Welder Questions

[softballnrd27]

I'm in the market for a welder and I have narrowed it down to either the Hobart Handler 140 or the 210 w/multi voltage capability. I have to run 115 for now but I would like to have the ability for 230 when the time comes so I am leaning more towards the 210.

Besides the welder what else am I needing?
Helmet
Gloves
Gas bottle
Hoses

Any other advice when buying?

[Wasted Income]

The welder should come with the hoses and gas regulator. You'll want a cart as well for wheeling it around the shop. Clamps, grinder/wire brush for prep.

[truckster]

I love my 140. You'll also want a heavy cotton shirt or a welding apron. And a fire extinguisher nearby.

[68c10airstream]

Consider running a 220 volt circuit, use one leg off of it for your 110 needs for the time being. Size the wires for the worst case scenario, breaker it for you lighter current needs now. Just run the heavier 220 wires now, a pair of hot legs, a neutral and ground. Then use one hot leg, neutral and ground for now. You are always safe running heavier wires than needed, and breaker it for a lighter load. I feel this is safer and cheaper in the long run rather than running a 110 circuit now and then pull that out and retrace your steps to run a new 220 circuit.

[tinydb84]

Go bigger. I have the Hobart 190. Love it. I regret not getting the MVP though. It would be nice to be able to use it in places where they don't have 220.

It comes with everything but the bottle and wire (I think mine came with flux core). I got a 60cf bottle. It lasts me close to a year.

Get an auto darkening helmet. I have two. I have a harbor freight brand for my mig work and a 3M Speedglas for my tig work. I don't know if my harbor freight will ever die but when it does I am going to spend a few more bucks for a helmet with a larger viewing area and less dark lens.

Buy a set of nicer gloves. I like the softer leather as you can move a bit more in them and wont really need the heat protection that the thick leather has.

[softballnrd27]

I rent so adding another dedicated 220 circuit might be out of the question but my laundry room is close enough to where I can use the dryer plug when I need to weld.

[faribran]

I will vote for the bigger welder

[tinydb84]

Originally Posted by softballnrd27

I rent so adding another dedicated 220 circuit might be out of the question but my laundry room is close enough to where I can use the dryer plug when I need to weld.

The outlet for a dryer is different from the welder. I made a conversion plug so I can plug into dryer outlets when I need to weld somewhere other than my garage.

[slotard]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

The outlet for a dryer is different from the welder. I made a conversion plug so I can plug into dryer outlets when I need to weld somewhere other than my garage.

Depends on the age of the house, and what was put on the welder. My 175HD (bought used) has the same plug as the house I lived in at the time (1970s) as well as the house I live in now (1920s, don't know when it was wired for a dryer).

[Mr. 250r]

I know this thread is a little old and i haven't been posting on this forum lately but if you haven't bought anything yet from a welder's standpoint i swear to you always go as big as you can go. Not to sway you away from whatever welder's you are looking at but i would get the miller 211 for these reasons.

1. It's miller
2. When setup correctly and correct technique is used it runs like a dream
3. They just released a newer version that's lighter and even more portable
4. It's power is underrated
5. Resale value

I reviewed the older version which bums me out that they released a newer lighter version but its whatever i would've/should've got a mm252 but i do like the portability of the 211's the new version is 38lbs mine has to be like 60-70. The review of it is in my signature if anybody is interested.

[Wasted Income]

Originally Posted by Mr. 250r

I know this thread is a little old and i haven't been posting on this forum lately but if you haven't bought anything yet from a welder's standpoint i swear to you always go as big as you can go. Not to sway you away from whatever welder's you are looking at but i would get the miller 211 for these reasons.

1. It's miller
2. When setup correctly and correct technique is used it runs like a dream
3. They just released a newer version that's lighter and even more portable
4. It's power is underrated
5. Resale value

I reviewed the older version which bums me out that they released a newer lighter version but its whatever i would've/should've got a mm252 but i do like the portability of the 211's the new version is 38lbs mine has to be like 60-70. The review of it is in my signature if anybody is interested.

+1

Backstory...I bought a Miller SyncroWave 210 at SEMA a couple years back. I was swayed by the fact that it was an inverter TIG, but could also do MIG duties via the included spool-gun. So I sold my Syncro 200, and my Millermatic 135 and went to town.

Fast forward a little over a year, and I love the TIG part of the combo, but HATE the spool-gun MIG. Heavy, clunky, welds like chit, and hard to fit in tight spaces.....so, my new Millermatic 211 inverter just showed up on Saturday. I laid a couple welds with it, and OMFG, I should have bought it long ago. Best home hobbyist MIG I've ever welded with, hands down.

So...this is another vote for the MM211.