The Hobart Handler 210 has a great feature set for hobbyists that want to step up their game and pros that are working in a small to medium scale shop. This is a well-regarded MIG welder that’s tried and tested, but at this modest price point, it does lack some features. In this Hobart Handler 210 MVP review, we will take a closer look at this welder to help you make an informed purchase decision.
The Hobart Handler 210 MVP Basics
The Hobart Handler 210 MVP MIG welder is a powerful dual voltage unit that can be found in many smaller or medium-sized shops. At one time, it was the top MIG welder at this price, but in some ways, it has been surpassed by less expensive models with more features.
This may seem like a real problem, but the 210 MVP is reliable, durable and it’s backed with a generous 5/3/1 manufacturer’s warranty. If you can live without certain advanced features and you want to work with tried and tested equipment, this is still an excellent MIG welder choice.
Let’s look at the ten things that are included in Hobart Handler 210 MVP welders Box:
- A built-in dual-gauge regulator and gas solenoid gas valve and hose.
- The spool hub assembly that can take 4” or 8” spools.
- The “Quick Select” drive roll that can accommodate .024” (0.6mm), 0.030” (0.8mm) and 0.35” (0.9mm).
- A spool of .030” (0.8mm) self-shielding flux-cored wire to get you started.
- A set of .030” (0.8mm) contact tips.
- A power cord with 6-50P (230v and 50A), MVP (TM) and 5-15P (115v and 15A) plug tips.
- A handy gauge to measure material thickness.
- The HR-100 welding gun with a 10 ft. (3m) cable and clamp.
- A useful welding guide.
- The owner’s manual.
Specifications of the Hobart Handler 210
Welder Type | MIG, Flux Core |
Input Voltage | 115v/230v |
Duty Cycle | 20% @ 90a (115v) |
Amperage Output | 25-140a (115v) 25-210a (230v) |
Voltage Settings- fixed positions | 4 (115v) 7 (230v) |
Weldable Materials | Aluminum, mild, and stainless steel |
Torch Lead Length | 10 ft |
Wire Thickness | 0.030-0.035 in. (aluminum) 0.030 – 0.045 in. (flux cored) 0.023 – 0.035 in. (steel) |
Weight | 79 lbs |
Warranty | 5/3/1 years |
Manufactured | USA |
Hobart Handler 210- Pros and Cons
Hopefully, this Hobart Handler 210 MVP review has demonstrated that this is a good MIG welder for a modest investment. But no product is perfect, let’s look at the pros and cons in more detail.
Pros:
- The Hobart Handler 210 MVP MIG welder has advanced electronic protection for the circuitry.
- This MIG welder can operate at 210A, which can weld ⅜” steel in a single pass.
- The Hobart welding arc quality is impressive, and the feed wire mechanism is made entirely from metal.
- The 210 MVP can go down to 25A for thinner 24-gauge stock.
- The spool gun can handle aluminum up to ¼” thickness.
- This MIG welder is simple to use.
- The weld settings chart is printed directly on the wire compartment door.
- The user always has infinite wire speed control.
- The wire size changes are simple, and no tools are required.
- This feels like a substantial MIG welder that’s built to last.
- Hobart has backed this product with a 5/3/1 warranty.
Cons:
- This MIG welder has a lower duty cycle when compared to other models in the same price range.
- There is no digital display for easy reference when welding.
- The voltage adjustability is not infinite, and it can be tricky to dial in the perfect weld.
- If you need to weld aluminum over ¼” thickness this will not fit your needs.
- This unit doesn’t have standard DINSE sockets.
- This is one of the heavier “portable MIG welders” in the 200A power range.
- Some users may not like the integrated ground clamp lead.
- During a switch from MIG to flux-cored welding, it’s necessary to open the side door and rewire the polarity before welding can commence.
The Hobart Handler 210 has five useful features that may make it the ideal choice for your shop.
1. A Welder that is Easy to Learn and Simple to Use
When you look at the control panel on a typical mid-range MIG welder, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. But, when you see the controls of the 210, it’s obvious that you’re dealing with a MIG welder that will be simple to use. The only controls are a pair of knobs and the ON/Off power switch.
No digital readouts or complex controls are present, and this makes it a more inviting machine to use. Setting up the 210 takes a few seconds and a thermal overload light will illuminate if there is a thermal protection issue. All you need to do is wait a few moments until the light goes out and you’re ready to weld again.
2. Voltage Input Flexibility
Having a 240V wall plug is not standard in many shops and it’s not a simple or affordable way to run high voltage power into the shop. This is an even greater problem if you need to weld at another location where you are not likely to have a 240V power plug outlet. This is not a problem with the 210 because you can use this MIG welder with 120V or 240V as needed.
The MVP plugs are simple to swap out, at the base of the plug there is a retaining nut, unscrew it, replace with the new plug, tighten it and you’re ready to go. If there are no wall outlets the Hobart Handler 210 MVP MIG welder will operate with a generator. Hobart recommends a generator that runs with 6,000 watts of output power for this purpose.
3. The Wire Feed Mechanism
One of the defining features of many Hobart welders is their “QuickSelect” wire feed system which has been included on the 210 MVP. This is constructed entirely from metal to make it accurate and durable. It’s easy to change out the roller when you need to switch to different wire sizes and no tools are needed to complete this process.
4. Welding Aluminum
At the affordable end of the MIG welder spectrum it’s unusual to find a unit that can accommodate a spool gun. The Hobart 210 MVP has the port and built-in electronics to accept a spool gun which means that you can weld aluminum up to ¼” thick in one pass. This is an optional extra, but if you weld aluminum regularly it’s hard to get this feature at this lower price point.
5. Plenty of Power
The Hobart 210, as the name suggests, has an output power of 210A which is sufficient for welding ⅜ steel in a single pass. For most shops, this will be more than adequate, but if you want to weld up to ½” thick steel or more you need to look elsewhere.
Conclusion
This concludes our Hobart Handler 210 MVP review, and we hope that you now understand more about this affordable MIG welder. This product isn’t perfect, but it offers a lot of functionality for a minimal investment.