welder good or bad?
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 881
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From: dallastown pa
welder good or bad?
Hey what do you think of this for home owner light jobs?
FREE SHIPPING — Hobart Stickmate AC Welder — 230 Volt, 205 Amp, Model# 500502 | Arc Welders | Northern Tool + Equipment
I'm not a pro but have welded in shop class and then a little after shop on my own.
FREE SHIPPING — Hobart Stickmate AC Welder — 230 Volt, 205 Amp, Model# 500502 | Arc Welders | Northern Tool + Equipment
I'm not a pro but have welded in shop class and then a little after shop on my own.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,697
Likes: 3
From: Marengo, Iowa
I love my Hobart, but if I recall, mine goes to 235-250 amp, which I pretty much never use. It will likely do you fine, Hobart has a good reputation. Being a 230 source welder, it should have the push to get good penetration.
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 881
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From: dallastown pa
Well my garage and barn are both wired 220 and that model is compareable to no name welders on ebay or other tool sources. The model you talk of was listed for 459 or so on Northern tool and equipment 235-250 Amp just don't want to spend the cash on some thing I will use maybe six times for small jobs.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,697
Likes: 3
From: Marengo, Iowa
I likely will never get it that high either, but the local farm store had it for $250 if I recall... I like the ability to dial in, rather than take a preset amperage. I have done a lot of welding around the farm with it, and it does quite well.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2006
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Depends on what you are going to do with it. Hobart is the cheaper version of Miller so they are a good brand of welders. Are you going to weld heavy steel all the time or are you looking at welding sheet metal with it? If you are looking at heavy steel, then yes it is very good. Great penetration, good stong welds. But if you are going to weld alot of sheet metal, then I would advise getting a mig welder. A good mig welder will do both heavy steel and sheet metal with no problem, especially a 220volt welder. I have used a Miller 225 series 220 volt mig welder and have welded 1/4" steel with no problem at all. You can get the cheaper 120Volt welders (I have the Millermatic 175) and it will weld up to 3/16 steel no problem. I can weld heaver (1/4") but I have to do it in two passes.
Just watch those other tool source welders (Harbour freight for one) They are all junk. Miller makes Miller, Hobart and the Farmhandler(If I remember correctly, its the tractor supply brand). Lincoln and Esab are also good welders. You can also find decent used welders on the internet or even most welding supply stores can help you locate a used welder. Look on craigslist also.
Just watch those other tool source welders (Harbour freight for one) They are all junk. Miller makes Miller, Hobart and the Farmhandler(If I remember correctly, its the tractor supply brand). Lincoln and Esab are also good welders. You can also find decent used welders on the internet or even most welding supply stores can help you locate a used welder. Look on craigslist also.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,630
Likes: 5,638
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
the only thing i would worry about with that unit is the duty cycle. it seems kind of low to me.
<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=keyspecnames width="35%">Volts</TD><TD class=keyspecvalues vAlign=top width="65%">230</TD></TR><TR><TD class=keyspecnames width="35%">Amps</TD><TD class=keyspecvalues vAlign=top width="65%">30-205</TD></TR><TR><TD class=keyspecnames width="35%">Duty Cycle</TD><TD class=keyspecvalues vAlign=top width="65%">20% at 165 Amps, 100% at 90 Amps</TD></TR><TR><TD class=keyspecnames width="35%">Amperage Adjustments</TD><TD class=keyspecvalues vAlign=top width="65%">Accu-Set infinite current control, 1 amp increments</TD></TR><TR><TD class=keyspecnames width="35%">Range Selection</TD><TD class=keyspecvalues vAlign=top width="65%">Single</TD></TR><TR><TD class=keyspecnames width="35%">Weldable Metals</TD><TD class=keyspecvalues vAlign=top width="65%">Steel, stainless steel, and cast iron</TD></TR><TR><TD class=keyspecnames width="35%">Weld Thickness (in.)</TD><TD class=keyspecvalues vAlign=top width="65%">3/8in.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=keyspecnames width="35%">Electrode Size (in.)</TD><TD class=keyspecvalues vAlign=top width="65%">1/16 - 5/32</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=keyspecnames width="35%">Volts</TD><TD class=keyspecvalues vAlign=top width="65%">230</TD></TR><TR><TD class=keyspecnames width="35%">Amps</TD><TD class=keyspecvalues vAlign=top width="65%">30-205</TD></TR><TR><TD class=keyspecnames width="35%">Duty Cycle</TD><TD class=keyspecvalues vAlign=top width="65%">20% at 165 Amps, 100% at 90 Amps</TD></TR><TR><TD class=keyspecnames width="35%">Amperage Adjustments</TD><TD class=keyspecvalues vAlign=top width="65%">Accu-Set infinite current control, 1 amp increments</TD></TR><TR><TD class=keyspecnames width="35%">Range Selection</TD><TD class=keyspecvalues vAlign=top width="65%">Single</TD></TR><TR><TD class=keyspecnames width="35%">Weldable Metals</TD><TD class=keyspecvalues vAlign=top width="65%">Steel, stainless steel, and cast iron</TD></TR><TR><TD class=keyspecnames width="35%">Weld Thickness (in.)</TD><TD class=keyspecvalues vAlign=top width="65%">3/8in.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=keyspecnames width="35%">Electrode Size (in.)</TD><TD class=keyspecvalues vAlign=top width="65%">1/16 - 5/32</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
The duty cycle is fine for a home shop enviroment. Basically a 20% duty cycle is 2 minutes of weld time per 10 minutes.(8 minutes idle time) 20% duty cycle really isn't too bad at 165amps for such an inexspensive welder.
I have the Millermatic 175 also but I run on 220. I actually use my 175 more than my Millermatic 252. I use my Syncrowave 200 more than either. Whats nice about the Syncrowave is you have the precision of a TIG but also can do SMAW welding. Of course they cost a chunk of $$$.
You can get the cheaper 120Volt welders (I have the Millermatic 175) and it will weld up to 3/16 steel no problem. I can weld heaver (1/4") but I have to do it in two passes.
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: dallastown pa
Well I bought it and intend to use it for heavier stuff. I have a small stick welder I got from tractor supply for tacking sheet metal and small things like that. But may look into some thing different. The wire feed welders that don't use gas any good?
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2006
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The welder I have is a dual set up, all I have to do is change the leads. Hobart is the same way, but they dont give you the regulator when you buy the welder. I tried the flux core wire (you dont need gas for this) and I dont care for it. It splaters all over the place and makes a mess. I switched over to gas and wont ever go back to flux core again. Everyone else I know that has welders also wont use flux core for the same reasons. Plus someone did the math and its cheaper in the long run to use solid core wire.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
I never cared for Flux Core either. Get a standard 75/25 mix and it will work good for steel and stainless also. I use .023"-.025" wire in my 175 Millermatic and it works great from light to even multiple pass welds on thicker base metal.
