Give me recommendations on small mig welders, please.

It looks like I'm going to have to purchase a mig welder after my failed attempt to buy parts for my old Italian one. I have been looking at 110V machines. Lowes carries the Lincoln Pro Mig 140 for $524. Northern Tool carries the Hobart Handler140 for $479. Both come with gas regulators. While looking, I also noted the Lincoln Pro Mig 180 for $635 at Lowes and Northern can supply a Hobart Handler 187 for $669. I have a 220V receptacle in both my garage and house for using my stick welder.
Question 1. Should I come up with a few more bucks to get the 220V machines?
Question 2. Any input on whether the Lincolns or the Hobarts are a better machine?
Thanks for your input, I really would appreciate hearing from owners of either machine.

 

I know Miller came out with a welder that can go from 110 to 220 internally. I think its the 140 or something like that. It sounds like a really cool idea.

 

I love my Millermatic 135...

There isn't much on a Hot Rod it can't handle with good planning/prep and good inlet current.

I was told Hobarts are made by Miller, but of slightly less quality. At the time I bought my Miller, there were complaints floating around about the Lincolns. Since then I don't know...

I think what it is is that the lower end Lincolns are about the same quality as the Hobarts but instead of having a seperate brand, they all say Lincoln.

But all that supposed, the Hobarts and the Millers had good reviews.

Personally, I don't think the Hobbiest really needs a 240V Mig... I think you can get by with a good quality 120V... I'd save the extra money and put it towards a TIG.

That's not the conventional wisdom, but...

 

Hey look the weekly welder machine thread.
The search feature will pull up m***ive amounts of reading on Welding machines.

 

Tractor Supply has the 220v Hobart Handler for $599. It's a great machine. I upgraded from a Lincoln 135.

 

hobart is all miller guts if you go look at them the gun says miller on it i have owned a 110 and 220 hobart and have loved them from day one

 

Already did that and did not get answers to my SPECIFIC questions. Thanks for your most helpful input.........

 

Another vote for Millermatic 135. Owned it for many years with minimal problems

 

I have a Hobart 140, it's a damn good welder.

 

I luv my Millermatic 135 and consider the purchase of a Miller Tig. Never had a problem and I can weld both thin sheetmetal and thicker gauge stuff like model A frames. Very much recommended that little Millermatic 135.

 

X2

My miller 135 gets it done. I might like a slightly bigger model, but have no need to go 220v.

 

A 110 welder is handy as 110 power sources are everywhere, a 220 is a better way to go if the welder stays in one place shop/garage, it will do a wider range of jobs.

If you do get a 110 i find that the ones with the rehastat, i think thats how you spell it for the voltage controll is better than the ones with just four heat controll settings you can dial in the heat better, and keep it plugged in as close to the circuit box as possible to keep amps up.

 

I would spend a little more and get the 220V model if you have 220V where you will be using it. Plus when your friends want to borrow it they probably wont have 220V so it can stay in your garage.
I bought my Miller 170 about 12 years ago and it has performed flawlessly since new.
When I bought it I also looked at the Lincolns and did not like to see some of the plastic parts that they were using inside. Thats what failed on my Global Arc welder.
The Millers had all quality parts inside that have held up great over the years.
That being said go to the welding supply store and look at the quality of parts under the hood and judge for yourself. Hopefully the Millers have not went to the plastic junk like Lincoln did.

 

I have a Lincoln 135 (110 V) works great for the home shop. My father has a Lincoln 125...same ***essment.

I've run both with flux core and the gas pack. You'll get cleaner welds with the gas pack, especially when you need to throttle back voltage for thinner metals. At full voltage, the flux core wire lays in nice and relatively clean.

We've used both units for everything from body sheet metal to frame work - although I recommend beveling joints on thicker metals to ensure good penetration and strong welds.

By all means if you can afford a 220v unit, and have space go that route. They are altogether easier to use - when I occasionally weld something at work with our big Millers, I feel like a pro!

 

i am a welder by trade. if you are mostly working on your car or small projects around the house a high amp 110 welder that will go at least 135 should do, but if you get into welding say over 3/8s thick in a high stress application you would be better off buying a 220 volt machine. i prefer lincolns for the simple fact of the ease of finding parts. but stay with a lincoln miller or hobart. anything else can prove hard to find parts for if something happens

 

I am by no means an expert, I am just learning to weld. My buudy who is a welder by trade for CP Rail loves his 110v Lincoln for work at home. He teaching me to weld using it on some repairs on my 51 Ford project.

 

It must be the week for welders to die. mine just went and im looking at the lincoln 125 or 140 to replace it.

 

I've had the Pro Mig 135 for about 6 years. It works great on both sheet metal and box section, the only thing I don't like about it is that it only has 4 heat settings. I'm always wanting something right inbetween B and C. I know I can adjust my feed rate and arc length a bit to make up for it, kind of, but a finer control would be nice.

The little face shield it comes with is useless too. Factor buying an autodark into it. They are worth it.

 

I have a little Millermattic 180, it has done A lot of welding with NO issues at all.

It will work on 120V as wel as 240V.

The little Miller works well and it FEELS right when welding.

After buying this one I am a Miller man.

Here is a question for the pro's, can a "better quality" machine feel better when welding, or is it just in my head?

 

ya can't go too far wrong with Miller, Lincoln or Hobart...all are good machines with parts available. I have a little 135 Lincoln which I use the **** out of and it keeps doing it's thing. I nearly pulled the trigger and bought one of the new Miller 211's (110/220v), but for the money decided to keep the little Lincoln and add a 220v Lincoln 180.

 

I'm a begining welder with a Lincoln 140C. It's perfect for me because I'm only doing sheetmetal work.

1. 110 is great because you can use it everywhere and it's perfect for sheetmetal and light frame work. However, if you want to do serious frame/ch***is work, you'll be better off with a 220.

2. Based on my research, Lincoln and Miller are by far the two best brands. Comparing the two is like arguing over Chevy vs. Ford- you're really just splitting hairs.

 

I actually prefer a 220 unit. I have a Millermatic 210 that is spool gun ready and it has welded miles of wire flawlessly. 110 units are nice if you are just going to welding sheet metal.

 

I have the Hobart 187, and love it. I was welding 1/2" rebar with it on Saturday....no not rat rodding...building a bulkhead on my property. Previously had a 110V which came bundled with buyer's remorse.

 

Since you have 220V available, I'd go with a 220V machine. Also, if you are at all open to looking down the road, if you get the Hobart 210 it comes spool gun ready should you ever want a spool gun to run either steel or aluminum wire. If you get the 187, or smaller, you'll need to buy a converter box to hook up a spool gun - and the converter box costs more than the upgrade from the 187 to the 210. And yes, I just learned that the hard way.

 

Mine is a miller but for the small rigs (110V) I like the Lincoln better.

 

Got the hobart handler 180(220Volt) and am very happy with it. Wish I'd have waited a while to purchase, the hobart 187 seems like it would be the hot ticket for the price range. The 187 has 7 heat ranges to choose from, as opposed to 4 on the 180. Both will handle up to 5/16ths thick steel.
JM$.02

 

I have a Miller 140 which welds beautifully for a 115 volt mig. A very nice little machine. Name brand made in the USA welding equipment is the only way to go.

 

I have the Hobart 187 and love it. I have used everything from 110's up to pro level Miller and Lincoln units. Cost vs. power led me to the 187.

 

I have a 110 and it is fine for tacks, but I don't think it gets enough heat for a good penetrating weld.

 

Miller 140 and do invest in a good auto darkening helmet with the bigger lense,you"ll never go back to the old style once you use one.