Lincoln or Hobart

[xmoto]

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.

 

[Scooby074]

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.

Buy Miller

I have a miller acdc and actually, the Hobart is pretty similar to the Miller (same parent company). Ive had great luck with my miller and would imagine that youd have the same with the Hobart.

The Lincoln Toumbstone has a great rep too, but the Hobart has a higher DC (and AC) rating and you'll likely use DC 99% of the time. So id recommend the Hobart.

 

[johnk]

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.

I have the Hobart AC/DC and it welds great. Go with an AC/DC machine the 1st time so you don't have to upgrade later....

 

[Wineslob]

Most definitely agree with the Miller/Hobart.

One of the first machines I learned on was a Lincloln "tombstone" buzz-box(AC 225).
Thought it was great till we got a Lincoln DC 250 MkII (3 ph errrrr... pen*s machine ) and a Millermatic 35 MIG. After welding with those you learn what "current sag" is with the AC 225 .

 

[tessiers]

Find a good dealer and buy that machine. The dealer will go a long way toward solving problems for you as well as hooking you up with the right rods and amperage settings if you get out of your comfort zone.

 

[Big Bri]

i vote for miller too.

 

[xlr82v2]

I've got the Hobart... and I highly recommend it. 160 amps DC vs. 125 for the Lincoln...

The Hobart and Miller stick machines that we are talking about here are identical except for the paint and stickers... they are built on the same assembly line by the same workers with the same parts... except today we make Blue, tomorrow we make White...

Find a Hobart and save some $$'s compared to the blue painted ones.

 

[bobodu]

I have always had Lincolns. But it's really just brand loyalty. I have a rather low opinion of Hobarts ( some guys will call them "Hofarts") but this probably stems from the MIG I am forced to use at work.Considering that an arc welder is just a transformer in a box, brand most likely won't matter much. Same goes for "Dealer service"...I have 40 year old Lincoln stick welders that have never ever needed service except for maybe oiling the fan.

I guess even my home made gas machine is part Lincoln....the alternator came from a Continental.

 

[20 20]

I also own a hobart, been a great welder

 

[easygo]

I have a Hobart AC/DC and it has been doing what I need. I'm an (every other) weekend warrior welder and it is just about all I need.

 

[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!!