Who here owns a Hobart welder? Opinions?

early Handler for me....good stuff....

 

110v 133 amp machine $850 around here

220v 185 amp machine-welds great-$550

Hell you do the math.

Auto set is an iffy gimmick in my opinion-I'd rather tune the wire speed myself.

 

Hobart will be very surprised to hear that they are owned by Miller. They are a division of Illinois Tool Works [ITW].

They make some good welders, but, like all companies these days, they have things made off shore.

 

Hobart doesn't make welders any longer. Illinois tool owns both companies. Hobart makes the rods and wire that are sold as Miller, McKay, Hobart, and several other brands. Bernard makes the "guns" MIG, "torches" TIG, and other support items sold as Miller, Hobart, Bernard, and under other brand names. Miller Electric makes welders and other items sold as Miller, Hobart, Bernard, and others under contract. Hobart and Miller welders are U.S. made.
Most of Hobart's MIG wire comes from China.
It is a global market place.

 

Both are owned by ITW, acquired around the same time, 1995 I think. Not sure where the Hobarts are made but I know for a fact Millers are made in Appleton, Wis.

 

At my last job, we had a Hobart Beta MIG. Hands down the best MIG I've ever used, and I've used a lot of them.

Better than all of the blue welders I've used, and most of those were pretty darned nice.

And I used it several hours a day many times- no problems

I still want to get one for my home shop.