You’re looking at the Hobart Handler 140 MIG welder. Side by side with the Lincoln Electric Weld Pak 140 … Because you want to know which one has the edge.
When you want to be proud of your welds.
How do you pick one over the other?
When you need some repairs done around the yard. And a welder you can use to do some small jobs for cash. And start a little side hustle.
Which do you choose?
Which one will get you that weld you can take a picture of. For that thumbs up from your Facebook buddies.
You’ll discover here the juicy facts.
So that you can pick which comes out on top for what you need out of your MIG welder.
Hobart 140 v Lincoln 140 Verdict
You’ll have the welding edge with the Hobart Handler 140 because.
You’ll find the five stepped output control makes the Hobart 140 more agile. Giving you a wider range of settings.
And you’ll get a stronger warranty on your Hobart 140.
But when you need to weld Aluminum. The Lincoln 140 wins. Because you can buy a spool gun for it.
In the end you’ll find it’s going to come down to what you need out of your MIG welder. As there’s very little to tip the balance either way. Go for the look or the brand you like. Or let the price sway you.
Both are great welders that’ll do a fine job for you.
*Disclosure: This document contains affiliate links. And at no extra cost to you this site earns a commissions through these links should you decide to buy.
Hobart 140 VS Lincoln 140
On Amazon
Hobart Handler 140
Lincoln 140
Pros Of The Hobart And Lincoln 140
Cons Of The Hobart And Lincoln 140
Read on for more details …
Quick Comparison Chart Hobart 140 vs Lincoln 140
| Hobart 500559 Handler 140 MIG Welder | Lincoln Electric Weld Pak 140 MIG Welder | |
|---|---|---|
| Duty Cycle | 20% at 90 Amp | 20% at 90 Amp |
| Amp Output Range | 25 to 140 Amp | 30 to 140 amp |
| Weld Aluminum? | Yes – Possibly light occasional use | Yes – with optional spool gun |
| Warranty | 5/3/1 – 5 yrs on Transformer, 3 yrs on Electronics, 1 yr on Welding Gun | 3 years on MIG, 1 year on Gas Regulator, 90 days on Welding Gun |
The Difference Between Lincoln 140 Welders
Here’s a quick heads up for you in case you’re wondering which Lincoln is in this comparison.
You may not realize this. But Lincoln Electric sells and markets their Lincoln 140 in many guises. The self same welder goes by a few names.
- MIG Pak 140
- Pro MIG 140
- Easy MIG 140
- Weld Pak 140 HD
They’re all one and the same welder. And it’s clever marketing between Lincoln Electric and their many distributors.
So if you’re looking for say, the Lincoln Easy MIG 140 vs Hobart Handler 140. Or even the Hobart Handler 140 vs Lincoln Pro MIG 140 don’t worry you’re in the right place just read on.
Would you like to know more on the Lincoln 140 and its many versions?
Take a look at this document. ‘Lincoln Weld Pak 140, the Cheat Sheet‘ you’ll get the dish on all the details.
Hobart 130 vs 140?
You’ll find that this page appears in the search for those of you looking for this comparison. And Google has sent you here for that review.
But you’ll find what you want in this link. Pop on over to the “Hobart 130 vs 140, Which One? This will Help“.
There you’ll get a full head to head compare of the two welders.
Ideal Welding Jobs For Your Hobart 140 MIG And The Lincoln 140
For when you’re fixing up 1/4 inch or less thick steel around your home or yard. Or when you’re welding up light to medium farm parts. Or car repairs.
They’re for you when you’re new to welding. And looking for a world class welder to get started on.
Or when you’re a professional welder who looking for a second, trust worthy MIG welder.
What You Will Find On Your Hobart Handler 140 vs the Lincoln 140
You’ll find the Hobart and the Lincoln well made with solid looking front panels.
You’ve your power switch, output voltage control and variable wire feed control. Right there for you on the front.
You’ve a light on each one that comes on if your welder overheats.
Inside each cabinet you’ll find a first rate Aluminum drive system.
Why would you find that important?
How your wire is fed is the heart of your welding. You’ll want a robust and built to last drive system feeding your welding wire.
You’ve welding charts inside each cabinet door. They tell you where to start your settings. So you can get your welding right.
They’re so similar. And you’ll see it’s in the details where you tell them apart.
