hobart welders are perfectly fine for home use. Support/service/warranty should be comparable.

I would like at a Millermatic 211. It is a dual voltage. Small and portable for easy carrying.
Here is one for $995 shipped.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Millermatic-211...5|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:1|293:1|294:50

Is there any particular reason you need a 110v welder? If you have the option of buying just one welder, I'd get a 230v welder. Hobart Handler 210 is a great 230v welder. I'd buy that over the Millermatic 180 if you're planning on doing any aluminum.

I don't see any benefit of the Auto set feature on some Millers. I don't need it.

 

[Dirtsquirt]

Sorry about the hijack

sorry about the hijack LuLu

I am at the cusp of maximum spending for a welder with the 180

1226.00 with bottle , spool gun , and tax.

I haven't figured out what the auto set feature is yet.

I simply has writing around the knobs. indicating thinkness of material for heat setting.

We have 225 amp 15 year old linde Mig. Bigger is always better but
I cant afford one like that..

I have Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC buzz box for the big stuff

AS far as aluminium goes I plan on welding some diamond plate
and angle for accessories on my LC but nothing serious.

The literature states this unit with the spool gun will do up to
1/4" aluminum. I dont forsee doing anything bigger than that.
I am aware of duty cycle and dont intend to trash my machine.

We have Syncrowave 350 at work if it is big I will take it to work
and Tig it up.

Having said all this do think this is the wrong choice.

Btw this unit is 220v only

 

[fj40charles]

sorry about the hijack LuLu

I am at the cusp of maximum spending for a welder with the 180

1226.00 with bottle , spool gun , and tax.

I haven't figured out what the auto set feature is yet.

I simply has writing around the knobs. indicating thinkness of material for heat setting.

We have 225 amp 15 year old linde Mig. Bigger is always better but
I cant afford one like that..

I have Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC buzz box for the big stuff

AS far as aluminium goes I plan on welding some diamond plate
and angle for accessories on my LC but nothing serious.

The literature states this unit with the spool gun will do up to
1/4" aluminum. I dont forsee doing anything bigger than that.
I am aware of duty cycle and dont intend to trash my machine.

We have Syncrowave 350 at work if it is big I will take it to work
and Tig it up.

Having said all this do think this is the wrong choice.

Btw this unit is 220v only

Hobart Handler 210 will do a better job on aluminum. I doubt a 180 amp welder has enough amperage to mig weld 1/4" aluminum. I have a friend that had a Millermatic 210 and Hobart Handler 210. They both were hooked up with spool guns. He ran them side by side and he said the HH210 does a MUCH better job on migging aluminum. He ended up selling the Millermatic 210 and kept the Hobart Handler 210 because it was a better welder for mig welding aluminum.

Autoset feature is something that might be useful for a beginner. The welder is supposed to "auto set" the settings for you based on the "recommended" settings. How many times have you used the recommended settings on the door chart? I know I don't use the door chart settings when I weld. Different brand of wires, input power, and personal preference will determine what settings you need to use.

 

[fj40charles]

You can buy a 10 foot long DP-3035 spool gun for the Hobart Handler for $269.xx delivered.

HOBART HANDLER 210 DP 3035 Spoolgun NEW 10' - eBay (item 270319752404 end time Jan-17-09 14:51:43 PST)

Or you could by the Hobart Handler 210 with DP-3035 spool gun for $1098.xx delivered.
HOBART HANDLER 210 MIG WELDER 500526-DP-3035-10 - eBay (item 250329684800 end time Jan-20-09 13:15:37 PST)

Millermatic 180 autoset, cart, and spool gun for $1064.xx delivered.
MILLER MILLERMATIC 180 MIG w/cart/SG 907312011 - eBay (item 390022128718 end time Jan-12-09 19:37:10 PST)

Read this post about welding aluminum with HH210. User DDA52 has lots of experience with HH210 and Millermatic 210 welding aluminum with spool guns.

Anyone welding Aluminum with Handler 210? - Weld Talk Message Boards

http://www.hobartwelders.com/weldtalk/showthread.php?t=27337&highlight=hobart+handler+210

 

[Lulu]

I don't mind the hijack. I learn a little bit with every post. FJCharles- where are you located? a post earlier mentioned that you were in Dallas area. Do you run a shop or just a hobby? I mentioned above that a friends work has many large 230v units as he is a fabricator/architect. I want to replace sheet metal on FJ at house as that is easier than getting trailer to move FJ body to his shop after hours to use his machines. My FJ is in pieces so cant even roll it onto trailer would have to have help to lift body onto it. I have 220/230v ? for dryer in house but thought for what I needed it for the 110v would work. when I do roll bar or chasis work I would use his 230v units. Plus have never welded myself yet, something to learn on and do sheet metal is all I want. Plus don't really have $1k to drop on a 220v or dual voltage unit plus tank and mask etc.
thanks

