This is a good point, but there are going to be similar restrictions on all machines, and duty cycle gets low the smaller you go. My MM211 is rated at 20% on 110V (2 minutes welding every 10 minutes), and 30% on 220V (3 minutes every 10 minutes). The 190 is rated at 30% duty cycle. I have never run into an issue where I overheated my 211. Most of my welds are under 10 seconds; I don't do a lot of long-continuous welds. Now.. you may be doing different things. Maybe you plan on doing structural work on large I-beams or plates... in which case, this machines is not the right one. If you are doing mostly 1/4" or under mild steel, then this machines should be up to the task.
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HOBART Handler 190
- Thread starter jpfabricator
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2012
- Messages
- 5,596
Just a thought here regarding duty cycle... Duty cycles are usually specified at some particular Amperage. Most brands will show the duty cycle at full rated Amps and some will cite the duty cycle at roughly 70% of rated Amps. Whenever I see equipment that's not rated at full Amps, I always interpret that as a hint from the manufacturer that the machine is not really suited for running at full output. In other words, I somehow interpret this as an implied service factor rating. -I could be reading too much into this but since I've worked with a lot of professional Sales and Marketing types, I know their tricks and ways of distorting things.
Anyhow if that 190 Amp machine happens to have a 30% duty cycle at full output then, a fairly safe rule of thumb is that it's duty cycle is double (60%) when operating at half (95) Amps.
In any event, I've been using this rule of thumb for a good while with all my welders and they're healthy and functioning (except the Chicago Electric welding units I once had that quit working no matter how much I under-rated the duty cycle).
EDIT: One more thought... When you finish a weld, don't power the machine off right away. Most units have a cooling fan so, let it run long enough to cool the machine before actually cutting the input power.
Ray
Anyhow if that 190 Amp machine happens to have a 30% duty cycle at full output then, a fairly safe rule of thumb is that it's duty cycle is double (60%) when operating at half (95) Amps.
In any event, I've been using this rule of thumb for a good while with all my welders and they're healthy and functioning (except the Chicago Electric welding units I once had that quit working no matter how much I under-rated the duty cycle).
EDIT: One more thought... When you finish a weld, don't power the machine off right away. Most units have a cooling fan so, let it run long enough to cool the machine before actually cutting the input power.
Ray
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2013
- Messages
- 167
I ran a spool gun for aluminum on a Millermatic 200 from .090 up to 1/2 inch for a long time. 1/2 half inch requires beveled joints and and multi pass welds. 1/4, 3/16 and 3/8 weld very nicely with my mig with no issues as to the strength of the welds. 1/8 and .090 take more skill to work through deal with burn through and distortion.
Tig welding aluminum takes more amps at least my miller dialarc 250 needs to be running full bore to weld 3/8.
As an all around hobby welder I think the 180 with a spool gun hits an attractive price point.
Bob
Tig welding aluminum takes more amps at least my miller dialarc 250 needs to be running full bore to weld 3/8.
As an all around hobby welder I think the 180 with a spool gun hits an attractive price point.
Bob
I bought the Hobart Handler 190 with spool gun two weeks ago from Tractor Supply. They only had it available online, I think the price was comparable to Northern Tools price. However at the time Tractor Supply was doing their spring promo and had sent out a 10% off coupon and I think free or reduced price on shipping. At the end of the day I never left my house and got it here with a final price including taxes and shipping was less then the Northern Tool sales price was at that time. TSC doesn't always have the combo package, it will be there one week, then disappear for several then show back up and coupons show up occasionally in the mail.
The order came out with these numbers:
Order Subtotal: $819.99
Discounts: -$82.00
Shipping: $14.99
Tax: $36.90
Total: $789.88
How well the welder works I can't say. Its still in the box on the floor in the shop in the exact same position it arrived 2 weeks ago. I'm just now getting some time to play in the shop.
I don't know if I'll ever weld aluminum, but i liked the idea of the spool gun just in case. Just be careful that you actually are getting a savings over buying the welder and the spool gun separately. Amazon sells the spool gun for $209. I know I debated long and hard as to its value based on buying separately and whether or not I would ever need the spool gun. The extra coupon from TSC forced the issue - I think it brought the cost down to something like $740 making the spool gun only $60 more then the welder by itself.
I had debated the MVP 210 as well ($899). For me personally I couldn't afford the exact $200 for the capability of switching between 220 and 110V input, based on the standalone 190's price of $699.99 (no spool gun) - current TSC sales price is $649 making it a $250 gap.
Sincerely
Mark R. Jonkman
The order came out with these numbers:
Order Subtotal: $819.99
Discounts: -$82.00
Shipping: $14.99
Tax: $36.90
Total: $789.88
How well the welder works I can't say. Its still in the box on the floor in the shop in the exact same position it arrived 2 weeks ago. I'm just now getting some time to play in the shop.
I don't know if I'll ever weld aluminum, but i liked the idea of the spool gun just in case. Just be careful that you actually are getting a savings over buying the welder and the spool gun separately. Amazon sells the spool gun for $209. I know I debated long and hard as to its value based on buying separately and whether or not I would ever need the spool gun. The extra coupon from TSC forced the issue - I think it brought the cost down to something like $740 making the spool gun only $60 more then the welder by itself.
I had debated the MVP 210 as well ($899). For me personally I couldn't afford the exact $200 for the capability of switching between 220 and 110V input, based on the standalone 190's price of $699.99 (no spool gun) - current TSC sales price is $649 making it a $250 gap.
Sincerely
Mark R. Jonkman
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2013
- Messages
- 167
I think that's a great price. I know it was over 3000 around 1984 when i got my mm200 with spool gun over time it bought itself so many times.
Good luck with it and here's wishing you get some time to use it for the things you want to fabricate. I weld every day for a living but i would rather be building aluminum skiffs or fishing in them oooooo trouts biting.
Bob
Good luck with it and here's wishing you get some time to use it for the things you want to fabricate. I weld every day for a living but i would rather be building aluminum skiffs or fishing in them oooooo trouts biting.
Bob