Upgrading Welder---Looking at Hobart Handlers 125EZ vs. 140

[Lumberdink]

My brush forks project renewed my interest in gluing metal (I will post pics under the Attachments Forum). I've been kicking tires lately, thinking about upgrading my Harbor Fright 90amp flux core welder (I know you're laughing).:laughing: I bought it a couple years ago and figured if the welding bug bit me, I'd upgrade it. If not, I'd only be out of $89.00 (or $49.00 after I sold it on craigslist for $50). Despite its limitations and having no training whatsoever, I've fabricated a small firewood rack, coat rack, a rack for my weight plates in my gym, and yesterday, a brush fork for my new Kubotee. The welds are ugly with lots of splatter but they seem to stay stuck.
Anyhoo, what can I expect to accomplish with an upgrade to a Handler 140? Is the gas worth it? From what I've read, I believe my welds (with gas) should be prettier. The 140 is capable of welding light aluminum and I do have one potential aluminum project. Can I just swap out the flux core or steel wire for aluminum wire and add argon or do I need to buy an expensive aluminum spool gun? I think the gun is more $ than the dang welder itself. I looked at the EZ125 at TSC and I like the idiot-proofness of just 4 settings. The local welding shop sells Hobart but he says his Handler 140 ($595.00) is better built than the one TSC sells. I don't know if this is just marketing BS because his buying power is limited to a few units at a time or if Hobart really does make a big box consumer version to keep the price down ($499.00). At least if I did purchase from the local guy, I wouldn't feel bad about picking his brain for some advice.
I would like to stick with something I can just plug into the wall rather than rewiring my garage. I don't plan on building bridges. What are the pros and cons of these two welders? Both seem to get rave reviews.

 

[weldingisfun]

My brush forks project renewed my interest in gluing metal (I will post pics under the Attachments Forum). I've been kicking tires lately, thinking about upgrading my Harbor Fright 90amp flux core welder (I know you're laughing).:laughing: I bought it a couple years ago and figured if the welding bug bit me, I'd upgrade it. If not, I'd only be out of $89.00 (or $49.00 after I sold it on craigslist for $50). Despite its limitations and having no training whatsoever, I've fabricated a small firewood rack, coat rack, a rack for my weight plates in my gym, and yesterday, a brush fork for my new Kubotee. The welds are ugly with lots of splatter but they seem to stay stuck.
Anyhoo, what can I expect to accomplish with an upgrade to a Handler 140? Is the gas worth it? From what I've read, I believe my welds (with gas) should be prettier. The 140 is capable of welding light aluminum and I do have one potential aluminum project. Can I just swap out the flux core or steel wire for aluminum wire and add argon or do I need to buy an expensive aluminum spool gun? I think the gun is more $ than the dang welder itself. I looked at the EZ125 at TSC and I like the idiot-proofness of just 4 settings. The local welding shop sells Hobart but he says his Handler 140 ($595.00) is better built than the one TSC sells. I don't know if this is just marketing BS because his buying power is limited to a few units at a time or if Hobart really does make a big box consumer version to keep the price down ($499.00). At least if I did purchase from the local guy, I wouldn't feel bad about picking his brain for some advice.
I would like to stick with something I can just plug into the wall rather than rewiring my garage. I don't plan on building bridges. What are the pros and cons of these two welders? Both seem to get rave reviews.

Not knowing your local welding shop owner personally, but it sounds like he is throwing a load of BS at you.

I just recently went through the same thing you are facing with the same welders, the Hobart 140 and 125 EZ. My old Campbell-Hausfeld Ranch Hand wire feed gave up the ghost and had to be replaced.

Comparing the 125 EZ and 140 I chose the 125 EZ. TSC had it on sale = $ savings. They didn't carry the 140 in stock, Internet sales only. I was in the middle of a project and needed a welder right away. Comparing the cost offsets, wire for the 140 costs less but the savings is offset by the cost of the gas cylinder and refills.

