Lincoln 175...FYI

[fj40charles]

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

You're welcome.. I used to think wire was wire, but now I know better. Same goes for welders. Different levels of induction will affect how the arc behaves.

Have fun with your welder...

Charles

 

[chicago]

You're welcome.. I used to think wire was wire, but now I know better. Same goes for welders. Different levels of induction will affect how the arc behaves.

Have fun with your welder...

Charles

Hey Charles,
Just out of curiosity...
Why only .030 wire?
I went down to sierra welding supply to get a good look at the unit (over a hundred bucks more than what I got it for) and the inner sleeve that comes with it is for .035...If I wanted to go with .045 I would have to change the inner sleeve.
Without having run the unit, id definatley feel better being able to run the .035.

Just wondering why you feel that .030 is the only route to go for wire.

Yesterday I started cutting the pieces for my x member for my traction bar!
I finally figured a way that I LIKE, that isnt too obtrusive.
Ive been trying to figure out the best way to run it since last OCTOBER!
Its been on my brain for a LOOOONG time...Now I just have to get the unit to make it come to life!

I CANT WAIT!!!!

Chicago

 

[fj40charles]

Hey Charles,
Just out of curiosity...
Why only .030 wire?
I went down to sierra welding supply to get a good look at the unit (over a hundred bucks more than what I got it for) and the inner sleeve that comes with it is for .035...If I wanted to go with .045 I would have to change the inner sleeve.
Without having run the unit, id definatley feel better being able to run the .035.

Just wondering why you feel that .030 is the only route to go for wire.

Yesterday I started cutting the pieces for my x member for my traction bar!
I finally figured a way that I LIKE, that isnt too obtrusive.
Ive been trying to figure out the best way to run it since last OCTOBER!
Its been on my brain for a LOOOONG time...Now I just have to get the unit to make it come to life!

I CANT WAIT!!!!

Chicago

Chicago,

.030 wire is better for most people who are not in the welding or fab business. .030 will have lower deposition rate allowing you more time to read and see the weld puddle. This is a real benefit for beginner welders since the weld bead will lay slower giving you more control. .030 wire will have more amperage (same welding setting) than .035 wire giving you more penetration.

The type of welding you'll probably be doing does not require .035 or larger diameter wire. Are you planning on welding 1/2" metal all the time?

Last point.. There are welders that were designed to run optimally on .030 wire. Millermatic 210 was designed to run optimally with .030 wire. MM210 will still run .035 wire fine, but it runs better with .030 wire. I suspect the HH187 and HH210 were also designed to run best with .030 wire. Many of the reviews about HH187 and HH210 were done with .030 wire and they all reported excellent performance. I'm sure they tried out different wire sizes, but most were very happy with .030.

Most people just run .035 wire because it is a good general purpose size. Nothing wrong with it, but I prefer the .030 wire for the above reasons.

I would try to buy some .030 70ER-S6 wire from the following brand: Hobart HB-28, Radnor (Airgas brand), Pinnacle, and Forney. I use Hobart HB-28 (.030) on my Millermatic 200 (rated 200amps at 60% duty cycle) and I like it real well.

Hobart HB-28 is not real easy to find at your local welding shop.

You can buy a 10# spool (.030) here for $24.20 shipped.
http://store.cyberweld.com/hobhbmigwir1.html

Charles

 

[chicago]

AHHH,
OK, I unerstand.
Good insight!

Most of the stuff I will be doing is 3/16- 1/4 in...

Thanks,

Chicago

 

[chicago]

I GOT THE HH 187...came TODAY!
Only problem is that it looked like someone tried to score a field goal with it
The front face plate was hanging off on one side, the door hinge was cracked, and there was a dent in the back panel!
SOOOOO!
Its getting shipped back, and theyre sending out a new one!!!!
IM SOOOO FU*KING PISSED!!!!!
So now i have to wait another week to 10 days to get the new one!

One thing...Im getting pretty skilled with the stick welder in the mean time!
I finally figured the art of vertical welds, which makes me very happy!
Welding in position is very good, and the verical welds are coming along extremely well!
So well in fact, that I might be using it to do my x member and traction bar!

Chicago

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Just to add to the discussion, I've heard from numerous places on the 'net that the welders marketed and sold through Home Depot and Lowes are of a lower grade than those sold through welding suppliers. That includes machines that are labeled in an identical fashion. Whether there is any truth to it, I don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me.

