Lincoln or Hobart

[RPW]

I've got a lincoln for mig and a miller for stick/tig. Both perform very well. Will be looking for an engine powered welder in the not to distant future for ranch work.

 

[Soundguy]

I am going to buy a lincoln AC/DC 225/125 or a hobart stickmate 235AC/160DC. Who has used them and what do you think.

at work I have the older lincoln ac/dc.. burns rods fine.. but the amp range knob is not continously variable.. it uses preset detents to select range.

I have a stickmat xl 235 ac only.. but functions near the same as the ac/dc and it's amp selector is a continously variable dial.. I like that better.

in the end.. both burn rods fine... can't go wrong with either...

soundguy

 

[easygo]

Yep. That is the most sound (pun not intended) advice. Either will work. I'v seen a thread on another site where a guy built a hole loader for his rather large tractor using a Lincoln AC/DC buzz box.

 

[xmoto]

That is good to here. I plan on building a backhoe for my L3410 this winter.

 

[Sockwell]

This is a "Chevy vs. Ford" question. I have 7 welding machines, all from the same dealer. Five are Millers, one is a Lincoln, and one is a Hobart. All weld great for the process they were designed for. Hobart and Miller are both ITW companies, with Hobart generally "thought" to be the lighter duty of the two. For the machines you're looking at, either should be fine.

 

[rayc45]

I have the Hobart ac/dc Stickmate and it has been a great machine. Best price new was at Tractor supply. Toolking sell recon Hobarts on line. Check out www.hobart/weldtalk, alot of welding info. Lincoln are great machines but little to no customer service to the little guy. Great customer service from Miller/Hobart.

 

[Gary Fowler]

If anyone is thinking of buying an AC DC power supply for welding and then maybe getting a second MiG machine, perhaps they should consider looking at a CC/CV AC/DC power pack and add a wire feeder to it. You can get a nice wire feeder with double roller feed for Mig / FCAW for about $1000 (same price as a 210 amp Hobart ironman that only has 30% duty cycle at 180amps if I remember right. With a wire feeder hooked to a 350 -400 amp CC/CV AC/DC welding machine that has 60-80% duty cycle at full amps, you would never worry about overheating your power pack. I found an almost never used 350 amp Miller machine for $350 from a fabrication shop on craigslist. Works perfectly. I plan to get rid of my 110 amp Mig machine and get a suitcase wire feeder for the Miller machine and then never worry about it kicking out on overheat.

 

[Mike120]

Lincoln are great machines but little to no customer service to the little guy.

I've got three Lincolns but have no idea what kind of customer service they provide....I've never needed any. That's the kind I want.

 

[Chilly807]

It's Miller all the way for me.. never owned a Lincoln so I can't say good or bad.

Chilly

 

[bobodu]

My wife would probably just love a pretty purple welder....but she ain't gonna keep it in MY shop!!