Okay, before I get into comparing the two models today, I have to mention some important things. Hobart 190 vs 210 comparison is going to be a hard topic to cover as both the machines are “Nearly” identical. Well, that’s until you look into it closely enough to see the differences.
I’m planning to do just that with my short reviews on both the products. I’ll be covering similarities between the two as well. Once I’ve got that out of the way, I’ll move to the differences and how they work. Yes, it’ll be a step-by-step process.
To make things easier for my readers, I’ve put a basic rundown of the comparison at the beginning of the segment as well. Do have a look at the chart to get a bird’s eye view of the topic I’ll be covering in the article. Let’s get to it then.
Contents
Hobart 190 vs 210 Comparison Chart
| Features | Hobart 190 | Hobart 210 |
|---|---|---|
| Process Type | Mig | Mig |
| Max Amp | 25-190 Amp | 25-140 Amp |
| Duty Cycle | 30% @ 130 Amp | 20% @ 90 Amp |
| Voltage | 230 V | 115V/230V |
| Weight | 89 pounds | 87.5 pounds |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Looking into the Two Products in Contention
Before going into a “Hard-Core” comparison, it’s best to have a look into the two products and the benefits each of them offers. Only then we’ll be able to discern the similarities and differences between the two. Here’s my attempt to look into the benefits of the two Hobart devices.
Dissecting Hobart Handler 190
As they say in welding (rather I say it), nothing teaches you MIG welding better than an easy-to-handle machine. That’s exactly the case with Hobart Handler 190 or Hobart 190 for short. You’ll love the conventional look and a “Relatively” lightweight casing. It’s easy to get around the house with.
The one thing you’ll notice immediately is the “Click-Style” voltage regulator. I favor this over some digital readout. You can actually adjust this with the wire-spool to get the kind of welding output you want. The process is as easy as turning the knob. Unlike digital readouts, this is less of a hassle.
So, how many steps do I have in terms of voltage control? To answer my rhetorical question myself, “I fiddled around with seven.” Combine it with wires you use for MIG welding and you’ll know the difference between this and a machine from a “Little Known” franchise right away.
Call me old fashioned but I like adjusting my own wire spools myself. Granted this model doesn’t feature an AutoSet feature like what I discussed about in my Miller 221 vs Hobart 210 comparison, but given the price, I prefer a manual adjustment. I have my reasons which I’ll get to momentarily.
Get Hobart Handler 190 at Amazon
Okay, this thing is NOT meant for industrial work (As things turned out for me). Rather, this little tool is more suited to DIY projects, hobbyists’ jobs, garage errands, and welding on auto body parts. Well, there you have it! My reason for preferring manual tweaking rather than an automatic adjustment.
The makers set the goals clearly from the start. That’s why we can do flux core welding with Hobart 190 at the helm. Remember, I said manual adjustment between spool control and voltage input just a while back? Hobart 190 features an infinite loop control system and magnetic spool roll mechanics.
Thanks to these two, I could get precise results even with the thinnest of metals when welding. Speaking of that, I could weld metals with a minimum thickness of 24ga to a maximum of 5/16-inch.
Just so you know, people can weld Aluminum, Brass, Stainless Steel, and Mild Steel with this thing.
Did I mention you have the chance to attach an optional spool gun with the welder itself? As it so happens, the makers threw in a SpoolRunner 100 spool gun for people who need it. It facilitates quicker spool feeding and a hassle-free operation when users are dealing with Aluminum welding.
Honestly, I have just the one gripe with this machine. It can run only on 230 volts. If you have a voltage setting that goes lower, it’s probably gonna sit at the shop for you. However, the welding tool gives you an ampere range of 25 to 130. So, that’s one thing to go with while buying this.
I should also probably mention that the duty cycle for this machine is 30% at 130amps. As I said, it’s good for a bit of tinkering and DIY projects around the house. No more, no less.
However, the saving grace for this machine is the fact that it rarely produces adhesives and welding spatters while at work. As a result, I rarely had to do any cleanups or maintenance of the place after finishing the welding gig.
What I Like about the Machine
- Firstly, the aesthetic, the compact design and the conscious choice of keeping it lightweight.
- The fact that you can do gas-based flux core welding in addition to MIG welding is amazing.
- I can’t say I’m not impressed by the additional SpoolRunner 100 wire gun that comes with it.
- This is aptly price considering manual voltage control and fine-tuned wire feeding for welding.
- One can actually control the precision of the welding procedure thanks to combining spool and voltage controls.
What I Don’t Like about the Machine
- This welding tool can only run with 230V supplying power. It’s a major drawback.
- Thinner sheets of metal an actually get warped if you expose them longer to heat. Slow down.
