Hobart Iron Man 250 VS Millermatic 210

[RocksMan]

Any opinions on the Hobart Iron Man 250 Welder?

I can get the Hobart 250 for about $200 more than the the MillerMatic 210.

Which would you get?

I like the higher power of the Hobart but I like the quality and references on the Miller. Which one would you all buy for that difference in Price?

I am buying it as a hobbyist welder just to work on my own junk.

[Old Scout]

The plug and play spool gun on the MM210 is VERY nice! I love mine.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=226794&stc=1&d=1138553101

[cybergeek23851]

I'm going with Old Scout. I have had very good experiences with the Miller 250x Welders in our welding shop. They have been in use since 2000 and not a moments wort of trouble. The current proffessor has used Millermatic 210s almost exclusively at his previous school, also without a moments trouble.

[D60]

The Hobarts, at least the H210 (which I have) uses the same spool gun.

The Hobart basically IS Miller, and since you stated it's for working on your own junk I'd go with the Hobart 250.......reasoning being you don't NEED the better drive gears of the Miller since it won't see production work but it's always nice to have the extra power, even if you only need it occasionally.... and for all other intents and purposes the Hobart will serve you just as well as the Miller.

My vote is for *slightly* lower quality but considerably more power.

My Hobart 210 has never let me down, I dunno why a 250 would be any different..........

[RocksMan]

Went to the welding shop, they made me a internet price match on a Lincoln 255c. Being that it was only two hundred more than Ironman and 450 more than the 210 I just went for it. Hopefully it turns out to be a good descision. Thanks for the replies though!

[jdjanda]

I don't know if I agree with "You don't need the better drive gears" statement. I bought a Miller 210, based on the fact that my previous welder was a borrowed 20 year old Miller, still going strong.

A welder is an expensive investment, I'd like to know my kids will be using it in their shop after I'm old and committed.

[D60]

I don't know if I agree with "You don't need the better drive gears" statement. I bought a Miller 210, based on the fact that my previous welder was a borrowed 20 year old Miller, still going strong.

A welder is an expensive investment, I'd like to know my kids will be using it in their shop after I'm old and committed.

Hobarts are EXTREMELY common on this board, esp the 175 since it's pretty much the cheapest brand-name 220V wire feed you can get, thus it's great for shadetree fabbers. I only recall seeing one or two complaints about the drive gears slipping on the Hobarts, and that was after what the users characterized as lots of (and years of) use. My understanding is that the steel Miller gears will bolt right up, but I've never tried it.

For all I know the Iron Man 250 might use steel gears, don't have first hand experience with one myself.

I'm not saying Hobarts are the greatest thing ever, but if money's a factor I wouldn't shy away from one.

A welder is an expensive investment, but I don't know if I personally would expect one to last more than 20 years. If I get 20 years out of my H210 I'll figure I got my money's worth. Stick welders are a different story, with virtually no moving parts.

[planet x]

Went to the welding shop, they made me a internet price match on a Lincoln 255c. Being that it was only two hundred more than Ironman and 450 more than the 210 I just went for it. Hopefully it turns out to be a good descision. Thanks for the replies though!

You have chosen wisely.