best low-end wire feed

[shadetree]

You guys were so good about the helmet question I'm gonna ask another one:
My brother is tired of me swiping his welder and told me to go buy my own, which I'm going to do. His is a 120V plain jane wire-feed. I need 120V for the portability (dragging it all around a small farm). Does anyone have a favorite or a wire feed that has done them a good job that they'd recommend?

Thanks again!

[Scott V]

You had to ask,make sure you demo one then you will know for sure.Go heads up against any white or blue one then come back,and let us know what you think.They run about $520.00 for the plus model,and it's really better than the T model.

http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/equipmentdatasheet.asp?p=7082

[Dan]

I don t know if it is the best, but I have been pleased with the performance of the HH 135 that I have. So you know though I only run fluxcore wire on this machine. I have ran a little solid wire on it and it did fine too.

I have to agree that test driving all three 135 amp machines is the way to go. My HH 135 was given to me so, I never have had the chance to run the other two for any comparison of these machines.

How about a couple welds to look at that I produced with the HH 135. The first weld is a t joint made from 3/16" mild steel. When I broke this weld I had fusion to the throat of the weld which impressed me. I really didn t expect this kind of performance from this machine. However the reality is that I would actually use one of my larger 230 volt machine to weld this thickness.

[Thomas Harris]

withut hearing what you weld and considering it involves farm repairs. Might consider a stick welder rather than a wire feed unit. good strong welds on "not so clean metal" with smaw and the right rods. Lots of thin materials... probably gmaw makes good sense. Or just tell your brother to stop complaining, that's what I'd do!

[Dan]

This one is a lap joint welded with solid wire and C-25 shielding gas. If I remember right I was using an .023 diameter wire. This is the maximum thickness that I would use solid wire for on this size of machine.

[Hobart Expert Rock]

HI SHADETREE.............WELL I AGREE WITH THE TEST DRIVES..... HEAD OFF TO A DISTRIBUTOR'S AND HAVE HIM SET THEM UP.... CONSIDER ALSO THE HANDLER 125 (120 VOLT MACHINE)..... THAT WILL GIVE YOU 4 WELDERS TO TRY THEN YOU DECIDE WHICH ONE YOU LIKE,............ SEE WHAT YOUR CONFORTABLE WITH..... THEN GET BACK TO US AND TELL US WHICH ONE YOUR GETTING.........WE ALWAYS LIKE TO KNOW WHY.......... YOU PICKED WHAT YOU DID..........THIS WILL ALSO GET YOU INTRODUCED TO THE LOCAL WELDING DISTRIBUTORS IN YOUR AREA...........AFTER ALL YOUR GOING TO BE BUYING, RODS OR WIRE AND GAS OFF OF THEM..........INTRODUCE YOURSELF....... YOU ARE THE NEW CUSTOMER TO THEM............... HAVE SOME FUN WITH YOUR DECISION........................ROCK.............
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[Sberry]

There is only one use for a 120 v machine that I can see and that is auto body sheets. The machines call for a dedicated circuit anyway, why not run a couple wires for 240 where you need it and actually have something when its all done. the auto body guy asks me yesterday why his machine isnt working well sometimes,,, it isn the machine, its the building wiring. They are not designed to use on general purpose recepts. Good way to start a fire, especially around a farm where the wiring may be old and connections poor to begin with.

[Thomas Harris]

you betcha, half the current for the same power output. My 220 mm172 doesn't draw 20 amps even when pushed to the top end. I would think it reduces heat in the primary of the transformer too. Less worry about voltage drop too. smaller wire for the same power ouput too. maybe better resale value?

[MYSTORES]

For farm use..I would NEVER consider a 110 volt welder. When I had my place in the country I ran an old Hobart generator welder for stick... later got a wire feeder.. and later yet attached a hydraulic drive that ran the generator off the tractor.. I didn't have $500 in the whole thing and it did EVERYTHING.. from hardfacing to tigging the ears on a cast iron manafold.. I've never used a large 110 volt mig.. so I might be out of school.. But I think you need more than 15 amps on a single leg to do FARM welding.. which is hitches,dirty iron.. galvanized metals ,hard facing, etc.. Before I got the Hobart.. I ran a little Lincoln gas welder which worked just fine.. and if my memory is correct.. cost me about $700.00..It had a 12 HP.. Koler?? motor in it.. If you could find one with a bad motor.. and put a hydraulic motor on it..You could hook it to a small trailer and pull behind a tractor.. or if you have a PTO..hooked up to a speed multiplier..another way to work it.. if you don't like hydraulics..I'm saying all this to save money... But a good used SA200 on a trailer will do anything from sheet metal to bridge building..