Bottomline, I am happy with my choice and think you would be too.:thumbsup:

 

[Brad_Blazer]

I have an older HH135 I've been happy with. I use CO2 gas since it's a lot cheaper and the price of MIG gas was really going up. You get 4x as much gas from a similar sized CO2 cylinder. HF sells an inexpensive CO2 regulator.


If I was buying now I would probably go with the MIG200 w/ spool gun from Northern. Perfect for aluminum mig plus you get DC stick and you can even add a TIG torch. All you need is a 220V dryer circuit to run it. If your panel is in the garage adding the circuit is a piece of cake.
Northern Industrial Welders Hybrid MIG/Stick 200 with Spool Gun | Wirefeed Welders | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[JCByrd24]

Save you self the headache of needing to upgrade again, and spend the money on a 220V machine, like the one Brad posted, or my current choice would be the Hobart 187. You're obviously hooked on welding and owning a tractor and getting into customization and modifications of your implements you're going to be welding on some heavier steel. If you need to spread out the cost you can wait on gas, but it is something you should do eventually. This is a long term purchase and the extra cost will be forgotten well before the first time you wished you had the extra power.

 

[radioman]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I am in the same boat now. I have the hobart 125 ez from TSC too. It did a ok job on a few things, but there were times I needed to weld thicker/dirty metal. The only thing I hated was the liner keeps breaking and its not cheap. MY local TSC doesnt carry them and I have to go to welding shop and get one, but then they give me funny looks. I always wanted to try the tombstones units as they are supposedly worth the cost. Can anyone tell me if the tombstone an good upgrade from wireflux 120V welders ?

 

[crash325]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I am in the same boat now. I have the hobart 125 ez from TSC too. It did a ok job on a few things, but there were times I needed to weld thicker/dirty metal. The only thing I hated was the liner keeps breaking and its not cheap. MY local TSC doesnt carry them and I have to go to welding shop and get one, but then they give me funny looks. I always wanted to try the tombstones units as they are supposedly worth the cost. Can anyone tell me if the tombstone an good upgrade from wireflux 120V welders ?

Keep what you have and add a Tombstone. Was in local "Lowe's" last week and brand new one on sale $225. Guy at local swap meet has one, barely used for $150. Both are AC only. That is all the welder that I have and if my only choice would get another one. But hoping to find a good AC / DC. In the last month have gone through over 15# of rod and around 400 welds. Some only about 9/16" and some over 57". Just stay away from 7018 rod.

 

[cowski]

my neighbor has a lincoln 140 with a aluminum kit . this consists of a teflon liner aluminum drive wheels and tips.this is a much cheaper way to weld aluminum.hobart may offer one? you also need argon gas for aluminum .the kits are not equal to a spool gun but a lot cheaper.

 

[mjncad]

If the OP is hooked on welding, like another poster said...get a 240V unit, and I'll add by a reputable manufacturer such as Miller, Lincoln, or Hobart. Miller and Hobart are owned by ITW (Illinois Tool Works).

A spool gun makes aluminum welding easier as it only has to push that soft wire a real short distance compared to 10' or more through a regular gun.

 

[Lumberdink]

The only thing I hated was the liner keeps breaking and its not cheap.

I'm not even sure what a liner is but the guy at the LWS said the Handler 140 that Tractor Suplly sells has more plastic parts inside (vs. metal) than the one he sells. He said something about the circuit boards not being replaceable or something to that effect too. I'd be tempted to check with Hobart to see if they really do make a big box "consumer" version of the Handler.
Thanks for the advice. :thumbsup: Buying the best and crying once is always the way to go. I am on a budget after buying a BX2660, used rotary cutter, and a snow plow in the immediate future though. Patience, Grasshopper!

 

[Lumberdink]

Update...
Both Hobart's website and TSC list the Handler 140 as "Model #500500" so I'm thinking the LWS is badmouthing TSC because he just doesn't have the buying power. He buys 2 at a time; TSC buys 500 so they can discount it. 100 bucks is 100 bucks...