The Lotos MIG 140 is an excellent choice for amateur welders, DIY-ers, and professionals. It is easy to use, reliable, and versatile. The digital interface allows you to achieve exacting and durable welds for a variety of projects.
Short Summary
Overall Rating
There is a lot to consider before purchasing a MIG/flux-core welding machine.
The first question to answer should be: What kind of jobs will I be using this welder for?
What Is The Lotos MIG 140 Best For?
The Lotos MIG 140 is capable of creating industrial quality welds at a great price. It’s easy enough to use for DIY-ers who work in the garage on projects or around the house to make simple repairs. It would also make a great machine for any professional shop.
It is perfect for projects that require precision, since the 2 digital displayers help to adjust the wire feeder speed and voltage to give you the exact settings to produce strong welds.
The machine is multi-use, which means it can be used to weld stainless steel, mild steel, aluminum (if you purchase a spool gun separately), and other metal materials.
From decorative metal work to car repairs to professional fabrication jobs, this machine does it all.
Lotos 140 Video Review
Lotos MIG 140 Welder Pros
The Mig140 has a lot going for it. Here is a summary of the pros, with more details below:
- Good with a variety of metals
- Digital display
- Easy setup
- Portability
- Some accessories included
Versatile
This machine can work with several different metal materials. This is one of the machine’s best features. It can weld:
Digital Wire Speed Display
The digital wire speed display prevents pesky wire tangles. The 2T/4T switch and 2 displayers gives you complete control over your speed and voltage. It is a highly-customizable machine that puts you in the driver’s seat, allowing you to adjust for different materials and uses.
Easy Setup, Easy to Use
The machine can be set up in 10 minutes, according to the manufacturer. Simply connect it to a 110V wall outlet and start welding. The interface is very user-friendly for first-timers, but has enough settings to please professionals.
The added thermal overload protection systems makes it easy for you to weld for long periods of time with minimal safety concerns.
Portability
While this isn’t the lightest machine on the market, weighing in at 54 lbs, it is still light enough to transport easily. It can be taken to different job sites or back and forth from the shop to the house.
It is durable and industrial grade without sacrificing the option to transport if necessary.
Comes with Accessories
The Lotos 140 comes fully-equipped with everything you’ll need to get started welding right away. Included with the welding machine are the following accessories:
MIG torch, Ground Clamp Cable, Gas Hose, Argon Regulator, .23” + .035” Contact Tips, a Welding Mask, and Wire
Lotos MIG 140 Welder Cons
Spool Gun Sold Separately
If you are looking to weld aluminum right away, you will need to purchase a spool gun in addition to the machine.
It is the one accessory that does not seem to be included. Since the machine is so affordable, this isn’t much of a deal breaker.
Warranty Information
The machine comes with a 30-Day warrantee that promises you 100% satisfaction or your money back.This gives you a chance to use the machine and see how you like it before committing to long-term use.
There is an additional 1-year limited warranty included with your purchase. The 1-year warranty comes with parts and labor for any manufacturers defects or issues you might experience with the machine.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN ADVANTAGES OF MIG WELDERS?
One of the biggest advantages of MIG welding, apart from it wide application, is that it is very simple for a newbie to learn. Gas metal arc welding is very straightforward because you only have one element you need to operate at any time.
The gun provides you with all the material you need for welding, and it is easy enough to control because you only need to press the trigger to start and let it go to stop.
Not only that, but this type of welding can also be used to produce aesthetically pleasing welds, making this type viable for sculpture making too.
It's clearly one of the more popular welding processes available to learn.
DISADVANTAGES OF MIG WELDING
However, this welding type has a disadvantage too.
The MIG welding processes has a limitation on what materials it uses, and how thin or thick they can be.
For example, if you intend to weld cast iron, you will find the best MIG welder severely lacking in power. Also, pushing your machine to its absolute limits can damage it, so you need to be careful.
On the other hand, if you’re dealing with really thin aluminum, the sheer power of the arc will burn right through the material. In addition, MIG welding cannot be performed on rusty or dirty materials, or in windy or rainy weather. This is one of the main disadvantages of gas metal arc welding.
What’s The Best Welder Type For A Beginner?
MIG welding is no doubt the easiest type of welding to start out.
Because of the high adjustability of the power output, and because of the clean welds that it produces, MIG stands alone as the fastest and the surest welding process for a beginner to master.
Of course, if your budget provides, you can buy a hybrid welder, so you can try multiple styles at once, but MIG still remains the best option.
What Welding Types Produce The Strongest Welds?
Seeing as all welding types have advantages and disadvantages, one can only speculate.
However, if it’s pure strength that counts and the thickness of the material that can be welded, then stick welding is the winner.
As we said, the stick is the only one capable of welding cast iron and works on both dirty materials and in harsh weather conditions.
However, MIG can be applied on many metals of varying thickness, while TIG produces highest quality welds, especially when it comes to thin metals.
Conclusion
The Lotos MIG 140 is an excellent choice for amateur welders, DIY-ers, and professionals. It is easy to use, reliable, and versatile.
The digital interface allows you to achieve exacting and durable welds for a variety of projects.
