Trade up? Or not?

me0418840987 · Jan 26, 2012

My Handler 175 quit feeding wire at 2:30 this afternoon. It has given me great service for the last 13 years. Of course, it happened while I was working on a trailer that has to go from Wisconsin to Virginia TOMORROW morning at 7:30 AM. Not my trailer, but I promised them it would be done by tomorrow at 5:30 AM for them to pick up. Actual paying job for a new customer. I called my supplier, and have currently borrowed an old Millermatic 35, and like it alot. I know their service tech, and he does good work, it has a new Tweeco gun on it, and works really good. What is it worth? I was thinking of using my handler as part trade, and just keeping the Miller. The buy it price on the rental is $500. I was thinking of offering them $200+my Hobart, which they have just replaced the circut board, and gun liner on. What do you think? Any reason not to? I haven't looked into it too closely, but I belive I would then have an arc welder, and a wire feed-I think there is a plug on the front for a work clamp next to the ground.

Shield Arc · Jan 26, 2012

If you mean "arc welder" as in SMAW? I'm pretty sure the Millermatic 35 is CV only.

yomax4 · Jan 26, 2012

If they will take $200 and your old Hobart. I would do it. You will get 20 more amps and the 35 although possibly early 80's model, It is a well thought of welder with parts still available. If the hobart feed motor went bad it will be a couple hundred to fix anyway.

JimRB · Jan 26, 2012

My Handler died once. It was just the switch in the gun which was relatively cheap and easy to fix. No opinion on the trade up.

monckywrench · Jan 26, 2012

I'd trade up.

me0418840987 · Jan 27, 2012

Shield Arc said:
If you mean "arc welder" as in SMAW? I'm pretty sure the Millermatic 35 is CV only.

What is the red positive plug on the front of the machine for, then? Obviously, I only plow steel together, I have no formal training, just learn as I go. This is not a picture of mine, mine has nothing plugged into the right socket.

deereman75 · Jan 27, 2012

me0418840987 said:
What is the red positive plug on the front of the machine for, then? Obviously, I only plow steel together, I have no formal training, just learn as I go. This is not a picture of mine, mine has nothing plugged into the right socket.

I think that is for switching between dcep and dcen, for when you change between solid wire and flux core.

yomax4 · Jan 28, 2012

me0418840987 said:
What is the red positive plug on the front of the machine for, then? Obviously, I only plow steel together, I have no formal training, just learn as I go. This is not a picture of mine, mine has nothing plugged into the right socket.

The older MM35's needed to be converted in order to use a new gun. The origional gun had a goofy spring in the handle to shut off the gas when you let go of the trigger. Once converted to a good gun, They added a gas solenoid in the machine. Sometimes they would hook up to the power block ( where the gun plugs in ) on the inside instead of using that red plug and that is where the gun gets its power. The red plug on the possitive side did that origionally. You could switch it back if you want to. It would make it easier to change polarity if you ever wanted to. If yours works and you don't need to run flux cored wire. Let it be. ( the white faced machines usually needed the conversion. later there were a few black faced units that were already set up with a solenoid.) Good Luck.