Hey guys, last question about welders, but honestly any purchase over a hundred bucks or so and I research myself silly. I am about to drop off my MT120 Blue Point mig at the welder place to have it looked at, but I am probably going to buy a new or new to me machine as this thing hasnt been very reliable. I am down to two. One is a used Lincoln Idealarc SP-255, big ****er. Obviously the more powerful of the two, but it's a digital welder, no knobs, and it sounds busy and problematic to me. Do you guys have any experience with these? Welders have had knobs for years, and they replaced this model with a model with knobs, so something just doesnt sit right. Then, number two, is a new Hobart Handler 187. 30% duty cycle is nothing to write home about, but it's layout seems straight forward. These two are both the same price. First is used, about 10 years old, and second is new. I like that Hobart is USA made, and I have yet to read a bad thing, I am totally leaning toward the Hobart machine, but if I am missing something and the Idealarc is amazing and reliable, thats why I am asking. 99 percent of what I do is sheetmetal, once in a blue I will fix some frame stuff, but rarely, and I am moving up to a 220v unit so I can do subframes etc, I have two frames here I want to do, but with only owning 110v units I havent. So, it will be a healthy 90/10 if not 95/5 percent mix of sheetmetal and heavy...heavy being 1/8 to 1/4 at its thickest. Thanks a bunch.
I have both brands in the shop and they both make a fine welder.I personally would probably buy the lincoln as it would do whatever you wanted it to and probably has a better duty cycle than the hobart 187.
My 2 good buddys are master welders and both say they recomend the Hobarts for all around use and that they are great welders for the money....Im not a great welder but trust them all the way. Hope this helps a bit, Good luck!
I'd take the Lincoln as I've been happy with the quality of mine (albeit a low end model), and I liked the Lincoln I used in the shop at UD. The school sprung for a Millermatic MIG and a Synchrowave 250 my last couple years there, both of which munged the Lincoln. Lincoln is still a nice machine, don't be afraid of the digital layout
I'd recommend you look at the Horbart Handler 210. It comes all wired should you want to add a spool gun down the road. It's just plug it in and weld. To do that on a 187 or lower machine it costs 4-5 times more than the upgrade from the 187 to the 210 and you wind up with an extra box on the machine. You might not think you want a spool gun now, but may change you mind down the road - like I did.
I would get the new Hobart. New is always nice although good used stuff OK also. Less problems and factory support with new stuff.
lincoln would be overkill for sheet metal..and digital stuff is more chance for problems then you need. but my moneys on a miller hands down anytime.........did you ever get the wire feed issue solved (since you're buying another one I ***ume not)
Thanks guys, appreciate the advice. Jim, the 210 is just out of my price range, it looks bad***, but just really don't want to plunk down extra dough. Joe, did the machine at school have the digital layout? I am terrified by it, I heard from a friend in common, between seller and myself..small world, that the machine had a problem with the computer board, some ****, that right there scares me. I am leaning toward the Hobart, much, but if he gets back to me and I see the Lincoln in a day or so, I might go for it.
No, I took it to a place and they found a few problems with it, told me to try and do this and that, tried everything he said and the thing is better, but still ****s. I think at this point a liner change might work, it's pulsating and not really penetrating, ground good, yadi yadi....the main thing he hit home is 'don't waste a ton of time or money on this thing', so I am taking his word. I'll keep it and fiddle with it, who knows, one day if I CAN fix it, itll offset the cost of my new one. Lolz...
Yes, most palces are about $160 apart on the 187 vs 210. Usually about $630 vs $790. But like I said, should you want a spool gun down the line, it's money well invested.
The Jalopy Journal
