RealGear MIG welder?

[Metric]

Anybody ever heard of/tried these?
My local welding supply store has this one on sale for $299.
The guy says it's a direct copy of the Lincoln 140C -- yes 140 *C*, i.e. it has continuous voltage selection!!
It will also take a Lincoln gun/spool gun plug and play.
I originally went there to ask for prices on the Hobart and Miller 140, but when he showed me that one, it made hesitate quite a bit!
I also like the fact that the company is completely honest about the country of origin (China).
So, any experience with this welder?

 

[Skyline]

Funny how "RealGear USA" is made in CHINA....I don't find that type of labeling particularly honest. Have you compared Duty Cycles to the Lincoln? A lot of Chicom welders have really crappy duty cycles...and many do not get anywhere close to the claimed duty cycles. If a USA made welder by one of the top brands says it can do a certain duty cycle, you can take that to the bank.

I'd say stick to Lincoln, Miller, Hobart or ESAB....even if you have to buy used to get what you want for your budget. And unless you plan on doing nothing but sheet metal and other very light gauge welding, I'd think about stepping up to a 220v machine. I'd look for a used Millermatic 250 for somehwere around $800-900.

 

[Mickey O]

$299 for a Chinese welder, why not just throw the money out your window. Get a quality built welder, that means one made in the USA. And the salesman won't say anything bad about it because he sells them and probably makes more profit on them. If you really want to buy a cheap crappy Chinese welder get it at Harbor Freight those ones are basically Miller welders, except that they're not and don't preform as well nor last as long.

 

[Warg]

When it comes to stuff that you want to last, I'd be very careful buying Chinese stuff. I'm sick and tired of hearing that it's as good as the real stuff, because it isn't. Been there, done that, won't do it again.
Like some one said, get a Miller, Hobart, Lincoln, or ESAB. They get the work done, and done right.
I'd prefer the ESAB, but that's me.

 

[35mastr]

I would not buy it. If you have a small budget. Get a good name brand used welder from CL.

You will always need to get consumables. Those china welders can be hard to get that stuff for them. As they have newer models coming out all the time making the one you buy obsolete.

 

[Zrexxer]

The guy says it's a direct copy of the Lincoln 140C --

You don't see Lincoln making cheaper copies of Chinese designed welders... nuff said.

Seriously, a brand name welder in the size you're looking for is a tremendous bargain, even at brand name prices. The $100 - $200 you will save buying a knockoff POS will never recoup itself. But a good quality machine that lasts for years can pay for itself very quickly.

 

[Metric]

I am fully ready to drop what it takes to get a hobart or a miller. I know they are good and I *really* want one. I went into that store specifically to look at them. I'm working on my first big metal/body work project and I want to be able to do this one all on my own.
I wouldn't normally even look at a Chinese welder, but I just had to ask about this one because it comes with a good warranty and the guys says the parts interchange with the Lincoln -- which means replacement parts should be available for a while.
Also, I know I will want more power down the road so I though this could be a cheap way to start working on my own until I need/can afford a bigger machine.
Oh well, I'll just keep looking for used welders on craigslist I guess ...

 

[ZRX61]

the guys says the parts interchange with the Lincoln -- which means replacement parts should be available for a while.

By "replacement parts interchangable with Lincoln" ..... I'd bet he's probably refering to the spool the wire is on

 

[35mastr]

Buy the biggest welder that your wallet can afford.

You will always need more welder than you think.

There is nothing worse than having a machine that wont do the task at hand.

 

[blueflowershorts]

i bought one of these from a welding shop in maine. I really wish i could of bought a lincoln 140, but this little machine has more than proved it's self. the shop i work at bought a weldmark 140 and my realgear 140 it twice the machine that the weld mark is. it feeds smoother and is more forgiving.

 

[scooby074]

****.

Get a miller, lincolin or ESAB. look ebay or online classifieds. Even the italian (Air Liquide for one) welders are better than the Chicom stuff.

 

[Cyrix2k]

I just got the RealGear MIG140 welder and it seems to be a clone of the Lincoln 140C. Everything works as advertised - good power/duty cycle, and smooth feed. The consumables are "industry standard" lincoln parts... the lincoln spool gun & torch will plug right in to the realgear and work! Duty cycle is 20% @ 90A. Just like you, the salesman said he was very impressed by this welder and he also said that he was more than willing to sell me a hobart/lincoln/miller, but that this does just as good of a job at half the price. It will blow holes through 1/8" mild steel.

 

[t100]

I sold my really good condition Miller 130 for $350 in Aug., with regular. keep looking, stay away, as for a mig welder, no other than blue or red.

 

[Zrexxer]

I just got the RealGear MIG140 welder and it seems to be a clone of the Lincoln 140C. Everything works as advertised

Hmmm... so you joined just to trumpet the virtues of this Chinese knockoff? How convenient... Does anyone smell "shoulder pork and ham?"

