Opinion on a Lincoln easy-mig welder 140 wire

yomax4 · Nov 16, 2018

One thing I think that gets overlooked on the smaller machines is the Gun. If I were to buy a 115v unit I would make sure it had the Tweco/Lincoln, Miller or Euro connect back end. ( most have one of these). At least then you can put a more robust gun of several different brands on the thing. Some of the HF, Hobart and ESAB Caddy Mig units have freakazoid rear ends and you have to buy the same gun again if you should wreck yours. Lastly, Lincoln, Miller, Hobart, ESAB. Do not "Make" welders. They are all sourced or assembled with sourced parts.

Al 2 · Nov 16, 2018

I don't understand your comment. " 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." Most members including myself suggest a 220 volt machine if price isn't an option. There is nothing 'wrong ' with a 120 volt machine . A 220 volt unit would be better value in most cases.
Al

farm boy00 · Nov 16, 2018

yomax4 said:
It used to be with Lincoln that the infinite controls were the welding supply model and the Tap settings like the old Lincoln Weld-Pak were the box store units. Not for sure if that is still the deal or not. They even threw in some Century by Lincoln in some of the box stores. Others like the older Hobart Handlers only had Taps so not sure there either but they were solid units too. At the end of the day all of the 115V welders put out about the same. Roughly 90 amps. I remember having a Lincoln SP100 115V. It had higher output with 030 hard wire than 023 or 035 cored wire. You just can't get enough volts to go through the 023 to run even the 115v units wide open. As always DC tongs on the ground tells all.

Not sure for all things but the one I linked to ($500) seemed to be the same as the ($800) one. May not be the same for all but was for my case.

metalbender · Nov 16, 2018

The drive roll assembly on the box store versions is of plastic construction. The welding store ones are metal.

TMGT · Nov 17, 2018

farm boy00 said:
Not sure for all things but the one I linked to ($500) seemed to be the same as the ($800) one. May not be the same for all but was for my case.

It appears the 140HD is what you were looking at, the one at the welding store was most likely the 140C. it is hard to get details on them but past models the main differences between the 2 were the HD or T models were tap machines and the C had a fully adjustable voltage control.

I think there were some improvements to the drive system on the C models and maybe a few other little things like heavier reinforced handles etc.
Bothe appear to have aluminum feeder drives according to the literature though.

BubbaJr · Nov 17, 2018

Al 2 said:
I don't understand your comment. " 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." Most members including myself suggest a 220 volt machine if price isn't an option. There is nothing 'wrong ' with a 120 volt machine . A 220 volt unit would be better value in most cases.
Al

As a 70 year old diabetic with 5 bypasses and arthritis, I don't think I'll live long enough to get my moneys worth out of a 220V welder. So yesterday I went back to Rural King to get the item number to order a new one. Then I noticed they had gotten a new Hobart 140 in. So I brought that home with a new helmet, and leather apron. I already have welding gloves that I've been using to tend our fireplace with. Now it's time to unbox it and start learning.

Thanks, everyone,
Joe

RandyT · Nov 17, 2018

BubbaJr said:
As a 70 year old diabetic with 5 bypasses and arthritis, I don't think I'll live long enough to get my moneys worth out of a 220V welder. So yesterday I went back to Rural King to get the item number to order a new one. Then I noticed they had gotten a new Hobart 140 in. So I brought that home with a new helmet, and leather apron. I already have welding gloves that I've been using to tend our fireplace with. Now it's time to unbox it and start learning.

Thanks, everyone,
Joe

I have run a Hobart Handler 140 for several years, and may not be perfect in some cases, but will run some good welds both with gas or as a flux core.

WranglerX · Nov 17, 2018

I say it again... Love my HH140...

Dale

yomax4 · Nov 17, 2018

BubbaJr said:
As a 70 year old diabetic with 5 bypasses and arthritis, I don't think I'll live long enough to get my moneys worth out of a 220V welder. So yesterday I went back to Rural King to get the item number to order a new one. Then I noticed they had gotten a new Hobart 140 in. So I brought that home with a new helmet, and leather apron. I already have welding gloves that I've been using to tend our fireplace with. Now it's time to unbox it and start learning.

Thanks, everyone,
Joe

Now You're cookin !! Anyone with any interest in Welding will be hooked once they get their 1st welder. You're 70 now so you can run the 140 for 10 years and see what you think. Good Luck !!