YouTube Video On The Hobart Handler 140
Hobart has this great 2 minute 7 second YouTube video that gives you a snapshot of the Handler 140.
It’s a rock solid video intro to this welder.
Take a look!
Hobart Handler 140 500559
Video Credit: Hobart Welding Products
Use Of Flux Core Wire On The Hobart vs Lincoln 140
Both the Hobart 140 and the Lincoln Electric 140 can weld with flux core wire.
Perfect for you as a beginner when you want to start off welding with flux core wire. And then you can move up to using solid wire and shielding gas later.
Want to look at some flux core wires you can pick for your Lincoln 140 or Hobart 140?
Check out this article here. You’ll find in depth research into the best and why.
Lincoln vs Hobart 140 Welding With Solid Wire
Yes, you can weld with solid MIG welding wire on both welders.
So when you’re ready to MIG weld with solid wire you can get yourself some shielding gas.
And when you’re not sure what size of compress gas tank you’ll need have a look here. And pick the right Argon cylinder size for you.
Made with the beginner in mind both are equally easy to set up for MIG. And to use gas.
Want to look at the best solid MIG wires for mild steel you can use in the Hobart and Lincoln?
When you’re ready you can take a look at the MIG wires here.
Click on the Picture Above.
To Look Up the Price of the Lincoln Electric 140 on Amazon
(Commissions Earned)
Welding Output Ranges Compared
Welding Output Ranges Compared
The Hobart Handler 140 has an output range of 25 to 140 Amp
You’ll find the Lincoln Electric 140 output ranges from 30 to 140 Amp.
There’s a small gap between where the output voltages start. Though it’s unlikely that you’ll notice much when you weld.
Matched: Maximum Mild Steel Sizes You Can Weld
Both the Hobart 140 and the Lincoln 140 will weld mild steel sizes from 24 gauge up 1/4 inch. So you’ll find them the same.
But you’ll challenge both welders when you weld 1/4 inch steel and above. You’ll need multiple weld passes and beveling of the edges of your steel joint to weld 1/4 inch and 5/16ths sized steel.
Are you a skilled welder?
Then beveling and more weld passes will be no issue for you.
Not so much … then you’ll find practice makes perfect.
Click on the Picture to See the Cost of the Hobart 140 on Amazon.
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In Depth Look At The Hobart And Lincoln Duty Cycles
You’ll see the the Hobart 140 and the Lincoln 140 both have duty cycles of 20% at 90 Amps. Which is pretty good for welders at this end of the market.
What Does The Duty Cycle Mean On The Hobart And Lincoln Welders?
You’ll find that at a 90 Amp setting you can weld for 2 straight minutes. Then you must rest your welder for eight minutes.
But both welders can weld at 140 Amps?
Yes. But when you’re welding at the max you’ll have a much shorter time welding. And at the other end. When you’re welding at a lower than 90 Amp setting you can weld for longer than 2 minutes.
Lincoln 140 And Hobart Output And Voltage Controls Compared
The Hobart Handler 140 has a tapped dial you use to set the output settings. The dial has five positions.
What does tapped mean?
It means that the dial moves with a click to each position 1 through to 5.
The Lincoln Electric 140 also has a tapped dial. But on the Lincoln 140 you’ve 4 tapped settings.
You can move the settings from A through to D.
With similar output ranges for each machine. The Hobart 140 just had the edge 5 rather than 4 output settings.
One Thing To Know About Tapped Dials
Tapped dials have no half settings.
What does this mean?
You have no way to set your dial at two and a half or B and a half.
For some, particularly if you’re a beginner. This makes both welders easy to use. But if you’re an seasoned welder. And you want to play more with the settings you may find this a nuisance. Why?
Because it’s harder to fine tune your weld output.
Lincoln 140 vs Hobart 140 Wire Feed Control
The wire feed dial is infinitely variable on the two welders. The dials run from 1 to 10.
Outside of the tapped dials. You fine tune your welding through playing with the wire feed settings.
Finding Your Welding Guide On The Hobart 140 And The Lincoln 140
On both welders there’s a welding guide on the inside of the door to the cabinet.
The guides gives you advice on the metals the welders can weld.
The guide on the Hobart details and shows the polarity needed. For flux core versus solid wire and shielding gas.
Each guide tells you the settings. Plus they tell you the settings for the gauge of metal you’re welding.
