Opinion on a Lincoln easy-mig welder 140 wire

[BubbaJr]

Rural King has this welder now for just under $500. Is this a good welder for a beginner? I need it to weld a brace on my back blade made out of 1/8" angle iron. This is a 120V welder. Also is this a decent price?

Thanks, Joe

 

[yomax4]

Should do what you want. 115v fluxcore only is not a fave of mine but everyone has their own way. Personally I would save and get something dual voltage and or multiprocess or spend less for a 115v FC only in a different brand. Even a 115/230 inveter stick machine for a couple hundred. Lincoln is a good brand name however they do not make this unit. Anything you can weld with is a good deal in one way or another. Good luck on your project.

 

[RNeumann]

120v with a 30amp plug MAY work for that task. But thinking a 120v machine will do anything beyond sheetmetal is a stretch.

Lincoln makes good stuff though....

 

[metalbender]

If you have 220v power on hand, get a more capable welder. Had a 135 plus, worked well but has limitations when faced with real world work. Good for artsy fartsy stuff. Moved up to a 180c, much better. Now have a 210 mp. Bottom line, in welders, bigger is better.

 

[BubbaJr]

I don't have many uses for a welder, so I don't really need a more powerful one, just one to do simple tasks. I'm going to town tomorrow to take a look at it, and decide if that's the one I want. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks, guys,
Joe

 

[RNeumann]

What were are trying to relay is that welding structure onto a back blade or most other homeowner/farm projects with a 120v welder isn’t a great idea. How much or little you use the machine won’t change that.

If you don’t need a welder much don’t buy one- instead have a shop or mobile device weld it properly. If budget is an issue and you want to weld stuff on your tractor implements buy a stick welder. Those can be had for a few hundred bucks new and pop up on Craig’s List used all the time.

 

[dragoneggs]

Should do what you want. 115v fluxcore only is not a fave of mine but everyone has their own way. Personally I would save and get something dual voltage and or multiprocess or spend less for a 115v FC only in a different brand. Even a 115/230 inveter stick machine for a couple hundred. Lincoln is a good brand name however they do not make this unit. Anything you can weld with is a good deal in one way or another. Good luck on your project.

yomax, I just have to say... I have always appreciated your comments here on TBN. Also another thank you for the tickets you sent me for Fabtech a couple years ago. That inspired me to dive deeper into this hobby (for me). You seem to have a gift to understand where posters are coming from... whether we be rookies, or experienced, and provide thoughtful and wise advice. :thumbsup:

 

[WranglerX]

I have Hobart Handler 140 (120 volt) and on highest heat/amperage setting can do 1/4 inch material at single pass, anything thicker require some preheat and multiple passes.... Also don't limit your self to flux core (FCAW) machine, graduated from fluxcore to solid wire and shield gas (GMAW) and never looked back...

Only negative is manual states it will work on 20 Amp circuit beaker... Wrong.... Requires a 30 amp breaker as it actually draws about 24 amps running full out... Not any sort of problem other than a little fudge in published manual....

Hobart is owned by Miller and is less expensive brand than the Miller brand... Believe latest price on HH 140 is just $489...

IF I knew about 5 years ago what I know now where my welding has taken me I would have gotten something bigger that can handle thicker materials... Something like the Hobart 210MPV which can be powered by 120 volts and has same amperage ranges a the 140 or powered by 240volts and gives you two addition higher amperage ranges....

Don't know much about welding?.... Take peek here..

Welding Tips and Tricks - TIG, MIG, Stick and a pantload of other info

Dale

 

[herm0016]

The small Lincoln machines are not any better quality than the higher end harbor freight or Hobart machines. I have the Hobart and its been solid. I would seriously consider buying the mig/tig that harbor freight has come out with recently if i was buying today. its $700. 200 amp, duel voltage and mig/tig. or, if you want mig only, they have the vulcan 170 duel voltage for $499. I saw a tear down of it vs the Lincoln equivalent and the Vulcan was as good or better in nearly ever respect. those are the list prices, always a 20 or 25% coupon to be had.

 

[jaxs]

I'm no expert but for multiple reasons I believe 220 volt machines are the way to go. If you don't need to weld below 1/4tr inch,you can buy used 225AC stick welders for $150. If you want to weld sheet metal,a 220 volt 175-190amp wire welder (mig-flux core) will do that and up to 3/8ths inch. Used 220 volt mig-flux core machines can be bought for $500.

