Hobart service?

Winchester1 · May 19, 2015

The local Rural King sells Hobart welding equipment and more/less attractive prices.

I just went around and around with Lowes on a Troy Built pressure washer. Lowes do not have an internal service department/network and depend on engine suppliers dealers to complete warranty repairs. Nobody I worked with wanted to service an engine Lowes sold. After two months Lowes gave me a new pressure washer.

Having just been "snake bit" I have the same concern with Hobart welders from Rural King. I think Hobart is a good machine, read they were used on the Alaska oil pipeline in the 1970's. Has anybody had experience with Hobart service when the machine was sold by a store such as Rural King? Our local store only has one technician, he seems to spend time putting up displays, servicing lawn mowers, chainsaws, etc. Seems nearly for one person to be an expert at everything.

Thanks,

Bill.

Mike(NEOhio) · May 19, 2015

You should be OK if you stick with Hobart, Miller or Lincoln. Stay away from the off-brands like HF and others. I'd lean toward Lincoln, but I worked there over 40 years. Just don't go thinkin' that Hobart is the same as what was used on the pipeline. They all make multiple product lines.

Ray · May 19, 2015

Hobarts main place and welding school are at troy ohio along I-75.

Winchester1 · May 19, 2015

Thanks Mike, once I heard once (unconfirmed) Hobart buy their electrics (at least some) from Lincoln. I'm pretty confident a Hobart would do the job, am just concerned about after sales service (Lowes burnt me). Am looking at a gasoline engine powered unit that could double as a stand by emergency generator. Can't justify both, plus I already have enough gasoline engines to keep fresh fuel in and maintain.

Mike(NEOhio) · May 19, 2015

I doubt it. There's some fierce competition in the welding business. Just don't count on any of the big-box chains for service. Are you looking for stick or wire? If you want stick look for a DC machine.

36F30 · May 19, 2015

Hobart and Miller are owned by the same Parent company ITW.
I would personally get a Miller Bobcat 250 from a weld shop like Praxair. 11,000 watt gen set with superior AC/DC welder. Either way, Praxair is an authorized Hobart/Miller (probably Lincoln too) repair center and if they can't fix it in house they will ship it to 3M for repair. Not sure how serviceable the box store units are but the weld shop ones can almost always be repaired. A bobcat 250 with a Subaru Robin engine would probably be the last welder any of us would ever buy.

Mark - IN. · May 19, 2015

Hobart is quality equipment, or at least it always has been. But to your bigger point, warrantying goods purchased from stores, particularly big box stores. My experience with big box stores is that they have always directed me to the manufacturer, hands off by them. They sell it, and their involvement ends there. I've always wondered how for instance, the Deere dealers handle someone purchasing a lawn tractor from say, a Lowes, when someone brings it to their shop for warranty repairs. I guess as long as Mother Deere, or Cub Cadet, or ??? reimburses them, so be it. But to be honest with you, in cases like that, if I'm looking for a new Ariens, Cub Cadet, or whatever, I'm going to buy from the servicing dealer. Just my two cents using my money. How others do it? Their two cents, their money.

Mark

john in la · May 19, 2015

My take on the issue.......

If I owned a equipment dealer franchise; pick one; any one.
And I paid good money and jumped threw all the hoops to have this franchise;
I hired and trained good mechanics; even took money out of my pocket to pay them when work was slow;
Then my mother company started building a cheap line that they could sell at some big box store;
Essentially stealing my customer base;
But insisted I work on it if it broke;
Guess where I would put you in line when you came in for warranty work.

jm. · May 19, 2015

Very well said.. As a Kubota dealer we have fought that old "But we are loosing the entry level market" statement for years. Mother Deer sells that cheap mower to a young man then has him hooked for life is the thinking but if it breaks down who is going to service it. Unfortunately lots of folks get caught up in that web.. as to the post I have had good luck with Hobart equipment but have heard horror stories about RK service after sale on the tractors they tried to sell.

jon f mn · May 19, 2015

Hobart is now owned by Miller, or at least by the same company. They are now considered Miller's cheaper sister. Still get good reviews on the welding sites tho. The bestnwelder I ever ran was an old Hobart when I was just starting in thebwelding business. I don't know if they even make comercial units anymore.

504 · May 19, 2015

The President of Miller gave us a little pep talk a few years ago, at a company safety/sale meeting. The Hobart may not have all of the fancy do dads that Miller will have. On the smaller welders Hobart will have a four position switch, and Miller will have a dial switch. He promised that we would never see a Blue welder in a box store,just yellow. Buy from a local welding dealer,if not don t expect your local dealer to jump through hoops to help you when it breaks. JMO

PJH · May 19, 2015

I have a Hobart welder, bought from Rural King, and I really like it. It's been trouble free. I worry more about Rural King than Hobart - a guy in our church bought a new Swisher Zero Turn mower from Rural King, and it promptly fell apart. Rural King was useless on the warranty, and he finally parked the Swisher in a corner and bought an X-Mark.

Bob · May 20, 2015

IMHO, there's quite a difference between consumer level products sold at the "big box stores" vs. the REAL commercial products of the same companies sold at their actual dealers.

Are you going to do work at the consumer level, or beyond?

DeltaRed · May 20, 2015

Used to weld with a yellow Hobart 40/30 Fabstar.Big POS.We all called it the baby poop welder.The Millers were the prefered machines.The best of the bunch was an old,ancient Union Carbide.However when new welders were added and older ones replaced,they bought all Hobart.They were lots better machines than "Baby poop".

Winchester1 · May 20, 2015

Thanks for the input guys, I have to agree big box sores are only a good place to buy consumable items, not durable goods.

I do see Hobart welders around shops that restore vintage cars (occasional use) but professional shops always use Lincoln or Miller. I just can't see myself driving all over the country trying to get service as I did with the Troy Built pressure washer from Lowes. I only bought it last July as I had moved and got a "Welcome to the area" $50.00 off gift card from Lowes.

My reason for the purchase of a welder/generator is occasional use and emergency standby generator. But when you need it, you need it. There is not time to drive all over the country trying to get service.

I also did not know it was a "little sister" to Miller machines. Miller will probably have better resale value if that time ever comes. I am going with Miller.

Thanks for the input.

Bill.

Hobart service?

Winchester1

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Mike(NEOhio)

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Ray

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Winchester1

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Mike(NEOhio)

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36F30

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Mark - IN.

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john in la

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jm.

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jon f mn

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504

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PJH

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Bob

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DeltaRed

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Winchester1

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