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Southern Wisconsin | I did my research on ag talk . Consenses is lincoln or miller mig welder. I went to Farm & Fleet checked out a Hobart Ironman 230. Unless Im missing something the specs on the Hobart are almost identical as a millermatic 252, except the price for the Hobart was half as much. This welder wont be used alot but I want it to work when I need it. More research shows me Miller owns the Hobart brand. Right now I have $1400 reasons to buy a Hobart. what gives???? |
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Central Iowa | Buy the Hobart! |
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north west arkansas | I have always been told that Hobart was not near the quality but that may be totally wrong. I know this that around here any welding shops use miller. |
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Coles County, Illinois | I think a fair comparison would be with a Miller 212. |
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NWPA | No comparison miller is far better. you can buy Hobart at tractor supply right next to the Chinese tools |
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| I have taken a plant tour for Miller. They put together high quality equipment. The put all their equipment through rigorous testing to make sure it stands up. I don't believe they own Hobart, but they do make some products for them. I don't think Hobart has the same specs as Miller. Basically Miller puts out a "premium" product. |
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Nunn CO | If I remember right Miller owns Hobart. And In my opinion Millers are built tougher and with more metal.
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NW Washington | Check this welding forum's threads on the Hobart welder. http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?178461-Hobart-ironman-230 |
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Mid-Missouri | NAT said the Miller 252 was what to buy. I haven't been impressed. It is hard to get that good "buzz" sound like I can with others. It also is terrible with flashback and the wire burning into the tip.
Initially, I had the same trouble Bleedred did. The large spool would hardly turn, the feed roller would slip or bunch wire up, etc. I replaced the liner after maybe 30 hours of run-time. Still flashes back in the tip. I think I initially tinkered with the computer settings. When I put the new liner in, I believe they are back to default but it isn't any better.
Kinda wish I would have bought the used ESAB from the local school trade-in, just like what I used in ag class. |
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Southern Wisconsin | My research says hobart welders are made in Troy Ohio |
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South of Springfield IL | I thought that miller made Hobart |
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n.c.iowa | depends on what you are planning on doing, here are some specs that have a bearing on the performance difference between the two.
miller 252, has a 300 amp maximum, Hobart 230 is 250 amps.
millers duty cycle at 175 amps is almost 85%, the Hobart is 60%
input voltage of the miller is 208/230 or 230/440/525, Hobart, 208/230
miller has a lot of whiz bang stuff that I don't know if a everyday welder needs the Hobart is simple and relatively easy to use. but if you are going to do a fair amount of heavy welding(continuous long beads,1/2'' or thicker material) then the miller would be your choice |
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| The Hobart will work fine no matter what someone else says unless your going to be welding 10 hrs/day. Lots of Hobart stuff comes in a miller box and vice versa.... |
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Southern Wisconsin | Thanks for all the replys. Good information |
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n.c.iowa | seed cleaner what material are you welding vs settings. |
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Sac & Story county IA | Illinois Tool Works owns both Miller and Hobart. |
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NEIA | I have Hobart 250. Going on a least 10 years now. I have only changed the tips on it. Don't do as much welding as I used to do. At the time I bought it I was just like you. Do I spend the extra for a Miller or go with the Hobart. Didn't want or need the electronic read out. Manual settings work fine once you learn how fast to set the wire speed for the heat setting. At that time Hobart was owned by Miller. Miller dealer told me that, as they sold both. |
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Van Wert, OHIO | We just got a Hobart ironman 230 last week and am very happy with it. We're not going to be welding with it everyday, the little welding we have done with it we thought it did a nice job. Easy to set.
Edited by axiom120 2/16/2014 19:58
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WI | I have the Miller 252. Was thinking the same thing when purchasing it. Decided on the Miller since most guys around here have them.
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Southcentral Kansas | I have been considering the same thing but what about Century? Arent they owned by Lincoln Electric? They are about the same price as the Hobart. Can't find much information about them. |
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Mid-Missouri | I might email you sometime about it. |
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East Central Ia | seedcleaner - 2/16/2014 18:06
NAT said the Miller 252 was what to buy. I haven't been impressed. It is hard to get that good "buzz" sound like I can with others. It also is terrible with flashback and the wire burning into the tip.
Initially, I had the same trouble Bleedred did. The large spool would hardly turn, the feed roller would slip or bunch wire up, etc. I replaced the liner after maybe 30 hours of run-time. Still flashes back in the tip. I think I initially tinkered with the computer settings. When I put the new liner in, I believe they are back to default but it isn't any better.
Kinda wish I would have bought the used ESAB from the local school trade-in, just like what I used in ag class.
Not sure I ever updated my welder issues. But after closer inspection I indeed did have rust on the spool of wire. It was pretty small amounts but that's probably why it steadily got worse. I pulled the wire back out of the liner with a couple small bends in it to try and break some of the rust loose... I couldn't push the wire back in by hand after doing this so I know my liner was caked full of rust.
Soooo I pitched the spool and replaced the liner now it works like a dream again.
I would check a few of those things Seedcleaner as the wire burning back into the tip was awful on mine but it was because the wire wasn't feeding out correctly.
My welder sat in my non heated shop for over a year... Now it's nice and warm and better yet DRY!
I put a couple felt cleaners on the wire and threw a bunch of desiccant packets in by the wire that came with my toolboxes.
Edited by bleedred 2/16/2014 21:38
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NESD | We had a 252 at work that sounds just like yours, I can weld with just about anything.................except that sorry POS, We finally traded it for another Miller that I can't remember the model number now (I think it is a 251) but it is really easy to weld with. |
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Central MN | I can completely wear out two Hobarts for the price of Miller. That should last my lifetime!
Edited by KMG 2/16/2014 22:35
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Northern CA | I have some older Hobart BetaMig 250s that are probably 30 years old and bought a Hobart Ironman 230 two years ago. They are good welders. I think the Hobart arc is a little crisper than the Miller. Hobart is now owned by miller, but they use their own technology for the transformer for making the arc. I have built numerous projects and done many farm repairs with them. I am very satisfied. I think it is rare where duty cycle rating really comes into play on a farm. |
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Mid-Missouri | Thanks guys. My 252 is maybe 4 years old already with little use. I have a large roll of .035 wire. The machine is always under a roof but thats about it....doors usually open. I talked to my dealer finally about it a couple months ago. They said to replace liner and put felt pad on. Neither made it perfect but I guess helped some. Maybe I should buy a small spool and see how that goes.
Our old Century welded good under these conditions, I was expecting better from the 252 but it is worse. The wire feeds out fine when not welding. I have taken tension off the spool, varied the drive tension, too much and it bunches it up before the liner, too little and it can slip, but most often I get burn back to the tip. If it is rust, a new spool will take care of the problems, but what to do with the big one! |
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n.c.iowa | that'd be fine. |
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miller welder vs hobart
