[reddogracing]

I am looking for a MIG to tack panels. I have a Miller TIG, I am looking for something in addition that doesn't require two hands and a foot to operate and does better on metal that isn't perfectly clean.
I think something like a Millermatic 140, Hobart Handler 140 or the little Eastwood 135 A welder would work. Any opinions or experience with them?

[red65novawagon]

I am aprofesional welder and have run many different brand machines Miller is second to none. I own a Miller 140 MIG and hasn't given me an ounce of trouble in 5 years of hundreds of welds and using the parameters on the chart inside the wire cover gives the ideal settings with only minamal adjustment. The drive for the wire is also the best going (IMO).

[matt167]

if your looking for somthing just to tack panels, the Eastwood welder will do fine. I have a diffrent brand of the same welder, and it works good for that. it is also consistant enough to run a bead... there is an ebay company selling 1 of the off brands that are just like the Eastwood 135A for $249 with a 1 year warranty, altho Eastwoods $299 isn't bad as it comes with a 3 year warranty

[reddogracing]

Ha! That seems to be the choice, one that works well versus one that mostly works for half the price.

[Old Fool]

I would suggest going with a 175/180 type machine if you have 220 power .
If you are like me soon as you buy the little machine you will decide to build a trailer or something and wish you had spent the additional $ and purchased the larger machine.
I have a Miller 175 and have no complaints with it.

[oldred]

Originally Posted by reddogracing

does better on metal that isn't perfectly clean.

Even the best MIG is going to require very clean metal, not so much a problem on thicker material but an absolute must when working with body panels. Just tiny specks of paint, rust, seam sealer or dirt is going to cause blow-through and all too often the machine gets blamed! If you are having trouble with TIG because of less than clean enough metal then you will still have the same problem with a MIG regardless of the machine's quality.

[reddogracing]

Originally Posted by oldred

Even the best MIG is going to require very clean metal, not so much a problem on thicker material but an absolute must when working with body panels. Just tiny specks of paint, rust, seam sealer or dirt is going to cause blow-through and all too often the machine gets blamed! If you are having trouble with TIG because of less than clean enough metal then you will still have the same problem with a MIG regardless of the machine's quality.

Thanks, I must have mis-remembered that, maybe it was stick, or maybe it was just wrong and nothing welds dirty stuff better. But 90% of my complaint is needing two hands and a foot under the car.

And I agree that bigger is better, but I don't intend on using MIG for anything more than body panels that are hard to access as I like TIG (of course I have never used MIG). If this was going to be my primary welder, I would have just bought a Miller/Lincoln and been done with it

[35WINDOW]

Originally Posted by reddogracing

Thanks, I must have mis-remembered that, maybe it was stick, or maybe it was just wrong and nothing welds dirty stuff better. But 90% of my complaint is needing two hands and a foot under the car.

And I agree that bigger is better, but I don't intend on using MIG for anything more than body panels that are hard to access as I like TIG (of course I have never used MIG). If this was going to be my primary welder, I would have just bought a Miller/Lincoln and been done with it

I have both a Mig and a Tig, and as sorry as I am to say it, I like Mig better 90% of the time-if I'm metal finishing a panel, then I use Tig . For along time I was a Welding snob, and it was Tig or nothing. I love the looks of the Tig, the ultimate control, penetration and such, but I am just too impatient-when I sit down to do something I want to get it done. I am sorry that I didn't buy a 250 Amp + Mig (mine is a Lincoln 175), but I will buy at least a 200 Amp next time-

[snorulz]

I have had a hobart handler 140 for 3 years now, no complaints at all.