Dissecting Hobart 210 MVP MIG Welder
Without discussing Hobart 210 and shedding on the perks it offers, our Hobart 210 vs 190 comparison would be meaningless. So, here’s my take on things with the MVP 210.
Before taking an in-depth look into things for this welder, I just want to mention the MVP plug here. This is one of those MIG welders that feature a Multi-voltage plug or adapter.
This little adapter has room for 115V and 230V operation. Just switch the plug according to your connection parameters and you’re good to go with either of the two voltage requirements.
Thanks to this small tweak in the adapter system, people both within and outside the USA can run the little machine without any problems whatsoever. No hitches when it comes to voltage spikes.
For a welding tool that costs more than 600 bucks, the control panel was surprisingly clean. You have fewer switches and regulators to worry about. For example, you have what Hobart calls a 7-tap voltage regulator. This is a bit old-fashioned but works nicely when you need some fine-tuning.
Thanks to this, you can fine-tune the voltage with the spool gun of the machine. Unlike the 7-tap regulator, you just have to twist the knob. There’s a magnetic mechanism in place to help get the precise wire speed control. Combining it with the voltage gives users an accurate weld.
Get Hobart Handler 210 at Amazon
The machine features a thermal overload protection system as well. There’s an LED light that flashes when you’ve used the machine for too long and it heats up to insane levels. This prevents unwanted accidents along with injuries. The power cord you see is sheathed to prevent short-circuits.
Don’t think that there isn’t any on/off switch just because I didn’t mention it (pun intended).
Oh, before I forget, you can use just about any spool gun with the machine. There’s the “Quick Roll Drive” system at work here. It makes changing through different spool guns easier than you think. This thing recognizes the spool gun and takes in the wires automatically.
However, I’d advise you to use the default gun that comes with the machine. The reason? It makes welding thinner sheets like Aluminum easier than what other tools would do.
Speaking of welding different metals, you can weld a host of them using this machine. Getting down to the specifics… people can weld Aluminum, Mild Steel, and Stainless Steel among other metals. Different sheets have different lengths to which you can weld them.
On an average, users can weld from a minimum of 24ga of thickness to a maximum of 3/8 inches. This is impressive when I consider the budget for this welding machine. Of course, you can buy a host of additional accessories should you require them and choose to do so.
Speaking of accessories, you can buy a gel that prevents adhesives from clinging on to your working area. There’s a set of pliers on offer as well. The pliers facilitate a multitude of options when it comes to using the machine at its full extent.
Let’s look at the amp range this tool works with. I could do my welding just fine with an amp range of 25 to 210. This is actually a handy range to have when you consider that you’ll be working around the house and job sites where some light industrial welding is needed. No complaints here.
When it comes to duty cycle, I found Hobart 210 MVP to be more versatile than Hobart Handler 190. It’s no secret that the machine capable of running in two distinct parameters when it comes to voltage as opposed to Hobart 190 that runs on only one. Thanks to this the duty cycle differs as well.
For example, I got 20% when running it on 115V. The Amp output was 90. When running it on 230V in a job site, I got 30% duty cycle at 150 Amps. This is quite the bargain if you consider the budget.
If I had to mention one gripe that I have with the machine, It would be the weight. At around 90 pounds, the device is not what I’d call a “Lightweight” MIG welding tool.
What I Like about the Machine
- If you’re a newbie, Hobart 210 MVP is the perfect welding tool to use and get around.
- The welding tool is rather cheap. Yet, the makers didn’t cut corners in performance.
- The spool feeding tool of this device didn’t jam in any way for me. I didn’t require tools to switch welding wires as well.
- Of course, working with both 115 and 230 Volts is a plus for me. I could work in multiple locations.
- Users won’t have to worry about too much spatter during or after the welding process.
What I Don’t Like about the Machine
- Hobart 210 MVP is a heavy welding tool. The weight is around 80 – 90 pounds.
- The power and MIG welding cords are stiffer than what I expected.
Similarities Between the Two Products
Despite how you look at things, both the welding machines belong to the same brand. There are bound to be some similarities in them. You get my drift, don’t you? Yes, I’ll be shedding some light on what the similarities are and how they impact on our welding experiences. Let’s get to it.
Both of the welding tools can be called “Portable Devices.” With a bit of effort, one can carry both the devices around to their home or job sites for work. There’s a handle built-in Hobart 190 that facilitates it even better. Both the machines are suited to auto body work as well.
One thing I noticed is the fact that both the machines can run on 230 volts. You can cut thick metals and weld them together with the contact tips. No, the metals won’t get warped or distorted by any means. Just make sure to hold the MIG welding torch in the correct manner.
I loved the fact that both Hobart 210 MVP and Handler 190 have a thermal overload protection system built-in. Namely, the machines feature a system where they shut down automatically if they get too hot to handle. You’ll have to allow a “Cool Down” period.
