The Hobart Handler 140 MIG Welder is a great machine for the beginner as well as professionals. Have you been considering Hobart Handler 140 MIG Welder Reviews? If so, then this article will help you make a more informed decision. The Hobart Handler 140 MIG Welder has a duty cycle of 20%@90A 18.5 VDC with 115V, 20A input and is rated at 1/4" weld thickness. It can be used with 100% argon or Argon blends.
Good Hobart Handler 140 MIG Welder Reviews are hard to find. That's why we've compiled the best Hobart Handler 140 MIG Welder Reviews from around the web and put them all right here for you! Read these Hobart Handler 140 MIG Welder Reviews, check out our buying guide, and see which Hobart model is perfect for you!
# Table of Contents
Is This Welder for You?
Yes, because it’s so easy to use, this welder is a great choice for beginners and pros alike. You can get quality welds on thicker metals because the 140 packs a powerful, reliable, and durable. It costs less than other welders in its class. Should your machine malfunction or break down the company will replace the steel with a full warranty you acquire from the purchase of that machine.
This unit has a lot going for it: efficiency (thanks to its compact design), simplicity (thanks to its smoke-free operation), convenience (due to an optional remote start kit) and more. Like all Hobarts though, the only drawback might have cost; while there are certainly plenty of cheaper alternatives available, very few offer quite the same level of welding performance.
If you’re looking for an affordable, portable, yet highly efficient welder with no frills attached then this is the machine for you. It has a high-quality build and life expectancy that will last for years of heavy use. While they are not as sturdy or efficient as larger machines, the 40i is designed to be your best friend in smaller jobs.
Technical Specifications
In-depth review of Hobart Handler 140 welder
The Hobart Handler 140 is great. It has a lot of good features that I really like. One of these is that it has thermal overload protection, which doesn't let it stop working when it's too hot.
Another one of my favorite features is the wire feed system, which stops when the wire gets hot, so you don't have to worry about getting hurt.
The Hobart Handler 140 runs on a 110-volt outlet, which is great for beginners. It can be plugged into any household outlet and then you will be able to weld.
The only downside of the handler 140 is that since it runs on 110-volts, there isn't much space for thicker metals because they can't be welded with an input voltage lowers than 220 volts; however, if your goal as a consumer was always thinner materials then this should not concern you at all.
On the other hand, some of you need more power and want a 220 volt Hobart Handler MIG welder. You might want to consider the Hobart Handler 210 MVP.
Moreover, if you want to make professional-quality welds, then you won't be disappointed with the Hobart Handler 140.
You can do lots of welding projects with this welder. If you want to make trailers, BBQ pits, or ornamental designs, then this is the one for you. It packs a big punch.
Pros and Cons
I want to tell you about the good and the bad when it comes to buying a welder. There are always things that people like and don't like when it comes to welders, so I wanted to share what I found in these Hobart Handler 140 reviews.
Let's get started by talking about the good. Then we'll talk about the drawbacks.
Pros:
- With only two knobs and a decent settings chart, the welding configuration is very straightforward.
- Wire feed speed is completely under your control.
- There are three drive rollers. If you don't like the old one, simply replace it with a new one (easy change without tools)
- The Hobart handler 140 uses a 5-position voltage control selector, allowing the user to fine-tune the arc on various thicknesses.
- This welder is perfect for a range of DIY projects. You can use it to make exhausts, auto body panels, gun racks, tool carts, sculptures like the ones in the garden, and more.
- This welder is simple to the group and utilize, even for a novice welder. Even for a novice welder, this machine takes only several minutes to set up and get ready to weld. A complete manual is included on the inside of the cover's cover page to assist you in properly configuring the welder.
- Arc performance is excellent.
- This welder comes with a number of built-in safety measures to assist ensure that you use it safely. The 140, in particular, features a thermal overload protection system to safeguard the user from a powerful surge of electricity.
- Connects to domestic outlets using a standard 115-volt connection.
- Without the expense of a spool gun, this welder can weld aluminum.
- For 5 years, the warranty covers costly repairs.
Cons:
- The power cable is only about 5 feet long, so it may be a little longer.
- If you plan to move the welder around frequently, you'll likely need a wheeled cart.
- No spool gun is available.
- CO2 shielding gas is not permitted for this regulator.
- The Work clamp is lightweight and not suited for heavy-duty work.
- The gasless nozzle is not supplied with the kit.
- In certain situations, its 110 volts of power usage might be a disadvantage.
- You'll need an extra gas cylinder for MIG welds, which will raise the cost of production.
- It should not be used with most generators or outside in areas without access to direct AC power.
