Welder home use

I was a welder for years before joining the military but I never bought a welding machine for home use. All my experience is with machines from work, usually Miller and ThermalArc. I have no idea what's good for personal use. I'm looking for a decent AC/DC TIG machine.

Are Hobarts decent machines?

 

I welded a little bit before I joined as well. We had a portable Hobart we would use for building fences or around the farm for small things and a huge old ass Miller mig/tig combo with a generator for big stuff. I liked the Hobart with the option to use gas with it. I was never great at welding but I was only given a two minute class. Needless to say it took awhile to make welds look decent.

 

Hobarts are in my opinion as good as Lincoln or Miller when it comes to a home use machine. If you can swing it, get a machine with Pulse. It is a little more money but opens up worlds of possibilities.

 

Yea I'd love pulse but afforability is the issue.

 

The fact you want AC tig drives the price up quite a bit

Just how much output will you need ??

The more output the higher the cost .

Do you really want to do Aluminum at home ??

Bottom end Miller Diversion your only looking at 3/16" Aluminum

Hobart EZ-Tig about the same all ready @ $1500.00

Machines with pulse are quite a bit more expensive!!

 

Hobart welders are built by Miller. They are a quality machine. We run mostly Miller welders in the field but we have a few Hobart and Lincolns. Those three are pretty comparable, any one would be a great home option.