Millermatic 211 vs. Hobart Handler 210MVP

[WADFL]

Currently have a Hobart Handler 140 and looking for a more powerful machine for Mig welding.
Figure the uses will be around the house, mower deck and farm implements, floor pans in old trucks, etc.

Keyed on the MM211 as a great machine + it's light (38 lbs) - should do everything I want. This one is about $1600.
The HH210MVP is about the same without the auto-settings, and weighs about double. (84 lbs). This one is $900.

Plan on keeping the 140 for backup usage.
Don't mind paying more if it's worth it long term.

What says the gang on which one is the best overall machine for the portability and money?

 

[sea2summit]

Long term I'd say you'll get your monies worth out of the miller. But really long term I might look at a 220 for a significant upgrade from a the Hobart 140.

 

[Teachu2]

Hobart 210 MVP vs Miller 211 - [Detailed Comparison]

Hobart. Miller. Two well-known brand names that every welder knows.

weldguru.com

Portability? The MM211 wins, at half the weight.
Value? The HH210MVP will do 90% of the jobs for 60% of the money.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy either one, depending on my needs.

 

[Metalman5767]

Currently have a Hobart Handler 140 and looking for a more powerful machine for Mig welding.
Figure the uses will be around the house, mower deck and farm implements, floor pans in old trucks, etc.

Keyed on the MM211 as a great machine + it's light (38 lbs) - should do everything I want. This one is about $1600.
The HH210MVP is about the same without the auto-settings, and weighs about double. (84 lbs). This one is $900.

Plan on keeping the 140 for backup usage.
Don't mind paying more if it's worth it long term.

What says the gang on which one is the best overall machine for the portability and money?

I've had the Hobart machine for 3 or 4 years and love it. Mine's on a welding cart so the weight isn't an issue. I would suggest getting the spool gun if you think you might do any aluminum work.

 

[BukitCase]

Neither of the two machines you mentioned will tell you what ACTUAL voltage OR feed speed you have, for that a more professional welder at maybe double the cost...

I've had the older mm211, sold it to a friend when I found a barely used MM252 for a bit less than HALF what Cyberweld wants - then I decided I could use a more portable unit, so bought the newer inverter MM211 (but I KEPT the MM252, it ain't goin' anywhere til I croak) - the newer MM211's "deluxe" autoset covers about three TIMES as many materials as the older version, including flux core, stainless, aluminum, and all THREE wire sizes used in this class machines - it also will handle a 15' gun (but you gotta buy that EXTRA)

The Hobart gives you 7 STEP settings for arc voltage, while the Miller is continuously variable - if you get picky about welds, a slight voltage adjustment can make SMALL changes in flattening out your weld beads.

As mentioned, the Hobart (I've heard, not used it) is a good machine too - just kinda depends on if you're an "options" kinda guy (I am) or a "basics" kinda guy... Steve

 

[WADFL]

I am leaning towards the Millermatic 211, as it's 1/2 the weight and more maneuverable. This is going to be a long term purchase so I'm not terribly concerned about the cost. I just need to ensure that it will complement my Handler 140 well, and give me a lot more options in the future.

I also saw the HF Vulcan MigMax215 - it actually looks quite appealing. Though I don't trust HF to last and I'm looking for a 20+ year purchase.

 

[BravoXray]

I have had a new inverter style MM211 for a couple of years now, and really like it. I was able to get it on sale at a local dealer for ~$1300. It has a lot more capability than I have talent for welding.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Why is one lighter?

Use to be, the heavier ones had more copper in them, and that meant they lasted longer.

SR

 

[WranglerX]

The Hobart is a heavy copper transformer machine...

The Miller is a inverter machine meaning it uses solid-state devices to convert "mains" AC voltage to low voltage DC through a lot smaller transformer...

IF welder is on a cart or wheels why is "weight" a issue....

I have a HH140 also and trying to justify moving up to a 210MPV... Wished I had gotten a 210MP for my meager welding needs, but at the time I didn't know what I really wanted when I bough the HH140.... But the HH140 had really met all the demands I have made of it....

 

[jjeff]

I have MVP 210 bought about 10 yrs ago. I like it. It is heavy but has amazing penetration for a smaller welder. Never gave me any serious issues, the Hobart has tap settings for voltage not infinite, (I prefer infinite) I used flux core and mig with it mig works good but I do replace tips more frequently compared to a Lincoln I used to have , no matter how much nozzle gel I use. I also have and use the spool gun (sp 100) I believe? for aluminum, works good but the spool gun is not the highest quality by any means I'm always afraid it will fall off the table and break. I use my 210 extensively for a few weeks then it will sit unused for a few months.

 

[WADFL]

The Hobart is a heavy copper transformer machine...

The Miller is a inverter machine meaning it uses solid-state devices to convert "mains" AC voltage to low voltage DC through a lot smaller transformer...

IF welder is on a cart or wheels why is "weight" a issue....

I have a HH140 also and trying to justify moving up to a 210MPV... Wished I had gotten a 210MP for my meager welding needs, but at the time I didn't know what I really wanted when I bough the HH140.... But the HH140 had really met all the demands I have made of it....

