Shop for first mig
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Joined: Jun 2003
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Shop for first mig
I shop for a mig welder to make body work and i see 4 model. What model in this choice is the best ??
Hobart handler 125 mig with cart 601.00 cdn (at boc gases)
Lincoln sp135 + with cart 865.00 cdn(at boc gases)
Lincoln mig-pak 15 with mig conversion 870.00 cdn(at canadian tire)
Lincoln weld-pak 155 with mig conversion 800.00 cdn (at Rona)
I want your opinion for the choice.
Thank You everyone one...
Hobart handler 125 mig with cart 601.00 cdn (at boc gases)
Lincoln sp135 + with cart 865.00 cdn(at boc gases)
Lincoln mig-pak 15 with mig conversion 870.00 cdn(at canadian tire)
Lincoln weld-pak 155 with mig conversion 800.00 cdn (at Rona)
I want your opinion for the choice.
Thank You everyone one...
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 483
Likes: 1
Go to a welding site such as http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/ and you will get a good chance to learn some solid info. For a decent first machine I would recommend to friends the HH175 fo rseveral reasons that get rather lenghty. The Lincoln SP175T is considered best in its class but cost more too. I do not like the 120V machines in general and at the Hob site you can find info on all machines,,, not just Hobarts. The guys there do not play much brand favorites. In fact I dont own a Hob, but one Miller and 8 Lincolns but if I was going for a first time new feeder it would be a MM210. Dan on that site is one of the best small feeder experts I have run across anywhere. He has tested most of these and know what he is looking at.
Last edited by Sberry27; Mar 12, 2004 at 12:58 PM.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
Likes: 15
From: BC, Canada
Nascar a couple years ago I bought a Hobart Handler 135 and I like it. For some things a 220V welder would probably have been better but I wanted something I could plug in at the race track.
I got it on sale for $700 cdn with the cart.
The 135 is set up for gas already, the 125 needs an extra kit.
I got it on sale for $700 cdn with the cart.
The 135 is set up for gas already, the 125 needs an extra kit.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 794
Likes: 1
From: Portland, OR
I've owned a few 120 mig's over the years and have to say I've never been happier since I bought a 220 165 amp lincoln. I bought it 3 years old and with a 1 year warranty for $500 from a welding supply company. Came with a new regulator and tweco gun. Just thought I'd throw it out there as an option if you thought 220 machines were out of your price range.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 483
Likes: 1
I agree Dustin,, the 240V units are all far superior. A 120V circuit is just so limited to input power. Mike,, as a matter of fact I do have some Fords, 4 Ford pickups on the road and a Merc Marquis for a car. My service truck is a Chevy as well as a C50 or 60 flatbed and a Mack that in for R&R right now. My cousin is a Chev dealer but have a couple relatives that work for Ford and actually get a better deal thru them. I have a Windstar about 4 years old also and am going to add another new one this spring. Going to junk a Sable. I also have a half a dozen clunkers I have for field workers to bomb around in and they are about 50/50 I guess. I dont really have much preference actually, they are just there and like anything with tires or **** sooner or later its going to **** you off. I live in rust country so that has its challenges but we go right thru them if they are going to be on the road. I have one master mechanic and when we start in spring everything works on them. The parts guys love us. Have them on speed dial.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 483
Likes: 1
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Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
Likes: 15
From: BC, Canada
Nascar I was just looking at KMS Tools website. They are in Vancouver and ship anywhere I think. They have the Hobart 175 on this month for $799.95 which looks like a good deal 
They also have a couple different electronic welding helmets on too.
Check out www.kmstools.com and then go to their monthly flyer.
They also have a couple different electronic welding helmets on too.
Check out www.kmstools.com and then go to their monthly flyer.
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Spokane Valley USA
I have one of those Lincoln 135s and i like it. However it gets tempermental on steel 1/8 inch or more. Sometimes great, sometimes not so great. It depednds on what you are going to weld, but mabey a 220v is better. 2 cents. Scott
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 483
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Sure a 240V machine is better. It may not seem like it when you stricktly compare amps heads up but a 175 has almost twice the power of a 135. The small one is rated for 1/8th and the 175 is rated to 1/4. 20A of input for a 135 at 120v or 20A input for a 175 at 240 in. You just hit the upper limits of the machine and input power so quickly on a small unit. A good bathroom hair dryer has almost as much output as a small feeder. Doubling it has to make a significant difference.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 483
Likes: 1
Good choice. Way better than the other units you were looking at. It has enough power to be useful. I like 030 solid wire and C25 gas in that class of machine. It allows some more range of output power than the smaller wire.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 9,359
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From: Hampstead, NC
I've also made up my mind on what welder to buy. I'm going for the Millermatic 210. It is nearly twice the cost of the 175, but I believe it will be worth the extra money for the bigger machine.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 483
Likes: 1
That is a very good choice. You are going to love it. Dan on the Hobart forum has done extensive testing with them and says it really loves 030 and has enough power to spray arc it. With 030 you should be able to short arc continuious with it and I would think it will handle 035 quite well too. A 175 will run 035 but its all its got. I think you bought a tool that is going to last and wont need to be upgraded. I am not a big fan of 120V units,, they have only one place and that is to weld patch panels on auto body. The top of the line in brand names are all right within thier limitations, but hit the limit so fast at about 1/8 for quality work. What you spent on the 210 is money well spent, its one of those things,, do it right the first time. People gladly pay top $ for so much junk and P and whine about tools. I seen a TV for 8000$,, selling like crazy or 300$ golf putters.
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