Welder for M-416

[OverlandChronicles]

I have completed the frame restore, new wiring, modified TJ bumper with LED lights. I am now starting on the body and lid part of my build. I have access to a more powerful mig-welder however, I am considering picking up a Hobart Handler 125 EZ Welder for working on the M-146 at home.

Hobart's site says the Handler 125 EZ:
Welds 18 gauge up to 3/16 in steel. Spare 0.030 in diameter contact tips included. Plugs into 115 VAC household power for easy set-up. 8 ft comfort fit gun. Spool shaft to accommodate 4 inch spools (optional hub kit available for 8 inch spools). 10 ft work cable with clamp.

My question, is this powerful enough to do most/all of my M-416 mods? Patch holes in the tub, extend fenders, build a lid, rack for RTT, mount jerry can holders ect?

Thanx in advance.

 

[BigDaveZJ]

I think that'd be plenty. I have a Miller 175, and really only need to turn it up when doing major things for the Jeep like suspension brackets or armor.

 

[brittan]

You'll be fine. I have a big Miller and don't use half of it's capabilities. I would suggest looking on Craigslist for a used unit...You can buy a more capable unit for the same price if you are willing to purchased used. Just my $.02

 

[OverlandChronicles]

Thanx BigDaveZJ and brittan.

I have no problem buying used, but I am liking the portability of 115 VAC as well as the single knob control. I can not see needing it for anything other then my M416 and I do have accsess to a larger welder if i ever need one. But I would need to take the work to the welder.

If the reviews that I am reading are true, the Holbart Handler 125 EZ should be perfect... just want some imput from here since the builds are inspiring as well as functional.

 

[highlandercj-7]

IMHO spend a lil more and get the 187 handler. It will be the last welder you ever have to buy. It's big enough to handle heavy parts and light enough to do sheetmetal. My friend bought one and it is awesome. It also has the ability to handle a spool gun should you ever move up to one.

 

[spencyg]

I haven't owned Hobart welders, but I do have experience with 110V vs. 240V MIGs. I currently run a Lincoln 175A MIG which does a very nice job, but is limited with the requirement of needing a 30A 240V socket. Yes, it is powerful, and I do use the full amperage from time to time, but for 90% of fabrication I could easily do it with a 110V machine. My last mig was a Lincoln 100A Mig Pak 110V unit. I used it to build 2 trucks without any issues. I really really liked the machine for 1/8" steel and below...did a much nicer job in the lighter gauges than my 175A unit. This is partly due to MIG wire size, but I always thought the smaller machine had more control. The real benefit of the small machine was the fact that I could use any 20A 120V socket. No special requirements necessary, and if I needed to weld away from the shop, I just packed my small gas bottle and the MIG, and off we went. This is not how I operate now with the 175A unit. I'd say go with the 110V Hobart for now, and once you start doing more serious fab (3/8"+ plate), then upgrade (or better yet, just get a second larger welder and keep the small one for sheetmetal and light gauge work). A 110V unit will be just fine with multi-pass on plate up to 1/4", and honestly, I have welded up to 1/2" with my old Lincoln Mig Pak with multiple passes....never had a weld failure. One of these days I'm going to buy another 110V machine to keep set up just for light and off-site work. I also wouldn't recommend buying used. Transformers aren't infallable, and if somebody has been bouncing off the duty cycle for a long time, a used machine might not have much life left. A new 110V Lincoln with regulator these days runs under $400...

Spence

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I also side with the bigger welder. Eventually you're going to want to weld something 1/8 or 3/16. The price difference isn't that great, and the bigger units are usually better built and will last longer anyway.

If you do so much welding you can justify multiple units, then by all means... but if you only need/want 1 welder, side on the larger size.

 

[Trailpsycho]

The 110V unit will be fine. I used my Lincoln 135 for everything but the cage on my Bronco-frame off build....althouhh I did make some additions to the cage with it. Nothing wrong with multiple passes.

