Tractor Supply Hobarts???

[russ69coupe]

I've read here in the main forum that the TSC Hobart machines are like the Lincoln HD versions sold at Home Depot-lesser quality.
Is this true, and if so how could I tell which is which when looking at a used machine?
And if true how much of a lesser quality? Something a hobbyist wouldn't really notice, or ???
Thanks,
Russ

[A_DAB_will_do]

I do not believe that what you were told is correct. Insofar as I know, a Hobart machine is a Hobart machine, regardless of where it is sold. Hobart and Miller Electric are sister companies. Both are owned by Illinois Tool Works. As such I believe that Hobart welders and Miller Electric welders have more in common beneath the skin than most welders realize.

There was a press release on the local news a few weeks ago stating that Hobart welding products, the division that makes Hobart welding machines, is relocating to Appleton, Wisconsin. Appleton, WI is the location of Miller Electric Mfg's headquarters, and home to much of their manufacturing base.

Make what you will of that...

[Louie1961]

They are a budget version of the Miller machines. Where a Miller might have infinite voltage controls the Hobart will have tapped...that kind of thing. But the Hobarts while having different features are every bit as robust as the Millers. I have owned two now and love them. Its just a question of if you can live with the features they have or don't have vs. the Miller. Hobarts are very good welders.

[A_DAB_will_do]

They are a budget version of the Miller machines. Where a Miller might have infinite voltage controls the Hobart will have tapped...that kind of thing. But the Hobarts while having different features are every bit as robust as the Millers. I have owned two now and love them. Its just a question of if you can live with the features they have or don't have vs. the Miller. Hobarts are very good welders.

I agree with what you said.

[Sedanman]

I think the op's question was more along the line of if there is a difference between a Hobart sold at Tractor Supply and one sold elsewhere. I do not believe thereally is.

[derekpfeiffer]

There's no difference in quality a HH140 ect. is the same regardless where you buy it. For the money they're a great machine!

[97ZJ]

A Hobart from TSC is the same as a Hobart from any other retailer. I can go to my LWS and buy any consumables or parts I may need, and I purchased my welder from TSC. At my LWS is where I learned that some consumables are interchangeable with Miller products, I know tips and nozzles for sure, because that's what I bought.

Nothing low quality about the Hobart welders. Just not as feature-rich as the Miller product line.

[Dan]

Hobart units sold through a welding supply store are going to be the same units you get from a farm store.

In a used unit I'd stay away from a Handler 135, 175, and 180. The 135 and 175 have control board issues. The 175 control board issues were corrected with the 180. I am not fond of the 180, due to the arc quality of the upper two taps.

The Handler 140 is an OK unit. The Handler 187, 190, 210 and 210 MVP are all real good units. The Ironman 230 is a very good unit too. I haven't ran an Ironman 210 or 250.

[Michael ray]

I have the Ironman 210 that was bought at tractor supply new about 15 years ago..it was used at a fence company across the road from us for a couple months then they went out of buisness and I bought it.
It's been an awesome welder and never had any trouble with it at all. It's the one I used at my home shop for 10 years and now it's at the shop where I work.
It has the same tapped voltage switch and wire speed adjustment knob as my miller DVI has, just located in a different spot on the face panel.

[russ69coupe]

Thanks.
I had read in another thread somewhere on the site (I've read too many recently to remember where it was) that the Hobart sold at TSC was a lesser unit, apparently that poster was mistaken.
Hoping to get a TSC card, but probably won't be approved. Otherwise back to trying to save up for something.
Russ

[kctgb]

If you compare the hobart stickmate to the miller thunderbolt you will see they are identical, except the color.

[bevis28]

They are a budget version of the Miller machines. Where a Miller might have infinite voltage controls the Hobart will have tapped...that kind of thing. But the Hobarts while having different features are every bit as robust as the Millers. I have owned two now and love them. Its just a question of if you can live with the features they have or don't have vs. the Miller. Hobarts are very good welders.

Miller / Hobart = Same Same. Dey love each utter lon tine.
Seriously though, when it comes down to design and engineering of the base function of being a welder, they are both robust as hell because they are made by the same people.

[Hobbytime]

Thanks.
I had read in another thread somewhere on the site (I've read too many recently to remember where it was) that the Hobart sold at TSC was a lesser unit, apparently that poster was mistaken.
Hoping to get a TSC card, but probably won't be approved. Otherwise back to trying to save up for something.
Russ

almost everything at big box stores are made cheaper than going to a regular equipment place to buy them, all there lawn equipment and power tools have a slightly different model number than that of the same tool bought from an equipment store..they are made cheaper ..plastic parts where metal should be, cast cylinders in chain saws instead of forged..the list goes on and on..if the welder has the same model number as what you buy from a lws, then yes that will be the same, so check the model numbers of the welder before buying..

