mig welder buy?? which one??

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hello guys. new here and I am looking to buy a new mig welder around 140 amps. just trying to figure which would be the best between a Hobart and a Lincoln as far as parts reliability and warranty coverage? and those 2 are around the budget price I have. thanks guys, blu
Reply:Hello Henry, both are great machines really can't go wrong with either. Depending on your budget try looking of clist for a good used machine
Reply:By not considering the 4 setting harbor freight $90 POS you are on the right track.Next question.Are you limited to 120 volt power or do you have easy access to 240 volt power?old Miller spectrum 625 Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wireMiller model 250 and WP-18V torchCraftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torchCentury 115-004 HF arc stabilizerHome made 4 transformer spot welderHome made alternator welder
Reply:I do have 110 and 220. so i'm good there. looking at a Hobart 140 for $476.00 at mill's fleet farm. or a Lincoln pro mig for $500.00. I really want a new one for the warranty. so these are what i'm looking at so far.
Reply:Budgets suck ! What type of work are you going to be doing ???  What type material ? Thickness ?  Are you planning on flux core ? Gas ? Just a few questions that will help decide. If you get hooked on welding more money and a upgrade to 220 volt will give you much more flexibility.
Reply:^ this. Plus, if you can save for a little longer, one of the 120/240v machines would be a wise choice.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:LOVE my lincoln.
Reply:save your money and buy a nice 220 machine. you will outgrow those 140s quick.Miller Maxstar 200 SDPiperliner #10 Gold
Reply:If you're gonna bite the bullet, get gas and 220. I've had my Lincoln for about 3 yrs and I really like it. As mentioned go with the big name brands and you should be good to go.250 amp Miller DialArc AC/DC StickF-225 amp Forney AC Stick230 amp Sears AC StickLincoln 180C MIGVictor Medalist 350 O/ACut 50 PlasmaLes
Reply:Get a 180 dual unless you're a body shop guy. Then the 140C will do you fine. These machines run just fine on CO2.... if you know how to adjust wire speed "live". I have a beef with Hobart-Miller Inc. The machines are good but my opinion is..............Victor is on the same list. So is Milwaukee.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:hello HobarthenryI have a Lincoln 140T.  Like it just fine.  Had it for a long time now and haven't had one problem with it.  The warranty on it has long since expired.  It is fine for what it does well which is sheetmetal to about 3/16 thk.  It's also easily portable. If I had to do it over again I would have saved a little longer and gone with a machine in the 180 to 210 amp range without tap settings for the voltage.  Something like a Lincoln 180C or a Millermatic 211.A lot of people told me this too but at the time I was on a budget and I didn't need or want anything larger.  But after a while my little Lincoln 140T wasn't enough of a machine for what I wanted to do.  It didn't have a large enough of a duty cycle and didn't have enough power to do thicker material.  Ended up with a MM252 (not easily portable for me anyway).  Now I have two MIG welders.  Can't complain about that.  But if I could do it again the smaller machine would still be a minimum of 180A.If all you want and need and/or can afford are the two machines you mentioned I don't think you can go wrong with either.  However, if you think you might want something more in the future I would definitely be considering other machines because you'll end up buying another machine in the end.Good luck with whatever it is you decide on.
Reply:As others have said, 220v is really the way to go. Those little 110v migs top out at 1/8" under real world conditions despite what the manufacturers literature might tell you. To get even this you need to be on a 20 amp dedicated circuit without using an extension cord. The little 110v migs are great for sheet metal and non critical work like hobby art, but most  quickly out grow them.In the long run it's really cheaper to save and buy just one machine than it is to buy one that is too small, then have to upgrade. You might want to add your location to your profile so we know where you are at. Maybe one of the guys local to you will let you try their machine, or know of a good deal on a clean used machine to help you get more bang for your buck. Used is often the way to stretch your budget. You just need a bit of basic information before you buy..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:thanks for all the advise guys! I live in GA and i'll mainly be welding thin material such as 16-22 gauge galvanized pipe. some thicker metal like repairs on small 5'x8' single axle trailers which are mostly 1/8" -1/4" steel frames. and may build things to sell with the same size materials as mentioned. I will definitely be adding argon/Co2 asap to.
Reply:16-22 ga is small mig material. The other stuff isn't despite what the manufacturers say. For 1/8" to 1/4" you need more power. A 220v stick machine or a 220v mig. A few of the better 110v inverter stick units will do material in that range, but you pay  a fair amount of money for that privilege..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:For gas you may consider CO2 with a 120 volt mig. You will get better penetration . A CO2 only regulator should be used NOT CO2 / argon.
Reply:I started with a Lincoln 140 and they are good units. Down the road when you get ready for a bigger welder the Lincoln will bring a very good resale price so you don't lose that much for the use you will get out of it. Oh and when you weld galvanized be sure and wear some sort of mask for the fumes, their nasty. 1/4 inch is hard for the 140's they don't get very deep penetration on it and you will start hitting the duty cycle. But hey getting started is the main thing.Thermal Arc 210 - Tweco 211I - Cutmaster 52
Reply:A friend of mine got a 140 when he was rodding a 50's Ford pickup and he really liked it, but shortly after I got my 180C he traded up to one too. As I said earlier, if you want some versatility, go 220 with gas.250 amp Miller DialArc AC/DC StickF-225 amp Forney AC Stick230 amp Sears AC StickLincoln 180C MIGVictor Medalist 350 O/ACut 50 PlasmaLes
Reply:ok. thanks guys for all the helpful info. I do have a couple big box ac/dc 220 225 Lincoln stick welders that I've used forever. I just really need a mig for a smooth, slag free weld on thin galvanized pipe and at a high production rate of welding 3 to 4 inch beads. so I hope that the 140 I get will get the job done.
Reply:well, here she is guys. hope to have it soon. http://www.farmandfleet.com/products...l#.VB5iMSDD9jo
Reply:Congrats... is that a boy or a girl welder?250 amp Miller DialArc AC/DC StickF-225 amp Forney AC Stick230 amp Sears AC StickLincoln 180C MIGVictor Medalist 350 O/ACut 50 PlasmaLes
Reply:Originally Posted by whtbaronCongrats... is that a boy or a girl welder?
Reply:Solid choice Henry I am sure the welder will serve you well for many years to come
Reply:The ad states the Handler 140 will weld 1/4" in a single pass. Please don't believe this statement. As DSW has stated above 1/8" is going to be the real max, and this too depends on your input voltage and your circuit breaker size. 3/16" or 1/4" can be done in multiple passes with a self shielded fluxcore. However, since you have a stick welder, I'd use it instead.If you don't remove the galvanized coating off the thin wall tube, with solid wire and shielding gas, you are more than likely going to end up with porosity filled welds.ESAB Migmaster 250 Hobart Ironman 230Multimatic 215TWECO Fabricator 181i & 211iHH125EZ - nice little fluxcore only unitMaxstar 150 STH - very nice
Reply:Originally Posted by hobarthenryok. thanks guys for all the helpful info. I do have a couple big box ac/dc 220 225 Lincoln stick welders that I've used forever. I just really need a mig for a smooth, slag free weld on thin galvanized pipe and at a high production rate of welding 3 to 4 inch beads. so I hope that the 140 I get will get the job done.