 

[shovel]

Hey Metric, these guys are trying to steer you in the right direction on the big name welders. There is a guy in our neck of the woods that repairs welders. He will tell you in a heartbeat to stay away from Chinese and Italian made welders. IF anything goes wrong, there are NO repair parts available. He rebuilt my 30+ year old Airco mig welder and knows what he is doing. The no-name stuff way indeed weld wonderfully, but if you are going to spend that much, spend a little more and protect your investment. My .02

 

[crewchief888]

i had an old daytona mig for many many years. i used it mainly for sheetmetal work. when it decided not to work more than it worked, parts were limited availability. i finally threw the thing out the door one night, and went out and bought a lincoln promig 140. found one on sale at lowes, saved nearly $200 over what the weld shop wanted, and i know i can always buy replacement parts and consumables.
the biggest problem ive ever had with any mig ive used, miller, hobart,lincoln, or the daytonamig was cheapass wire, 'specially the **** they sell at HF and menards. ive had really good luck with lincoln brand wire. usually pick it up at lowes $10 cheaper than anyplace else.
just my 2 cents

 

[back2class]

I had one of those Italain Migs. From Daytona mig I think. Worked great untill it didn't. STAY AWAY from the junk migs.

 

[crewchief888]

I had one of those Italain Migs. From Daytona mig I think. Worked great untill it didn't. STAY AWAY from the junk migs.

i bought mine used off a matco truck in 1993, and used it until 2006 when it finally crapped out. woulda cost me more in parts than i payed for it, the 2 handed toss out the overhead door really did it in tho

 

[back2class]

i bought mine used off a matco truck in 1993, and used it until 2006 when it finally crapped out. woulda cost me more in parts than i payed for it, the 2 handed toss out the overhead door really did it in tho

YES!! My hunk of **** came off a Matco truck too.

 

[crewchief888]

YES!! My hunk of **** came off a Matco truck too.

lmao!!!

 

[Cyrix2k]

Hmmm... so you joined just to trumpet the virtues of this Chinese knockoff? How convenient... Does anyone smell "shoulder pork and ham?"

Pretty much as there seems to be some misinformation; I just found this site through google. I frequent other forums under this s/n though, so it's not like I'm trolling or a rep. I'd buy a lincoln/miller/hobart if I was doing serious fabrication, but for occasional use by a hobbyist, it's a great welder. If you google for reviews, you won't find anyone displeased with this welder. If it breaks in a few years, oh well. You can buy two for the price of a lincoln 140C. The duty cycle seems accurate if not conservative from what I've seen. I'm *very* impressed with the performance of this cheap unit.

 

[jfl1960]

Re: RealGear MIG welder? Update on durability

I know this is an old thread and I am going to get slammed for this but I am reporting on the durability of the RealGear Mig140 welder that was mentioned in the original topic by the thread starter. I have had this machine since 2008, I paid $390.00 Canadian as compared to $699.00 Canadian for my Lincoln of the exact same size, it has done everything I asked of it and only maintenance I have done is clean machine every 6 months or so, replace liners when needed and of course tips, it get tossed in back of my truck and taken to many of my friends garages to do small jobs for them, welded up to 1/2 inch gusset plates v-groove welds using multiple stingers and a preheat of 100 degrees F without any issues, and as thin as 18 or 20 gauge body panels with hardwire and gas, I use the Lincoln exclusively in my own garage and it never goes out of the shop, both work like pros, the only thing I like more about the RealGear is the selectors are both full rotary dials and not click type selectors like the range selector on the Lincoln. As far as duty cycles that's a joke, any of these small 120 volt welder are weak there, just make sure it's well ventilated and do not expect them to perform like an industrial welder and you will be fine, they are all designed for small garage and the home hobbyist and not for production so stop comparing apple to oranges so to speak, you will not get a 220 amp welder that is as versatile and performs much better than these units for less than $1000.00 and they will be hardwired or limited to areas where there is a at least a 30 amp maybe 40 amp 220V circuit available. My Lincoln shuts down just as often as my RealGear if I am tasking it too hard. Another very important thing is always operate the machine on a 20 AMP circuit, if you plug into a 15 AMP supply it will run but like **** and pop the breaker or fuse in short order. And the RealGear uses Lincoln parts which is very convenient. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[sberry]

I think the cheap ones have come up in quality and the price has went down. As more importers shopped harder for quality and spec the items they have got better. By reliable accounts the Eastwood thing works and this one probably does too and the price is 1/2 or less makes it worth some risk.
Some of the little stick inverters are priced even better and 1 step up from the cheapest and they get pretty good. In the case of this mig I believe one, in same class can be had for 100$ less and they have to cheapen it sucstantially again to make that.