Some folks have problems getting the V down on thin repairs with the 220 units. Old thin steel can be a real problem with blow through. Not a problem usually with a 110 unit. My 110 unit would do 1/8 easily in a single pass, as well. I typically switched from gas to fluxcore wire and used multiple passes for anything larger. If nothing else--for larger stuff-- tack it together and transport it to where you have access to a 220V unit.

 

[OverlandChronicles]

I knew I would get great infomation here.
The 125 ez is fluxcore only. But from what I have read that should be ok. To me that makes it more portable.

 

[Zelix]

It should be fine. I only have a small 110v Lincoln wire feeder welder that I built my trailer with. They work pretty good. here's a picture that has my welder in it.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

The 110V unit will be fine. I used my Lincoln 135 for everything but the cage on my Bronco-frame off build....althouhh I did make some additions to the cage with it. Nothing wrong with multiple passes.

Some folks have problems getting the V down on thin repairs with the 220 units. Old thin steel can be a real problem with blow through. Not a problem usually with a 110 unit. My 110 unit would do 1/8 easily in a single pass, as well. I typically switched from gas to fluxcore wire and used multiple passes for anything larger. If nothing else--for larger stuff-- tack it together and transport it to where you have access to a 220V unit.

That would seem to me it's a problem with welder?

I weld 0.040" aluminum at work with a 460V 385A TIG welder. And I've done 18ga steel with the ancient 460V MIG welder, I'm not even sure how many watts... it's just got an open circuit Voltage adjustment, and a wirespeed dial with no speed reference.

 

[spencyg]

I find the biggest issue with a larger welder is that you're typically running 0.030" or 0.035" wire, and when you're doing thin stuff, the heavy gauge wire just doesn't work. I have infinate variable voltage and wire speed adjustment on my Lincoln SP175 Plus, and anything under 16 ga is a crap shoot. I used 0.025" wire in it once, and it welded great down to around 20 ga, but you couldn't get the feed high enough to weld anything thicker than 1/4". Swapping welding wire back and forth is both a pain in the butt, and wasteful (typically just cut the feed wire at the spool instead of pulling the excess back through the wand and sleeve). Now I just run 0.035 and TIG anything thinner than 16 ga. As I said, eventually I'm going to pick up a second MIG that runs of 110V and keep it loaded with 0.025" wire.

Spence

 

[Bella PSD]

I have the Hobart Handler 125 and a MIG conversion kit. This is the model without the EZ in the name. Basically 2 things that are different; you can add a MIG conversion kit and you have controls for heat and wire speed on the 125. The EZ is just one control for both. I don’t know how that works but the 2 controls makes it easier for someone like me that does not weld to good. And last I checked, the “EZ” and the upgradable 125 are the same price.

If I get into something that I cannot get with 2 passes with self-shielding flux-cored wire, I will just tack it up and get over to my friends farm and finish up. That’s only happen a few times. The 125 also welds SS with the mig kit. I seem to get much better welds with gas as to the flux-core. And the Flux-core smokes and splatters more too. In the winter I can fog out my garage with the flux in no time.

Louie

I have completed the frame restore, new wiring, modified TJ bumper with LED lights. I am now starting on the body and lid part of my build. I have access to a more powerful mig-welder however, I am considering picking up a Hobart Handler 125 EZ Welder for working on the M-146 at home.

Hobart's site says the Handler 125 EZ:
Welds 18 gauge up to 3/16 in steel. Spare 0.030 in diameter contact tips included. Plugs into 115 VAC household power for easy set-up. 8 ft comfort fit gun. Spool shaft to accommodate 4 inch spools (optional hub kit available for 8 inch spools). 10 ft work cable with clamp.

My question, is this powerful enough to do most/all of my M-416 mods? Patch holes in the tub, extend fenders, build a lid, rack for RTT, mount jerry can holders ect?

Thanx in advance.

 

[OverlandChronicles]

Louie
I was just looking at that model also.
At first I was thinking that the EZ would help with my lack of welding experiance... but now I am leaning in the direction of more controls.