Tractor Supply Hobarts???

[G-ManBart]

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

Wow...that is a steal! I've had a couple of the blue versions....Miller Thunderbolt XL and they weld beautifully. As mentioned, they will last almost forever. There's very little to go wrong with them that can't be fixed, and usually pretty inexpensively. At that price I almost want to buy one and put it in the corner just in case!

[yellowfin]

I love the HH140 I got at TSC a few years ago. Something I wonder now is whether the Champion Elite 225's will still be in stock now with the newer 260's or whether they'll be phased out and thus go on clearance. I REALLY want to grab a 225 anyway, but have been waiting to pay other stuff off first and wait for the right moment.

[danielplace]

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

Is a Hobart from Tractor Supply the same unit as if same Hobart machine was purchased at a welding supply ? I think that was the actual question.

I read the question like HOBART to HOBART forget about Miller. I think anybody knows they won't get a Miller anything at Tractor Supply and it would be lesser machines in a Hobart to begin with but nothing to do with the question. Hobart is budget machine compared to a Miller most realize.

[yellowfin]

Is a Hobart from Tractor Supply the same unit as if same Hobart machine was purchased at a welding supply ?

They appear the same, though I noticed that some of the HH140's had 4 setting voltage taps instead of 5. I got mine from TSC and thankfully is a 5 setting one.