Best 110v Mig welder** Opinions needed

364nailhead here on the HAMB has one, he seems to be real pleased with it. If they had it when I bought mine I would have gotten that one, would be nice to be able to haul it out of the shop and use it somewhere where there is only 110.

 

this is the one i bought, Hobart Handler 140, i use gas with mine. F-ing rules

http://www.mytscstore.com/detail.asp?pcID=1&paID=1011&sonID=600&productID=15365

 

Ive had an Astro 135 amp, 120V, for about 6 years now and it was a work horse until I found something better for sheet metal, a Henrob 2000 mini O/A.

Read the specs on it at

http://www.cut-like-plasma.com/

I now have 2 of them, one for sheet metal and light stock and the other is used at home for primarily cast aluminum and cast iron. The small Mig rarely gets used any more.

For serious work I have an antique 175A 240V Miller and a 300A stick

 

I'd second the DVI, at least by what the salesman told me. Though I had to settle for the Hobart Handler 140 at less than half the money (435 vs.1100 mama would have had my nuts) with .030 wire I have made pretty decent weld in 3/16 and works great on sheetmetal.

 

I've got a Hobart HAndler 120 and wouldn't trade it for anything. Like Tuck said, I've heard that the Hobart aren't quite as robust as they once where. However, I still think they're a**** the best on the market. I've been impressed with Miller also and Im sure that Lincolns are great machines also. Personally, I would go Hobart.

 

I have FOUR mig welders- three Hobarts and a Lincoln.....
My first MIG was in 1978 a 200 AMP bETA MIG -BIG AND heavy but a quality machine that has lasted THRU 28 yrs OF PROFESSIONAL GRADE WELDING
.
then 13 YRS AGO I bought a Hobart 120 Handler which is a killer welder capable of 3/16" welding.

8 YRS AGO -Next was a Handler 135 which is about the last of the Hobart built 110 volters...its about 2/3 the welder a 120 is still not a bad one at that.

Then the Lincoln.....a 110-VOLT- 135 HD 3200weldpak.....it is working well but only after exhausting a lot of possibilitys in trying to make the first one work and getting a warranty replacement in 2 weeks of ownership,,,,,its OK but I will buy a 220 Hobart the next time FOR SURE......

 

I've had my 110v Lincoln for well over ten years, never a bit of trouble with it. I don't remember the model # and don't feel like walking out to the shop to look, besides, they don't use the same # now anyway. I would suggest getting one with the variable reohstat controls for voltage and wire speed, a lot of the less expensive welders just have 4 or 5 preset postions.

 

hobart 140 is what I've got. Had it for a year now. Works great, they say its supposed to weld up to 1/4".

 

My pops got two welders, one of them is 110; a lincoln SP125 Plus. The other is a 220; a Millermatic 200. I have never used the Millermatic but have seen others use it. That ****ers works awsome. The lincoln is what we use most and that thing dosen't skip a beat. When we put the IFS in my f-100 we tacked it with the lincoln then had a friend finish it with the Miller. Great machines.

 

I used a Lincoln weldpak 100 (with the gas kit) for a long time. I mostly did sheet and 1/8 material with it. It was a nice machine, but I upgraded to a Lincoln sp175 plus for an upcoming ch***is project. If I was limited to 110v I'd go with the sp135 plus. The plus machines have the full range for heat selection, not the 4-5 presets.

 

I highly recommend a miller 90 or 110. I bought one used almost a decade ago. I finally upgraded to a Miller 210 with a aluminum spoolgun. run no more than .023 .025 and a 75/ 25 mix of argon co2. I think the small tanks are 80's get one within a 10 year static test date to avoid an extra 40 bucks to test.
I upraded to insure penetration in anything getting into the 1/4" range. Such as a 715 lb Hemi add accessories and a 833 4speed (must be 1000 lbs) on 2 motor mounts attached to a frame on one end. A homade x member fabricated out of god knows what on the other end. Also to avoid paying others to fix aluminum parts for me.(spool option on 210)
The Millers will do all of that sheet metal even more. Probably better than the big models. I thought my ol" miller was killing over on me so I replaced the liner no results. It was a batch of wire that had kinks in it. The damn thing still works fine . I'm impressed . It was cheap used.
110 or 220 won't be your dilema. Amps in excess of your fuse rating would be.
You'd be surprised how cheap a cart full of electrical supplies are. If you do it your self. Many states allow homeowners the ability to legally rewire (to code of course) their own houses. Short of the service entrance. You usually have to Get them to turn the power off through manipulation . like "Gee I have a dangerous problem that needs to be repaired by a electrician on this certain date blah blah. We had a month wait. I simply avoided the wait n picked my timing.

