looking for 110v mig....suggestions

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I am a beginner, looking for a 110v mig w/gas...mostly automotive and some house/yard stuff. Is Clarke OK?
Reply:If you are looking for a 110V machine and wont go for a 220V unit. I would suggest the Hobart 140 or the Miller 135. I use a Hobart 140 at work and it is a nice machine. The Hobart 180 is a more powerful 220V unit I would suggest over the 140 if you can go with 220V. You can get the Hobart 140 on Ebay for around $477 last I saw one and it will blow away a Clark. Just my opinion. Also can get the Hobart 140 at www.toolking.com reconditioned for $419. I would choose a reconditioned Hobart over a new Clark. Just my 2 CentsDrivesector Hobart Handler 140Hobart Handler 180Ready Welder 2Hobart Air Force 400Airco Stinger 225Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."OZZY"
Reply:I'll second the Hobart HH140.  The Miller is not worth the extra money, and provides no significant advantages over the Hobart in this class of machine.  I'd even get the older reconditioned HH135 from www.toolking.com if they still have any available.
Reply:I'm debating between th HH140 and the MM135. The hobart may be in the lead because www.northerntool.com has the hh140 for 469 with a cart and free shipping that seems like a pretty good deal to me just my .02
Reply:Consider reconditioned units, like those from www.toolking.com also.  Sometimes they even have the older HH135 for a smokin' deal.  Still a 1-year warranty, too.
Reply:any Hobart, Miller, or Lincoln 120VAC unit in the 130-140amp range will work well.  As stated, the best value out there is the HH140 or the refurb HH135.  You'll not miss continuous voltage control if you learn how to set the wire feed speed for short circuit properly.-Heath
Reply:I have had good luck with my Thermal Arc Fabricator 130. It ran me about 400.00 when I got it about 4 years ago. I believe they have dropped that model now though and have a 140 listed as the replacement. It will burn flux core or solid with gas. Works real well with .025 and co2/argon doing sheet metal for body work.If you are not going to do it right...Why bother?My retreat http://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gall...&albumid=20987
Reply:The TA Fabricator 131 is the current model and runs about $500-550 online.  I'm sure it's a fine product, but I doubt it's any better or worse than any of the products already mentioned.  It does have continuous voltage control which puts it in the same class as the MM135 and the Lincoln SP135 plus.I'd love to see a company introduce an inverter based MIG welder into this market (140A/180A class welders).-Heath
Reply:Originally Posted by halbrittI'd love to see a company introduce an inverter based MIG welder into this market (140A/180A class welders).
Reply:Originally Posted by MAC702You mean other than the Millermatic Passport 180?
Reply:I bought a clarke dual and Like it a lot so far.
Reply:Originally Posted by halbrittYes.  I attempted to clarify what I meant when I used the phrase, "this market"
Reply:i got an 85 enb works great and its a clarke but yeah id get 110 i just didnt have to much cash for that modal lol
Reply:I am all for getting what you can afford. If you cant afford a Hobart, Miller, Lincoln, TA,HTP, and so on get what you can. I don't think you can beat the Hobart 140 at toolking for $410 bucks reconditioned. I actually just bought one today because after buying the 180 I still needed that option of 110V. I however would stay far away from any used Snap-on units on Ebay.Drivesector Hobart Handler 140Hobart Handler 180Ready Welder 2Hobart Air Force 400Airco Stinger 225Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."OZZY"
Reply:When I took my dive into the wonderful world of welding, I went with a Farmhand 115 from TSC. It came with the regulator for shielding gas, a crap roll of 0.035 flux core wire, a wire brush/chipping hammer combo, and a handheld faceshield (now painted and in the possession of my youngest daughter for when she helps/watches). I paid $269 and, for what it's worth, I'm glad I got it. Yeah, it's small and I'll outgrow it eventually (I'm in welding school part-time right now and after using big DC multi-process machines there, I can now see my future!), but it is allowing me to learn and work on projects at home without a major hit to the budget.I also bought a Harbor Freight/Chicago Electric Arc-140 for $80 during their last sidewalk sale and have had a blast with it as well. It's cheap, it may die at any moment (or it may never die), and it allows me to practice AC stick at home.Start out affordably. If the addiction takes root and you outgrow the machine you have, you can always bequeath it to a newbie or keep it as a light-duty spare.Whatever you end up getting, use it!!Dave
Reply:I'm in the market for one of these too but don't know where to go.  Toolking has refurb. Hobart 175 220V for $399.  The 110V Hobart 140 is $400+.  These only come with 6 mos. warranty.Another site has refurb Lincoln SP135's for $400 + free shipping.  These come with a 3-yr warranty.With these choices, would you get the Hobart 175 with 6-mos warranty or the Lincoln 135 with 3-yr warranty.  They're the same price but the differences in warranty are pretty great.My primary use right now is for welding sheetmetal in my car.
Reply:I had a 'Clarke like' MIG and thought it was great.  That was until I picked up a Hobart 180!  Good welding equment cost a fair amount of money.  It pays you back by providing trouble free service for years.
Reply:Originally Posted by KCmanI am a beginner, looking for a 110v mig w/gas...mostly automotive and some house/yard stuff. Is Clarke OK?
Reply:Originally Posted by jemoAnother site has refurb Lincoln SP135's for $400 + free shipping.  These come with a 3-yr warranty.
Reply:I just picked up a MM135 with cart and bottle with some extra goodies used for $400 locally.  It's an excellent machine, and by far the best 110v welder I've used.
Reply:Originally Posted by 06rexwagonI just picked up a MM135 with cart and bottle with some extra goodies used for $400 locally.  It's an excellent machine, and by far the best 110v welder I've used.
