HH140 Mig welder

Sully2 · Oct 28, 2006

Well..finally got to use this little rig for the first time today. Had a close friend that does a lot of welding with a stick welder helping me and we got a little job compleated. Modified an old cart ( of some sort??) into a small cart to be able to drag the welder around on.

1 x 1 x 1/8 steel angle carriage. I had him use the setup to tack everything into proper position and then I had at it. First 3 mitered corners..flat looked like ****!....LOL But by the time we got done...my welds looked like I knew what I was doing....

Using .030 flux cored wire BTW.

YA got to remember I have NEVER been able to weld with a stick welder..NEVER. Unless you call just sticking rods welding..which I dont!

Using that new Jackson AD helmut I had trouble SEEING the work?? We were inside his garage and he seems to have plenty of lights...but? Then we opened the garage door..to let some of the "smoke"..?? out and the daylight really lite up the interior and it made TONS of difference. THEN I could see the work very well..place my electrode where it should be and as soon as I hit the trigger the thing would do dark IN A FLASH! I still dont know just how dark I should set it too..?..9; 10; 11..?? but I sure am amazed at how quickly it will go from "shaded to full dark" and then back to just shaded..wow!

Did learn one thing REAL quick. The angle iron carriage had to be welded to this tubing framed cart...that looks to be about .050 thick ( as compared to the 1/8 thick angle iron) Even at low settings I can burn a hole thru that thin tubing like RIGHT NOW...:E. Got to be real careful there!!

Ive got to pick up a lot of small items still...maybe some of that spatter compound so the nozzle dont get so nasty looking??..extra tips..etc....and I fully realize this aint no portable "battleship repair station"...but this little baby will do a LOT for ME in the future.

Thanks to all for the assistance in helping me buy this little rig

MrJimi · Oct 28, 2006

Sully, you have made a good choice, when you switch to gas shielding and a different wire you will have less spatter and make sure you clean all your ( to be welded ) areas good with a grinder and don't weld over rust or paint or galvanize. I use .023 wire on mine and its great on car fenders to about 1/8" .
Happy welding and most hoods are shade 10.
One good welding tip! Clamp your work and tack at opposite sides.
Jim

Sully2 · Oct 29, 2006

MrJimi said:
Sully, you have made a good choice, when you switch to gas shielding and a different wire you will have less spatter and make sure you clean all your ( to be welded ) areas good with a grinder and don't weld over rust or paint or galvanize. I use .023 wire on mine and its great on car fenders to about 1/8" .
Happy welding and most hoods are shade 10.
One good welding tip! Clamp your work and tack at opposite sides.
Jim

I think it will meet MY needs Jim..and Ive already found out about grinding the paint OFF where I want to weld....LOL ( Duhhhh...

..) Rust I knew about..but painted areas escaped me. Im going to try some of that "anti spatter" stuff and see if that REALLY does any good...especially on the nozzle ( MAN..does THAT THING ever get nasty looking!!!)

This winters indoor project will be to build a REAL cart..to hold everything. Cylingers...keep hoses and cables wound up properly...etc..etc. And THEN I can do some exploring of its more total capabilitys

shvl73 · Oct 29, 2006

Congrats on the new Hobart! I just bought a Lincoln SP175. I've never done any MIG before, or stick until I got my freebie old Marquette. MIG sure is nicer. I bought the tank right away with the 75/25 mix. Sure does lay a nice bead.
You're going to have fun.

Sully2 · Oct 30, 2006

shvl73 said:
Congrats on the new Hobart! I just bought a Lincoln SP175. I've never done any MIG before, or stick until I got my freebie old Marquette. MIG sure is nicer. I bought the tank right away with the 75/25 mix. Sure does lay a nice bead.
You're going to have fun.

Im holding off on the tank and such..especially until after I get a proper size / styled cart built. Im going to get some more "practice" in this week using the ,030 flux cored wire...just welding some angle stuff together to lay a bead.

Im so new..I am not even allowed to stand in the same bldg with a "pro"...lol...but Im amazed how ..IF..IF I do my end of it right...how easy it actually is. Had I known..Id have bought one 20 years ago...Im dead serious!

