Lincoln Handi Mate

[bsa]

I was at Lowes the other night and noticed a Lincoln for about $200, It's a wire welder and designed for hobbyist. I would weld a couple of times a year and it would be thin-small stuff.
Would this get my buy or would I be flushing $200+ bucks?

Thanks

[Michael Albro]

A two hundred dollar new welder scares me. I don't care who's name is on it.
I don't think you can even buy a Lincoln AC buzz box for $200.00
So, my opinion would be...... No!

[Leo]

Those are flux core only, and can weld up to about 1/8th inch. It should be fine for "small stuff", but you will have more post-weld cleanup to do before you paint your projects. If you won't be doing anything larger that 1/8th and you only plan on blowing the dust off it a couple times a year and don't mind the clean up I'd say get it if money is tight.

[Zrexxer]

Those are flux core only, and can weld up to about 1/8th inch.

I don't know what Lowes is specifically selling, but the Lincoln
Handy MIG is advertised as "Welds both MIG (shielding gas sold separately) and flux-cored."

[cope]

I don't know what Lowes is specifically selling, but the Lincoln
Handy MIG is advertised as "Welds both MIG (shielding gas sold separately) and flux-cored."

Isn't that the one that requires an optional gas kit?

[Zrexxer]

Isn't that the one that requires an optional gas kit?

In the link in my previous post the flowgauge, solenoid, gas nozzle is all included, but again, Lowes could be selling a non-gas version. Especially in the $200 range.

Edited: I found the model I think he's looking at on Lowe's website. It's called the "Handy Core" at $249 which would in fact be just flux core.

[Brand X]

I was at Lowes the other night and noticed a Lincoln for about $200, It's a wire welder and designed for hobbyist. I would weld a couple of times a year and it would be thin-small stuff.
Would this get my buy or would I be flushing $200+ bucks?

Thanks

I would exhaust all other options before I would flush that money down the drain. Look for a used little Lincoln weld pack 100 before that one. I looked at that machine and it is just a clunker. Somebody once wrote, that you get what you pay for. In this case you sure do!!!!

[Sberry]

As you see it now you would only weld a couple times a year, once you have something decent that will change. There is no substitute for a 500$ machine. Pry the wallet open and get a HH140 from a TSC store and get a botte of C25 gas, minimum of 40 cf and you will be set for long time to come. I agree with Scott here,, flush 200 or spend 5 and get something that will work and last. A decent machine is an investment and they dont go obselete like a computer or depreciate like a new big screen TV.

[Leo]

I don't know what Lowes is specifically selling, but the Lincoln
Handy MIG is advertised as "Welds both MIG (shielding gas sold separately) and flux-cored."

I believe it the Handy Core. I saw one at Lowes or Home Depot, and it didn't look like anything I'd buy... But it may have it uses for the right people. It's like that new compact Miller mig that has a C02 bottle that's good for about 30 feet of weld, not practicle to me but I see interest for it here.