The guides tell you what to dial up on each of the output voltage dials and the suggested wire speed setting.
This makes it easier for you as a beginner. Or if you’re more skilled to get your starting set up.
With either MIG welder you’ll want to do your own practice sessions.
Practice on similar metal to the one you’re welding to find the right settings for you.
You may find the welders run hotter. Or colder than the weld guide setting. And are just a bit different in your own workshop.
See where the Hobart Handler 140 MIG welder appears on the Best MIGs for Home Use List
Lincoln And The Hobart 140 Thermostatic Protection
Each welder comes with thermostatic protection. Just in case you go over the duty cycle while you’re welding.
Why is that important?
Because over heating the inside of your welder risks melting some key parts.
Each welder has a light that comes on and fans that will run to cool the units down. The Hobart 140 has a reset button you have to switch to reset the thermal protection. You must then leave your Hobart welder 15 minutes. So it can cool down before you can start welding again. Or you risk damaging your Hobart welder.
The Lincoln 140 resets its thermal protection automatically.
The Lincoln Electric manual says that the thermostatic protection resets. When the welder returns to a ‘reasonable operating temperature’.
Although you’ll find nothing saying how long that’ll take.
You’ll find it’ll depend on the air temperature where you’re working.
Do you live in a hot climate? Or are you using your welder at the height of a hot and humid summer?
Then expect it to take longer to cool your welder down.
Hobart vs Lincoln MIG Welders On Household Power?
You’ll find the two MIG welders use normal household 120V. A 3 pin power and plug socket.
The Hobart Handler wants 115V input voltage. The Lincoln 140 120V.
The pair need sockets that are on a 20 Amp fused circuit with a good earth as a minimum.
Though for both you’ll want to ask your local electrician to pay you a visit …
You could offer beers …
And get yourself a 30 Amp fused circuit put into your workshop.
Because when you run either welder at their max welding output. You’ll need a 30 Amp fuse.
Whether you’re welding on a 20 Amp or 30 Amp circuit. It’s a really good idea to have nothing else plugged in and running on the same circuit.
And you could easily have other stuff plugged in. With lights or other gear.
But that other stuff will take power away from your welder. You’ll get issues with your welding and won’t understand why.
And it’ll be that other electrical equipment drawing power you need for your weld repair.
Lincoln Electric 140 YouTube Video
Lincoln Electric has this 2 minute 35 second YouTube video.
You’ll get an overview of the Lincoln Electric 125, 140 and 180. And see where the Lincoln 140 fits in the range.
And you’ll get a great run through of the strengths of the Lincoln 140 welder.
Why not take a peak?
Retail Wire Feed Welders
Video Credit: Lincoln Electrictv
Hobart 140 Versus The Lincoln 140 Size Of Wire Comparison
The Hobart 140 uses:
- 0.023″ to 0.035″ solid wire for mild or stainless steel
The Lincoln 140 uses:
- 0.025″ to 0.035″ solid wire for mild or stainless steel
Both welders will use:
- 0.030″ to 0.035″ flux core wire
- 0.030 inch solid Aluminum wire
On the Lincoln Electric you’ll need the optional spool gun to weld Aluminum.
On the Hobart 140 MIG may get away with doing light casual Aluminum welding.
Read more about this below.
Size of Wire Spools You Can Put In Each Welder
Both the Hobart and the Lincoln can take either 2 lb. or 10 lb. spools (4 inch or 8 inch spools).
And you’ve adaptors that allow you to switch between the different sized spools.
So you can use the larger spool sizes with the better cost per pound. When you want to.
Contact Tips You’ll Get
You’ll get three 0.025″ and three 0.035″ contact tips with your Lincoln Electric 140.
And two 0.030 contact tips in the box with your Hobart Handler 140.
On free contact tips Lincoln Electric is more generous with their starter supplies.
See where the Hobart 140 MIG welder appears on the Newbie Welders List
Hobart And Lincoln Wire Feed Speed Compared
The wire feed speed on the two MIGs are infinitely variable. And from that view point you’ll find them the same.
But that’s not the only wire feed speed measure.
On your Hobart the wire feed speed range is 40 to 700 inches per minute.
And on your Lincoln 140 the speed range is 50 to 500 inches per minute.
You get a wider range in your wire feed speed on the Hobart 140. And gives you more scope.
