A dedicated area for reviews, thoughts, and feedback on shop/welding products
Chicago Electric Welders
Post Reply
tschmitt
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Tue Jan 20, 2015 8:26 pm
  • Location:
    Georgia

I recently finished at a technical college for welding and I am looking to pick up a relatively cheap machine for some projects around the house. In school I used Miller but currently don't have the money for that(all though I would love to) so when I saw Chicago Electric at my local harbor freight i started to think I could afford the couple hundred for a mig/flux machine. I'm only looking to build some small fire pits, yard art etc. so it wouldn't be anything super heavy duty. I am wondering if it is worth getting or just waiting until I have the money for a Hobart machine. Thank you for your advice/thoughts.
"Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence." VINCE LOMBARDI
Top
Farmwelding
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Mar 10, 2016 11:37 pm
  • Location:
    Wisconsin

In my opinion...I would wait. Look around on craiglsist to for a cheap wire welder or maybe a stick welder if it suits your needs. Buzzboxes or a Hobart handler 140 are popular in some parts of the country on Craigslist. Horrible freight may be cheap but they aren't reliable (duty cycle included) and if I remember right they have a constant flow of electricity so if you set the gun down and hit the contact tip on your table-you get an arc.
A student now but really want to weld everyday. Want to learn everything about everything. Want to become a knower of all and master of none.
Instagram: @farmwelding
Nick
Top
ODIS
  • ODIS
  • Active Member
    Active Member
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Mon Dec 12, 2016 9:36 pm
  • Location:
    Minnesota

Do you want to waste 200 bucks or make a 400 dollar investment?

In the area that I live in the closest Miller service center will honor the warranty work on Hobart machines bought from a
Fleet Farm store.

That makes it a better deal than an Everlast in my book.

Best to stay away from most harbor freight products that have an electrical cord.
Top
tschmitt
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Tue Jan 20, 2015 8:26 pm
  • Location:
    Georgia

I've done a little more research and think I am going with a Hobart for now and Miller later on down the road
"Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence." VINCE LOMBARDI
Top
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sun Oct 27, 2013 10:57 pm
  • Location:
    Big Lake/Monticello MN, U.S.A.

tschmitt wrote:I've done a little more research and think I am going with a Hobart for now and Miller later on down the road
Hobart is made by Miller - look at the Hobart stickmate compared to the Miller thunderbolt :)
Dave J.

Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~

Syncro 350
Invertec v250-s
Thermal Arc 161 and 300
MM210
Dialarc
Tried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Top
tschmitt
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Tue Jan 20, 2015 8:26 pm
  • Location:
    Georgia

I think for the small projects I am planning right now I will go with the Hobart handler 140 mig welder then get something more serious. Another question I have is about flux core. I know how to mig but I have never done flux core, are they basically the same thing with the only major difference being that has is not required for flux?
"Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence." VINCE LOMBARDI
Top
Farmwelding
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Mar 10, 2016 11:37 pm
  • Location:
    Wisconsin

Overall they are about the same. With flux core though you should always pull the gun as goes the saying if there is slag you drag and then cleaning flux off at the end. And if I remember right I think the self shielded flux core wires are not supposed to be used on multi pass welds. That may be just the wire I use but I think it is universal. Now have I done it-yes. Did they hold-yes.
A student now but really want to weld everyday. Want to learn everything about everything. Want to become a knower of all and master of none.
Instagram: @farmwelding
Nick
Top
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sun Oct 27, 2013 10:57 pm
  • Location:
    Big Lake/Monticello MN, U.S.A.

Farmwelding wrote:Overall they are about the same. With flux core though you should always pull the gun as goes the saying if there is slag you drag and then cleaning flux off at the end. And if I remember right I think the self shielded flux core wires are not supposed to be used on multi pass welds. That may be just the wire I use but I think it is universal. Now have I done it-yes. Did they hold-yes.
It is not universal. Many common flux core wires are multi pass.

Considering their use in large industrial applications, why would you think different?

Example: multi pass 71t-11 and 71t-8 and many others.

Listed as single pass: 71t-gs and 71t-14

Read the designation listings to decide what you want - there are many more than what I listed.
Dave J.

Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~

Syncro 350
Invertec v250-s
Thermal Arc 161 and 300
MM210
Dialarc
Tried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Top
Fordseniormastertech
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Mon Jul 03, 2017 9:34 pm
  • Location:
    USA

tschmitt wrote:I think for the small projects I am planning right now I will go with the Hobart handler 140 mig welder then get something more serious. Another question I have is about flux core. I know how to mig but I have never done flux core, are they basically the same thing with the only major difference being that has is not required for flux?
You won't go wrong with a Hobart. I've been using a handler 210 for 10 years now and have had no problems with it. Only had to replace the work clamp after a few years.
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Product Reviews”