HH 175, is this a good welder and price?

[OneMeanZ]

Hey guys! I'm new here and to welding, looking to build me a custom single turbo setup for my Trans Am this summer and have been looking for welders. I've been looking at the brand new HH187's but just found a HH175 on Craigslist for $425.

The ad says, "Welder has been used very little. Includes rolling cart, gas bottle, extra wire, extra tips, owners manual." Just wondering if the HH175 is a good welder (I'll only be welding 14 to 16 gauge mild steel) and if the price is good? The new 187s cost $650 and if this 175 will do what I need it to do, then that would be great to save that kind of cash.

Thanks a lot for your opinions and help!!

[MarkBall2]

Yes, that's a pretty good buy, if you get the gas bottle with it. It will probably be a 20cf bottle, but that could be swapped for a bigger bottle.

I have the Hobart Handler 175 & love it. It can do light metal, up to 1/4" if pushed. I paid almost $650 when I bought mine new & on sale in 2004. It came with the bottle, cart, auto dark helmet & a small spool of wire. I've only used .030 wire on it, both flux cored & solid wire & it works with either very well.

[OneMeanZ]

Yes, that's a pretty good buy, if you get the gas bottle with it. It will probably be a 20cf bottle, but that could be swapped for a bigger bottle.

I have the Hobart Handler 175 & love it. It can do light metal, up to 1/4" if pushed. I paid almost $650 when I bought mine new & on sale in 2004. It came with the bottle, cart, auto dark helmet & a small spool of wire. I've only used .030 wire on it, both flux cored & solid wire & it works with either very well.
Thanks for the response, Mark! So it's been a pretty nice unit for you over the years?

[MarkBall2]

Yes, the only issue I had was I didn't have the gun shoved in far enough into the wire feed block & no gas was going through the lead. Once that was fixed, the welder has served me very well.

I'm not a full time weldor, only a hobby weldor. Little projects up to 1/4" angle I've welded, but nothing structural.

[Dan]

I've owned a HH 175 and currently own a HH 187. Between the two, the HH 187 is the better performing unit. The difference is significant enough, that I'd spend the extra money on the HH 187 without hesitation.


The HH175 has developed a reputation of having control board (circuit board) issues. The main two troublesome control board issues with the HH 175 have been address in the HH 187 design, so there haven't been any control board issues with the HH 187.

[snoeproe]

The HH 187 is a 7 step voltage machine where the HH 175 is a 4 step voltage machine...something else to consider.

[kenklingerman]

the hh175 may be fine machine, for $599 though I love My hh187, more voltage control.

I too am just a hobbiest.

Also, if you ever want to go with a spool gun, the cost to add one to a 175 or 187 starts at over 400 dollars or more because you need to buy an adapter/controller. I did not know this until to late. I believe the 210 is the smallest one they make that's spool gun ready. Of course if you don't need to do aluminum, don't worry about it.

[BAC]

I paid almost $650 when I bought mine new & on sale in 2004. It came with the bottle, cart, auto dark helmet & a small spool of wire. I've only used .030 wire on it, both flux cored & solid wire & it works with either very well.

I paid about the same in 2005, but all it cam with was a thank you for the cash...

The HH175 has developed a reputation of having control board (circuit board) issues. The main two troublesome control board issues with the HH 175 have been address in the HH 187 design, so there haven't been any control board issues with the HH 187.

I had the board replaced in mine after a year and a half, warranty covered it, other than that no problems. The HH175 has been a reliable machine for this hobbiest.

[kenc184]

Sold mine on CL for $375.

No bottle, but full spool of 030 wire. Perfect condition.

Must've had ten plus calls on it in the first 24 hours.