Just got a email, Northern Tool & Equipment is selling their Northern Tool Industrail mig welder mod #Mig-135, 22-135 amp, 115 volt, flux core for $349.99 with free shipping and a free $80.00 welding cart. Anyone familiar with this brand, who makes it?
Really not familiar with that unit, but personally, I would look at name brand when it comes to welders. You do get what you pay for, and if/when something goes wrong, even if they have a warrenty, who is paying for shipping to get it fixed?
$ for repair shipping is a good question... I've bought from them before, very satisfied and I DO want one made in the good ol US of A.
I have bought tools from them as well. My press is their Arcon(sp ?) brand and has done me right for years. On welders though, sometimes they just **** out and need to be fixed. With Lincoln or Millers you can take them to ANY dealer and get it fixed. I'm not saying you cant with a Northern, but it is something you may want to find out before you have to cross that bridge. Good luck either way.
Hmmmm. 20% duty cycle at 88 amps. Not the worst I've heard of, but not good really. If you're planning on welding much more than sheet metal its going to be slow sledding. Weld for 2 minutes, let it sit for 8. And it'll get worse fast over 88 amps. It does have gas ability, which is good. But I'd worry about where I could get replacement parts too. I bought a Millermatic 35 earlier this year, dates back to the mid 70's (older than I am!). To be fair, its a 220 machine, but it has a 60% duty cycle at 150 amps. All of the parts for it are still available from Miller, although so far it seems to do pretty well. I picked mine up from Craigslist for $600.
i work for NTE i can tell you that not man get returned.... but i would buy a Hobart...its a Miller product same insides ans Miller for less money...johnny
If you look in the Northern catalog, most of their shop equipment is identical to HF....just painted a different color.
I just picked up a Hobart from toolking.com shipped for $219. Was reconditioned but looks brand new. Not a scratch on it!
Just found a new Hobart Handler 140 Mod 500500 for $370.93 from Sears. Also found a lightly used Millermatic / auto set with 2 spools of wire a gas tank for $550.00. Both are 115 volt machines, wadaya think?
Just got back from Reno with the Miller 140, 3 spools of wire and a small gas bottle for $450.00, 1 hour on it. I also got a Speedglas 9000X helmet with curtains and air flow for $100.00 On my second stop in Reno I picked up a 1947 Chevy adjustable windshield sun visor for my 50 Stude pickup, its been a good. i dont like the voices i hear in your head...
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