[Bonzoo]

I just bought an Ironman 230 today. I got it from a distributor and paid a little more to have someone on the phone with a brain when I need something.The box store welders some refer to (specifically lincoln) are geared to a conned sumer market so they can be chopped down in comparison to the "C"yet the guts come from the same Mexican factory. I hear the repeat chanting about plastic vs The Super Awesome cast aluminimimum. Well. Pull them out and whack the hi tech plastic with a 32 oz ball peen. Then try the cast aluminum.Or "aluminum" ? Less bells. Faster production. Less hype. NASCAR stickers.If it were still P.C. you could get a discount for Marlboro miles I bet !

[Bistineau]

Thanks.
I had read in another thread somewhere on the site (I've read too many recently to remember where it was) that the Hobart sold at TSC was a lesser unit, apparently that poster was mistaken.
Hoping to get a TSC card, but probably won't be approved. Otherwise back to trying to save up for something.
Russ

I think I read the thread you are referring to, but it was about air compressors. Ingersoll-Rand to be exact. Mentioning the I-R compressors sold at TSC were not the same quality as the ones you would by from an I-R distributor. There was not any mention of the welders TSC sells being of lesser quality as the ones sold at your LWS, or online.

[Sgnob]

I use a Hobart Ironman 250 that the boss bought at tractor supply . It has been used at time's for 8+ hours a day for weeks. We run 0.35 and it has been a great machine for us. I think he has had it for 3 or 4 years, I think is still on the original roller's. Not a fan of the handle of the gun but it has held up to constant shop use. Very good machine for around 1500 bucks.

[farmersamm]

Been running an old HH135 for 14 years. Up to now it's been a wonderful machine. Needs a new gun assembly, and will probably not replace it. Upgrading to a 220v machine. HH190. Same gun assembly will fit both machines, so why not upgrade says me. The HH135 (or the newer HH140) is limited to 11ga material, and it's right on the edge at that thickness.

[Dan]

Been running an old HH135 for 14 years. Up to now it's been a wonderful machine. Needs a new gun assembly, and will probably not replace it. Upgrading to a 220v machine. HH190. Same gun assembly will fit both machines, so why not upgrade says me. The HH135 (or the newer HH140) is limited to 11ga material, and it's right on the edge at that thickness.

Sam,

The MIG gun supplied with the Handler 190 isn't going to work on the Handler 135 with out modifying the control wires. The Handler 190 gun doesn't use the female spade connectors for attaching the control wires to the machine. Instead the control wires connect to a socket on the face of the machine.

https://www.hobartwelders.com/om/6di...60273d_hob.pdf

[Sedanman]

Farmersamm, call HTP and see how much a gun is for your Hobart. Might surprise you.

[Dan]

Farmersamm, call HTP and see how much a gun is for your Hobart. Might surprise you.

No need to call HTP. They have a 10' replacement gun listed on their website for $90.

usaweld.com/Hobart-MIG-Welding-Gun-Parts-p/hobartm10-parts.htm

[roythayer]

Nope, they are all the same. Bought a 140 EZ from there years ago on sale ($300 i think) and ive used it more than it should have been and its still going good

[Cobraone]

I’ve had my ironman230 for about six months now, love this machine for my barn projects and tractor welding jobs!
I purchased from northern tool as they had the best price with free shipping and a two hundred dollar gift card, the freight company called to confirm my address and the fact I had forks available at my residence, she told me my welder shipped directly from Hobart and not from northern tool in Wisconsin. I would have to guess my welder is the same as any other Hobart sold

[mojave_ron]

Tractor Supply is having a sale on the hobart stickmate lx 235ac 160dc welder right now., I just ordered one curb side pickup today from my local Tractor Supply for $279.99, just received the email to pick it up.

https://slickdeals.net/f/14027435-ho...-welder-279-99

[kctgb]

Tractor Supply is having a sale on the hobart stickmate lx 235ac 160dc welder right now., I just ordered one curb side pickup today from my local Tractor Supply for $279.99, just received the email to pick it up.

https://slickdeals.net/f/14027435-ho...-welder-279-99

That stickmate will last 100 times longer than the new Hobart stickmate 160 inverter. The one you bought is a transformer machine made in Appleton Wisconsin, it should last a life time if you take care of it. The 160 in my experience is a real piece of sh** from China, why Hobart put their name on the 160 is beyond me. My friend bought a Hobart ez tig 165, it's identical to a miller diversion. The tig torch has miller on it. Millers are primarily sold in welding supply stores and the Hobart line are sold at box stores. I live 25 miles from Appleton Wisconsin, the iron man, the stickmate you bought, hobart smaller mig welders, and ez tig, are made in Appleton. I believe the Hobart transformer stickmate is being fazed out over time to make people buy the more expensive thunderbolt. You're lucky to get the transformer welder.

[Scrapman Industries]

I've been running my old Transformer based stickmate on a bunch of steel stairs I've been working on. It made about 3 sets of stringers and put about 9 sets of grates on. with 6 treads in a set. only 85 more sets to go.