well i am going to be getting a new welder in the next week or so and need some input. any of you guys have a miller 175 but would have bought a miller 185 if they had to do it all over again. the reason i ask this is up here the new 175s are going 1025 plus tax and the miller 185s are going for 1500 (only a few left). is it worth the extra $ to spring for the 185 or will i be alright with the 175?

well, how much heavy fab will you be doing? if you arent going to be doing professional stuff and more just hobby stuff and for your own rig, go for the 175 and pocket the $$$. you still wont be dissapointed :D

the 175 is not a bad machine at all. However, if you can afford the extra $$ for the 185 I'd get it. :D

Both are good machines but you do get what you pay for! Having said that if your going to buy the 185 DONT atleast for premium dollars because it is old stock is was replaced months ago with the 210 which if you had bought before Dec 31 you would have gotten a free spool gun!!!!!!!!!!! Make em give you a sweet deal if you do go for the 185.
welpro

Dude save your money and get the 175 as long as its just for hobby use. If it is professional I would probably go bigger than the 185! I got the 175 a couple months back and it works awesome. 1/4" single pass is good enough for me!

only prob with that super coolio deal on the 210 is they were backorderd. i'm still waiting. maybe in a month or so. :(

I bought the 185 a couple of years ago mainly for building demolitian derby cars but if I had it to do over I would get the 175. I have not used the 185 to its full capacity so the 175 would most likely be enough for nonproduction work. If you buy a machine that exceeds your needs by too much as I did then you are just wasting your money...

I just got a 175 a love it no complaints at all. The price seems a little high though. My choices were the 125 or the 175 and I glade I spent the extra cash.

Originally posted by cornjeeper
well i am going to be getting a new welder in the next week or so and need some input. any of you guys have a miller 175 but would have bought a miller 185 if they had to do it all over again. the reason i ask this is up here the new 175s are going 1025 plus tax and the miller 185s are going for 1500 (only a few left). is it worth the extra $ to spring for the 185 or will i be alright with the 175?

Damn dude - those are a little pricey - look around on the web. I got my hobart handler 175 for $550 w/ gas setup and a free cart.

Try here: http://www.cyberweld.com/cyberweld/milmigwel.html
and here: http://www.welders-direct.com/merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=WD&Category_Code=MW

I got my Hobart Mig Man 210 for $100 a while back and works like new only 2 years old. :D :D :D :smokin:

I got my 185 a few years ago for $1100 with everything ready to weld (tank, etc). I would not pay $1500 for a welder they do not make anymore. It is worth every penny. You will hate yourself later if you don't get what you really wanted.

Originally posted by brector


Damn dude - those are a little pricey - look around on the web. I got my hobart handler 175 for $550 w/ gas setup and a free cart.

Try here: http://www.cyberweld.com/cyberweld/milmigwel.html
and here: http://www.welders-direct.com/merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=WD&Category_Code=MW

WAKE UP MAN! He is talking CND, NOT USD!!!

I was debating between the HH175 and the HH135 (same as miller, so it applies) a while ago and I ended up just springing for the 175. Damn fine machine and I seriously doubt that you would be disappointed. I've used some much larger units before and I still love the 175. If you are always doing larger than 1/4, then it may be worth your while to get the 210 so you don't have to do the whole beveled edge and multiple pass deal. For the very few times that I weld above 1/4, I just run a few extra beads and call it good. Plenty strong.

Cornjeeper, I got my Lincoln Squarewave 175 from Welco on the Langley bypass for a good deal ($2000), which was 200-300 less then the blue or orange box. They also had good deals on wirefeeds, give them a call.

JP

Look at what you will use it for. If you build a few rigs a year and in between misc repair use the 175 is great. If you are using it every week for fab work get the 185 or 210. The 175 is a great hobby machine and is what I have. The 185/210 is more in the commercial area.

Another thing to concider is mobility. It this machine going to stay in your garage or are you going to take it here and there and buddies places....

The 175 is nice and compact. get a small bottle for it and its easy to pack around (I can fit it in the trunk of my car). The 185, is MUCH larger and heavier. Not nearly as mobil. The 210 is even bigger, it shares the same case as the 250.


I did my last project with my buddies 175, and yes, it rocks!. Pleany of poop to burn some good wire. I would highly recomend it. However, I when and bought my own machine as well and ponied up for the 210. Hotter, which I like (better for axles) and I don't *need* to move it around much. Besides, if I need a portable machine I can always use my Centary 130 (if I keep it) or borrow the 175 again :D

I would tell you how the 210 works.... but its still on back order :mad: :mad: . I'm next on the list though. I was #3, but two came in and when out, now I'm next...... some day............

Another testimonial for the 175. Absolutley no complaints. Picked my up new a couple months ago for $690 (US) with 10 lbs of wire and a gas bottle.

which ever one you get, i recommend picking up the Miller genuine draft as well!:D :D :beer:

I got the 210. Great machine, but you need to want that big of a welder. I have an account with the local welding supplier that handles the company I work for, (where I get the same discount) and the 210 with Illinois sales tax was $1097 with the spool gun promo. I thought it was a good time to upgrade from my old Airco 160. Another friend of mine got the challenger 172, and it has worked great for general trail rig fab work too, and was like $500 with my discount.

You can still get the free spool gun with the 210!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Got a flyer at work today and the local miller dealer has them till march and sale with the free spool gun... I think the price was 1175.00:D smokin deal...

pat, can you give me some more info on this flyer. As luck would have it i was at the welding shop today wanting to get a 210 and they were back ordered. Naturaly the salesman didn't mention the spool gun kit. The price was like 1189 he quoted, but it would be nice to score a gun if possible. any help appreciated.


Thanks
-mike