Hobart Handler 140 Review - Practical & Beginner Friendly!

Last summer, I ordered Hobart Handler 140 MIG Welder. I precisely wanted a machine with several accessories to get me started.

I get my hands on a lot of stuff, from cutting simple metals fittings to opening complex installations around the house like TVs. If you have a home depot or a small garage, then you’ll get a clear picture of the kind of machine I was looking for.

Well, I’m not a fast time in using welding machines; hence I also wanted to make comparisons with other similar machines I’ve used in the past.

Both the machine and the rest of the items arrived on time. Overall, I was happier with the customer service and the ordering process. Indeed, the packaging was solid cardboard, meaning that everything inside was well protected. (Read MIG welder reviews)

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My first impression

Firstly, I discovered that there was superb attention to detail on how the items were arranged. Everything was above board. Although I’m an old hand with these devices, I knew it was going to be a learning curve in the first few days. Once I learned everything, I’d be an expert with the machine.

The machine is low profile, and from an instance, I know this will be easy on my projects.

It looked more durable with the body consisting of solid steel. Everything else, such as the wire feed system, is made of metal. Inside there was a clamp, a ten-inch cable, gas regulators, and a user manual. All items appeared to be of top-notch quality.

In the Hobart Handler 140 MIG welder review, I’ll share my experiences, challenges, and recommendation.

Key specs of the handler 140

The Hobart Welders company has detailed information about its equipment and products.

Has a manufacturer’s warranty.
Weight 65 pounds.
Overall dimensions 19x11x13 inches.
Requires 115V current.
Duty cycle 20% at 90 amps.
Welds between 24guage – 1/4 inch of mild steel.
Have five voltage settings.
Comes with 200 Amp heavy-duty clamp.
The drive roll easy to change.

Hobart handler 140 features

The check hobart handler 140 welder is a great choice for those who want to get into welding. It has several accessories that make it easy to get started, and the machine has a lot of power. This makes it perfect for smaller projects, and it also has a lot of features that make it versatile.

Cost-effective option

The welding machine was ready for use, which meant that I didn’t need to spend more money on additional equipment.
I was only disappointed with the spoon wire, which was just a sample wire. It meant that I’d have to run back to the store to get one. Thankfully I had a spare one in my garage.

A word of caution to first-time users, ensure you have a wrench in your workshop before buying this Hobart model. A standard wrench will do the trick.

Versatility Hobart Handler 140

The Hobart 500559 Handler 140 MIG welder 115V is a versatile machine that I use for MIG welding.

It lets me weld thick metals as well as a thin one. I was impressed by the fact that it can run on my 155v ordinary current. Being a DIY person, this gave me enough reason to pay for this machine.
It runs on 25 amps to 140 amps, and thus I can weld metals from 24 gauge to 1/4-inch mild steel. I find this remarkably versatile. Hobart 140 is recommended for a wide variety of metals such as copper, iron, titanium, brass steel, and more.

However, there is a limitation to the current. This model cannot run on a generator, therefore not suitable for outdoor use.

Although most of my projects are around the house and in my garage, I’m not really sure if, in the long-term, the situation will hold.

Probably I’ll convert my DIY into a money-making venture. Perhaps I’ll have clients calling me to fix their items. That’s just food for thought; I’ll cross the bridge when I get there.

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Lightweight

The weight of the Hobart Handler 140 is only 65 pounds. This is lower than most models that require being cart-driven to move around.
Therefore, this gives me the flexibility to use it around the house and do-little fixes here and there.

A safe machine to use at home

The machine is absolutely safe to use around the home. By the time I parted with money to own it, I had the safety of my family and home in mind. The Hobart 140 is one of the safest machines with built-in features.
This model has used a thermal overload mechanism that automatically resets. Therefore, the wire stays safe up to that time a user pulls the trigger. I’m confident using this machine since, in case of high current, my machine is well protected.

Easy assembly

One thing I like about the Hobart 140 is that it’s straightforward to set up.
There’s a manual guide one can refer to in case they’re unable to install. Of course, this is an unlikely situation if you’ve ever used a MIG welding machine before.

Hobart handler 140 settings

This welder has several settings for MIG welding and flux-cored.

The five voltage settings give me flexibility when working on my projects.
The welder maintains a smooth and stable arc, depending on the thickness of the metal.

The downsides of the Hobart 140

Since it can’t use a generator, it becomes hard to use in a remote location where there’s no electricity. Also, in case of a power blackout, I may not be able to attend to emergency tasks.
Another downside is that I usually find it challenging when I want to establish a perfect wire feed when using the flux-core wire. In some instances, it gets stuck. Nonetheless, I’ve solved this problem by using a heavier spool and hence maintain a smooth feed line.
It’s also crucial to note that you will need a gas cylinder when working on this welding machine. The unfortunate thing is that it raises your cost. Luckily I was able to navigate through this since I already had a gas cylinder, which I was using with my older machine.
Lastly, the Hobart 140 is largely a DIY machine and wouldn’t handle large projects. Since I’ve been using it at home, it’s been useful for my basic works.

Conclusion

I would rate the Hobart 500559 Handler 140 MIG at 4.7/5 for the following reasons.

Has met my DIY project requirements
It’s lightweight and portable around the house
Installation was pure bliss
It’s given me value for money since I haven’t experienced any malfunction

Apart from the challenge of smooth feed wire, I would highly recommend this machine to anybody looking for a modestly priced option for small projects.

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Brandon M. Fox

I have completed Diploma at Welding. I have spent 10+ years in Welding. Now love to write about welding and welding products and share my own experiences. Find me: Twitter | Facebook

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Hobart Handler 140 Review – Practical & Beginner Friendly!

My first impression

Key specs of the handler 140