You’ll find this useful when you’re fine turning your weld. No matter if it’s on your thinnest gauges of metal. Or your thickest.
Hobart Handler 140 Aluminum Welding Compared To Lincoln 140
Both the Hobart 140 and Lincoln 140 claim they can weld Aluminum. But what does that really mean?
Welding Aluminum With Your Hobart 140
Hobart 140 Aluminum spool gun?
Nope there’s no such thing.
This means attempting to weld Aluminum on the Hobart 140 will take your skill. And patience when you set it up.
You can weld by putting your Aluminum MIG wire in your Hobart. Then get yourself a Teflon liner for your MIG gun hose. And run 100% Argon gas.
But even with a Teflon Liner. And with you holding your MIG cable as level as you can. Feeding wriggly, soft Aluminum wire up 10 foot of cable to your welding gun may be too difficult. For all but the very skilled. And patient.
Even for small amounts of Aluminum welding.
Forget what the promo material for the Hobart 140 says. And save yourself hours of frustration.
When Aluminum welding is part of what you need out of your Hobart MIG welder. And it must be Hobart. Move up. Get yourself a larger MIG welder in the Hobart range – one with a spool gun.
Lincoln 140 HD And Welding Aluminum
You’ll notice the Lincoln 140 does have a spool gun you can buy.
Yes it’s at an extra cost. Even so, this does make the Lincoln way more capable of doing your Aluminum welding versus the Hobart 140.
On the Lincoln 140 you can weld Aluminum from 22 gauge to 10 gauge thick.
When you’re comparing the two. And welding Aluminum is a must. The Lincoln 140 wins.
Use the spool gun on the Lincoln 140. It’s going to be far easier to set up. Easier to weld and you’ll get better more consistent welding results.
What Shielding Gas Can You Use On the Hobart 140 And The Lincoln 140?
Each of the MIG welders comes with quality dual gauge gas regulators for MIG welding with an Argon and CO2 gas mix.
The pair will MIG weld with the standard Argon 75%/Carbon Dioxide 25% mix. And you can weld with 100% Argon gas. Or 100% Carbon Dioxide gas.
But note for both you’ll need to buy a gas regulator for Carbon Dioxide. Because gas regulators for Carbon Dioxide have different connections to CO2 gas tanks.
Tri-Mix Gas On The Hobart And Lincoln Welders
The Hobart Handler supports you using Tri-Mix gas. And so you’ll find it better for MIG welding stainless steel.
The Lincoln 140 claims to weld stainless steel but there is no sign of support for Tri-Mix gas.
Tri-Mix gas is the usual gas for MIG welding stainless steel.
An option to consider for welding stainless steel on the Lincoln 140. Or the Hobart 140 is for you to use flux core stainless steel filler wire.
You’ll find an article that goes into detail on flux core stainless steel wire on the site.
You get in the article the how on using the wire. And the best wire to choose. You can find the document at this link here.
Changing Your Polarity On The Lincoln 140 vs The Hobart
Switching from flux core welding to welding with solid wire and shielding gas is easy. And straightforward on either welder.
You’ve easy screw in terminals for changing the welding gun polarity on both welders. This makes the change over super easy to do when you’re a beginner.
Lincoln vs Hobart The Manuals
Each Manual is comprehensive and clear and make it easy for you the new owner to get up and running.
I’ve provided a link to each here. The Hobart Handler 140 and the Lincoln Electric 140.
You’ll find the Hobart 140 manual has the edge. Because you also get a hard copy of the welding chart that’s printed on the inside of the Hobart cabinet’s door.
And that’s useful if you damage the copy on your welder’s door. Or in case you want to do some research on the right welding settings away from your Hobart MIG welder.
What Do Users Of The Hobart 140 And Lincoln 140 Think?
Users of both MIG’s seem to love them and have very good things to say about both MIG welders.
This shows you that they are great welders and why they’ve such stellar reputations. You can take a look at what the reviewers on Amazon have written.
You’ll find links below. Scroll down to the bottom of each sales page. Click on the star review rating you want to look at. And pick the most recent from the drop down button to view the latest feedback.
(Commissions Earned through Amazon Links)
View the Hobart 140 Page on Amazon
View the Lincoln 140 Page on Amazon
What Is In The Boxes Of Both Welders When Delivered?
Of course you get the MIG welders.
- In both there’s a sample size of flux core wire.
