Hobbiest/Farm Use

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Picked up an old Miller 225 AC stick welder I am running rods through in a hurry trying to get the hang of.  I did some research and realized our generator doesn't have a 220v hook-up so without building a very heavy duty long extension I wouldn't be able to do some very minor fence repairs I originally thought.To have an all around package I thought about picking up a HH 125EZ welder.  Thinking about going on the cheaper side and very simple for portable welding.  The one thing I must do with it is weld back the cable clips on out pipe/cable fence.  Very light duty work but a hundred yards or so from the nearest chance at a 220 hook up.Also for garage work I thought have the light duty machine might make square tubing working/anything sheet metal much less painful.  Very avid hunter so stands/feeders/hog traps might be a bit easier with the lighter wire welder?I know there are experts that can weld light sheet metal with the stick but the learning curve might take longer than I've got to get the turn-outs ready for horses.Any opinions?
Reply:That machine is FC only. I'd pony up the little bit extra and get the Handler 125 instead at a minimum. That will give you the option of later adding the mig kit to use gas if you want for cleaner easier welds on things like sheetmetal. Understand that usually a 140 amp class mig will max out at about 3/16" on FC, so you'll get roughly 1/8" with that machine under real world conditions. All the manufacturers way over rate the thickness capasity of those small 110v machines. Also note that very thin metal with FC is not easy. In reality it's very much like welding with a continuous stick machine, complete with all sticks disadvantages. While FC will let you weld thicker than gas mig with those small machines, it works against you when you want to weld 16 and 18ga materials.I'm personally not a huge fan of small 110v mig/FC machines for hobbyists. They have their uses, but most would be much better served with a 220v machine. If I had to get one, I'd suggest you go with a 140 amp class mig and at least get the most power you can on 110v. You can always turn down a bigger machine, you can't weld with power you don't have however. Millers MM211 with the 110v/220v option is the best of both worlds, but you pay for that with the high price tag unfortunately. If I HAD to get a machine that used 110v, that would probably be my choice..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I will leave how it fits your needs to others with more experience but I do have a review of the HH125 EZ at the link below if more info on that specific machine would help. I have a Lincoln 220V machine in my shop that I use for most things but the Hobart is pretty nice for light work. (I understand your thing about learning to weld sheet metal... no sticks for me there either!)http://www.newmetalworker.com/Review...dlr125rvu.htmlTom Hintz, publisherwww.newmetalworker.comLincoln Pro Mig 180Lincoln AC 255Determination
Reply:you dont need a small welder for light stuff. some 3/32 6011 at 50 amps will weld light stuff very nicely..go buy a ranger that you can haul around and still generate with...
Reply:For sheet metal work a small mig is worth its weight in gold I did a job the other day putting on two trailer fenders. They were 16 guage metal I did half of one with my pro 300 with 6011 3/32 and it sucked. I ended used one of the other guys small hobart 187 and let him use my pro 300 for a trailer frame he was working on. Much much easier I figured the fenders would be 1/8 so I didn't bring my 210 or my spool gun. The only thing I would say about a small mig like the 125 would be the duty cycle. Other then that I would think it would be fine for what you need. Always buy the best you can afford you won't regret it later.Last edited by Gmmandan; 11-30-2010 at 06:16 PM.Vantage 300 kubota ,miller 304 xmt ,lincoln ln 25 pro , ranger 305 G, plenty of other tools of the trade to make the sparks fly.