auxilary Posted June 14, 2004 Share Posted June 14, 2004 sears sucks. I ordered a craftsman 115V mig that's rated to weld up to 3/16" steel for 299 from their site about 3 weeks ago. Guess what I don't have? I'm contemplating cancelling my order and getting a hobart mig 125 unit from harbor freight, since they're local and have these in stock. Any feedback? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted June 14, 2004 Share Posted June 14, 2004 Ask Owen about Sears welders..... I wonder if he used a Sears sledgehammer to 'correct' the problem..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheelman Posted June 14, 2004 Share Posted June 14, 2004 Aux, I bought a Hobart Handler 135 and have been very happy with it. Mine was already setup for gas so it cost a little more but they are good welders. I believe Hobart, Miller and Lincoln are all made by the same company now. What is the 125 rated to weld in a single pass? The 135 is rated by Hobart to be able to do 3/16" but you have to use the larger .035 wire which means you'll need to get some larger contact tips. I've used inner shield and solid wire and it worked very well with both although the solid is easier to use on very thin sheet without burning through. Wheelman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted June 14, 2004 Share Posted June 14, 2004 The advantage in the MillerMatic 135 or the Lincoln 135 + (I think that is the right Lincoln) is that the wire feed speed and voltage are infinitely adjustable. IIRC the wire speed on the Hobart is infinite, but the voltage is set with a switch that only has 5 settings. One might be too cold, and the next is too hot. That being said I have a friend with a Hobart 135 and he loves it, and uses it all the time to make parts for the printing presses that he fixes. I just don't think its as good a choice for fixing thin rusty sheet metal on a Datsun. I don't know what you were looking to spend, but I did get a MillerMatic 135 with a Hobart hood and some gloves from the ebay seller weldfabulous for $607. They were great. After buying a tank and a few little accessories and replacing the regulator which broke almost immediately I was into it about $860. Works great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted June 14, 2004 Share Posted June 14, 2004 Hobart makes a really solid product, comparable to Miller or Lincoln for build quality and performance in my experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auxilary Posted June 14, 2004 Author Share Posted June 14, 2004 great. I just got a confirmation frmo sears that my order is ready for pickup. should I just go to the store and return it right away, or try it out, and then return it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad-ManQ45 Posted June 14, 2004 Share Posted June 14, 2004 Return it. Get the Hobart 135 - don't get the 125 - the cost go convert to gas is too much. The 135/140 already has it all. The Sears stuff is hard to get parts for and doesn't weld well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilRufusKay Posted June 14, 2004 Share Posted June 14, 2004 AUX, definatley get a gas welder. Trust a guy who has been struggling with a flux core setup...... Stinky poo poo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dp351zcar Posted June 15, 2004 Share Posted June 15, 2004 get the hobart 135 you won't be sorry. The gas hook up works great, all you need is the tank. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted June 15, 2004 Share Posted June 15, 2004 I had a Sears stick welder. Yeah it worked ok for welding thick metal but I counldnt even think about touching sheet metal. Now withmy new Lincoln Weld Pak 100 MIG welder I can weld everthing that I need to. Yeah I have about $650 into that welder for the gas coversion set up, tank, welder, and auto darkening helmet. I absolutely love it. It is supposed to be able to weld 1/4" in a single pass. I havent tried welding anything that thick yet though so I dont know. I know I love welding sheet metal with it! Yeah it only has 4 (or maybe 5, I cant remember) voltage settings but it has infinitely adjustabe wire speed. I almost bought a HOBART but I didnt know much about the brand so I went with a well known brand like Lincoln. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auxilary Posted June 15, 2004 Author Share Posted June 15, 2004 Well, I went to harbor freight and got a Hobart 125 for $329 (sears sells it for 350 AFTER rebate). Yeah guys, I know, should've gotten a 135 because the gas conversion is already installed. However, it was $470 and I can't spend that much money, and the work I'm doing is not something that would be visible. I can always buy a gas conversion kit late for about 100 bucks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted June 15, 2004 Share Posted June 15, 2004 Ask Owen about Sears welders..... I wonder if he used a Sears sledgehammer to 'correct' the problem..... NO...I DIDN'T use a Sears hammer. My intention was to smash the welder so I used a QUALITY hammer from somewhere else. SEARS SUX! I can't find the picture of my smashed welder but I know I have a copy at home. My story, Sears welder crapped out, took it in for repair. Needed some cheap part from Taiwan, in the meantime, the Sears people are giving me the runaround,etc. 3 months later got it back and the same night the main powerboard shoots sparks and the damn box starts smoking...Sooo, out comes the hammer! I now have the Hobart 135. Got it at a welding shop for it's reputation and the companies that make it. $400 out the door, with gloves, welding tips, and a couple of rolls of wire. It's a great unit, Jon is right on the voltage settings, but I've had no problems with the sheetmetal or 1/4" thick steel. Naturally I'm using a gas bottle. Owen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.