 

[ericm979]

I've had a Lincoln 120v mig for 20+ years. It'll do 1/8 in a single pass, on a 20a circuit. For a long time that was enough but I have projects and will be doing more welding and some thicker material so I am shopping for a 220 machine.

If you get a wire feed machine get a mig setup. I found it much easier to make acceptable welds with mig than with flux core.

1/8 is on the thin end for a tractor implement.

 

[fried1765]

The small Lincoln machines are not any better quality than the higher end harbor freight or Hobart machines. I have the Hobart and its been solid. I would seriously consider buying the mig/tig that harbor freight has come out with recently if i was buying today. its $700. 200 amp, duel voltage and mig/tig. or, if you want mig only, they have the vulcan 170 duel voltage for $499. I saw a tear down of it vs the Lincoln equivalent and the Vulcan was as good or better in nearly ever respect. those are the list prices, always a 20 or 25% coupon to be had.

NOPE!
I have NEVER seen a 20% or 25% HF coupon that was valid for their Vulcan welders.
Anybody else??

 

[kenmac]

HF doesn't allow you to use coupons for some of their products.
Welders may be one of those products it can't be used on

 

[dragoneggs]

NOPE!
I have NEVER seen a 20% or 25% HF coupon that was valid for their Vulcan welders.
Anybody else??

Yep, read the fine print on any of their coupons. Not valid for most all their 'higher name brands' on power tools, compressors, etc.

 

[BubbaJr]

I went to the local tool rental place that sells welders this afternoon. They had the very same Lincoln welder for $849, which is what I expected. Then I went to Rural King and looked at their welders. They also had a Hobart 140 for $449, that seemed to be the equivalent of the Lincoln. The problem with both of the welders, was that both of them were the last ones in stock and were the display models. The open boxes were close by. I learned a long time ago not to buy anything new with an open box, so I came home to do some more homework.

My issue isn't the price of going up to a 220V machine, I just don't think I would use it enough to justify spending that much on one.

The quest continues.

Thanks guys,
Joe

 

[kenmac]

My issue isn't the price of going up to a 220V machine, I just don't think I would use it enough to justify spending that much on one
Thanks guys,
Joe

Well, just look at it this way. It will always be there when you need it.

I haven't used my mig in maybe 6 mo. haven't used my cutting torches in a year, haven't used my Kubota in a couple months. Just bought a tig machine. Probably won't use it very much.Bought a jack hammer that I have used.
Most likely going to buy a grapple in the next couple of months, that I won't use every day either.

I own several tools that I rarely use.

I would rather have it available to use when I need it, than to need it and not have it.

 

[WranglerX]

I went to the local tool rental place that sells welders this afternoon. They had the very same Lincoln welder for $849, which is what I expected. Then I went to Rural King and looked at their welders. They also had a Hobart 140 for $449, that seemed to be the equivalent of the Lincoln. The problem with both of the welders, was that both of them were the last ones in stock and were the display models. The open boxes were close by. I learned a long time ago not to buy anything new with an open box, so I came home to do some more homework.

My issue isn't the price of going up to a 220V machine, I just don't think I would use it enough to justify spending that much on one.

The quest continues.

Thanks guys,
Joe

Just order a new one (of your brand choice)through outlet of your choice.... I'm with you on floor models.... Ones I have seen at TSC are missing knobs and who knows what parts are in the box or even where box is....

Check around town, Rural King is probably not the only vendor and Hobart lists for $499 new I believe...

Dale

 

[dragoneggs]

Well, just look at it this way. It will always be there when you need it.

I haven't used my mig in maybe 6 mo. haven't used my cutting torches in a year, haven't used my Kubota in a couple months. Just bought a tig machine. Probably won't use it very much.Bought a jack hammer that I have used.
Most likely going to buy a grapple in the next couple of months, that I won't use every day either.

I own several tools that I rarely use.

I would rather have it available to use when I need it, than to need it and not have it.

Story of my life! :drink:

 

[kenmac]

https://www.amazon.com/Hobart-500554001-Handler-190-SpoolRunner/dp/B005CGZNMM

the one I bought several yrs ago

 

[farm boy00]

Bought this for commercial use about 2 year ago. Was on a Sunday and needed the welder. Have had no problems with the welder itself, but replaced the main whip once. But it gets lots of moisture and lots of grinding done around it so that's expected. Have welded thicker then 1/8" on regular house outlets.

Edit: I priced the same one at a welding shop and was around $800

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lincoln...MIG-Wire-and-Flux-Wire-115V-K2514-1/100670934