- A free extra in the Lincoln 140 box is a sample size of solid steel wire
- The pair has spool adaptors to allow you to put in 8 inch spools of filler wire
- You get 2 x 0.030 inch contact tips in the Hobart box.
- In the Lincoln Electric box you get 3 x 0.025 inch and 3 x 0.035 inch contact tips. Great to get you started
- There’s a 10 foot cable to the welding gun and 10 foot ground cable and heavy duty ground clamp on each
- In each box there is a dual gas gauge regulator. Both regulators are of excellent quality
- Gas hoses for MIG welding
There’s a material thickness gauge in the Hobart 140 box.
In the Lincoln Electric there’s a printed gauge as part of the welding guide. You’ll find it on the inside of the welder’s cabinet door.
Not that easy to use if you can’t hold your metal up to the gauge to judge its thickness.
You’ll find owners manuals and set up guides.
In the Lincoln Electric box you’ve a plus with a DVD with the manuals in it. And a how to weld video.
Lincoln 140 vs Hobart 140 Size And Weight Compared
What is the reason for comparing the sizes of these two welders?
It’s to work out how easy they are to carry around with you.
And yes, they’re portable.
| Lincoln Electric 140 | Hobart Handler 140 |
|---|---|
| 50 lbs | 57 lbs |
The Hobart weighs 57 lbs. and the Lincoln Electric is lighter at 50 lbs.
Their dimensions are;
| Lincoln Weld Pak | Hobart Handler 140 |
|---|---|
| 13.7 inches High x 10.15 inch Wide x 17.9 inch Long | 12 inches High x 11 inch Wide x 19.5 inch Long |
You can lift both.
But bear in mind that when you put in a large spool of welding wire you’ll be adding another 10lb or 11lbs to the weight.
At that point a welding cart is the best idea. Particularly when MIG welding and you need to move a cylinder of gas too.
Who Makes The Hobart 140 vs The Lincoln 140?
Both MIG welders are from US companies that have been around in the MIG welder space for a long time. Hobart Welding Products started in 1917 and Lincoln Electric in 1895.
The Hobart 140 is designed and manufactured in the US by Hobart Welding Products. They are owned by ITW. ITW is the same company who owns Miller Electric Mfg Co.
The Lincoln Electric 140 is designed in the US and manufactured elsewhere.
If a welder designed AND manufactured in the US is important to you then the Hobart 140 would be your choice.
Hobart vs Lincoln 140 MIG Welders The Warranties Compared
You get the famous 5/3/1 warranty on your Hobart 140. 5 years on the transformer, 3 years on the electronics, 1 year on the welding gun.
The Lincoln 140 gives you 3 years on the MIG. 1 year on the gas regulator, 90 days on the welding gun. You can buy the option to extend your warranty by an extra two years on the Lincoln 140.
The Hobart 140 has the edge with the warranty you can get.
Last Words
Thank you for reading “Hobart 140 vs Lincoln 140 Can’t Choose? Read This”.
The MIG welder winner is the Hobart Handler 140.
But you may decide the Lincoln 140 is best one for you when you look at them side by side. Particularly if you plan on welding Aluminum.
Whether you’re a beginner new to welding. Or a skilled welder. Either welder is very capable and will do a good job for you.
For a more in depth look at each welder do check out these individual reviews by following the links below.
See the full review on the Hobart Handler 140 MIG at this link
See the full review on the Lincoln Electric Weld Pak 140 at this link
I bought the Lincoln Electric Weld-pak 140 about 6 months ago and am very happy with it. It welds fine. My only gripe so far is that it would be really helpful if Lincoln Electric (or Hobart for that matter) would actually show voltages and inches per minute on the settings dials, instead of an arbitrary scale (e.g. for LE 140: A – E, 1 – 10). Every welding lesson or tutorial or lesson that I have seen will usually provide set up info., that will include instructions such as “set your voltage at 18 volts, and your wire feed speed at about 180 inches per minute.” It seems to me that it would make much more sense for a manufacturer to label the welder controls with actual values rather than an arbitrary letter or number that is not related to actual feed speed or voltage.
Just my two cents.
I completely agree. It would make life so much easier for a beginner or someone new to the welder. I guess the manufacturers may be saving themselves some criticism, as then the A to E settings would have to conform to specific voltage settings and the manufacturing specs of their welders would need to be much tighter.
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