I've been looking for a relatively inexpensive 110v mig welder for a while now and had almost decided on the Northern Industrial MIG 135 but then discovered these other 2 units. I need a welder that can do sheet metal for autobody repair and both of these can weld mild steel as thin as 24ga., and they both can weld up to at least 3/16" which is more than I will probably ever need. What's attractive about both of these units is A) the price. Both are ~$300, and B) they both have continuous voltage adjustment to fine tune the machine rather than the more typical 4 "tapped" click adjustments, which is something I was really hoping to get. It's something that is usually found only on $650+ welders like the Lincoln 140C. Both units also use tweco style guns and name brand consumables and common replacement parts like tips, liners, wire feed rollers, etc. The Real Gear also comes spool gun ready and name brand spool guns plug right into it. They also sell their own spool gun for $99 that can be used with it.

The downside to both units is, predictably, their warranties. The Eastwood gives you a good 3 year warranty, but you have to pay for shipping it back to Eastwood for any service, and I think that is going to be a deal breaker for me. The Real Gear only gives you a 1 year warranty, but there is a dealer a few miles from my house. To their credit, if it breaks after the warranty period, even years later, they will exchange it for a new one for $175.

Just to pre-empt some of the advice I will surely receive: 1) many will say to stick with Lincoln, Miller, or Hobart and get the most expensive welder I can afford right now. I respect that opinion, and I understand why you give it, but I find it difficult to justify spending that much more on what will be a hobbiest welder that only gets used a few times a year, if that. 2) many will say to get a 220v welder because I might want to weld thicker material in the future, and bigger is always better. I understand that, but I have thought long and hard about what my needs will be and it would be very rare for me to ever want to weld thicker stuff. I also want the flexibility to use it other places where only 110v is available, and I don't want to have to wire my garage for 220v just for this one machine.


Cliffs: looking for reviews on these two welders from PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACTUALLY USED the Eastwood MIG 135 or the Real Gear MIG 140. TIA!

 

I have the eastwood 135, its an ok welder. I use it for doing patch panals and small things. I am getting a tig in a month to do the bigger things, as I already have 220voltz in my garage. I have used the miller 140 and do like it more, and produces much nicer beads. So in my advice yes try for a miller 140 but if you cant, the eastwood welder will work. The "tapped" style welders suck as you cant fine tune the temps of your weld and weldin on sheetmetal you really need to be able to do that.

 

Just saw these a few hours ago in case anyone is interested. I'll report on how well the mig 175 and alum. spool gun work in a couple weeks after I try them out.

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/tld/3563927847.html

 

i bought an eastwood 135 from my local Matco guy. i checked the reviews before hand and saw nothing but good comments. My matco dealer said alot of body shop guys have bought them and work great. I can say I've had no issues with mine and works great

 

Alternatively you can pickup a cheap Lincoln mig for ~$200 on craigslist, mine has been working great and it was cheaper than a new, lesser known brand

 

lincoln sucks, I would rather have the eastwood... I have plenty of seat time on millers, lincolns, and my eastwood.. I would rank the Lincoln at the bottom of the list of three.

 

I have a longevity 140 mig welder; pretty much the same as Eastwood. Spool gun is great and cheap. This welds just as good as my Hobart handler 140. I have a YouTube video comparing them to each other.
Email my sales guy simon@longevity-inc.com and tell him gamble sent you. He can knock up to 20% off welders. Probably get you that mig for under $300 shipped.
Www.lweld.com

Good luck.

 

Eastwoods are ok. Used one but for a short amount of time. Flowed pretty well and didn't jam. We've always used Miller without problems though. Even a used miller can outperform most brands.