Lincoln 175...FYI

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chicago

chicago

Joined
Jan 18, 2006
Threads
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Location
Reno, Nevada
Hey all,
Just wanted to give a heads up to those "givin-a-think" on one of the light duty 220 welders.
I pulled the trigger on the Lincoln 175 from Home Depot...
Where I come from, they call that a PIECE OF SH*T!
Outta the box, I was having feed issues...
I start a bead and run it for about an 2-2.5 inches, then the wire would slow and burn back into the tip....Turn the feed UP, the same thing would happen. Adjust the "CORRECT FACTORY TENSION" thinking it was slipping, same thing...Tried new tips, tried backing my distance off...NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS.
The other thing was, the beads I was able to run, barely penetrated half way through a 1/4 in plate.
The lil 110 unit I was using did ALMOST as good a job of penetrating as the 220. Mind you, on the box it said it was rated for 1/2 in material....Come to find out that is with multiple passes!
If Im gonna pay an extra 300 bucks for a 220 unit, I at least expect it to do BETTER than the 110!
I took it back after 2 days of trial, very disappointed!
Now Im going with the Hobart 187, which is what I should have done in the first place!
Now I know why folks go with the Miller/ Hobart units over the Lincolns!
Thank GOD I was able to return it is all I can say!

Lesson Learned!

Hope this helps someone!

Chicago
 
That has been my experience with a Lincoln 175.
'

I have a Miller 175 that has been through a couple tanks of gas and spools of wire with no issues yet...
 
FWIW I have a Lincoln Pro-Mig 175 and have not had a bit of trouble with it. Mine is 2-3 years old. I have been extremely satisfied with its performance. I really do not weld anything over 1/4 inch with it though.
 
I was using the Lincoln 110 unit and LOVED it which is why I opted for the 175...

Chicago
 
Chicago, did you change the polarity if you were using a shielding gas? How long is your cord from the outlet.. possible voltage drop?

Something ain't right, Lincoln builds a good welder.

That said, I've had my HH175 for a few years now and haven't had a lick of problem with it, except that it doesn't shut down when it overheats, it just starts welding like crap. (I was burning 1/4 & 3/8" into my rockwells, full power and ~80% speed)
 
Eskimo said:
Chicago, did you change the polarity if you were using a shielding gas? How long is your cord from the outlet.. possible voltage drop?

Something ain't right, Lincoln builds a good welder.

That said, I've had my HH175 for a few years now and haven't had a lick of problem with it, except that it doesn't shut down when it overheats, it just starts welding like crap. (I was burning 1/4 & 3/8" into my rockwells, full power and ~80% speed)
Click to expand...

Hey Eskimo,
I pulled the thing outta the box, set the polarity for the flux core, not the gas! I plugged direct into the 220 source with the cord from the unit...NO EXTENSIONS!
I jacked around with the feed settings, adjusted the tensions on the spool and the spring loaded wire clamp deal (AFTER I was having issues). It would go along OK, then the feed would slow, burn into the tip and blow the bead. Other times it happened at start up which is why I suspected the settings werent right on the feed...
Maybe it was just the unit...I donno!
I wasnt gonna F around with it though, as it was BRAND new and I could still take it back and save my ass!

Thanks for the input!

Chicago
 
My mig pak 15(sp175) works just fine. No feed issues. Good control on the feed from what I could tell.

Have welded 3/8 think with no problem. No way it could do 1/2 with out serious tapering and multiple passes. I just would not use it for that.

But for body work and 1/4 plate it works quite well. I use gas though. If I wanted to use flux core I think I would just buy a stick welder.

In fact in the future I probably will buy a stick welder to do heavier work.
 
I have the mig pak 15 also and about 6 months after I got it I was having feed problems. I replaced the liner with one good for .035 wire and never had a problem since.(The stock one is for .030 or smaller wire) To be honest I think my wife may have drove over the cable and kinked the liner.


Kevin
 
Dude that sucks, i have had great success with my lincoln 175, i love actually. cheers
 
chappysfj40 said:
Dude that sucks, i have had great success with my lincoln 175, i love actually. cheers
Click to expand...

I was expecting a lot more from it and im very disappointed about it.
It might have been a bad unit...who knows!?
I wasnt going to wait to find out...
The HH 187 is en route from Northern Tool...Im very anxious to compare.
I did a couple of passes with Espressomons MM 175 and I was AMAZED at its performance and penetrating power, but its a spendy little unit...
Im buying on 12 mos no interest from Northern tool, and there is no where I could find that had the MM's for that option!
Homey D had the same deal, and I had a 50.00 gift cert from the father in law AAAAND an additional 10% off the purchase...

Ill post up what I think of the HH 187 when I get it!

Sorry to disappoint you Lincoln guyz with my comments...Maybe it was just a bad egg.

Chicago
 
Toyo FJ40 said:
I have the mig pak 15 also and about 6 months after I got it I was having feed problems. I replaced the liner with one good for .035 wire and never had a problem since.(The stock one is for .030 or smaller wire) To be honest I think my wife may have drove over the cable and kinked the liner.


Kevin
Click to expand...

That sounds like something that would happen in MY garage!:D

Chicago
 
brownbear said:
My mig pak 15(sp175) works just fine. No feed issues. Good control on the feed from what I could tell.

Have welded 3/8 think with no problem. No way it could do 1/2 with out serious tapering and multiple passes. I just would not use it for that.

But for body work and 1/4 plate it works quite well. I use gas though. If I wanted to use flux core I think I would just buy a stick welder.

In fact in the future I probably will buy a stick welder to do heavier work.
Click to expand...

