Hobart Handler 125

admin

I have been looking at the handler 125 for a while. I need it to weld 1/4", but it says it's maximum is 3/16" at 125A. However, I have seen Lincolns saying that their 100A machines will weld 1/4". I thought that the material thickness a machine was capable of was based on the current rating? Would the Hobart do 1/4", or is their advertising correct and the others wrong?
Reply:What 1/4" material do you need to weld? That makes all the difference.  All the 120V machines have the same limitations, regadless of which liar runs which marketing department.If you NEED it to weld 1/4", you NEED a 240V machine.
Reply:I'm mainly going to use it for tubular mild steel with flux cored wire to start out with.
Reply:What are building with these materials?
Reply:It's an offroad buggy frame and a bumper/skid plate system.
Reply:If it won't injure somebody when it falls off, you can use a 120V machine with flux-cored wire at the correct polarity. Other than that...
Reply:I have a Hobart 140 and I would suggest a bigger welder. I wouldn't even attempt to build a buggy frame with mine.  Maybe some tabs and non-structural brackets and the like, but not the main frame tubing or suspension components.Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene
Reply:Does anyone have experience with the Clarke 130EN welders?
Reply:I've used several breeds 115 V welders and, in my experience, there is only so much you can do with 115 volts.  Even if you run multiple passes, you won't get the penetration you get with a 220 machine.  Save the little welder for sheet metal and use a 220 for heavy stuff.  Especially, as MAC 702 says, if someone is going to get hurt when it fails.
Reply:I can't put a 220V receptacle in my house. The panel is full. Is there any way to make a 115V work?
Reply:Just because the panel is full does not mean you can't add a 240V circuit.  If you want one, it can be done, and still for a lot less trouble than you're probably assuming.What brand/type breakers are in there?
Reply:I have a 130EN Clarke and it is a fine machine for 1/8 to 3/16 material. I would not try to build a buggy frame with it's limitations. You need a 220v machine.Clarke 130EN C25Lincoln 225 AC Stick(1968)Smith O/A RigHF 4X6 Red BandsawBlack & Decker Pro Chopsaw16 Speed Drill PressSpeedglas XL HelmetHarbor Freight Stuff
Reply:To put a sub panel in, the contractors said $800. I can't afford that, nor can I afford a 220V welder. A 110V is pushing my budget enough. What if I use multiple passes on the material? The frame is being made out of 3/16" tubular steel and should not weigh any more than 500lbs.
Reply:Originally Posted by scuba14cTo put a sub panel in, the contractors said $800. I can't afford that, nor can I afford a 220V welder. A 110V is pushing my budget enough. What if I use multiple passes on the material? The frame is being made out of 3/16" tubular steel and should not weigh any more than 500lbs.
Reply:Originally Posted by scuba14cTo put a sub panel in, the contractors said $800. ...
Reply:Originally Posted by scuba14c...I can't afford a 220V welder....The frame is being made out of 3/16" tubular steel ...
Reply:Have to agree with Mac and the others. It's just outside of the limits of a 115 volt machine to try and build this frame with. For a go-kart sure, but not for something big like that.  Like a 1/2 ton pullling a semi-trailer.  It might look like it can do it at first, but then tranny blows 2 miles down the road.Latest Toys Miller 180 Mig and Elite Mask!!Wright Welder 225ACShop OutFitters 20/20 Bending SystemHypertherm 380 Plasma30 Years of Sparking (Electrical & Welding)
Reply:Mac-I didn't catch the last part of your post. The breakers are Federal Pacific, those were the only identifying marks on them. Will the type of breaker you're talking about get me to 220V, or will it only increse the current rating. Right now I have 2 20A 120V breakers going out into the garage.I had thought about making an extension cord and running it off the dryer, but that's 220V at 30A going about 75ft. Has anyone done this?It's becoming obvious you are going to do it anyway and are just wanting SOMEBODY to agree that it's okay.
Reply:Mac-I didn't catch the last part of your post. The breakers are Federal Pacific, those were the only identifying marks on them. Will the type of breaker you're talking about get me to 220V, or will it only increse the current rating.
Reply:As others have said, What you are wanting to do is beyond the limits of a 110v machine.  have you thought about a stick machine?  might be a cheaper alternative.75ft is not big deal as far an an extension cord.  I have 100ft cord for my powermig255 and never had any trouble.  Get ya some 10gauge soow cable and some ends and you would be suprised how cheap you might come out. compared to other options.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:Ok, I talked to an electrical company and they quoted around $500 to put those breakers in and rewire the house. Would a Hobart Handler 187 do the job? I found a pretty good deal on it at Fleet Farm.
Reply:Now your dealing with a machine(hobart 187) with capabilities of doing a proper and safe job.Latest Toys Miller 180 Mig and Elite Mask!!Wright Welder 225ACShop OutFitters 20/20 Bending SystemHypertherm 380 Plasma30 Years of Sparking (Electrical & Welding)
Reply:Originally Posted by scuba14c...The breakers are Federal Pacific, ...I had thought about making an extension cord and running it off the dryer, but that's 220V at 30A going about 75ft. Has anyone done this?...
Reply:The lowest price I could find on a Hobart 187 was $599. Would the Hobart Stickmate work as well?http://www.hobartwelders.com/product...eLX_AC-DC.htmlOn this machine, is the DC polarity used for lighter metals, or am I completely missing the point of the DC option? And with a 47A current draw, would it be better to look at an 8 gauge cable rather than 10?
Reply:A Stickmate is an excellent machine for what you want to do.If you have the DC option, which I always highly recommend, you'll use nothing else.  AC is only needed rarely for SMAW.#10 wire is fine for a Stickmate, as it has a 20% duty cycle at maximum output.Ok, the Handler series of welders only draws 20A at maximum. The Stickmate draws close to 50A. Would this be a problem going through an extension cord? Has anyone used a 60ft extension cord at this output? I'm already having a hard time convincing my dad that an extension cord would work.
Reply:#10 would be a better extension cord for a Stickmate, but a #12 would still work at this machine's EXTREMELY LOW DUTY CYCLE.  This is all perfectly fine, and recognized in Article 630 of the National Electric Code.Your Stickmate will ONLY draw 47A (Actually, closer to 45A on your 240V input) when you are welding at its maximum amperage, which will also probably be never.Besides, you will still have it on a 30A breaker, so that means you're going to limit the machine's output to what that dryer pulls anyway.  And since you'll probably never pop that 30A breaker, that'll be the proof that you're never overheating the extension cord.