 

[fj40charles]

I don't mind the hijack. I learn a little bit with every post. FJCharles- where are you located? a post earlier mentioned that you were in Dallas area. Do you run a shop or just a hobby? I mentioned above that a friends work has many large 230v units as he is a fabricator/architect. I want to replace sheet metal on FJ at house as that is easier than getting trailer to move FJ body to his shop after hours to use his machines. My FJ is in pieces so cant even roll it onto trailer would have to have help to lift body onto it. I have 220/230v ? for dryer in house but thought for what I needed it for the 110v would work. when I do roll bar or chasis work I would use his 230v units. Plus have never welded myself yet, something to learn on and do sheet metal is all I want. Plus don't really have $1k to drop on a 220v or dual voltage unit plus tank and mask etc.
thanks

Lulu,

I have my stuff in a home shop in the Dallas area. I do this as a hobby with very limited time and budget.
Sheet metal work would be perfect for a 110v welder with .023 mig wire.

PM me if you need more info. Are you part of the Lone Star Land Cruiser club?

Charles

 

[Lulu]

Are meetings still at Hard 8? Have not made it to a meeting yet. Wife and I just bought a house in Farmers Branch and basically gutted it myself. New fence starts tomorrow... Not excuses for not coming to meeting but a lot of distractions none the less. Haven't had a chance to even think about FJ in about a year now...

Yes, sheet metal mostly. But, I would hate to get a welder and then want to put a cage (I'm leaning towards Metal Tech) together or bumpers, etc. Of course I may not trust my welding to the safety parts, just sheet metal for rust replacement. Who knows. Bottom line is I just don't have the coin for a good 220v unit yet.

 

[Gusb]

I am looking at the miller 180 autoset.
Is the Hobart a better or equal machine?
Is the hobart of the same quality as the miller?

Man - there must be lots of us out there considering the same issues. I looked at the 180 at a local weld shop yesterday. Only thing I don't like the sound of is the "auto set" - seems like you can just read the chart? I didn't ask if they (weld shop) could get the Hobart - I've heard it's the same quality, etc. seems about $200 cheaper than the Miller. This shop quoted me $848 for the Miller 180, $89 for a Miller cart, and $214 for a steel gas cylinder (free $30 1st fill). They had the Miller in stock and seemed to have lots of Miller parts (which seem more common around here - Bay Area, CA).

 

[Dirtsquirt]

Gonna drop the bomb

After much consideration and reading .. Thanks pointing out the welding forums Charles

I am gonna pick up the MM180 tomorrow.
While the 210 seems very attractive.. I have a friend that has
Lincoln 175 that has fixed detent positions for heat. (like 7 positions). He finds it challenging to do small sheet metal (autobody) with it.

He said if he had it to do over again infinite selection on heat range would be a major concern.

as far as aluminium is concerned I plan on welding diamond plate and 1/8 and 1/4 aluminium angle iron (accessories for my landcruiser)

I have no doubt the 180 will not have issue at 1/8" if I find I need more for the framework I will take it to work and Mig it with our Syncrowave 350 Dx

 

[fj40charles]

After much consideration and reading .. Thanks pointing out the welding forums Charles

I am gonna pick up the MM180 tomorrow.
While the 210 seems very attractive.. I have a friend that has
Lincoln 175 that has fixed detent positions for heat. (like 7 positions). He finds it challenging to do small sheet metal (autobody) with it.

He said if he had it to do over again infinite selection on heat range would be a major concern.

as far as aluminium is concerned I plan on welding diamond plate and 1/8 and 1/4 aluminium angle iron (accessories for my landcruiser)

I have no doubt the 180 will not have issue at 1/8" if I find I need more for the framework I will take it to work and Mig it with our Syncrowave 350 Dx

No harm done Dirtsquirt. It is your money.

I believe Lincoln 175 has 5 voltage taps compared to 7 for Hobart Handler 187 and 210.
I've used both tap and infinitely adjustable voltage machines. They both have their place and it really comes down to personal preference. Many people, including myself, prefer voltage tapped machines. They easier/faster to setup since you're only having to deal with the wire feed speed.

I'd pass on the welding cart. Make this your first welding project. The factory welding carts pretty much suck and you're limited to an 80 Cubic foot cylinder or smaller.

What wire size is your friend using for sheet metal? He should be using .023 with C25 gas.

 

[Dirtsquirt]

I done the Deed

Just dropped 1226.00 for the MM180 W/ Bottle, spool gun, and tax.
Was a tough decision, I will know next summer if it was the right one
When I Make the deck and pullout drawer for between the wheel well on my 40
Thanks for the the input. May 09 Rock!