welders

[53 diesel]

looking to prchase mig welder and plasmna cutter, what kind of luck has anybody had with hobart?

 

[Anonymous-0]

Don't think Hobart ever had plasma torches. Why do you need a plasma torch anyway? Hobart used to make some of the best machines on the market. Now they are owned by the same company as Miller. Some Hobart machines are nearly identical to their Miller counterparts and some are lower end machines. What type of welding will you be doing? Do you want to buy new or used? It's easier to give a review of a specific machine or recommend a machine if we have some more information on what you want to do with it.

 

[53 diesel]

I have used miller equipment at work and welded both steel and aluminum, with mig units and spool guns. I also use a cheap mig at home, wire sticks and is flux core. When welding heavy iron I use and older Lincoln buzz box. My interest in new equipment is for a project in older body work ie. 1953 chevy pickup that I am going put a 4bt cummins engine in. Hobart does make plasma machines and there is a local supplier. I mainly wanted to know if there were any common problems with hobart machines.

 

[Puddles]

I never was real fond of Hobart welders, but the vast majority of my experience has been with their engine drives. In the 1970s I took a Tig welding course to learn how to weld stainless steel open root pipe in the 6-G position. The school had Hobart Tig machines, I don't remember any issues with them, but that was a long time ago. :lol: It seems as soon as ITW bought out Miller and Hobart, they have directed Hobart more towards the home owner. You might want to dig around here it see if there is any feed back on the Hobart plasma.

http://www.hobartwelders.com/weldtalk/forum.php

 

[53 diesel]

thanks for help, will continue my search for more info

 

[504]

Thermodynamic for the plasma. Hobart is the box store product, and Miller is the welding store model, there is a difference.

 

[JerryD]

You might want to check the drive wheels. I think that Hobart used phenolic/plastic wheels and Miller uses steel wire drive wheels.