New Toy-Mig Welder

[foghorn]

SUre wish i had the lincoln that was in my dads shop when he sold out. it was a model number sp-200-a huge sucker. Like 3x4x4...


foggy

[Maxum96]

Thanks for the comments. Sorry, but I just had to brag about my new toys. I've been wanting a MIG welder and a Plasma Cutter for a long time. The Plasma Cutter is really slick and a breeze to use. What's nice about it is that you don't have to preheat the item you're going to cut like you do with a acetylene torch. You can cut stainless steel, copper, and aluminum with it. It also makes a very small (width) cut. About the only disadvantage I can see is that it needs a power source and it won't cut anything thicker than 5/8". But mine will run off 110V so i can use a generator if i need to use it in a remote location. And I doubt I'm gonna be cutting anything thicker than 5/8".

I've done stick(arc), tig, and gas welding. I'm finding MIG to be the easiest by far of all the welding processes i've used. I also hadn't done any welding in 20 years and after a few tries with MIG I was laying down some decent beads. And, after trying several different MIG machines, I'm finding out that the larger MIG welders are easier to weld with than the entry level MIG welders you see at Home Depot, Lowes and etc. My MIG is kind of in the middle of the line of welders. I'm glad I spent the extra money.

[mrung0wa]

Yeah, I remember back 20+ years ago When I worked for the Caterpillar Dealer.
The Metal Shop was upgrading there Old Lincoln ln in-shop welders. They were gray Behemoths that ran on 3-Phase 440-460 vVolts!!!
They bought 2 Millers that were about half the size, but twice as efficient.
I could of picked up one of those Lincolns but who has 440-460Volts availible at their house!


Lawrence

[Ranchero50]

The DVI is pretty neat, I have a new Miller 250 running .035" wire and it's almost too big. I run .023" wire in my Lincoln 100 with gas and it's good enough to repair stress cracks in sheetmetal and an excellent exhaust system welder.

If I were you I'd get a spool and tips for both sizes. The .035 is too heavy to weld sheetmetal easily and the .023 runs out too quick on 1/4" and thicker stuff.

The plasma's awesome, I want one. For the one at work I turn down my helmet shade to '9' and can see what I'm doing without any issues.

Congrats,

Jamie

[foghorn]

On body sheet metal if it has inner structure in it it takes two pass's to cut it. Then sometimes it still wont after two times. I used to use one for van conversions up in ks. They work excellent on single layer steel for cutting custom windows for van conversions.

foggy

[CJ,s 67 F100]

My firt welders were all Lincolns. I purchased a Miller this last time. I prefer the Miller stick welder. It just seems smoother to me. jmo