I about to return from Iraq in like 4 weeks and plan on getting a new welder I'm not looking to spend over $600. I've been looking at The miller 135 (PN# MIL907019) the Lincoln SP135 (PN#K1873-1) and the HOBART 140 (PN#500500) I just want to hear what everyone thinks about these welders and if anyone has used them. Thanks Dave.

I have the LINCOLN and love it!

If you can afford it. Get a 220v welder. No matter how high you crank the 110v welder it wont be enough. The Miller/Lincoln/Hobart 175 would be a better choice for most jeep projects.

Hey Chris what do you use? One of the reason's is I'm in gov. housing and can't get a 220 outlet in the garage. The closest one is the dryer, is that phase I ?

The 220 dryer circuit will work (or the 220 electric oven circuit---which is what I stole and ran to my garage since I have gas oven). Just be sure you grab the right prongs, as you will have 2 hot legs, one ground and possibly one neutral.

Just check to be sure the breaker is properly sized. IIRC, it should be about 30 amps for the electric dryer, which will be fine for the machines Dukes mentioned.

goodtimes what do you use? and what you view of the brands?

Hey Chris what do you use? One of the reason's is I'm in gov. housing and can't get a 220 outlet in the garage. The closest one is the dryer, is that phase I ?

I have a lincoln 255 which had a fairly problematic 6 months to a year of its life. After 3 circuit boards it seems to be fixed. I dont think any "regular" home will have 3 phase.

Chris would you recommend getting a Lincoln with the problems you've had? Was it just a lemon unit or is that a problem with Lincolns in general?

I think it might be a problem with that larger, computer controlled units. The lower 175 models are not comp. controlled, as far as I know.

I've never heard of anyone having problems with their millers.

goodtimes what do you use? and what you view of the brands?

I use a Millermatic 210. It has been completely trouble free from day #1. Of course, I don't use it that much either.....I probably don't have more than 50 pounds of wire through it in just shy of 3 years.

Red or Blue...I have no preference. I bought Blue because I got a good deal on it ($1125, delivered next day), and no one was giving that good of a deal on the Lincoln.

i use the lincoln 175, and have had no complaints about it. it works great for a do it yourselfer, yet has the penetration suitable for a professional. i think the only real requirement a prefessional has that the 175 wont provide is a longer duty cycle.
the best part... about 675 at lowes ;)
likely less expensive on line.

i use the lincoln 175, and have had no complaints about it. it works great for a do it yourselfer, yet has the penetration suitable for a professional. i think the only real requirement a prefessional has that the 175 wont provide is a longer duty cycle.
the best part... about 675 at lowes ;)
likely less expensive on line.

They just had them on sale for $598.
I asked for one for Christmas!!

nail r is right on 175 lincoln is a great machine i got mine from Lowes for $620 it welds great and will do morre than you will ever want to . good pen , very versital , and still compact . stainless , flux core , alum ,and mig . this is the best toy that i have bought .

in my school welding class we have 5 lincoln 255's i think they are........no one uses the one miller we have cuz the lincolns seem to run better....we've had no probs w/ the couple year old lincolns.......i plan on getting a lincoln 175 plus (infinite voltage control) w/ my tax rebate check (if i get one)

Hey everyone thanks for all the input. I'll think I'll go with the Lincoln 175 and I think I still can aford the 105 bender from pro tools.

I have never used one, so this is second hand info...but I have heard more than one person complain about the pro-tools bender. Their parts are laser cut (supposedly), which means the holes on the top and bottom plate are not true. Apparently some people were concerned about this causing the pins to fatigue over time, and break. I have never heard of it happening...but something to consider. JD2 CNC machines theirs, so this isn't an issue. Both benders run about the same price by the time you equip them comparably (within $20 or so). I also read a few reviews somewhere (pirate maybe?) about a set of plans to build a hydraulic bender that were available on E-bay for $20 or so. The few reviews I read, people were happy with them. IIRC, you could build your own hydro bender for about the same cost as either the JD2 or the Pro-tools mechanical benders. If I were buying another bender, I would look at the E-bay hydro plans to see if it would be a good option....anyway you go, benders are fun to play around with. Just be ready for sticker shock the first time you make a run to the steel yard.

I've been doing some research on these benders while I'm over here in Iraq, I even seen the plans on ebay for the hydro one. I read some reviews betwwen the 105 and JD2 on Pirate everyone said there about the same.
The 105 from Pro tools http://www.pro-tools.com/105.htm is $635.00*
*Complete Packages Includes, Bender, Stand,
Degree Stop Ring, Extension Handle,
and 1 Standard Die Set, Your Choice of Size. extra die set (1 1/2 $175)
The JD2 bender http://www.jd2.com/ is $295 with no stand, drgree stop ring, extension handle, or die. the degree kit $59.00, the stand $135.00, and 1 1/2 die set $240.00
now for the bender that they have plans on ebay for it is like this one from Williams low buck tools. I seen it on TV Xtream 4x4 on Spike. $499.00 and extra die sets are $239.00 http://www.lowbucktools.com/hydbender.html Now it seems like a good bender for do it at home guy but you can only bend up to 90 deg. unlike the others you can bend past 90 deg. I don't know how many bends that you would need to bend past 90 deg. but I would like to have that option. you never know.

...now for the bender that they have plans on ebay for it is like this one from Williams low buck tools. I seen it on TV Xtream 4x4 on Spike. $499.00 and extra die sets are $239.00 http://www.lowbucktools.com/hydbender.html Now it seems like a good bender for do it at home guy but you can only bend up to 90 deg. unlike the others you can bend past 90 deg. I don't know how many bends that you would need to bend past 90 deg. but I would like to have that option. you never know.

Huh, I wasn't aware that it would only bend 90*. That isn't good.....

Are you sure that is the same one? IIRC, the one I read about used the same die sets as the JD2 and Pro-Tools...

The hydro bender like the Williams low buck only has a 90deg. die the Pro tools HPM 200 has a 120 deg. die http://www.pro-tools.com/200.htm you might be able to use the 120 deg. die on the other brands bender or if you make the one off ebay??? Your guess is as good as mine.

I dunno...my guess may be way off. It has been awhile since I read about it, and even then, I didn't pay that much attention, as I already had my (mechanical) bender. I could be thinking of some other bender that someone built, and not the one they were selling plans for on E-bay....hell I dunno......either way, have fun pulling the handle (and pulling, and pulling, and pulling.......)

That's why you have group builds, so every one gets the chance to pull your handle.


Wait...that didn't come out the way I meant it to.

Dont you firemen like to take turns holding the HOSE ;) But any way pulling the handle not that bad for small projects.