Once I get "better" ( notice I didnt say GOOD...lol) I'll get some gas and some FINE wire and work on some thin stuff...cause I found out that even with the proper speed and amp setting...I can burn a hole right thru thin gauge tubing (with .030 flux core) like..BZZZT! ...that quick...lol

wushaw · Oct 30, 2006

Be carefull this welding thing can be very addicting....I just installed another welding plug and more 20amp plugs in my welding area so I can have more than one grinder plugged in and so I can have my future plasma cutter and welder plugged in at the same time

Sully2 · Oct 30, 2006

wushaw said:
Be carefull this welding thing can be very addicting....

I sure can see that already!!!!!

Glowplug · Oct 30, 2006

This thread has been an entertaining and somewhat informative read for me. I have recently been looking at MIG welders. I had planned to do some very minimal things such as weld tow hooks on FEL bucket and the like. I am currently reading Richard Finch's Welder's Handbook. Even without a welder I have already thought of bigger and better projects. I can only imagine when I get it; I'll be totally addicted. I am looking at the Lincoln SP-175 or the new Lincoln Power MIG 180T.

Sully2 · Oct 30, 2006

Glowplug said:
This thread has been an entertaining and somewhat informative read for me. I have recently been looking at MIG welders. I had planned to do some very minimal things such as weld tow hooks on FEL bucket and the like. I am currently reading Richard Finch's Welder's Handbook. Even without a welder I have already thought of bigger and better projects. I can only imagine when I get it; I'll be totally addicted. I am looking at the Lincoln SP-175 or the new Lincoln Power MIG 180T.

Well...luckily ..in a way...the handbook for the HH140 is the same booklet for the HH180...so I can direct compare specs. The HH180 of course runs on 220V.

From what I can see..using the same wires and speeds..etc...the HH180 will weld SLIGHTY thicker material in a single pass ( not a big deal for me personally) but the DUTY CYCLE at "usable" amperages...say 90 amps..etc...is MUCHO MUCH greater.

Whereas with the 140 ( and Im not looking at the book presently..so dont directly quote me here) the duty cycle with mine at about 80-90 amps..is 20%. With the HH180...its close to 85% duty cycle! Means MUCHO more welding without a cool down / time out.

If..IF I already would have had a 220 outlet in my garage ( which I estimated would have set me back another $120 bucks to do) Id have sprung for the HH180...but I was looking at cost..and also the jobs I intend on doing.

And then to boot...I had to lay out some hard earned $$ for a good AD helmut ( which I absolutely adore now that I have it)

I would never "talk down" a 180 or so amp model..not by any means...but it just didnt fit into my games plans at this point!

Soundguy · Oct 31, 2006

from the little bit of mig welding i have done, I can certaintly say that the antispatter paste does work.

Also.. as you point out.. welder duty cycle makes a difference. For instance.. on my stick unit.. I'm doing alot of angle iron welding.. 1/4" stuf, and similar.. most of my welding is done at 90-110 amps. 100a is right at 100% duty cycle on that 235a unit.

Soundguy

Sully2 said:
Well...luckily ..in a way...the handbook for the HH140 is the same booklet for the HH180...so I can direct compare specs. The HH180 of course runs on 220V.

From what I can see..using the same wires and speeds..etc...the HH180 will weld SLIGHTY thicker material in a single pass ( not a big deal for me personally) but the DUTY CYCLE at "usable" amperages...say 90 amps..etc...is MUCHO MUCH greater.

Whereas with the 140 ( and Im not looking at the book presently..so dont directly quote me here) the duty cycle with mine at about 80-90 amps..is 20%. With the HH180...its close to 85% duty cycle! Means MUCHO more welding without a cool down / time out.

If..IF I already would have had a 220 outlet in my garage ( which I estimated would have set me back another $120 bucks to do) Id have sprung for the HH180...but I was looking at cost..and also the jobs I intend on doing.

And then to boot...I had to lay out some hard earned $$ for a good AD helmut ( which I absolutely adore now that I have it)

I would never "talk down" a 180 or so amp model..not by any means...but it just didnt fit into my games plans at this point!

