Information on Hobart

[Vince-uk]

I would appreciate any information anyone can give me on the Hobart Innovation 150 amps DC - 230V HF Inverter Tig Welder.

See Ebay link:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7587191458&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

I'm getting a little put off bidding as I can find no information at all - Not even on the Hobart site.

Be brutal - If it is a pile of crap I would rather someone said.

Thanks in advance,
Vince

[Kerry Pinkerton]

All I can tell you is that Miller owns Hobart which is their downscale line. Sort of like Black and Decker owning DeWalt which is their UPscale line. Hobart by Miller is a boost to the Hobart name. DeWalt by B&D would hurt DeWalt. Isn't marketing interesting?

Hobart machines are similar o Millers but have a shorter warranty which tells me that they are built to a lower quality standard.
I have 5 Miller machines. Love them!

[PaulG]

Probably OK for a cheep tig, but I wouldn't want a tig that wouldn't do aluminum. You just need to know what your uses are.

[underdog57]

You wont be welding Aluminum with this , Like Paul Mentioned ...
Need AC with High Frequency box...
I bought an old airco ac/dc 250 amp with water and gas solenoid w high freq for $400.00 from a welding store . Had the gas pedal , nothing else...
Private sale or auction could be less like Jeffrey's for $200.00 which is an really awesome deal..
A new miller is about $1700.00 last I looked ..

What do you want to weld with it ???
Hope I helped
Bob

[Vince-uk]

Thanks for the information guys.
I guess I'll give it a miss.
Although I don't want to weld aluminium now it is something I want to do in the future.

Although we can get 240 v ac/dc rigs in the UK, they are more commonly 3 phase 415v - Something I don't have in my shop (shed) at home.

I would rather buy a quality unit that will do it all than by something cheap that I will have to replace in no time.

[JonD]

Hi Vince,

Welcome to Metalmeet, It's good to see someone else from the UK here.
Stick around and have fun. What are you up to ? Post photo's if you fancy, everyone loves photo's.

I don't know anything about the welder, I've got a murex unit that I'm real please with. But it was expensive :o

I'm hosting a metalmeet in april if you fancy coming you would be most welcome, follow the link in my sig.

regards

Jon

[BryanB]

Vince

Sorry I can't comment on the actual machine on the link (my work system has E Bay blocked!!) But I have a Cebora DC TiG which I have used a bit on mild steel, stainless and copper. As you know you cannot weld Aluminium, which is frustrating though I have sucessfuly welded it with MIG. I kind of wish I had held out and got an AC/DC machine but as you know budgets etc. dictate choices. My machine does not have a foot pedal so I am at present making one with a potentiometer then I'll just fit a swtitch so I can either control current on the front panel or via the foot pedal. Thats the idea don't know whether it will work! :o
Tough call for you but I would really think what you may do in the near/middle future and get the right machine. I dont know where you are in the UK but you are welcome to have a play with the Cebora to see if that type of DC machine does what you want.

Regards

Bryan

ps if you are going to the UK/Euro metalmeet I will bring it along.

[Vince-uk]

Bryan,

Thanks for the offer I appreciate it. I live in Gloucestershire. Realistically I think I will wait until I can afford a decent ac/dc unit. The unit just caught my eye on Ebay and I though I would have a bit of a ‘punt’ if the price was right. Hope to see you at the meet.

Jon,

Thanks for the invitation – I will do everything I can to get up to you for at least a day.

I can’t really commit to anything at the moment though as I am due to be made redundant.
Not such a bad thing as I was looking to change anyway – At least this way I will get a little bit of cash.

Most of my metal bashing has been welding up cars, vans, minibuses etc. – Worked in the motor trade for 17+ years before going back to school to get educated (degree in Business Management and Business IT). Hate being behind a desk now, so looking to get back to the spanners if possible (If my nancy soft hands will let me). Didn’t tend to take picture of the work I did – The last thing was forming an expansion chamber for a 2 stroke trail bike (now sold).

Been a watcher in the group (and others) for a while – Very informative, it has given me the urge to get back and get my hands dirty. I kept all of my tools and have just completed a City and Guilds in Mig Welding –I wanted to go back and do the TIG course but sadly the College I attended is about to close its workshops as there is not enough people who want to do the courses. They also only get the full grant if people complete the course – So many of the younger people (cough cough) go for the first few weeks and then drop out.

Anyway I’ve rambled on enough – I’ll keep watching – and posting. Hope to see some of you at the meet.

Vince (Tall, Fat and Bald).

[JonD]

Vince,

Hope you can make th UK MM for a while, your more than welcome to try out my tig (200A single phase AC/DC).

Bryan,

I've just bought a foot pedal for my tig ........how much :-o :-o . But wanted to use one when welding Ali. Not a lot to them really.

[Ron G]

Vince
Is your school going to be disposing of their shop equipment when they close the class? You might be able to pick up an AC/DC tig there for the right price.
Ron

[BryanB]

I've just bought a foot pedal for my tig ........how much :-o :-o . But wanted to use one when welding Ali. Not a lot to them really.
Jon

My TiG can't accept a foot pedal so I'm just disconnecting the potentiometer (variable resistor) from the control board which presets the current, and putting a lead out to another potentiometer in the foot pedal. Hope it works!!

I'll be very interested to see your set up and get some tips on TiGing at the UK/EU MM, how long away can April be!

Regards

Bryan

[Vince-uk]

Ron,

I had thought about a welder from the College when it closes down, but they are ‘very’ big 3 phase units – Much too big for my shed.

But then I did dream for a while as there will also be the mig I did my exams on and a set of rollers and a guillotine and a brake and a lathe and a pillar drill and…………. and ………………….. and
This list goes on but my bank balance doesn’t.

Not sure if this link is any good to anyone – I may have seen it on this group before:

http://www.goindustry.com/en/

List of liquidation auctions (worldwide – some online) – They publish some of the selling prices after, and they do look reasonable. Got to feel for the people going out of business, but that’s the world we live in.

Vince

[JonD]

I'll be very interested to see your set up and get some tips on TiGing at the UK/EU MM, how long away can April be!

Regards Bryan

Hi Bryan,
You're more than welcome to use my machine, I'm no tig expert but I'm sure we'll get by.

9 week till mmuk ...... eeks lot to do !

Jon

[Hairy-Neil]

Probably OK for a cheep tig, but I wouldn't want a tig that wouldn't do aluminum. You just need to know what your uses are.

Can you buy an AC/DC TIG that works from a single phase 240v supply? I couldn't find one when I was shopping for my Cebora unit 8 years ago.

[JonD]

Can you buy an AC/DC TIG that works from a single phase 240v supply? I couldn't find one when I was shopping for my Cebora unit 8 years ago.

Hi Neil,

With the newer inverters you can . Mines a 200A AC/DC Murex on single phase.

Jon