Yeah, same here. I didn't know anything so I went with the HH140. It's worked fine so far, but I want to have a better machine to be ready.
I'm looking for a 20+ year machine so one that's lightweight will be appreciated over time.

 

[Teachu2]

Yeah, same here. I didn't know anything so I went with the HH140. It's worked fine so far, but I want to have a better machine to be ready.
I'm looking for a 20+ year machine so one that's lightweight will be appreciated over time.

I'm old school, distrustful of the long-term durability of solid state electronics. I have a Miller Dialarc 250P that's about 40 years old, a Lincoln AC/DC tombstone that's about 30, and a MM210 that's about 20. All work like new. None are lightweight machines. I don't know if the inverters will last that long.

 

[dfkrug]

After 15y, my Hobart IronMan 210 still works great. I prob should change the tips more often, and use that anti-stick goo. Anyway, yeah it is heavy, but the wheels roll freely. I have a big 240VAC extension cord for the rare times that I weld more than 10' outside my workshop. I have successfully run .035 Al wire thru the feeder without a spool gun. I run big rolls (25#?) of ER70s .035 wire pretty exclusively now. I still have the Al and SS wire, just in case.

Only wishes: lockable wheels, and a place to hang the cables

 

[BukitCase]

DF, those look like regular stem type casters, should be able to replace 'em with the locking kind?

Lead storage - my mm252 came with dual tank running gear, but only ONE lead holder - I got tired of having to separate ground, power and mig gun from the 30 foot spool gun leads (I use the auto gun switch a fair amount) so I sorta copied the factory lead hanger. My slip roll project is still just a project, so I bought a couple of these

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EOMCKJO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

a couple pieces of 1-1/4" square tube and couple metal screws, and now the spool gun lives on its OWN side - much less frustrating... Steve

Here's the casters I've used (except I use the plate mounts mostly)

WoodRiver 3" HD Swivel Caster 3/8" Threaded Spindle | Woodcraft

Move your shop equipment easily with the WoodRiver 3" HD Swivel Caster. Double-locking design for safety and strength, for sale online or visit your local Woodcraft store.

www.woodcraft.com

Not cheap, but I've yet to have a failure in over 20 years, and I probably have close to 20 sets of 'em in service...

 

[newbury]

OP - Have you looked into refurbished Hobarts? Right now they list a 210MVP for $820.

 

[WADFL]

I can buy a HH210MVP right now for $858 shipped to my front door. I just feel that besides the additional power options its the same thing as the HH140 I have right now, which is a good machine in it's own right.

Called around to a couple welding shops today. One had the MillerMatic 211 in stock, one could get it tomorrow, and another suggested the Lincoln Powermig 210MT instead.

The Lincoln looks like a great all around machine but I just don't want a welder with a LCD display for settings.

The shop closest to my house has the MM211 at the same price as CyberWeld, but CW throws in a free helmet. Will drive down there and see if they'll sweeten the deal next week, as I'd prefer to buy local.

 

[Sberry]

The Hobart is very good and welds very well.,. wouldnt scare me abit and lots cheaper and while its still likely to be running 30 years from now the money you save today would replace it then.

 

[Smokeydog]

My LWS shop beat all internet deals ten years ago for a Miller 211. Been a good reliable welder. Any welder best to improve the ground cable and clamp before your first arc. Switched to 15’ handset lead with no trouble. That little blue accuset light has me hooked. Most times spot on. Sometimes just needs a little tweak to improve the bead. Really spoils this old man.

I don’t know if the new mm211 has cooling fan on demand like the 252. A feature I wish I had. Reduces noise and dust drawn in the machine.

 

[BukitCase]

Smokey, I have the inverter MM211 now, sold the transformer version when I found my 252. The newer 211 does have fan on demand, but I've yet to figure out why NONE of the three units pulls cooling air in from the REAR, instead of sucking crap in from the MORE LIKELY SOURCE of it...

My "bandaid" was to take a piece of scrap T1-11 siding and cut a slot in it, just large enough to let the torch/ground leads through - any time I have more than a quick tack or two, I put that piece over the leads and LEANING against the welder/cart, so there's plenty of air coming in from the SIDES, but NOT DIRECT from the crap source.

The newer 211's "advanced autoset" has about 3 TIMES as many choices as the previous version; solid wire, flux core, stainless, aluminum (spool gun only), all three common wire sizes instead of only .030 and .035, C25 OR CO2 (IIRC, only tri-mix for SS)

The cart I built for the new mm211
Cart 4 mm211
makes it about as mobile as it can be; took awhile, but well worth it for MY situation... Steve

 

[arrow]

I have an open garage. Cement floor on one side and crushed stone on the other side.
It is subject to every bit of moisture that the ambient humidity throws at it. I may have little leg to stand on with this statement considering the electronics in cars now a days but I join the camp of not trusting inverter welders subject to that type of moisture content.
I chose the Hobart for that reason.
My Longevity inverter gives me fits at times.
The Hobart 190 is smooth all of the time.
This may or may not be the result of the moisture content and might speak more to how they built the Longevity but give me copper windings any day for my situation.