- This device is ideal for tiny, self-sufficient businesses rather than large industrial enterprises.
- It may be more expensive than gas-operated equipment.
Where to buy The Hobart 140 welder?
The Hobart 140 is popular and you can find it in many places. Some of the more popular places where it is available are:
- Amazon (Great Price)
- Northern Tool
- The Home Depot
- Lowe's
- Tractor Supply
- Blain’s Farm & Fleet
- Acme Tools
I hope this helps!
What You Should Know Before Buying the Hobart 140?
You're looking to buy a Hobart 140 welding machine, but don't know what you should look for.
If you do not want to end up with an inferior product that will leave you disappointed, then take the time to thoroughly research your options before making a purchase.
This part will give you some tips and advice about buying a Hobart 140 welder so that when it comes time to make your final decision, you'll be able to choose wisely.
How thick of metal can a Hobart 140 weld?
A 140-amp unit can weld very thin metal up to 1/4 inch. A 180-amp unit can weld between 3/8 inch and 5/16 inch metal. A 200-amp unit can weld between 5/16 inch metal. A 250-amp unit can weld up to 1/2 an inch of metal.
Is the Hobart 140 an inverter welder?
No, it's not an inverter welder. The Hobart 140 may be hard to use for some welders. This is a welder that does not use an inverter, like most of them do these days.
Can you weld aluminum with Hobart 140?
The Hobart Handler 140 is good for welding aluminum. But it can be hard if you don't have the right shielding gas and wire. You will get birds nesting in there, too because of how long the feed tube is to get to the tip of the welder.
How many amps does a Hobart 140 use?
Hobart Handler 140 is a welder that can run with a household electrical current of 115V, but it needs to be plugged into a 20 amp circuit. This way you don't have any problems if you want to use it outside.
What gun does a Hobart Handler 140 use?
The Hobart H100S2-10 Replacement MIG Gun (245924) comes with a 10-foot cable with liner, 030 contact tip, and MIG nozzle. Fits the Hobart Handler 140 MIG Welders.
Top Features that Make the Hobart 140 Great
You and I both know welding is hard work. But the Hobart 140 makes it easier. The Hobart 140 has many great features that make your job easier, such as:
Wire Feed Mechanism
This is a welding machine that feeds wires. It's fast and good at feeding soft wire.
It can feed aluminum wire quickly and without problems.
You need a high-quality drive system, so it has one of those too.
It has the Quick Select system with triple grooves that makes changing easy.
I like not having to store extra rollers, because sometimes I lose them when I take them off the machine right? That would be bad because then I wouldn't have any rollers left for when I want to change wire types or diameters! There are two smooth grooves for .024" solid wire and .030"/.035" solid or flux core, and a .030"/.035" knurled groove for using lighter tension settings to feed soft aluminum wire.
The calibrated feed pressure control allows precise pressure control without crushing the wire.
I like this welding machine because it doesn't crush or squeeze wires and it feeds them reliably even when I'm in a hurry.
Ease of Use
I like that there is no other manual I need to read when I want to use this welder.
The manual is easy to read and understand, I can do it in less than 15 minutes.
The control panel has only two knobs and a light, which makes it easy for me to make changes without taking my gloves off.
The top WFS are 200 ipm more than most 140-amp welders, but the difference only matters when welding aluminum.
That means that it will help you weld things faster. You have a lot of control with this machine because the range from 40 to 700 is very large and you can find a setting for anything.
The left knob is for wire feed speed. It has an easy-to-use dial so you can choose any setting you want.
You can set it anywhere from 40 to 700 ipm which will let you get the wire feeding into your metal that best works with the position of your torch.
The voltage control knob on the right is a 5-position switch that goes from 25-140 amps, which should be more than enough power for anything you need to weld at home.
I would have liked to see numbers or numbers and arrows instead of dots, but this isn't a big deal at all since it's not hard to find each dot at a glance.
If you're looking for a welder that's easy to use, this is the one. I have never found another machine with two knobs and just three lights on it.
The rest of the controls are all digital so there isn't any guessing involved when adjusting settings or changing speeds.
You can find everything at a glance without having to take off your welding gloves which make things even easier.
Overload Protection
When you are welding, there may be something wrong. And if this happens, the welder will shut down. It will stop working. But you can fix it. The welder has three different protection modes so nothing bad happens to it when you weld:
Drive Motor Protection
The drive motor is protected from overload by a separate auto-resetting overload circuit, which means it will not overheat and burn out.
This feature is essential for welder machines that operate at high temperatures like those found in a forge or furnace where there's no coolant water to pump around and keep things running smoothly!
