welder for .023

[ace4059]

I am looking for a welder for light duty work. So I could care less about the top end of the machine. I am ONLY going to be using it for 023. and 75/25 gas.
So my options are
1). HH140
2). HH187
3). HH210

I dont need the 210 but how does it weld on tap 1 and 2.
I think my best bet is either the 140 or 187 and I see that TSc has the 187 for $599. I just get tired of changing the wire spool over on my PM215, and the MM350P couldnt weld with 023 or even 030. So I got top end covered, but what about the bottom end.

With all else put aside (like 115v vs 230v, and the 187 welds much thicker metal for only a little more over the 140, or get the 210 for AL work later on) An opinions on which welder is the best for the bottom end. I could care less about the top end of the machine so that stuff does not matter.

Thanks
Ryan

[cope]

I have both the HH140 and HH187, along with a MM210. I have .023 on my HH140, and .030 on the HH187. I like the HH140 for the convenience of 110 volt operation, but if I could only have one or the other, the HH187 would be my choice.

[Broccoli1]

Passport Plus

[Dan]

Ryan,

As an overall sheetmetal unit, the HH 187 is better then the HH 140. Meaning it is a very good unit throughout the entire range the unit is designed to cover. The only area were the HH 140 is better then the 187 is at the extreme low end. When you take the HH 140 down as low as possible it produces an extremely soft arc, that makes burning through on 22 ga sheet metal, with good fit up, a difficult task to achieve. Beyond this amazing extreme low end though, the arc quality of the HH 140 is very mediocre at best. If I wanted a 120V solid wire unit, for anything beside auto sheet metal, I 'd go with a PM 140C over the current HH 140.

Out of the units you've listed I'd definitely go with the 187 over the 140.

[stronics]

Every time I use my 187 I am impressed. It is an amazing machine. I use .023 in it for sheet metal. For larger stuff I have a MM200. I look forward to each job I get to use it on.
Get one, you will make yourself smile,
David

[ace4059]

yes the passport would work, but I dont need anything that big (power wise), dont have a need for the portability factor, nor do I need to spend that much money right now. Thats maybe a year or so away.

It looks like the 187 it is. I guess It runs 030 well too. I guess I am truely going to have one machine for each size wire. One thing I do hate is needing a certian wire (need flux when solid is in the machine) or size of wire, and I have to stop, change rolls, wrap other roll up, unpackage new roll, change drive rollers, change guns (I have a gun with each different liners installed) and then play with the machine for a few minutes to get it set up just right.
So changing wire is about a 20 min process for me.
all of that when the job only requires 5 mins of welding.
Can a man have too many welders? I guess I am soon to have as many welder as I do grinders.
Only 14 grinders, each one with a different wheel.

[Va.welder]

i like the quote about can you have too many welders i would say no but i like too many of everything small welders do small work big welders do larger work, one for each size wire is a good idea .

we do a lot of verticals and a large welder on small metal require a lot of bumb and go .to get by .