I'm about to pick up my first mig welder. From all the reading i've been doing most people seem to prefer the hobart 187 over the Lincoln Pro Mig 180.

I found a brand new lincoln pro mig 180 on craigslist for $450. I can also get the hobart 187 for $670 shipped. I really want the hobart, just not sure if the added cost is worth it. Which one would you go with?

I have been borrowing my uncle's HH187 recently and love it. I will be buying either a HH187 or a HH210 when I get my shop built.

look at the lincoln powermig 180C, much better machine than the pro mig and the hobart...my local welding shop is selling them for $645 right now

I've been using the HH187 for almost 2 years now and love it! Have never used the ProMig though can't comment on that one.

I really don't like my pro mig 180. Mine doesn't like .035" wire and I've never been able to get as good of welds as with my old 130 amp Napa mig welder I picked up off craigslist for $35. Unfortunately I sold my Napa welder right after I bought my Lincoln or I would still be using it. The design lab at my college has some bigger miller units (MM210) and they weld like a dream compared to my Lincoln. I can't say anything about the Hobart because I have never used one. All that to say I hate my Lincoln and will be buying a large Miller unit when I graduate and actually have some money

I just pulled the trigger on the hobart 187. After talking with Lincoln, they told me since i was buying private party that they would base the warranty from the date it was manufactured. The guy off of craigslist said he bought it a year ago and it just sat in the box. That means I would only have a year and a half of warranty at best.

I paid $670 with free 2 day shipping from amazon. :D

I really don't like my pro mig 180. Mine doesn't like .035" wire and I've never been able to get as good of welds as with my old 130 amp Napa mig welder I picked up off craigslist for $35.

Honestly I'm not sure many of the sub-250A wire feeds are ideally suited to .035. That's about all I had ever run in my Ironman 210 so I didn't really know any different, but upon the recommendation of a pro welder friend I switched to .030. The arc just sounds and feels better, and he agreed when he used my machine. His recommendation was based upon having used a Miller 210 in a pro fab shop.

I agree D60 . my miller 210 just works better with .030 wire ... I bought a big spool of .035 for a project and I wish I would have stayed with .030 . I do love my miller 210 ! It just welds and welds and doesnt bitch ....

.030 wire welded better for me also. i have used a few lincoln 180 welders. i hate lincolns 100L gun. i bought a HH210 a few months ago, love the gun and the extra power over the lincoln 180. the hh210 does sheet metal real good with .030 wire also.

I have an IM 210, and I like the 30 for 1/4 or smaller. Anything bigger, and I like the 35

Yeah I bought a 12lb roll of .035" for my Lincoln 180 and couldn't get it to hardly lay a bead so I switched to .030 and it definately welds better although I swear I still don't like it as much as my $35 Napa mig welder I unfortunately sold. Maybe is should try .025" and see if that is even better, I'm just afraid it won't even burn hot enough for .120 tubing with the smaller wire. Someday I'll own a Millermatic 252...

I have the HB 187 great machine I've had it for about 2 years no real complaints. However, if I thought about it more, I would have ponyed up the extra money and bought the Handler 210. The reason being the 187 does not have the ablity to run a spool gun
here are all the specs
http://www.hobartwelders.com/products/wirefeed/
I got mine at TSC at a grand opening sale for about $499
its 599 now
http://www.tractorsupply.com/welding-metalworking/welders/mig-welding/mig-welders/

Just want to fill you guys in, it's been almost a year since we bought the HH185 and I love our little welder! We use .30 wire with shielded gas and it welds like a dream! It has not given us any problems what so ever!! :D I definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a welder! Maybe when we kill this one I'll step up to a nice Millermatic! :D

Glad you went with the Hobart not a bad welder for the hobby market.

Most all your welders the warranty begins on the day it is built there are a few exceptions like if it sits in the manufactures distribution center over a year.

Then you could get up to a year in extra time . That is why the LWS don`t have a lot of welders sitting on the floor.

On the little welders all I ever use is .023 solid wire it burns plenty hot enough for what the machine can putout It also gives me better control.

I have the 210 and love it. I picked up a spool gun and have successfully fab up an aluminum fuel cell as well.