Output Overload
Welders need to protect themselves from going over-limit on the voltage of electricity which can cause fire or permanent damage.
This is done by a circuit breaker which will reset after being triggered so that they do not go past 28 VDC Max Open Circuit Voltage (OCV).
The circuit breaker has two purposes: firstly it protects the welder by stopping them when they go past 28 VDC Max Open Circuit Voltage (OCV). Secondly, with its adjustable settings for input/output power levels up to 91 amps at 230 volts AC.
This product was created specifically for welders who want more control while using metal materials such as stainless steel and aluminum.
Thermal Protection
An automatic thermostat protects the power transformer. The transformer is hot when you do too much welding.
The thermostat will stop it from getting hotter and it will turn the fan on to cool the unit. When you are done, the light will turn off.
Thermal overload protectors increase in response time as the duty cycle increases. Welding at full power will trip the circuit in less than 30 seconds.
The transformer is rated at a certain maximum temperature to prevent damage to the insulation inside.
Too much heat can cause insulation failure or melt solder connections on the inner windings, both of which are not good for your transformer.
Cost-effective option
Great news! You don't need to buy any extra equipment, because you can weld with this machine.
The only downside is the spoon wire- it's OK if you have one but just be aware that there isn't a spare fork in your shop for newcomers like me who didn’t read about them before they bought their first welding kit.
Thankfully I had my own wrench so no harm done.
This machine is great for first-time users. Be sure to have a wrench in your shop before you buy this model.
Versatility Hobart Handler 140
The Hobart Handler 140 is a versatile machine. It can do MIG welding, which is when you use electricity to make metal melt together.
Other things it can do are weld thick metals or thin metals, run on my 155v current, and go from 25 amps to 140 amps.
This means that it is good for lots of different types of metal. There are some limitations too though- this model cannot be used outside because the generator would not work there.
It's recommended for lots of different materials like copper, iron, titanium, or brass steel- but they might need more than 140 amps so they will need another machine instead.
I am using the Hobart Handler 140 for home projects and my own business too!
Power requirements
This Hobart welder will work from any power outlet. To have the best performance, you need a dedicated circuit.
Most garages have 15A power outlets, so you might want to talk to your parents about getting a new outlet installed or asking for help from an electrician if they can't do it themselves.
If your garage has 20A power outlets, then you're lucky and should not worry! The Hobart 140 welder will run on 15A power but output and duty cycles will be reduced.
It's a really good welder and no one seems to complain about it except when they don't have enough electricity for the welder (which is what I think 75% of critics might be talking about).
On thicker material, the arc performance is amazing but only on a 20A circuit. On 15A power I get nice arcs as long as I don't go over my limits.
Aluminum Welding
Most MIG welders that can weld aluminum require an expensive accessory. This Hobart MIG welder is different because it can weld 16- to 12-gauge aluminum without an expensive accessory.
On the other hand, Lincoln 140 can do welding for aluminum. But it only works with thin 22- to 10-gauge material.
You need a machine that is 230 Volts for heavier aluminum welding. The Hobart 210 MVP (kit with spool gun) is perfect for this job. If you are just getting started, the Hobart 140 would be an excellent choice because it's easy to use and very affordable.
Gun and Cables
The gun is made to be comfortable and to work well with gloves. A good cover will make the cables easy to handle and flexible at least until 30 degrees.
But the 5-foot power cord becomes stiff below 50 degrees, which is not long enough for most projects.
The 10-foot torch cable is just long enough, but they skimped on the clamp, which doesn't have a bonding cable like Lincoln's clamps do.
I always make sure that the top jaw has good contact with what I am welding so that it doesn't arc or weld poorly.
Fortunately, if you get a new clamp it will be cheap and easy to fix.
Duty Cycle
The duty cycle is a measurement of how long the welder can run. It is a ratio that compares power used to time spent running. The higher the duty cycle, the less time it will spend on the rest.
The duty cycle for this welder is 20%@90A 18.5 VDC with 115V, 20A input which means that when producing 90 amps of output, it should operate for a maximum of 2 minutes (20%), and rest (cool down) for 8 minutes during the ten-minute period.
This rating is about 2/3 power for a 140-amp welder which does not affect people who are just using it as hobbyists since they usually have enough power supplied to allow them to run continuously without an extension cord.
Duty cycles vary inversely with the output power meaning that increasing the output will reduce the duty cycle and decreasing it will increase it.
In reality, few hobbyists have this issue and adequate power is supplied to the welder which means operating on a 20-amp circuit without an extension cord.
