AC/DC stick welder recomendation

Having infinitely adjustable control is nice but I have had bad experiences with welding machines that have sliding cores in the transformer. The stepped control is bullet proof. The only problems after twenty plus years with my AC Lincoln was that the contacts corroded over a bit and I had to wiggle the switch when I moved it to another setting. This understandable since it would only be used a couple of times a year. Not having the exact amperage setting that you think you need is not a big deal with stick. You quickly learn to adapt. Randy

found 2 similarly priced machines

hobart 225/160 and lincoln 225/125

hobart has infinite amp adjustment with a crank style adjuster , and the lincoln is a tapped style amp adjust .

pros and cons please.

thank you

I had to make the same decision last year. I went with the Hobart because of the 160 DC and infinite amp adj. So far I'm very happy. Bought it from HF for $419 delivered.

Mac plowboy and wannabe weldor

Tap type machines have probably been around longer, butI have owned two infinate adjust Miller welders and never had a problem. I sold my first one after 8 years of use and the guy who bought it is still wleding with it today, and its 33 years old. My replacement was made in 1968 and is still going strong. My cousin has a 1946 vintage Hollup(no longer made) that spent its first 10 years outside in the elements. Its going strong today even though it could use a paint job. I think infinite adjustment makes more sense in stick than Mig for a beginner.

Probably won't go wrong with either one. I have a Hobart with the wheel adjust (not infinite) I bought new in 1969 or so and it's still the one I reach for when I want to be completely comfortable. I teach raw beginners using the Lincoln AC 225 tombstones. They haven't come up with a form of abuse my students don't know, and the Lincolns don't seem to care. (ever see a stuck 1/8" 6011 melt down in the electrode holder?)

Fred