There are few things more embarrassing for a welder than an inconsistent weld bead. Lots of things can cause a weld to go wrong. A bad torch. Weak materials. Unexpected corrosion. These things are easy to adjust for shortly after you have started. But what is not so easy to adjust for is user error.
If your weld bead is inconsistent, then everything was going your way, and you were still inaccurate. That is the big selling point of the Hobart Handler 190. A Hobart Handler 190 review does not just measure the quality of the welder but the truth of that claim.
The Hobart Handler 190 is what is known as a “flux core” welder Trusted Source What is Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW aka Dual Shield Welding)? - TWI Flux cored arc welding (FCAW) is a semi-automatic or automatic arc welding process that is similar to metal active gas (MAG) welding. www.twi-global.com . There has been a rise in this method of welding lately. While it has not yet replaced manual metal arc welding, flux welding is growing in popularity due to the ease of use and cleanliness of flux welders.
The flux core of the Hobart Handler 190 means that flux is continuously fed into the welder by a tube rather than coming off of the electrode of the welder itself, as is the case in manual metal arc welding. This means that the Hobart Handler will last far longer than most welders.
The really great thing about the Hobart Handler 190 is the variety of jobs it can get done. It can be tuned to do automotive and hobby work, but its higher range output can keep up with some of the best heavy-duty welders.
These features, combined with its small size, make it a great welder for taking around with you. It is particularly adept at welding dirty metals and keeping the weld clean due to the flux core.
It should be noted that you can weld aluminum with the Hobart Handler 190. The issue is that the Hobart Handler 190 does not use gas to purify the aluminum as it is welded, meaning that the oxygen in your workspace will find its way in Trusted Source Flux-Cored Welding: The Basics for Mild Steel | MillerWelds Flux-cored welding does produce a slag that sits on top of the finished weld and must be chipped off, similar to stick welding, and it also tends to produce welds that aren’t as visually attractive as MIG welds. For these reasons, if you own a power source capable of performing MIG and flux-cored welding, it makes sense to switch to the MIG process for welds that will be made indoors. www.millerwelds.com . This will make your weld less secure.
The output of the Hobart Handler 190 can be as low as 25 amps and as high as 190 amps. Almost everything the average person is going to need to weld will require less than 200 amps, so this means that the output covers a huge amount of jobs.
In addition to this, the power requirement for the device is 230 volts. That means that any normal wall outlet can provide power for the Hobart Handler 190. Whether you are powering it on a generator, your car, or in your workshop, you can use the Hobart Handler anywhere.
And in case you are wondering, it does not use fewer volts at lower outputs and more volts at higher outputs. The electrical current goes through an adaptor that amplifies the current for high output demands and moderates the current for smaller demands.
The compact size and low power requirements make this welder readily easy to use. The advantage is that because it is so small, you can hold it how you want as long as you are safe. And because you can plug it in anywhere, you can use it wherever you want.
The end result is a welder that does not require an explanation as it how to use it. Even the most amateur welder can use the Hobart Handler 190 without the product itself getting in the way. This makes it easy to use simply due to presenting no obstacles to the user.
This is why the Hobart Handler makes such a high claim about its accuracy. That is the first thing the company tells you about the product: That it is easy to make a clean weld with. Well, that is true, and it is because of its design.
There are two things that make the Hobart Handler 190 especially portable: One is the size. Just make a little comparison. The typical stick welder will be easily over one hundred pounds. This is because it will have the welder itself, the gas tank, and the weight of the gas as well.
The Hobart Handler 190 is twenty pounds lighter than most welders due to having a more efficient design and a flux core that eliminates the gas tank. The second thing that makes it portable is its chord system.
The power chord from the source to the welder is ten feet, but the welder also comes with a spool gun that can be used to connect to the stick. This means you have up to twenty feet of cable, giving you plenty of room to move around as you are welding.
Due to the smaller size of the welder, there is a lot to be said about its durability. The flux core will make the welder last longer due to not having to burn through part of itself for purity as a manual welder does, but in the short term, the Hobart Handler feels weaker than other welders.
The issue is that the main box of the welder is so small and light that it does not fully weigh itself down. If you kick a normal manual welder, your foot will break. If you kick the Hobart Handler, your foot will still break, but the Handler might get damaged as well.
Luckily the combination of the long chords and easy maneuverability means that the box of the welder is rarely anywhere that it is going to be run into, run over, or dropped from any height that it cannot survive. Just be aware that this is a smaller device than usual.
The price tag is where most people are going to look at the Hobart Handler 190 funny. It is not an unthinkable price at around $1000, but it is not a price a beginner is likely to pay. The best consolation you can have is that for that price, it will probably be the last welder you ever buy.
The main features of the Hobart Handler 190 are its size relative to its strength, as well as its portability and longevity. Of course, all of these things also come with drawbacks.
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If you want an honest Hobart Handler 190 review, then here it is: This device may be expensive, but the amount that you can do with it combined with its durability both mean that it can help you do every job you need doing for the rest of your life. Be careful if you work around primarily aluminum, but other than that one Achilles Heel, the Hobart Handler 190 can see you through most welding jobs.
