Hobart handler 125

[allinkedup]

Ordered a new handler 125 and should recieve it on wednesday, and I can't wait!! I have been using a craftsman wire feed welder for a couple of months and got hooked. Problem is it is crap, does not feed wire well (very jumpy) and the wire is always "hot" unlike the quality units. I had fun with it but wanted better. I took off on wed. so I can weld all day!!!!!

[vipermanz]

You will really like the machine, i have beta tested two hobart machines and have had a wonderful experience with them. esp. the 125 machine!!

[gearheadtx]

Hi folks.

I just bought a Hobart Handler 125 without the gas conversion kit and am having second thoughts on whether I bought an underpowered machine. I will be using it in classic car restoration and am not sure if I will be successful at welding frame parts and such. I know it will work for sheet metal but not sure about heavier stuff. Anybody have experience with the 125 out there that can tell me if I made the wrong decision.:confused:

[gnewby]

Guy without a doubt you do not have enough machine for frame welding, do not even consider it for that! You need to be running a 240 volt machine if you are planning on frame welding.

[smithboy]

Well, I would say it depends... on the frame thickness, car condition, preheat, weldor skill...most frames are not too awful thick. The practical limit on that machine is probably around the thickness of an old frame, so you ARE cutting it pretty close to the bone. I used a millermatic 130 and fluxcore to make a truck bed trailer from a wrecked ford f100 about 6 or 7 years ago and it's still working fine. No breaks, no cracks... But, the truck bed I used was pretty clean and had no rust. I don't know how that frame would compare to what you are considering. But, that's not too far from frame work with a welder of similar capibilities.

I would have preferred using another welder for that project, but portability was essential. The truck was at my dad's and my only other welder at the time was a dialarc.

[TxRedneck]

I agree with Smith there are other factors. Its true as a general rule you need 240v, but there are exceptions. Need to know the wall thickness of the material for starters.

[gnewby]

I based my reasoning as the 125 would probably be at or very close to the max limits doing frame welding thickness, plus most auto frame work is done out of position which for someone without a lot of experiance could cause them to not have good penetration. Auto frame welding where it might be in an area where you would not be able to keep a close eye on it would be best welded with a welder capable of getting much better penetration. Plus you put in the factors of the stress the welds could be under, would be much better using a 240 volt machine.

I could be wrong here as I have many times in the past, I know there are a lot of welders around that could perform the welding on frames with that same welder, but for most just starting out if the welder is undersized or at the limits they are working against the odds.

[TxRedneck]

my only consideration, not saying youre wrong is we need to know wall thickness. To say frame welding means absolutely nothing to me. To say Ill be welding 1/8" or ill be welding 3/8" tells me a whole lot more of a story. BBesides that, there are other things we can do to manipulate our welds to accomadate these smaller welders, but then it starts getting back to a liability issue and judgement on part of he who builds. Lets first talk wall thickness and then make more assessments based on that.

[smithboy]

Yep...if the frame gearhead is considering welding is pretty thick (as frames go), it might be just too much for the welder, but inside 3/16 is probably do-able with good prep. I just think it's one of those questions where lots of stuff starts to matter. With a 240v machine...no problem...

One thing to note...classic car now means stuff from the 1970s and 1980s. By then, unibody is everywhere and some of those frames are little more than stamped sheet metal.

[partagas]

I just got to use my 125 today for the first time. I was working on a trailer frame, and I thought it worked great. Have to get used to using such a small welder and hold my weld to help build it up. Running .030 wire just feels odd at first.

[DetailerDave]

I have a Handler 125. It's not a bad little machine. I used it to build a boat trailer last year. The duty cycle is a bit on the low side for steady welding, but I was running .035 fluxcore, and running some 1/4" fillet welds out of position. But it has come in handy for some other things that would have been impossible without it.

[runchman]

I always thought my millermatic 135 was a bit on the p*ssy side whenever I played around with 'kinda heavy' stuff, and I'd wished I'd bought a 220v machine.

But then I tried some flux core on the heavier stuff, and I was much happier with the results. Flux core definitely gave better penetration.

Have fun with your new machine !

- John