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Hobart 500500 Handler 140 115-Volt 25-to-140 Amp Gas/Metal/Arc Single-Phase Wire Welding Package | 
 enlarge | Brand: Hobart
Category: Home Improvement
List Price: $622.76
Buy New: $489.99
You Save: $132.77 (21%)
New (6) Refurbished (1) from $399.99
Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 9416
Media: Tools & Hardware
Shipping Weight (lbs): 66
Dimensions (in): 19 x 11 x 13
Built-in contactor eases use and is an excellent safety feature which makes wire electrically "cold" when not welding.
Self-resetting thermal overload and motor protection
MPN: 500500
Model: 500500
UPC: 715959314183
EAN: 0715959314183
ASIN: B0002PS7SA
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | MIG welder handles a wide variety of solid, mild steel or stainless steel, flux cored and aluminum wires | | • | Operates from 115-volt standard household current; features 4 output voltage settings with wire feed tracking and a purge setting | | • | Comes ready to use | | • | Includes a built-in contactor to make wire electrically "cold" when not welding | | • | Measures 19-by-11-by-13 inches (WxHxD) |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The Handler 140 comes ready to weld with or without shielding gas, no additional kit required. With an amperage output range of 25-140, it easily handles a broad selection of solid mild steel or stainless, flux cored and aluminum wires. U.S.A.
Amazon.com Product Description
The Handler 140 from Hobart comes ready to weld with or without shielding glass, and it expertly handles a wide variety of solid, mild steel or stainless steel, flux cored and aluminum wires. This handy MIG welder operates from 115-volt standard household current and features four output voltage settings with wire feed tracking and a purge setting, both of which provide quick and easy adjustment for different materials and thickness. The Handler 140 welds 24 gauge up to .25 inch in steel without burning through, and includes both a built-in contactor to make wire electrically "cold" when not welding and self-resetting thermal overload protection for optimum safety. The proven built-in wire feeder with quick-release drive roll lever ensures reliable operation, and makes it easy to switch between .023 and .025 inches and .030 to .035 inches. This device also offers easy access to polarity changeover, which includes storage holes for spare tips.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Amazing Unit August 5, 2008
G. Anderson
I bought this for random projects around the house, and it blew my expectations out of the water. I had assumed that because it was 120v, I wasn't going to be able to do much-- BOY WAS I WRONG! I'm a first time welder, and after about an hour with this, I am performing picture perfect welds on a variety of materials. I've used it for weeks now, daily, with amazing results.
This sucker has welded EVERYTHING I have thrown at it, without a hitch whatsoever. And I was getting such awesome welds using flux-core, I've said to-hell with gas all together, which just adds to the convenience. Buy this welder! Let me repeat: Buy this welder! (you know you've always wanted one)
Awsome little welder. April 8, 2008
J. Ashe (nm usa)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
It has been over 10 years since I've welded. My first project with this welder was a complete exhuast system on my pickup. Easy as pie! I was used to using bigger 220V mig welders and was very impressed when I started using this little guy. Works like a charm. Plenty of power to weld thicker steel. Easy to use and set up.
Exceeds expectations March 4, 2008
W. Raley (NH USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I love it. I've made very successful welds on 1/8" steel using .035 wire and 25/75 argon/co2 mix, 5/32" cast aluminum using .035 aluminum wire with 100% argon, (repaired Webber gas grill cover hinge that broke in a gale: Saved a pretty penny!), 24 gauge steel using .023" wire 25/75 argon/co2, and several other thicknesses of steel up to 5/32". Flux core wire works well too on 1/8" and thicker steel, but of course not as pretty a weld. Easy to set up, adjust, and learn to use. Have not yet exceeded the duty cycle or caused a circuit breaker to open. I have found that one of the keys is to look at the work from the side so the puddle is always visible. I use a self-darkening helmet: expensive, but I think worth it. My previous experience is with a torch and with 220v buzz box. The MIG makes strong welds in material 1/8" and thinner so much easier. Buy one and enjoy it.
 Hobart 140 Mig Welder January 24, 2007
James Bainbridge
13 out of 13 found this review helpful
Great little welder, which I used primarily for autobody panels. Lots of heat, gas valve and regulators work well. Price was unbeatable when compared with a Lincoln or Miller available at big box stores. With free delivery what could be better?