Dargo · Oct 31, 2006

Sully2 said:
If..IF I already would have had a 220 outlet in my garage ( which I estimated would have set me back another $120 bucks to do) Id have sprung for the HH180...but I was looking at cost..and also the jobs I intend on doing.

And then to boot...I had to lay out some hard earned $$ for a good AD helmut ( which I absolutely adore now that I have it)

I would never "talk down" a 180 or so amp model..not by any means...but it just didnt fit into my games plans at this point!

It sounds like you bought exactly what you need for your situation. BTW, I've always used the tip dip and it makes a huge difference in the spatter sticking to the tip and seems to make consumables last longer. I don't particularly care for the spray type, but rather the wax like stuff in the jar. Just weld something for about 30 seconds to heat up your tip and then give it a quick dip in the goop. If your tip isn't hot, you'll pull it out with a big wad stuck in the end of your nozzle. That'll make for a big runny mess. One dip lasts a while. You'll know when it's time to dip again.

Jagmandave · Nov 2, 2006

I've got one of those Lincoln 175's also and I really like it, I've had it for several years and I've burned a bunch of wire thru it with no problems. The only issue I have with it is it's a bit light for use on stainless, but it'll lay down a nice clean bead with practise!

Gary_in_Indiana · Nov 7, 2006

I have the HH175 and, while it runs on 220V, it only requires 35 amps so I was able to wire for it myself with wire I already had. I ran one line from the breaker box to outlets on three different walls in the barn. Since I have only one welder I'm not worried about overloading the circuit.

Sully2 · Nov 7, 2006

Gary_in_Indiana said:
I have the HH175 and, while it runs on 220V, it only requires 35 amps so I was able to wire for it myself with wire I already had. I ran one line from the breaker box to outlets on three different walls in the barn. Since I have only one welder I'm not worried about overloading the circuit.

Well...as I mentioned before..IF I already would have had 220V in my garage..I would have gotten the HH180..at only 150 more $$...but I was going to have to buy 100 ft of wire..a 220V breaker...abut 10 ft of conduit..the 220 outlet itself..etc..etc..AND had to string it all.

110V-20 amps circuits I have mucho of here

AlanB · Nov 7, 2006

Please don't take this wrong, but don't you have an electric dryer or are you set up on gas or something? Most houses here have a dryer outlet in the garage, but it is probably a regional thing.

wushaw · Nov 7, 2006

Sully2 said:
Well...as I mentioned before..IF I already would have had 220V in my garage..I would have gotten the HH180..at only 150 more $$...but I was going to have to buy 100 ft of wire..a 220V breaker...abut 10 ft of conduit..the 220 outlet itself..etc..etc..AND had to string it all.

110V-20 amps circuits I have mucho of here

I know what ya mean I just bought 62ft of 6ga wire at .92 a ft. X3 for another welding plug in my shop, the wire was the steepest cost everything else was cheap.

Sully2 · Nov 7, 2006

AlanB said:
Please don't take this wrong, but don't you have an electric dryer or are you set up on gas or something? Most houses here have a dryer outlet in the garage, but it is probably a regional thing.

Washer / dryer/ etc are in the basement

Sully2 · Nov 7, 2006

wushaw said:
I know what ya mean I just bought 62ft of 6ga wire at .92 a ft. X3 for another welding plug in my shop, the wire was the steepest cost everything else was cheap.

Well..also in the spring / summer of 2007...Im building a small "storage / shop/ etc building here. I'll be running BIG wire underground for it and fully intend on installing a 220V outlet "near" the front doors so that I can work outside in a portion of my gravel drive! I need to get ALMOST ALL of the "JUNK" out of my 2 1/2 car garage..and the junk is going out there...bit at least the way the roof will be designed..I'll have a "covered" olace to change oil in the tractor..sharpen lawn mower blades...etc..and a place to put all the garden hand tools...finally...lol

It wont be large enough to park my Kubota inside..but at least with a coverd shed roof off of it...it can stay "dry".