Material Thickness
Some welders will not work with thicker materials. For example, the 140-amp MIG welder is great for thin materials and steel plates up to 3/16 inches thick.
But it will not work with thicker material because you need a 230V power source that can provide more amperage than 115 volts on these kinds of jobs.
This might be okay if you have another model from Hobart 210 MVP, which runs well on either voltage input, but this likely will not work out just fine.
Miller Regulator/CO2
You get a Miller regulator. It is a good thing that Miller has made welders for 100 years and is the largest manufacturer of arc welders in the world.
However, if you want to run pure CO2, Hobart does not recommend this regulator. This is because the CO2 can freeze onto the regulator. So you might need to change the regulator if you want to use C100.
Work Clamp
This welder has a gun and cable that are 10 feet long. This welder also comes with a 6 gauge ground cable which is easy to manage.
But the clamp on the Hobart unit is a little bit smaller than some other clamps and it doesn't have a wire that connects the two jaws. That means you would need to buy an additional wire for this clamp, but it's not too expensive.
Performance/Price Ratio
Welders are expensive. But this Hobart welder can be had for a good price with some looking. The price varies, so make sure to watch for sales and shop around!
A while ago, I wanted to buy a welder. I looked at a lot of them and some were kind of like toys. But the Handler 140 is really good! It will work in most DIY or small workshops and it has a good warranty too.
The Hobart Handler 140 is a popular welder because it has a good price to performance ratio.
Superior Build Quality
I tried out the Hobart-140. At first, I thought 'This is not a toy!'
That means it's not like the other welders that are made of cheaper materials. The Hobart-140 has metal panels and frame so it's sturdy. Some parts are plastic, but they're thick too.
I might have a question for you. Did you know that this welder is heavy? It weighed 54 pounds with the power cord and work cable. The gun and cable add 3.7 pounds which makes nearly 58 pounds before adding wire for welding for you to do your job!
A few people who bought a Hobart 140 reported a disconnected internal gas hose, so I wanted to make sure it was good on this one too. Yes, I took the machine apart before using it so I could check inside to see if any hoses were broken or not working right - but they were all perfect!
I was happy to see that the gas hose was tight, even without a clamp. And I was even happier when I saw what the internals looked like. It would be easy for me to fix it if something went wrong because there is access inside. And I would also know how to turn on the machine again because there is an electrical diagram attached to the outside of it.
What’s included with the Hobart 140 MIG welder?
- .030 in. contact tips
- Sample spool of .030 in. self-shielding flux-cored wire
- Material thickness gauge
- Power cord with plug
- 10 ft. MIG gun & cable
- 10 ft. work cable with clamp
- Spool hub assembly (handles 4-inch and 8-inch wire spools)
- Dual gauge gas regulator (for 100% Argon or Argon blends) with gas hose
- Built-in gas solenoid valve
- Quick Select™ drive roll for .024 in. and .030/.035 in. solid wire, and .030/.035 in. flux cored wire
- Owner’s Manual/Welding Guide
Comparing Hobart Handler 140 with other 140A MIG/Flux Welders
Hobart handler 140 manual
I have read through this manual and I wanted to share my experience with you. This is a great tool for welding professionals as it provides all the information they need in order to get started quickly and easily!
The instructions are very clear, so if you are new to welding or just want more information on how an electric arc works then this is perfect for you. It also includes tips on how to set up your machine correctly which will help ensure that your work day goes smoothly.
It's easy enough that even someone without much experience can use it but advanced enough that experienced welders will find everything they need here too! Overall, this is great for men and women alike.
Click here for Hobart Handler 140 welder manual.
Conclusion
The Hobart Handler 140 MIG Welder is my favorite machine because it's so easy to use. It has a lot of power and can weld just about anything you need without any problems at all.
I've had mine for over 3 years now, but even if something happens to it or it gets lost in the shop somewhere, I'll still buy another one! The engineering on this machine is absolutely perfect - no matter what type of job comes up, be sure that you have your trusty welder handy with the right gas cylinder attached.
This will save you time and money in finding out afterword's that there was an issue with not having enough amperage or voltage when welding large items like cars or trucks which are more difficult than thin sheet metal. Some people have said that it doesn't weld aluminum, I think they are crazy!
I've done it all the time with no problems at all, adds some cool effects in certain situations to boot.
I can't even tell you how many times this machine has saved me money when building fences around the property (I don't think there's a board out there that I haven't replaced), doing all sorts of welding jobs on my car and anything else in between.
It's not always the price of equipment, but what it does for you in return - this machine is priceless!
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Last Updated on November 3, 2021 by weldinghubs