Ive got a stick welder, I just cant weld too well with it.
I practice and practice and I just cant seem to get those out of position welds to come out...
With that being the case, I dont feel comfortable welding on my rig....
I figured it wouldnt do 1/2 in without multiple passes, but I DID expect it to do better on the 1/4 in...

Chicago
 
chicago said:
I was expecting a lot more from it and im very disappointed about it.
It might have been a bad unit...who knows!?
I wasnt going to wait to find out...
The HH 187 is en route from Northern Tool...Im very anxious to compare.
I did a couple of passes with Espressomons MM 175 and I was AMAZED at its performance and penetrating power, but its a spendy little unit...
Im buying on 12 mos no interest from Northern tool, and there is no where I could find that had the MM's for that option!
Homey D had the same deal, and I had a 50.00 gift cert from the father in law AAAAND an additional 10% off the purchase...

Ill post up what I think of the HH 187 when I get it!

Sorry to disappoint you Lincoln guyz with my comments...Maybe it was just a bad egg.

Chicago
Click to expand...

Make sure you get some .030 ER70-S6 wire. Do NOT get .035 wire. It will not work as well on the HH187.

If you liked MM175, you'll be amazed how much better the HH187 is over the MM175.
 
fj40charles said:
Make sure you get some .030 ER70-S6 wire. Do NOT get .035 wire. It will not work as well on the HH187.

If you liked MM175, you'll be amazed how much better the HH187 is over the MM175.
Click to expand...

Well that is encouraging!
Im very happy to hear that endorsement on the HH 187.
Any particular BRAND of wire?
I heard 2bad FJ mention that the Lincoln wire is all it will take?
Do you know anything about this?

The couple of passes I did with the MM 175, I did on 1/4 in plate, butt weld without a bevel...
With a single pass, it penetrated 90-95% of the material without burning through, nor did I wash the arc.
I was very impressed!
I was expecting something similar from the Lincoln when I bought it.

Chicago
 
chicago said:
Well that is encouraging!
Im very happy to hear that endorsement on the HH 187.
Any particular BRAND of wire?
I heard 2bad FJ mention that the Lincoln wire is all it will take?
Do you know anything about this?

The couple of passes I did with the MM 175, I did on 1/4 in plate, butt weld without a bevel...
With a single pass, it penetrated 90-95% of the material without burning through, nor did I wash the arc.
I was very impressed!
I was expecting something similar from the Lincoln when I bought it.

Chicago
Click to expand...

I'd suggest some Radnor .030 wire (Airgas house brand made by Lincoln), Hobart HB-28, Forney, or Pinnicle wire. Mixed review about Lincoln's L56 wire. $38.00 at HD or Lowes for 10 lbs. IMHO, Lincoln's L56 wire is not worth it and there have been issues with wire consistency in how it welds.

I personally use Hobart HB-28 (.030) which I buy in the 33 lbs rolls for $55.00 + tax at my local welding shop. A 33# roll will not fit on your welder so you'll need to stick to 10# rolls.

I have not tried HTP wire, but I have not seen any bad/negative reviews of HTP mig wires.
This is a good deal for two 10# rolls. This seller (Jeff Noland is the president of HTP America. He has great prices on welder consumables (tips, wires, welding helmets, etc.,)
http://cgi.ebay.com/2-10-lb-Rolls-E...ryZ34097QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

There are other wires that will work well. Just don't buy the cheapest wire you can buy. Even though they all meet the AWS classifcation, each brand of wire will have its own characteristics. Some just wet out better, produce less splatter, produce better arc, etc.,

Discussion about Forney wire with HH187
http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/showthread.php?t=24795&highlight=hh187

More wire discussion
http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/showthread.php?t=24681&highlight=hh187

Please post up your results/review of the welder when you lay down some beads.

Charles
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the links and info Charles!
I really appreciate it!
All ive run has been the Lincoln .035 wire, and to be honest, I hadnt realized that there were so many alternatives!:o
Im eagerly awaiting its arrival as I have a list of projects that I want to get too with it, including sliders from Marlin Crawler!
I could probably handle some of this stuff with the stick welder as it would be in position for the most part, but Ill need something to do with my new purchase!
It kinda funny...spatter with mig welding hasnt been too troublesome for me except when I was JUST LEARNING...There is a little clean up required with a wire wheel, but nothing too laborious!

Thanks again for the input!

Chicago
 
Radnor wire has been my choice as well after favorable reviews on several welding forums. It does a noticably better job then the generic wire I got first. It's an Airgas proprietary house brand, so get it at the Airgas store.

10 pounds last a long time, so if you want to try different ones, then keep your spool as small as possible until you find what you like. For me, the Radnor in 33 lb spools looks like the ticket.

I have run the Lincoln wire too, and thought it was perfectly fine, but then I don't weld for a living. I was recentlyu given a spool of welding wire from Sweden-I'm going to run it next just for grins. If my 40 starts sprouting Volvo parts, you'll know why.

I have heard that wire with a higher Manganese content is easier for beginning welders. I cannot say if it's true or not.

I do know that my FJ40 did not fall apart on 2 trips through the Rubicon, so my welding is good enough for my purposes. The tough part is welding when out of position or vertical. That clearly is a skill I still need to acquire.

Chicago-It sucks that your new welder let you down.
 
WOW!
Reading some of the posts on the links fj40charles submitted has really opened my eyes on the wire you run.
I just thought wire was wire...end of story.
Theres a home depot a couple blocks away from my house, and they sell the lincoln wire, so thats ALL of my experience with the wire...
Ill have to hit up the air gas shop and Sierra Welding Supply and try some other stuff out.

Cant wait to get the HH 187!

Chicago
 
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