Or save up for a better one? I need a simple one to do some work on my Jeep CJ.

2/20/2012 9:24:37 PM

Everybody I have talked to says no. Go ahead and buy yourself a Hobart Handler 140 or the equivalent Lincoln. Or if you want to step up to a little bit higher quality machine, get a Miller.

I'll never forgive myself for selling my welder to that bastard Dr Pepper. Bastard.

2/21/2012 12:20:39 AM

Northern Tool is better than HF for a cheap simple MIG

2/21/2012 8:07:59 AM

^^yep, well, it's done [/squidbillies]


it doesnt get better than the hobart handler 140 for the 120VAC models...and what a deal I got from dan the man! I've used the shit out of that thing! still use it! hell, might take a picture just to make sure he knows what it still looks like



but seriously, get on of those and the 3' tall bottle (can never remember the volume), and you're golden. It appears that .024" wire works well for most all situations, as I've had the most control with wire speed using that diameter (able to use wire speed from 20% up 70% by dial gauge on the machine). I wouldnt recommend going any bigger than .030" or you will only have about 20% of the speed range available for tuning-in.

[Edited on February 21, 2012 at 8:08 AM. Reason : -]

2/21/2012 8:08:42 AM

did you use the handler 140 for the bobbing of your truck???

i really didn't think that thing would penetrate enough for anything chassis/ suspension related.

I've been saving for a hobart ironman 230 for when i get a house with a garage.... maybe i should just go get a 140 now.

Power in my current garage is free :-)

[Edited on February 21, 2012 at 8:14 AM. Reason : .]

2/21/2012 8:11:43 AM

nah, I bought a 187 first (220V) and shared it with adam (as with many of our toolery circa 2008), then when he moved to lexington and I moved to statesville I needed a permanent 120V solution to my needs... enter Dan!


the 140 will weld 1/4" as long as you 'are doing it right'

[Edited on February 21, 2012 at 9:21 AM. Reason : -]

2/21/2012 9:20:18 AM

SLOW AND STEADY......

so yeah i'll still look for a little more power then a 140...

i want to be able to make suspension/ chassis bits.

2/21/2012 9:32:37 AM

yeah, you'll need a 220V welder... that one you mentioned above is the shit ticket



my 140 is the bee's knees for welding exhaust.....

2/21/2012 9:43:07 AM

Quote :

"Or save up for a better one? I need a simple one to do some work on my Jeep CJ."

fuck these h/f haters. if you are going to use it for minor welding work and not as an everyday exhaust builder a h/f welder will do just fine. i have the dual mig 131. i use it quite frequently. never any issues. i would recommend buying a name brand welding helmet, though.

2/21/2012 9:52:57 AM

^meanie head!

2/21/2012 10:48:55 AM

i have a hobart 140 and have used it a lot. great unit for thin stuff.

get a good helmet, for sure. auto darkening with a slow switch time is a pain to deal with.

edit:
yes, gas is worth it.
fwiw, i use .030 all the time, never had an issue.

[Edited on February 21, 2012 at 11:35 AM. Reason : ...]

2/21/2012 11:34:17 AM

I am using a lincoln (.030") for my fenderwork, flux core

and have access to argon gas / solid core MIG (not sure namebrand)

I only had about 10 minutes of welding experience before, but I'm better with the Lincoln

2/21/2012 11:43:06 AM

yeah you can get a refurb 230 for $999 if you look around... sounds perfect to me.

2/21/2012 12:37:53 PM

Yeah get a good name-brand welder. Miller makes awesome shit. They have a nice little compact unit (size of small toolbox) that will do 120/220 stick/tig/mig (wire feed mig gun). I think its like $2000, but portable, flexible, capable.

2/21/2012 1:36:23 PM

You dont need a high dollar welder to tack some JC Whitney patch panels into a rusted out Jeep tub.

[Edited on February 22, 2012 at 8:25 AM. Reason : http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200441249_200441249]

2/22/2012 8:22:51 AM

^EXACTLY.

I have ^that exact welder. I've ran about 4lbs of .030 wire through it and it is a fantastic little welder. No, it doesnt have gas (flux core only), but it gets the job done for most around-the-house type jobs. It welds 1/4" steel with ease. If you dont mind cleaning up the splatter with a grinder/flap disk, then you cant beat the price.

2/22/2012 8:30:59 AM

I've never used a harbor freight welder but here are the down sides to a crappy welder.

1. Poor volt/amp control
2. inconsistent bead
3. low duty cycle
4. poor reliability.
5. lots of slag/splatter from flux core

I'm not saying that they have these downsides i'm just saying worst case this is what you are going to have. If you can deal with these issues... go for it.

I mean if i was using a welder for anything non decorative and non structural i agree a cheap ass welder should work well.

[Edited on February 22, 2012 at 8:34 AM. Reason : .]

2/22/2012 8:33:26 AM

^agreed whole heartedly


flux core just fucking sucks in a low-end welder, and usually for the applications the person is shooting for. There are applications in the field/industrial settings that have perfect necessity for flux core....


the shit we've talked about ITT and in the garage.... not so much. you naysayers can argue, but slap a bottle & regulator on that thing and weld for about 5 minutes then post back with a comparison

2/23/2012 7:12:45 AM

Are eastwood welders worth a shit?

7/2/2012 6:56:56 PM

I have heard good things about the eastwood welders. I have a Lincoln that I bought used a few months ago (flux core) that I haven't be using that I am thinking of selling.

7/3/2012 6:34:14 AM

^^foo1, just buy a hobart handler 140 (or 187) and dont look back.

7/3/2012 7:29:49 AM

yeah that's what i was planning but they were the same price and the eastwood came with a spool gun...

7/3/2012 7:50:19 AM

interesting....

7/3/2012 8:09:53 AM