I want to burn metal

Try to find a used cylinder on Craigslist. A deposit on a new bottle is like $250.
 
i would go with miller. thats all i use for pipe/struc in everyprocess. lincoln is ok. hobart is made with some really crappy chinese parts.
 
skycrawler said:
hobart is made with some really crappy chinese parts.
Click to expand...

Do you have a source for this information or is it your opinion? I know they are owned by the same company as Miller and besides some of the the drive sysem components and paint I understand they are close to identical.

Hobart warranty: 5-year limited warranty on transformers, 3-year limited warranty on electronics, and 1-year limited warranty on guns
Miller Warranty: 5-year limited warranty on transformers, 3-year limited warranty on electronics, and 1-year limited warranty on guns
Lincoln warranty:Three Year Lincoln Warranty/90 Days on gun and cable assembly

Hobart Welders (Troy, OH): all Hobart MIG and stick welders are made in Ohio. (Hobart is owned by Illinois Tool Works).
Lincoln Electric Co. (Cleveland, OH): (stick, MIG, and TIG welders) welders manufactured at several facilities in Ohio. (Some product lines imported ). In 2003, Lincoln bought the Century brand, and many Century welders are made in USA.
Miller Electric (Appleton, WI): all Miller welders are still made in Wisconsin. (Miller Electric is owned by Illinois Tool Works.)

I did my research and found the Hobart Handler 190 to be the best value. I hope I was right.
 
Also, to save a little green , I went with one of the leather sleeve/heavy cotton body welding jackets. They're about $35. I got mine at my local welding supply store. I use flux core (lots of splatter) and never marked the cotton part either welding or grinding. I did catch my shirt on fire while grinding tho :gee: So now I wear my jacket when I have a lot of grinding to do as well.
 
i just got home with a new lincoln 140c mig that i need for work. i was thinking of buying the miller 140 but after talking with 3 different stores today & having them all say the difference is pretty much weather you like blue or red paint it just came down to price & the lincoln was only $619 after the $75 mail in rebate. now i need to learn how to use flux core wire so i can teach my employees how to use it for a job we are doing next week.
 
playwithit said:
Do you have a source for this information or is it your opinion? I know they are owned by the same company as Miller and besides some of the the drive sysem components and paint I understand they are close to identical.

Hobart warranty: 5-year limited warranty on transformers, 3-year limited warranty on electronics, and 1-year limited warranty on guns
Miller Warranty: 5-year limited warranty on transformers, 3-year limited warranty on electronics, and 1-year limited warranty on guns
Lincoln warranty:Three Year Lincoln Warranty/90 Days on gun and cable assembly

Hobart Welders (Troy, OH): all Hobart MIG and stick welders are made in Ohio. (Hobart is owned by Illinois Tool Works).
Lincoln Electric Co. (Cleveland, OH): (stick, MIG, and TIG welders) welders manufactured at several facilities in Ohio. (Some product lines imported ). In 2003, Lincoln bought the Century brand, and many Century welders are made in USA.
Miller Electric (Appleton, WI): all Miller welders are still made in Wisconsin. (Miller Electric is owned by Illinois Tool Works.)

I did my research and found the Hobart Handler 190 to be the best value. I hope I was right.
Click to expand...


yeah i worked at the hobart plant in Troy ohio while i was going to Hobart. not to bash on Hobart to much i had the Hobart Handler 140 for awhile worked ok besides having to send it in for repair work 3 times in the first year. since ive run pretty much every miller machine out there at various jobs. and have a miller 304 xmt. none have ever given me problems the hobart handler did.
 
knucklehead 61 said:
i just got home with a new lincoln 140c mig that i need for work. i was thinking of buying the miller 140 but after talking with 3 different stores today & having them all say the difference is pretty much weather you like blue or red paint it just came down to price & the lincoln was only $619 after the $75 mail in rebate. now i need to learn how to use flux core wire so i can teach my employees how to use it for a job we are doing next week.
Click to expand...


using flux core wire is super easy. how thick of metal are you going to be welding on?
 
skycrawler said:
yeah i worked at the hobart plant in Troy ohio while i was going to Hobart. not to bash on Hobart to much i had the Hobart Handler 140 for awhile worked ok besides having to send it in for repair work 3 times in the first year. since ive run pretty much every miller machine out there at various jobs. and have a miller 304 xmt. none have ever given me problems the hobart handler did.
Click to expand...

I was going to buy the $4K Miller 300A, 304xmt too, but I decided on the $500 190A Hobart. I think it will suffice for my needs. But if Hobart, as you experienced, has problems, I'll be the next one to post up.
 
May I ask where you found the 190A for $500?
 
I have been running the Hobart Handler 180a for 6+ years. I run both flux and gas and have had no issues.
I would recommend using a new tip at the first sign of any feeding issues .
Now make some sparks!
 
I'm going to practice tomorrow. Maybe start on a small folding welding table like this. Although I stole the idea from the Miller forum, I might paint it orange.:laugh3:
portable-weld-table.jpg

Should I start with flux or would I miss out on anything going right to gas?

Here is the starter kit.
IMG_6499.jpg


IMG_6503.jpg
 
I have a Hobart handler 187.. Harborfreight AD helmet, with a tank of gas.. It's a great machine that i have ran about 3 11lb spools threw February 2011... So far i am very happy with it.
 
i guess the only reason not to use gas right away would be to not have to refill it as fast while you practice welding and get used to the welder maybe thats a reason to start with the flux core?

if youre not worried about gas id say go for that...

ive also used about 30+ pounds of fluc core this year( 2 10lbs nad like 15 1 lbs when i first got it not knowing i could by the 10lbs at real welding places...neb mistake...)
 
From my experience, it is best to start with flux core. If you can get a nice looking flux core weld, then it will be nice and easy to make a sexy gas weld. But why waste youre money on gas if your going to be spitting out boogers for your first tank, before you actually get the hang of it.

Also flux core burns hotter than gas, and has beter penetration.

I use a HF auto helmet. It was on sale + 20% off, and gets the job done nicely. I like it.
 
Jeep450r said:
From my experience, it is best to start with flux core. If you can get a nice looking flux core weld, then it will be nice and easy to make a sexy gas weld. But why waste youre money on gas if your going to be spitting out boogers for your first tank, before you actually get the hang of it.

Also flux core burns hotter than gas, and has beter penetration.

I use a HF auto helmet. It was on sale + 20% off, and gets the job done nicely. I like it.
Click to expand...

Im starting with flux core. I dont want to waste money on gas yet since im just starting. When i actually weld something important, ill switch to gas. :yelclap:

Still trying to find a good Hood. Was at Summit today and looked at their hoods, seemed flimsy.
 
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