Pros:
- Automatic detection of MIG and spool gun
- User-friendly two-knob interface
- Spatter free arc delivery
- Easy-turn numeric drive tension indicator
- Aluminum gearbox and wire drive for durability
- Versatile utility with 120V power input
Cons:
- Not portable at 50 pounds
- Not compatible with 240V power input
Unlike their counterparts, such as TIG and stick welders, MIG welders are more versatile in terms of utility and user-friendliness, especially for novice welders.
Although commonly known as beginner-level welders, these have quickly become a favorite among professional settings as well.
Once only a hobbyist or DIY welder’s go-to machine, now MIG welders are commonly found in industrial-grade garages and workshops such as the automotive industry.
Since this expansion into different work settings, manufacturers such as Lincoln have also started developing various models to match the requirements of each of these separately.
Most Lincoln 140 MIG Welder reviews online fail to differentiate between these models.
However, our review is specifically regarding the retail model.
Lincoln 140 HD MIG Welder
Renowned worldwide as “The Welding Experts“, Lincoln Electric has developed a strong legacy over the span of 125 years.
With 59 manufacturing locations across 18 countries, Lincoln has revolutionized the welding industry with cutting edge technology that is forever evolving and growing.
As the utility of the Lincoln 140 MIG Welder grew in prominence, the manufacturers created a separate industrial-grade model with some necessary adjustments.
However, the Lincoln 140 MIG Welder’s HD retail model, commonly referred to as the HD model, remained a favorite and constant within home sheds and local garages.
Here are some of the common names that the retail model is often referred to with:
- PRO MIG 140
- Weld-Pak 140HD
- Easy-MIG 140
- MIG-Pak 140
Who Is This Product For?
As most Lincoln 140 MIG Welder reviews agree on, this is a great machine for DIY welders and hobbyists’ common domestic needs.
Its low 120V input makes it ideal for home-shed settings and a bad fit for industrial-grade projects due to the lower output amperage.
Featuring cutting-edge patented Diamond Core Technology, the Lincoln 140 HD MIG Welder can produce an extremely high-quality stable arc.
This is done through the upgraded power source, which ensures that the inductance control is completely mechanized.
The variable inductance works great for home-based projects since these usually utilize thinner metal and materials.
Although the Lincoln 140 HD MIG Welder provides novice welders all the necessary features to start their welding journey, it is recommended that you have some prior welding experience.
What’s Included?
The Lincoln 140 HD MIG Welder’s packaging includes the following:
- The MIG Gun:
- Magnum 100L gun with 10 feet cable assembly, brass gun connection, and a four-pin MS-Type connection for trigger control
- Three contact tips, each of 0.025 inches and 0.035 inches
- Glassless nozzle for Innershield welding
- Gas nozzle for MIG welding
- Spindle adapter for eight-inch diameter spools
- 025 to 0.035-inch wire diameter dual track drive roll for MIG and Flux core
- Shielding Gas Apparatus
- Harris 3000290 Gas Regulator with a 52-inch hose for use with Ar/CO2 blend gasses
- Welding Wire
- Sample spool of 0.025-inch diameter SuperArc L-56 premium
- Sample spool of 0.035-inch diameter Innershield NR-211-MP flux-cored wire
- Others
- Work clamp with 10 feet cable
- A user manual with instructional DVD
For use with CO2 shielding gas, you need to order a Lincoln Electric S19298 CO2 shielding gas bottle adapter separately.
Overview of Features
The most enticing feature of the Lincoln 140 HD MIG Welder is the patented Diamond Core Technology by Lincoln.
This feature is specifically designed to increasingly smoothify the delivery of the arc.
It is particularly helpful when working with thicker metals but is most convenient for thinner ones often found in home-based projects.
It also reduces the overall spatter.
Made from high-quality aluminum material, the Lincoln 140 HD wire drive reduces wire tangling and crushing during the arc’s delivery.
That ensures a quieter process and a more durable system than plastic drives, which easily age or heat up faster.
In terms of usage, the welder features a rather tool-less design with an extremely user-friendly interface.
It ensures you will not need to carry any additional tools, while the two-knob control panel makes it easy to adjust between the glass-less flux core and the gas-shielded MIG.
You can control the feed speed and output voltage according to personal preferences.
To ensure longevity, the PC board’s different compartments are sealed off via a sturdy plastic tray to protect against shock and other contaminants.
Additionally, the gearbox is made from aluminum; hence, making it durable and lightweight.
How to Use Your Lincoln 140 HD MIG Welder
While the Lincoln 140 HD MIG Welder features a tool-less design with a user-friendly interface consisting of two knobs, you must have some prior welding experience.
That is primarily because the welding process involves molding metals and materials by reaching their melting points, which can be dangerous.
That said, the manufacturers have included a self-explanatory instruction manual in the packaging to help you easily set up the MIG welder.
There is also a DVD included in the packaging to help you learn the basics of welding with the Lincoln 140 HD MIG Welder.
Alternatives
While the retail model of the Lincoln 140 MIG Welder is made for the common layman and DIY hobbyist, there is also a commercial model available in the same category.
Often cited in Lincoln 140 MIG Welder reviews, it isn’t easily available online and you must buy it through specialized welding suppliers of certified Lincoln retailers.
Although similar in design and dimensions, the commercial model has some core features that make it an upgraded model from the retail one.
For instance, it utilizes an industrial-grade wire feed drive made with sturdy cast aluminum and has a two-roller unit.
Unlike the commercial model, both rollers are gear-driven, which reduces overall wire tension and distortion.
On the other hand, the Hobart Handler 140 offers a hybrid experience between retail and commercial grade MIF welders.
It produces a 20% duty cycle at 90Amps, which is significantly powerful enough for DIY hobbyists but at the same time not enough for heavy-duty industrial-grade welding.
However, because of its dual application as a MIG and flux-core welder, it is a popular pick, especially among transitioning welders.
Lincoln 140 MIG Welder Reviews: The Conclusion
The Lincoln 140 MIG Welder’s simple user interface, sturdy build, and 120V voltage input makes it an ideal fit for home-shed and DIY welders’ garages.
If most of your projects require you to be in one place, this is a great results-driven machine, especially with steel when welded under 3/16 inches and aluminum under a 12 gauge.