 

it live in a early 70's house and i have a 100amp main. i run my 220 miller off of the 40a dryer plug and have no problems for about 5 years......the only one that pops the dryer curcuit is the 220 buzz box set at max....also run my 220v compressor off the same plug (not at the same time though). i think my friends moms house would have a problem with the 75 amp main (30's house) and the fabric wiring . if you want a smaller 220 miller and lincoln make a 135a.

 

I use my torch from time to time, depending on what I'm doing. I braze with it, I have a liquid flux tank , turns the flame a real pretty shade of green. Use it for headers and sheet metal mainly.

I guess not many guys braze anymore. I had a guy come into the shop a month or so ago and ask me what the hell those big tanks were and why there was a little tank in front!!! LOL

Matt

 

I've got a Millermatic 135. Works great for me. Well worth the money.

 

Listen to Tuck. I got one of the first Hobart's like he described. Had to take it to the electric shop to get the rheostat fixed. Man was I ever happy with it. Great for sheet metal, which is about all I weld. Anything heavier I have friends, what are friends for? I tried it with the flux core first then gas. Have lots better work using gas but forgetabou*** when ya try to weld on a breezy day. He's right about them being heavy, but I'm 60 years old and retired due to a bad back a**** other things and can still pick it up and put it on the table to weld. If you can find one, get it, you WON"T be sorry!

 

i wonder if he bought one already?

 

...here's a thread I recently started about welders that mite be of interest...
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=788885

 

Hobart handler 140, you can get it for 499 and free shipping from northern tool. One of the best investments in my life besides beer. Comes with everything you need but the tank and a cart. Made by miller.

 

I see gauges and a hose pictured with the Miller and Hobart units but no mention of the gas used and canister specs. What do they use? Do they all need gas? thanks

 

If you are learning torchweld, keep at it. Same principle as a TIG.(feeding your rod supply to your welding heat source) Get the torch mastered and you'll be on your way to TIG welding.

 

If you are doing MIG, you use a gas supply. Most popular is your 25%-75% Argon and CO2 Price of tank purchase plus refills that run about $65 - 75.

P.S. ****, I must be half asleep. A 7 year old post and I didn't see it. Guess been talking to myself. Something should be done about this posting issue. Too easy to get ****ed in. THANKS 1OLDTIMER for the reminder.

 

I have an early '90s vintage Lincoln SP100 that I have welded from here to the moon with. It cost a damn fortune in those days as it was built as a very high quality small unit for heavy industrial use. A large percentage of what I use it for is s***ching hood and decklid inner panels back together after louvering, but on it's highest settings and with .035 wire onboard It'll weld damn near 1/4" without even breathing heavy. I do a lot of fab stuff out in the field at folks homes that might not be set up for 220 welding and this little thing has never failed me. The couple of times I have brought in to the local Lincoln service department, even before setting it on the counter I have had the guys making offers over what I paid for twenty some odd years ago for it, because it has a somewhat "cult" like following with fencing guys and sign installation guys. I have no idea where you would find one, but damn!

 

I have used a milermatic 110 for years. I use .023 wire. It is great for sheetmetal, and I have weded 1/4 plate with it as well. This is a fantastic unit, I wouldn't trade it for all the money n the world

 

I'm looking at a 240v Hobart Betamig 200 K1. Is this a good model?
Thanks, Tom.

 

I've been using a lincoln cheapie from home depot for like 15 years with no problem. the only thing I'd change is upgrading to the version that takes gas rather than just flux core.

 

i love my hobart 140 bought off indiana welding supply 450.00 with tank!on e-pay

 

I bought a Lincoln WeldPack 3500HD from Home Depot 10 years ago and it has been a wonderful machine. Never let me down once, even getting dragged across the country a couple times. I've welded frames with the flux-core wire, as long as the metal is ground to make a couple p***es and pre-heated with a torch. Weld it in one p*** to keep it hot and it worked well even on heavy steel. The 110 machine welds sheet steel without issue with the bottle. Well worth the $400 I paid for it.

If I had to buy one over again, I'd probably buy a Millermatic. But my ol' Lincoln is trucking along just fine and showing no signs of slowing down.

 

Lincoln 110 had it since 1995 still going strong. My .02

 

I use a Lincoln 140c.
Another option to consider if you want to run a 220 welder,get a generator that way you will have 2 new toys and you never know when you might need that generator