In Brief: Hobart 140 VS Hobart 130
There is a significant difference in the cost of the two welders, each is designed for different jobs and customers. The 130 is a cheaper option than the 140 and caters to users who need machines for welding thinner materials. Whereas, the 140 is used by users who need more welding power from their device. The 140 also justifies its asking price by providing more accessories than the 130 and a higher welding versatility.
The welders in the discussion are both entry-level wire welders.
These welders are often used in applications like field maintenance, repair, hobby projects, light industrial or commercial jobs, and others.
The welders are often portable and lightweight and can generate a good amount of output power.
This category of welders comes in many types, some machines can perform all types of welding processes. The welders in these categories are easy to use and install, they are also often compatible with household sources.
Beginner and domestic welders often gravitate towards this category due to the same reasons.
The following sections will provide essential information on both the products.
Overview of Hobart 130
The Hobart 130 is a dual-process welding machine that can be run from domestic sources and can weld steel materials.
The welder can be utilized for a number of domestic jobs such as DIY workshops, home projects and repairs or smaller fabrication work. The welder comes with a 3-year warranty.
The welder is manufactured by Hobart Welding, a manufacturing company established in 1917. Hobart Welding produces a wide array of welding and cutting equipment globally.
The unit operates on the 115 Volt household input power. It can weld materials as thin as 24 Gauge up to 3/16 inch in a single pass, with a broad output range of 30–130 Amperes.
It can perform MIG as well as flux-core welding processes. Weighing in at 51 pounds, it has a maximum open-circuit voltage of 31 Volts.
Pros
- Ease of usage
- Can run on the standard household current input
- Supports MIG and Flux Core Arc
- Portable and Lightweight
- Cheaper than other welders in the categories
- Good feedback
- Gas is optional
Limitations
- Struggles to weld thicker materials
- Not compatible with aluminum welding
The welder comes ready to weld with self-shielding flux-cored wire and requires no gas. The 130 is also MIG capable with the addition of a regulator and shielding gas apparatus.
The welder’s EZ mode allows the user to only set the output voltage and weld without any more adjustments. The Hobart 130 welder uses sizes 0.030 and 0.035 inches for wire flux core welding.
The welder has four output material thickness settings with wire feed speed tracking which provides a larger operating window for each wire, with quick and easy adjustment for different thicknesses and joints.
The welder can be used right out of the box for flux core welding, although the user has to buy additional accessories for MIG processes.
Key specs summary –
| Product Weight | 51 lbs. |
|---|---|
| Input Voltage / Frequency | 115, 60 Hz |
| Input Phase | Single Phase |
| Weld Thickness | 24 Gauge - 3/16 in. (Steel) |
| Rated Welding Output | 85 An at 18.25 VDC, 20% duty cycle |
| Wire Speed Range | 50 - 400 IPM 120 - 480 IPM (at no load) |
| Maximum Open Circuit Voltage | 31 V DC |
| Output Range | 30 to 130 A |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 12.2 x 9.87 x 16.875 in3 |
| Processes | MIG, Flux-core |
Overview of Hobart 140
The Hobart 140 welding machine runs on residential input power and can be used for a variety of domestic or light-duty applications. The welder is equipped to perform both MIG and flux-core arc welding processes.
The welder can handle all light-duty commercial and industrial jobs but is most suitable for domestic use.
The welder can be run from various residential power inputs and is capable of welding steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.
The welder is capable of operating on thicknesses varying from 24 gauge to ¼ inches.
Weighing at 57 pounds, the welder produces an output current of 25 to 140 amperes.
Hobart’s 5/3/1 warranty gives you a five-year warranty on the transformer, three years on the electronics and one year on your MIG gun.
Pros
- Ease of setup
- Can run on the standard household current input
- Supports MIG and Flux Core Arc
- Portable
- High Duty cycle
- Can weld thicker materials
- 5-position voltage selector
- Low skill requirement
Limitations
- Struggles to weld aluminum materials
The following video gives a brief overview of the welder:
Since the welder is capable of welding a variety of materials, it can be used in a number of applications too.
The welder is most commonly used in domestic applications like fences, gates, hobby projects, but it can also be successfully used in other areas like auto-repair, machinery repair and farm/ranch.
The welder features a 5-position voltage control selector which adds a smooth and stable arc at all welding thicknesses. The welder is suitable for beginners and professionals alike.
Capable of welding up to 3/16 inches in a single pass, the welder can be used with welding wires ranging from 0.025 inches to 0.035 inches.
Key specs summary –
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Product Weight | 57 lbs |
| Input Voltage / Frequency | 120, 115, 110V / 60Hz |
| MIG Ready | Yes |
| Metals that can be welded | Steel Stainless steel Aluminum |
| Weld Thickness | 24 Gauge to 1/4 in |
| Duty Cycle | 90 Amps @ 20% |
| Wire Speed Range | 40 - 740 in/min |
| Maximum Open Circuit Voltage | 28V |
| Power Cord | 6 ft. |
| Welding Wire Diameter | 0.023 - 0 .035 in. Mild Steel or Stainless Steel 0.030 - 0.035 in. Flux-cored 0.030 Aluminum |
| Output Range | 25 – 140 Amperes |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 19.5 x 10.6 x 12.4 in3. |
| Processes | Flux-core, MIG Welding |
Key Differences between Hobart 140 vs 130
The welders differ 7 pounds in weight, the 130 being the lighter of the two. The Hobart 140 has a higher welding output range as compared to the 140. The Hobart 140 can also weld thicker material in one single pass.
Although both the 130 and the 140 run on 115 V inputs, the 140 has a higher wire speed range of 700 inches per minute.
A quick table with key differences –
| Hobart 130 | Hobart 140 | |
|---|---|---|
| Product Weight | 50 lbs. | 57 lbs. |
| Output Range | 30 to 130 Amperes | 25 – 140 Amperes |
| Weld Thickness | 24 Gauge - 3/16 in | 24 Gauge to 1/4 in |
| Duty Cycle | 85 Amps at 20% | 90 Amps at 20% |
| Wire Speed Range | 40 – 400 in/min | 40 – 700 in/min |
| Processes Supported | MIG, Flux-core | MIG, Flux-core |
| Input Voltage | 115 V | 120/115/110 V |
| Warranty | Standard 5/3/1 Warranty | Standard 5/3/1 Warranty |
| Price |
Summary
The welders can be both runs by 115 V residential output, however, the 140 is a more capable welder. The 140 has a higher output and is heavier than the 130.
The 140 also has a higher duty cycle and wire-speed range.
The 130 is more user-friendly and can be used by novice and intermediate welders. Although both the welders can perform MIG and flux-cored welding, the 140 can also weld thicker materials in a single pass.
The 130 is built to cater to more novice and light-duty applications like maintenance, hobby projects, metal art, auto-body, farm, ranch, and other domestic repairs.
The 140 can also be used for more heavy-duty jobs too due to its higher output.
Therefore, the bottom line for these welders is that 130 is ideal for novice welders or lighter jobs whereas the 140 is used for heavier jobs.