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Editor's picks

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  Hobart 500549 Auto Arc 130 Wire Feed MIG Welder

  Home Improvement (Hobart)
  

  Rating (23 reviews):

  (4.7/5)

  

  Awesome welder for the at home jobs

  I am not a professional welder. I have a project at home that would have cost me in the thousands to have done elsewhere. So, I thought I would get a welder and teach myself. There are tons of Youtube movies out there showing how to do gas-less welding. Check them out if your new to the whole process.Ok now for this welder. I can only say that there is some great quality behind this product. Every detail from the drive motor to the tip is well above what you would expect at a product at this price-point.Pros:+ Makes very strong welds at a measly 110v+ Excellent drive pushes the wire easily and evenly+ Quality materials, fit and finish (knobs and switches feel as though they will last).+ Great welds by a complete amateur means this product is A+ quality.+ Hobart is owned by Miller ( the gun has Miller on the grip).+ American MadeCons: (these are tiny nags)- Spend a little more and get the one with the gas... 5/5 J. J. Marino "GeekDomo" (127.0.0.1) - See all my reviews, April 1, 2011

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  Nice home welder

  I read some reviews on this model and had some concern about the quality of this welder. I've read that Hobart purchased Miller's AutoArc and rebadged it under their name. It makes little difference to me because this welder is great. Set up is easy and it does exactly what it says it will do. I have welded 1/4 inch with this machine using a double pass technique, however, the machine will overheat if you have a lot of welding at 1/4.I weld a ton of stuff with 1/8 wall and it does a great job. I've built a squat rack, lat pull down machine, front receiver hitch (1/4 inch wall), rear reciver hitch rack, bicycle stand, ladder rack, steps for my garage, step rails for my truck, and other small projects without any issues with this welder. I'm very pleased with this unit and fully encourage folks to buy one for their home shop.I don't use sheilding gas when welding; only use flux core. Can't say how this unit will do with shielding gas. **I'm not a... 5/5 Russ - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Hobart 500549 Auto Arc 130 Wire Feed MIG Welder (Tools & Home Improvement) I read some reviews on this model and had some concern about the quality of this welder. I've read that Hobart purchased Miller's AutoArc and rebadged it under their name. It makes little difference to me because this welder is great. Set up is easy and it does exactly what it says it will do. I have welded 1/4 inch with this machine using a double pass technique, however, the machine will overheat if you have a lot of welding at 1/4.I weld a ton of stuff with 1/8 wall and it does a great job. I've built a squat rack, lat pull down machine, front receiver hitch (1/4 inch wall), rear reciver hitch rack, bicycle stand, ladder rack, steps for my garage, step rails for my truck, and other small projects without any issues with this welder. I'm very pleased with this unit and fully encourage folks to buy one for their home shop.I don't use sheilding gas when welding; only use flux core. Can't say how this unit will do with shielding gas. **I'm not a... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , July 21, 2011

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  Awesome Little Welder

  I am a novice welder but have tried several of the "cheaper" units and this blows them away. I bought this unit based solely on the single review by J.J. Marino and couldn't have been happier. His review is right on the money about this welder and thought I would add my 2 cents after my purchase. Thanks J.J.. For $320 you will not find a better product. 15 minutes out of the box and you're welding. Comes with everything you need to go to work immediately (except a mask/goggles). I don't know why they call it the "Auto Arc" because it's a Hobart Handler 125 for a few dollars less and some different stickers. AND you can add gas to this unit for under $100 with the Handler 125 Mig Conversion kit, also sold here. I bought the conversion kit, installed it in about a half hour and now can weld any kind of metal I would ever want to. If you are looking for an good small unit, this is it. Worth every penny and would recommend it to anyone I know. 5/5 Drew from Long Island - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Hobart 500549 Auto Arc 130 Wire Feed MIG Welder (Tools & Home Improvement) I am a novice welder but have tried several of the "cheaper" units and this blows them away. I bought this unit based solely on the single review by J.J. Marino and couldn't have been happier. His review is right on the money about this welder and thought I would add my 2 cents after my purchase. Thanks J.J.. For $320 you will not find a better product. 15 minutes out of the box and you're welding. Comes with everything you need to go to work immediately (except a mask/goggles). I don't know why they call it the "Auto Arc" because it's a Hobart Handler 125 for a few dollars less and some different stickers. AND you can add gas to this unit for under $100 with the Handler 125 Mig Conversion kit, also sold here. I bought the conversion kit, installed it in about a half hour and now can weld any kind of metal I would ever want to. If you are looking for an good small unit, this is it. Worth every penny and would recommend it to anyone I know. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , May 7, 2011

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  List Price: $329.99
  

  115 volts, 130 amps

  Welder comes with sample spool of Flux core wire and 3 replacement contact tips

  Makes strong reliable welds

  Welds with gas and without gas

  Plugs into a household outlet

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  Clarke WE6523 130EN 120-Volt Fluxcore/MIG Welder

  Home Improvement (Clarke)
  

  Rating (12 reviews):

  (4.2/5)

  

  130 en

  just to let everyone know the clarkes are the same as forney welders so the parts interchange no worry forney is still alive and well over 70 years. example.....clarke 130en is exactly the same as a forney 130fi 5/5 D. smith (nc usa) - See all my reviews, April 25, 2012

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  Clarke 130EN mig welder

  I've owned this mig welder for a few years now. I use it at home for hobby type stuff, and so far I'm happy with it... no breakdowns. I ordered some consumables for it, and was informed that some of the parts I had ordered were unavailable.... not a good sign. I believe the company went bankrupt.I mostly weld thinner gauge steel (22ga. and up), but have done some aluminum with it also. You'll need to get gas and a regulator to run solid wire. It will run .023 and .030 wire. I started off using C25 gas (75% argon, 25% CO2), but now I mostly run straight CO2 cause it's cheaper, the bottles run longer, the welds come out pretty clean and it's supposed to add a little more heat than the C25, which is good for a 110V model like this. Throw in some flux core wire, and it will run even hotter. I've welded 1/4" plate with it, and that's where I used the flux core w/ gas. Most of the time I run it with .023 wire though. I think I paid just under 400 bones for mine at the local... 4/5 Greg Gamble (Manitowoc, WI) - See all my reviews, July 14, 2010

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  Excellent bang for the buck

  I've been using this welder since 2006. And it's never let me down. I've also never needed to replace a single part on it. It is a small welder and it's capabilities are limited, but I can't think of a better wire welder that costs less than this one. I have no reason to give it anything but 5 stars. 5/5 Paul V. - See all my reviews This review is from: Clarke WE6523 130EN 120-Volt Fluxcore/MIG Welder (Tools & Home Improvement) I've been using this welder since 2006. And it's never let me down. I've also never needed to replace a single part on it. It is a small welder and it's capabilities are limited, but I can't think of a better wire welder that costs less than this one. I have no reason to give it anything but 5 stars. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , October 3, 2012

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  List Price: $499.00
  Price: $275.00
  You Save: $224.00 (45%)

  Automatic Thermal Overload Protection

  4 power setting and Fan cooled

  Tweco type torch with full ON/OFF safety control

  Weld Steel, Aluminum, Stainless Steel and Cast Iron

  Weld up to 3/16 in a single pass. With the 30 to 130 Peak Amps

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