Hobart Handler 140 or MillerMatic 135

[shanker]

I am going to buy one of these welders in the next week, Does anyone have any of these, and what are the pro's and cons.

I have experience w/ the Hobart Handler 140, but not any Miller welders.

 

[bmwpower]

Aren't the Millers variable amperage so you can dial in the power you need?

 

[hotrod66paul]

I have a hobart 135 that does OK. If I was told correctly, miller has bought out hobart. Bought mine 2yrs ago on ebay from a welding supplier that had it drop shipped from the factory , frieght free.

 

[Lu47Dan]

Illinois Tool Works own both companies . If you can afford a little higher price go to the Hobart Handler 175 , I have this welder and it has served me well . Cart ***** but the welder works fine . I went with the heavier machine because I do more sturcturaul welding , than sheetmetal welding . it was more than the 140 but would serve my purpose better . What are you welding ? Dan

 

[Truckguy]

This is only my second post so I'll make it quick. Go with the Miller. I have the 175. I got a 220 volt because I do a lot of chassis work.

 

[SCOOTER]

TRUE BLUE all the way...either will work but I'm a BLUE fan....and Yes I heard the same thing Miller owns Hobart..her it what I was told the difference...Miller has copper windings..Hobarl Aluminium windings.....Now an old wise welding instructor I once had said........"I'm no genious so when I buy a welder I pick it up....buy the heaviest one in your price range"....I asked why??? and he said "Cause the old ones that are still around after 20-30 years are Fawkin HEAVY"................nuff said....carry on

 

[Jay H 237]

I have the Millermatic 135 and I am happy with it. My welder is visible in the bottom pic on this page of mine. I use 75/25 gas, no flux core. I did have to run a dedicated 20 amp 110v line in the garage for it. The welder works much better than trying to use it with the original outlet that was out there and is on the same line as the rest of the garage including the lights.

I don't do any heavy welding or fabrication with it, just sheet metal replacement. The Hobart Handler 140 is similar to the 135. I bought the Miller at my local Airgas distributer. Personnally I would buy whichever one you could get a better deal on. Buying a popular welder like a Miller, Hobart, or Lincoln means finding parts in the future if needed won't be hard like it would be with some unknown brands.

If you're planning on welding anything heavier than 1/4" then by all means save up more and go for the Millermatic 175 or Hobart Handler 180. The 110v units won't cut it.

 

[Krodad]

I have a few welders, but the little Hobart is the handiest one. I don't know how many times I've been glad to have a 110v welder that I can use in various weird places where easy access to 220 is not available.
Obviously either the Hobart or Miller are going to be great for you. I put my Hobart on a pressure washer cart, and use a really small cylinder that sits in a steel pipe that I welded to the rear of the cart. Wrap the cords around the front handle, and I've got an all-terrain welder cart with gas and all. It's just like owning a truck...you will be everyone's best friend at times 'cause the ability to take that thing (or loan it to someone in need) and fix something is just invaluable.
I have even welded quite a lot of aluminum with the optional plastic liner, but I'd only suggest it in a pinch as it is VERY finnicky. Many birds nests back by the drive roller if you don't have everything just perfect.

 

[Slide]

I have the Miller 135, and I like it. It does surprisingly well on stuff up to about 3/16 or 1/4 inch if you kinda make the right adjustments to wire speed and your travel speed. I've never hit the duty cycle on it, either.

I went for the Miller over the Hobarts and Lincolns because it has the infinite heat control... like a rheostat. The others have just a selector knob that has detents for lo-med-hi-max, etc. (Lincoln has a version with the infinite control, but it was more expensive than the Miller at the time I bought mine.)

 

[sberry]

went for the Miller over the Hobarts and Lincolns because it has the infinite heat control...

Actually all the models talked about here have infinate heat selection. (well up to their max,, hahaha)

 

[Slide]

sberry27, I think you are joking, but just to avoid confusion, I checked Hobart's site and downloaded their spec sheet on the Handler 140. There are 4 heat settings on that model. The Miller's have a rheostat-style knob, so if heat setting #2 is too cold, and #3 is too hot, then you can turn it to 2.38742896. Very helpful on pitted sheet metal, etc.

 

[shanker]

Im going to be using this welder specifically for doing body work on my old cars, and mild chassis work and maybe some exhaust stuff.

I used to use my Father--in-Laws welder which he bought off of the MAC truck and it was a great welder, but I want the biggest 110v unit for ease of portability.

 

[ricks rat]

Miller and Hobart are built on the same assembly line. One feature I really like about my Handler 175 is the purge setting for the gas. It lets you make sure you have gas all the way down the hose before you start the weld.

 

[carcentric]

What amp circuit breaker are you guys with 110v welders using?

xx135 and xx140 are supposed to work on a 20 amp circuit, but my Hobart AirForce 250A (plasma cutter) - which is also supposed to work on a 110v 20 amp circuit - has starting tripping the 20 amp breakers in my subpanel (same results on two different circuits).

 

[Willy Victor]

I have the Hobart 125 and am thinking on buying the Mig upgrade kit. I guess I should have gone with the 140 from the get go. Oh well live and learn. I'm more or less a hobby welder, so I don't have to worry about holding up the Sears Tower. Just joined this forum, lot of neat stuff here

Willy Victor

 

[Jay H 237]

What amp circuit breaker are you guys with 110v welders using?

xx135 and xx140 are supposed to work on a 20 amp circuit, but my Hobart AirForce 250A (plasma cutter) - which is also supposed to work on a 110v 20 amp circuit - has starting tripping the 20 amp breakers in my subpanel (same results on two different circuits).

I have the Millermatic 135. I ran a dedicated 20a 110v outlet for it in the garage. The wiring is 12/2 and runs a total length of 6' from the breaker panel to the outlet. Since the outlet I ran is in the garage I originally installed a 20a GFCI outlet but the welder kept tripping it so I replaced it with a regular 20a outlet. The main breaker never tripped, just the GFCI. If the time comes to sell the house I will reinstall a 20a GFCI so it will be code.