A good little welder September 4, 2006
Stingersplace (Louisiana)
54 out of 54 found this review helpful
I bought this machine (Hobart Handler 140) more than a year ago and have put it through its paces. It comes with the regulator, switch and hose so you only need the tank. Of course you can use flux core without the tank. Remember that you can get away with welding stainless with Argon but Trimix or an Argon/CO2 mix it recommended. I already had a helmet etc. so another $120 for a new full R40 Argon tank and I was MIG welding aluminum.
This is a fully functional MIG welder that runs on 115V (20 amps) current. It is well made and I haven't had any problems with durability or malfunctions, it is quite reliable in that respect. It is quite portable and I like the safety switch which is only live when you're actually welding. I also called support once (about the liner) and they were prompt and helpful. It does have one tiny annoyance that the door latch is made of plastic and doesn't usually latch properly, but since the door hangs down when closed anyway, it really doesn't matter.
I've welded various thicknesses of mild steel, Stainless and Aluminum with it and, for the most part, it has performed as advertised. I've also used both the 1lb roles and the 10lb rolls. One tiny problem, the spring is a bit too long on the small rolls and you have to put the lock nut for them on backwards in order to get low enough friction if you're using aluminum wire.
The machine does indeed weld 3/16" steel in one pass if you go very slow and have a smooth technique. If you are looking for something to weld heavy steel often, get a stick welder for half the money, or move to a 220 machine that will run heavier wire. With respect to heavy steel, I wanted this machine just for occasional smaller welds and it delivers there. On light sheet, it is like a glue gun for metal and fully in its element. It comes with Miller type tips but I actually prefer the shorter, flat nosed, Lincoln tips (which fit perfectly) for steel.
I've also welded a lot of stainless in the 12-18 ga range with it and it has been great at that as well.
Welding aluminum with this machine, as with every MIG except a spool gun in this power range, is a tedious process. On thinner material, you need to be very fast and very smooth. On thicker material, it can be really good IF you have good karma, think happy thoughts and have everything right - see below. If you're buying it primarily to weld aluminum though - this is not the appropriate class of machine for you. Depending on what you want to do, look for a 220 machine with intelligent speed control, or a TIG, or even a henrob torch or Al "brazing" rods. No matter how good you are, it is a pain and you'll end up with at least a few bird's nests per project with this machine.
How to weld heavier aluminum with this machine.
1. use a .045 tip. The machine only takes .030 aluminum wire and they recommend a .035 tip for aluminum but it isn't big enough. You really need to move to the .045 tip for aluminum or you aren't going to weld more than a couple of minutes before you start a bird's nest factory. Tips are only about a buck a piece.
2. Keep the gun hose very straight, especially on the machine end. This is tedious and difficult sometimes but it makes a big difference.
3. Use 5 series wire (e.g. 5356 - app. $5/lb. from several online sources like weldingsupply) instead of the 4043
that you see at home depot or harbor freight. Especially at the highest amperage, the 4043 is virtually unuseable in this machine (at least without a lot of headaches), even with the nylon liner. One annoying thing is that the 5356 is harder to feed near the end of the role and will be more prone to kinking. The 5356 does seem to require a slight bit more heat so you need to always push the weld and go slow on thicker material - ideally with the material flat. This machine rates at 5-10 amps more than the other machines on the market (140 vs. 130-135). It doesn't sound like much of an advantage but I read elsewhere that you can't get penetration with the 5356 in 115V machines and that just isn't true with this machine. I have a 450 gal 1/8" aluminum hot tub to prove it.
4. Use a nylon liner if you plan to weld a lot of aluminum. They are $17-$25, mine is from Miller. Also make sure that it is perfectly cut and aligned to the drive wheel.
5. Make sure that the aluminum is very clean.
In general, it is a good machine with good support and versatility. In its niche, it is a very good choice in relation to the other brands. I don't give it all the stars really only because they should be a bit more up front in their advertising that while it does weld aluminum, the machine (like others in its class) really isn't a great choice for that.
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