Hobart handler 140

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So I'm looking at the Hobart handler 140 and I'm going to be doing auto body and exhaust work. My question is Hobart claims that the lowest gauge this welder will do is 24 gauge sheet metal but does that mean I'll just blow holes through anything that's below that because most cars I think are 20 to 22 gauge nowadays which is what i read online. So I'm a little confused because I really like this welder for the price and would like to get it but I don't want to get it and then find out that it's just going to blow holes through sheet metal for rocker panels and stuff like that.http://www.hobartwelders.com/product...ed/handler140/Hobart 500559 Handler Wire Welder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009X43F38..._0L7Avb0ZS8QTDLast edited by apierce1289; 05-31-2015 at 09:47 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by apierce1289 My question is Hobart claims that the lowest gauge this welder will do is 24 gauge sheet metal but does that mean I'll just blow holes through anything that's below that because most cars I think are 20 to 22 gauge nowadays which is what i read online.
Reply:Oops I did get that mixed up lol. And just to spice things up a bit here's a review of the welder and this guy is using it for more than what I would ever be doing and getting good results. What are your thoughts? Don't respond to this specific question if you don't actually watch it.Hobart Handler 140 Review & Welding:
Reply:Bead shown at between 2-3 minutes is cold and needs a lot more power. His multiple beads are also cold. Yeah it sticks two piece of metal together, but it's not what I'd say is a good weld. Same goes with his beveled beads. All cold. Toes are not wetted in well and I see a lot of signs of cold lap, especially with the 1st bead he ran.His beads on 1/8" are fair at best. Toes are wetted in better, but the beads could still use some move voltage in several examples. His 14 ga welds didn't look too bad. Hard to really see the back side though to get a good idea how well he did. He did have a gap which helps with penetration, and welded vertical down that helps reduce penetration some. 14 ga is about 3/32", so it's stiff moderately "thick" for sheet metal. He was starting to have some warpage on his 14 ga material though even welding vertical down.Overall the video basically backs up what I said, despite what the commentator believes. 1/8" is the thickest I see in his video that I would consider possibly "good". Every thing thicker was cold. Small migs are notorious for making "pretty welds that are cold with no penetration on thicker steel..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:Originally Posted by DSWBead shown at between 2-3 minutes is cold and needs a lot more power. His multiple beads are also cold. Yeah it sticks two piece of metal together, but it's not what I'd say is a good weld. Same goes with his beveled beads. All cold. Toes are not wetted in well and I see a lot of signs of cold lap, especially with the 1st bead he ran.His beads on 1/8" are fair at best. Toes are wetted in better, but the beads could still use some move voltage in several examples. His 14 ga welds didn't look too bad. Hard to really see the back side though to get a good idea how well he did. He did have a gap which helps with penetration, and welded vertical down that helps reduce penetration some. 14 ga is about 3/32", so it's stiff moderately "thick" for sheet metal. He was starting to have some warpage on his 14 ga material though even welding vertical down.Overall the video basically backs up what I said, despite what the commentator believes. 1/8" is the thickest I see in his video that I would consider possibly "good". Every thing thicker was cold. Small migs are notorious for making "pretty welds that are cold with no penetration on thicker steel.
Reply:If you stay at 1/8" and under you are fine. That's where this machine is best at. You'll want to use .024 wire like Easygrind and 75/25 gas to get the best results.If you envision your "automotive" projects using heavier materials like many off roaders do for bumpers and so on, I'd look at a bigger machine like say the HH 210MVP that will do up to 1/8" on 110v power, and up to 3/8" on 230v power. If that is a bit too pricy for your budget, then a 230v only machine like the HH190 will do everything from thin sheet up to 1/4". Some will pair an inexpensive used 230v transformer stick machine with a small 110v mig like the HH140. The HH140 takes care of stuff up to 1/8", the the 230v stick machine does anything from 1/8" up..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:Originally Posted by DSWIf you stay at 1/8" and under you are fine. That's where this machine is best at. You'll want to use .024 wire like Easygrind and 75/25 gas to get the best results.If you envision your "automotive" projects using heavier materials like many off roaders do for bumpers and so on, I'd look at a bigger machine like say the HH 210MVP that will do up to 1/8" on 110v power, and up to 3/8" on 230v power. If that is a bit too pricy for your budget, then a 230v only machine like the HH190 will do everything from thin sheet up to 1/4". Some will pair an inexpensive used 230v transformer stick machine with a small 110v mig like the HH140. The HH140 takes care of stuff up to 1/8", the the 230v stick machine does anything from 1/8" up.
Reply:That's not uncommon with those that simply don't know yet what to look for when evaluating welds. One of the big things I try to do with students who are learning is explain to them WHY I see what I see. If I can get them to understand where they are having issues and problems with their welds, they can go on after class and continue to improve on their own.The MM211 is a very nice machine and a good choice as a starter mig. It's a machine that gives you lots of options and isn't one that most out grow right away. You don't give up a lot with the HH210 though. While tapped settings are a bit more limited compared to the infinite settings of the Miller, it's nothing that can't be compensated for with a bit of experience. If you find the budget simply won't allow the MM211, the HH210 is a very capable substitute. Wire and gas suggestion remains the same with these machines for thin stuff. On heavier material you would want to jump up the wire size depending what you are doing. Gas remains the same for steel..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:Originally Posted by DSWThat's not uncommon with those that simply don't know yet what to look for when evaluating welds. One of the big things I try to do with students who are learning is explain to them WHY I see what I see. If I can get them to understand where they are having issues and problems with their welds, they can go on after class and continue to improve on their own.The MM211 is a very nice machine and a good choice as a starter mig. It's a machine that gives you lots of options and isn't one that most out grow right away. You don't give up a lot with the HH210 though. While tapped settings are a bit more limited compared to the infinite settings of the Miller, it's nothing that can't be compensated for with a bit of experience. If you find the budget simply won't allow the MM211, the HH210 is a very capable substitute. Wire and gas suggestion remains the same with these machines for thin stuff. On heavier material you would want to jump up the wire size depending what you are doing. Gas remains the same for steel.
Reply:When you get your machine, feel free to post up picts of your welds along with machine used, settings, whether you are running off 110v or 230v power, wire size and type,  gas used, material thickness and so on, and we'll help you improve. The more info you provide, the better we can help.If auto work seriously interests you, then you might look into a night class at a local tech school or community college. Many offer classes in auto body work as well as welding. Most weld classes are geared more towards thicker materials, while many auto body classes can include welding on body panels for repair/replacement as well as other body work related stuff that will help like hammer and dolly work. At the tech school I help out at, auto body classes are best suited for those who primarily want to weld sheet metal as the weld shop doesn't have thin gauge material or small gauge wire in the machines. However I've helped a number of students who took welding learn to use their own machines on body work stuff after they learned the basics on the thicker stock. I know several that have come back to take the body work classes to continue to learn body work to work on classic cars and farm equipment..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