Reply:I e-mailed Hobart when I bought my Refurbed HH140. Just to let everyone know the warranty is 1 year on the factory reconditioned (A condition)welders from Toolking. At least according to the service guy that e-mailed me back.Drivesector Hobart Handler 140Hobart Handler 180Ready Welder 2Hobart Air Force 400Airco Stinger 225Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."OZZY"
Reply:jemoi would jump on the Hobart 175 220V for $399. if its going to fail it will most likely do it right out of the box. get it and use it even if its just practicing on scrap stuff if it makes it threw the first month odds are it will last many more years and the extra power could come in handy.as for the 110V options its hard to argue with the reconditioned HH140 or 135 units. i saved up for a new MM135 about 5 years ago and have never regretted spending the extra $$$. i run it with c-25 gas and .023/.025 wire about 99% of the time but keep a role of .035 flux core for the windy outside have to fixes. i also welded together a metal frame for my 22' X 20' X 20' shop with my MM135 and the .035 flux cored wire. it has welded flawlessly for me. i would recommend it to my brother (the one i like) if he asked me what to get in a 110V welder in a second. i have a second floor in my shop and it is held up by the welds done with my MM135. that lil welder has more than payed for its self over the 5 years i have it so the extra $$ i spent up front was $$ well spent. i could easily resell it tomorrow in the $400 range so by spending a little more up front i also insured a good resale value should i decide to upgrade, although i intend to keep it when i get a MM210 some time down the road it might be some thing to think about for you should you be thinking of upgrading later on. and trust me if this is your first welder, you will get addicted and want more as time goes on, its just too much fun playing with steel and fire. i started with O/A then MIG then plasma cutter and just recently got my first TIG, it just gets into your blood and you cant help it. if you look at the welder as a long term investment saving up a bit to get a good one first will pay for its self. not only in reliability but also in resale potential. if i look back at all the stuff i have built with my MM135..........  wow has it ever saved me some $$$ way more than i payed for it thats for shore. the 840 square foot shop that was only about $100 out of pocket, the pull behind my bike cart for my baby to ride it that was $10 out of pocket, the flow threw tail gate for my truck for $15, the hood for my lawn mower that saved my motor from rain, the carts for my welders, the cool spider web bumper on my mower, the cool skeleton push bumper for my truck........... the list is just never ending. if you think of it in terms of what you will save by having it the $$$ spent now on a welder is really just $$$ going into the bank that would have been going out for countless repairs or things you would have to buy if you did not have it. even beginner welders can start saving $$ right away be for you even have true welding skills. just look at the $$ of a simple bumper for a riding lawn mower. its a bar with 2 pieces of flat steel for a mount, heck my 7 year old could make one, yet the store $$ is.....$60+ thats 1/10 the purchase price of the welder saved already and you are just beginning to learn to weld. once you have it you will find so may uses that will save you $$$ its crazy, some on things you need and lots on stuff you just want. i say buy a good one, it will pay for its self even if you never use it on a job to make $$. if mine broke tomorrow i would say it was worth every $.01 but odds are it will still be welding strong many years from now, and still saving me $$$$$  here is a pic of the biggest $$ saver of them all Attached Images summer is here, plant a tree for mother earth. if you dont have time or space, sponcer some one else to plant one for you.feel free to shoot me a PM or e-mail me at [email][email protected] i got lots of time.
Reply:oh and i think this is one of the funnest. oops wait i better make that these are some of the funnest and I'll stop at the first 5 i run across. the list of stuff the welder can do for you just never stops, so spend a little on it as it will give you back soooo much more. and the list just keeps going, you should see my want to do list. ...... pic's are 1 my slightly modified lawn mower2 the pull behind baby car for my bike3 the tail gate for my truck4 the skull head lighted push bumper for my truck (yep its back lit with red light, looks soo cool at night)5 my POW*MIA 2' X 4' table (the white part is pre-drilled sheet steel separate from the black sheet metal) Attached Images summer is here, plant a tree for mother earth. if you dont have time or space, sponcer some one else to plant one for you.feel free to shoot me a PM or e-mail me at [email][email protected] i got lots of time.
Reply:hehehe  Thanks fun4now.  I enjoyed your post!JeffLOL turned out more like a book than a post. i gess it just goes to show how much i love welding, and my lil MM135. 8^)) summer is here, plant a tree for mother earth. if you dont have time or space, sponcer some one else to plant one for you.feel free to shoot me a PM or e-mail me at [email][email protected] i got lots of time.
Reply:I have researched the refurb Lincoln 135 @ $400. It is correct. His resource is different but Indiana Oxygen is offering them @ about $400 so I would go with them with a 3 year Warranty. Hobart is only offering 1 year Recon Warranty. If i knew that 2 weeks ago I would have gone with the Lincoln over the Hobart just for the Warranty (2 years more than Hobart replied me with) I am happy with the HH140 but for the extra 2 years I don't see the Hobart being a better deal than the Lincoln 135  Just my opinion and I bought the other one.Drivesector Hobart Handler 140Hobart Handler 180Ready Welder 2Hobart Air Force 400Airco Stinger 225Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."OZZY"
Reply:After waiting about a week for it to come off of back order, I placed an order last night for the refurb. Hobart 175.  I figure it will cover most of anything that I will ever need.  It only comes with a 6 mos. or 1 yr warranty (hard to determine) but it seems like a lot more machine than the Lincoln 135 which is the same price.
Reply:you should be happy with the HH175, ive herd good things about them from the guys i made covers for, i just cant help asking about welder performance some times 8^)) summer is here, plant a tree for mother earth. if you dont have time or space, sponcer some one else to plant one for you.feel free to shoot me a PM or e-mail me at [email][email protected] i got lots of time.