I neglected to mention this in my post, but I also have a handler 135. In
my case, I happened upon a closeout when Hobart was switching from the
industrial looking welder with the bailing handle on top to the current
"pretty" looking welder with the plastic handle on top. I was surfing ebay
one day, and a dealer in NJ was offering about a dozen of them new in box
with free shipping. I bid the opening bid of $275 and was the only bidder,
as was just about everyone else that bid on one of them. Otherwise it was
about $560 retail. I started out with a 60 cf bottle and would empty it
about every 4 pounds of wire, if memory serves, at about $35 per fill. I
recently traded up to a 125 cf bottle for about $2 more per fill up
What Matt says about the gas hookup is true, but most Lincoln, Miller, and
Hobart rigs will have a gas hookup and the kit will cost about the same
whether it is included in the initial purchase or added later. If you
really are only an occasional user they you might never want it. But once
you learn to weld there are so many places that you can use it that you
might find yourself welding more than you ever thought you would.
James Nazarian
71 MGBGT V8
71 MGB Tourer
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-mgs@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-mgs@autox.team.net] On Behalf
Of Matthew Hale
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 1:12 AM
To: MGBnutt@aol.com; BarrMark262@aol.com; mgs@autox.team.net
Subject: RE: What type welders please?
I have welded with both non gas wire MIGs and with oxy. I am also a novice,
but feel I got cleaner welds with less warpage using gas then from a non gas
welder. Most non gas welders only go down to 55 or so amps. To effectively
weld (RE: not burn holes) an MG's relatively thin sheet metal, you need
something around 30 or 35 amps. Also, these same welders only go up to 90
or 100 amps, so welding thicker, heavier metal. They may not have hookups
for gas if you want to go down that route later. How do I know? I am on my
second welder in less then 4 months. Thank goodness Harbor Freight is so
understanding! My first welder was a Chicago Electric 100 (55-100 Amps) w/o
gas hookups. I am now using a Hobart Handler 135 (30 - 135 Amps) w/ built
in hookups for oxy and an 125 cuft cylinder. Both use standard 20 Amp 110
volt connections. The first setup cost $150. The new setup cost a little
over $600 for the welder, cylinder and cart. It is totally worth it in my
opinion. Just remember you get what you pay for in this area.
Matthew
67B
-----Original Message-----
From: MGBnutt@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 12:27 AM
Subject: Re: What type welders please?
Dennis,
Good question, as I am looking to learn to weld also. (There's a few rusty
spots on the "B" that will need to be fixed.) A quick search of the web
suggests a 115 volt wire welder or MIG welder is the way to go. MIG allows
a neater
weld with less splatter, but an inexpensive wire welder would seem to be
sufficient for use on the MGB's mild steel. I don't know about
oxyacetylene, but
my (ex-rally car driver) SAAB mechanic says a wire welder is so simple "a
monkey could use it".
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