This reduces the risks of them frying their insides due to overdoing things. Thanks to this, users like us will save quite a lot of bucks that otherwise would’ve been considered as “Maintenance Money.”
Both the machines have seven-tap voltage control system. Along with a nifty wire speed and infinite loop control, you’ll be able to fine-tune the welding to match your expectations without any hassle.
Speaking of the seven-tap system and the spool gun controls, the control panel for both the machines looks the same. You won’t have to go through an extensive manual to understand what the makers put there and why (although, there’s a manual in place at the back of the cover).
The power cord and MIG welding gun cord have the same length of 10-feet. So, when you’re thinking about maneuverability, the two tools have the same room to offer us. Even the accessories you get with each of these machines is the same. There’s no distinction there.
Getting to Hobart 190 vs 210 Comparison
| Features | Hobart 190 | Hobart 210 |
|---|---|---|
| Process Type | Mig | Mig |
| Max Amp | 25-190 Amp | 25-140 Amp |
| Duty Cycle | 30% @ 130 Amp | 20% @ 90 Amp |
| Voltage | 230 V | 115V/230V |
| Weight | 89 pounds | 87.5 pounds |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Alright, we’re done with admiring the similarities between the two models of Hobart that’s dished out to us. Yes, they’re similar in many respects. Yet, both of them have striking differences as well. Let’s get to the part where we discuss such differences. First up, let’s look at them side-by-side.
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Let’s Discuss How Power Consumption Stacks up for the Two Machines
People can guess with the naked eye which one is more versatile here. I mean, Hobart MVP 210 can run on 115V as well as 230V with as many as 7 different voltage settings. At 115V, you’ll have four voltage settings to work with.
This gives users a chance to weld different metal components with just the amount of power necessary. As a result, one can cut both thin and thick metals whenever they choose to.
On the other hand, with Hobart Handler 190, you can only weld when it’s 230V. Yes, it’s true that Hobart 190 goes well with generators that provide 7000 running watts. Yet, people can only weld thicker metals with this machine. I’d choose Hobart MVP 210 over the 190 any day of the week.
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The Two Machines are Not Quite Identical When Cutting Metals
We can very well measure that Hobart 210 MVP cuts metals from 24ga to 3/8 inches of thickness. You can go with metal sheets, bars, and beams. However, Hobart 190 is not that far behind. People can cut metals from 24ga to 5/16 inches of thickness.
The “Dual Voltage” thing plays its part here as well. I could expect the 210 MVP to be versatile. It can run in different voltage settings. This allows the users to cut and weld metals with low and high melting points. However, as the competitor here can run with 230V, don’t expect to cut every metal.
The latter can weld or cut metals with high melting points only. I have to give it to Hobart’s 210 MVP here as well. It edges out the competition in versatility.
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How Good Each of the Machine is In Terms of Duty Cycle?
Duty cycle, if you don’t know, refers to the maximum operating time a welding machine can run for. Before it needs a break, that is. If we measure these two tools on the basis of operating time and cool-down periods, we find that these are more or less neck and neck.
Hobart 210 MVP runs for 2 minutes before resting for 8 minutes when I operate it on 115V. When I turn it up to 230V, it runs for 3 minutes straight before needing a rest time of 7 minutes. Translated to percentages, we have a duty cycle of 20% for 11V and 30% for 230V respectively.
If you measure it in Amperage, the Amp count is 20% duty cycle at 90amps and 30% at 150amps.
The Hobart Handler 190 is not too far behind. Its duty cycle is also 30% at 230V or 130 Amps. Well, if you crank the amperage at maximum, the duty cycle drops down to 20%. Again, my pick of the two is obvious. Unless I’m constricted by budget, I’d always pick 210 MVP over the 190 version of the tool.
What’s the Takeaway from Today’s Comparison?
If it’s not clear to you yet, both the welding tools have very different consumers.
With all the specifications and variable duty cycles, it’s clear that Hobart 210 vs. 190 slowly edges towards the latest model. The makers know that better than anyone. That’s why they aimed the 210 MVP for people who require a machine for jobsites and industrial-grade welding to some extent.
This is due to the fact that people can run the machine with two different voltage parameters and amperage counts. Then again, the jobs shouldn’t be too hard on the machine. Also, you won’t get good results with heavy-duty welding with full-on industrial equipment.
I’d say the 210 MVP is good for people who’re at the “Intermediate” level according to their skills.
On the other hand, Hobart Handler 190 is more of an “Entry-Level” device. This is less versatile compared to the competing model. You can’t really experiment that much with thinner metal sheets. Also, the duty cycle is a bit tricky to keep track of.
It’s good for home welding and some garage tinkering. Hobbyists and beginners would find this machine particularly easy to get around and use.
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