Hobart beta-mig 250 welder?

[canoetrpr]

Figured its worth a shot to see if one of you guys had heard of this welder.

I've been looking into getting a mig and found this locally for sale. It is supposedly in good operating condition. Owner does not know how old it is but best guess is 15 to 20 years.

He's looking for $800 - which is steep but this is Canada. I might be able to bargain him down to $700.

Found out by contacting a welding repair shop that parts are available but sometimes tricky to come buy. If some day it requires a new control board or the like, we are talking $500-600.

My other options are a used MM210 for $1500. New MM212 for $1700+13%tax (on sale), New HH210 for $1000+tax (maybe on sale some day for less).

Alternatively I can wait around for something else used to show up.

With the sales tax being so high, I like the idea of buying used and letting someone else take the hit on the taxes.

What do you guys think of these options? I plan on doing anywhere betwee 1/8" to 1/2" welding. More commonly in the 1/4"-3/8" rang.

 

[Scooby074]

The miller 210 and 212 are great machines. If i could make my welder purchase over, it would be a 212 or a used 251, instead of a thunderbolt and 135xp.

Im not familiar with the Hobart beta mig, as they're not really popular around here. All places ive worked have been miller, lincolin or the odd esab. Id be a little weary of the machine due to its age though, regardless of brand. Parts can be a killer to get as you've heard.

I'd probably purchase the new 212 for the piece of mind warranty wise, although my millers have been pretty much trouble free.

Does your dealer have any trade-ins? Sometimes they'll throw in warranty with the sale.

 

[kennyd]

$800 for a 15-20 year old welder does not sound like a great deal to me.

 

[chumly2071]

If it is in good working order, that is a heck of a machine. I used to use a Beta Mig at a friend's shop, and it had a very nice arc, and took a beating. Only real casualty for their machine was the need for a new mig gun.

 

[CATMAN]

I have one, Beta-Mig 250. Purchased new around 1991-92 with alum spool gun attachment, too. It has worked flawless for me. After I finished the big projects, 20' equipment trailer and 12' alum snowmobile trailer, it has only been used for smaller projects. Not really many total hours. I have been happy with mine.

 

[DieselPower]

$800 for a 15-20 year old welder does not sound like a great deal to me.

Depends on what it is. I paid $3,500 for my 18 year old Linde mig/tig unit. Has two internal spool feeders and two external spool guns for a total of 4 mig welding outlets and 1 outlet for tig welding. If I had to buy this monster new it would run over $32K.

 

[canoetrpr]

Hmm. Good to hear some positive experiences with this welder.

This is probably the best price I'm going to find on something that is 250 amp capable regardless of age.

CATMAN and chumly, can you share with me what consumables the beta-mig 250 uses so that I can check to ensure that they are available locally. I'll stop by the LWS and see what they carry tomorrow.

Also just found a ESAB Migmaster 250 that wen't up on ebay and is in my local area. Not sure if I should bid though cause the seller has zero feedback.... but if I can go see it, maybe worthwhile considering it.

 

[DieselPower]

Not sure about the seller but you can't beat a ESAB. They are built a couple of miles away from me in Hanover, PA and I actually sell lubricants to them. Very nice people at the manufacturing plant. They make very nice welders and have a excellent reputation.

 

[jimmysisson]

I have a 250 amp Esab mig that works flawlessly, bought it a couple years ago for $800. The bigger the weld the better it likes it. Don't know about the Beta-mig.
The zero feedback thing is a risk. Maybe you can get in touch after the auction if it doesn't sell for price.
Jim

 

[chumly2071]

CATMAN and chumly, can you share with me what consumables the beta-mig 250 uses so that I can check to ensure that they are available locally. I'll stop by the LWS and see what they carry tomorrow.

We swapped over to a new Tregaskiss Tough Gun when the old one finally gave out, and as I recall, the original on the machine was a Bernard. both have consumables readily available around here, but not sure in your area. The guns are easy to swap to your brand of choice to get to available consumables.