[TheForge] Which is the better Mig. Miller or Hobart. Does Tig beat em all?

[John Husvar]

TodEstesRN@aol.com wrote:
> Help!  I am looking at the Miller 175 and the Hobart 175, which is the better 
> machine?
> Do I need to look at a larger machine? I have A/C and D/C Stick welders as 
> well as a good Oxy/ Acy set up.  Yes, I could forge weld almost everything, but 
> I am still not a great forge welder (despite practicing).
>  Would I be better off just looking at going to a Tig system?
> I mainly work in various steels, although I do use some aluminum, rarely 
> copper or brass. The use would be my small (but growing) blacksmithing shop. Small 
> repairs, and light production.
> Any and all opinions accepted. Thanks in advance.
> Time enough for sleep in the grave.
> Tod Estes.
> 

> 
> 

Both seem to be considered decent machines, but....

newsgroup sci.engr.joining.welding

Post your question there with a good description of what you want/neeed 
to weld and you'll get the opinions of some of the most knowledgeable 
people in that trade -- in about half an hour. :)

Well worth reading regularly.

MIG will work on steel and aluminum with the right gases. I use 
flux-core for all my steel stuff, using a lincoln Weld-Pak 155.

If you're planning on doing much non-ferrous welding, aluminum, etc, TIG 
is the way to go, especially if you're proficient at Oxy/acetylene. A 
good TIG machine (~$1500 and up -- WAY up!) will also work very well 
with stick. A stick machine may or may not work effectively for TIG. 
Even if it does, it'll be limited.

HTH
John

-- 
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of
arriving safely in one pretty and well-preserved piece.
One should rather skid in broadside, thoroughly used up,
totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming -- "WOW!  WHAT A RIDE!"