 

[chicago]

Just to add to the discussion, I've heard from numerous places on the 'net that the welders marketed and sold through Home Depot and Lowes are of a lower grade than those sold through welding suppliers. That includes machines that are labeled in an identical fashion. Whether there is any truth to it, I don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me.

I was BS'ing with one of the guyz at the local welding shop and told him about the Lincoln unit, and he had said that the Lincoln migs tend to have bad gun contacts from time to time...
It probably was just the gun.

Never heard that about the big name hardware stores though...
Interesting.

Chicago

 

[450 DUDE]

Dude! your in total suckville.

Sorry to hear about your saga.


There I fixed it!

ken

I GOT THE HH 187...came TODAY!
Only problem is that it looked like someone tried to score a field goal with it
The front face plate was hanging off on one side, the door hinge was cracked, and there was a dent in the back panel!
SOOOOO!
Its getting shipped back, and theyre sending out a new one!!!!
IM SOOOO FU*KING PISSED!!!!!
So now i have to wait another week to 10 days to get the new one!

One thing...Im getting pretty skilled with the stick welder in the mean time!
I finally figured the art of vertical welds, which makes me very happy!
Welding in position is very good, and the verical welds are coming along extremely well!
So well in fact, that I might be using it to do my x member and traction bar!

Chicago

 

[chicago]

NAW!!!!
The only thing that sucks is that I havent wheeled as much as Ive wanted!
Summer's trickling away!

Chicago

 

[fj40charles]

Chicago,

That sucks about the shipping damages. You are NOT alone having this problem with damage during shipping. The wait will be worth it.

Will you be using a mig wire cleaning pad? It lubricated the mig wire and keeps it clean so you don't get lots of garbage in the mig gun liner. Also, recommend you get some nozzle gel if you don't have any already.

It looks like this..
https://weldingsupply.securesites.com/cgi-bin/einstein.pl?Next::1:UNDEF:OR:007040

Charles

 

[Mace]

.030 wire will have more amperage (same welding setting) than .035 wire giving you more penetration.

?????

 

[fj40charles]

?????

From post #7 of this thread. I should have clarified.. You don't get more amperage. You get deeper penetration with smaller diameter wire given the same amperage (current).

http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/showthread.php?t=17493&highlight=wire+diameter

If you're planning on welding a lot of .125 thick steel, I have feeling you might like the .030 better. Almost every unit that I ve ran, runs .030 nicer on 1/8" and thinner then it does .035. I 've also noticed, that since the .030 develops the weld puddle a little slower then .035, the inexperienced operator or recreational weldor tends to produce more consistent welds running the .030. Then there is the fact that the .030 has a higher current density then the .035 , meaning the .030 at the same current level ( up to around 200 amps) has the potential to produce a deeper penetrating weld. Anymore, I pretty much run an .030 wire as a general purpose wire on 1/4" and thinner.

 

[REZARF]

So I am sitting here looking at my brand new SP-175T from Lincoln. And after researching before buying I settled on this unit. However, is what I am reading true that you guys who have one of the Lincoln 175's you can MIG 1/4" plate without issue or using flux core.

The inside door/lid says it will only run up to a little over an 1/8" but the settings are not for the hottest settings either. Can any shed a little light on this before I start using this thing.

Brownbear?
1/4" in a single pass is what I am after, but I would rather use the gas sheilding instead of flux core. Anyone?

Looking for real world experience, not theories. Thanks!

Rezarf <><

 

[chicago]

Chicago,

That sucks about the shipping damages. You are NOT alone having this problem with damage during shipping. The wait will be worth it.

Will you be using a mig wire cleaning pad? It lubricated the mig wire and keeps it clean so you don't get lots of garbage in the mig gun liner. Also, recommend you get some nozzle gel if you don't have any already.

It looks like this..
https://weldingsupply.securesites.com/cgi-bin/einstein.pl?Next::1:UNDEF:OR:007040

Charles

I actually did TRY the welder, and it worked GREAT!
.030 flux core wire, set at 40/5, single pass, 1/4 in plate....75-80% penetration....WHAT A DIFFERENCE! Its kinda weird welding with that "cup" deal-e-o on the end of the gun, but I was very happy with it!
I tried to call off the dogs at Northern Tool, but they had already shipped the new unit out, so I boxed it up and they picked it up today!
Probably for the best in case there is anything lying in wait FROM the damage!

No, I dont have any nozzle gel, or a cleaning pad...
Im planning on getting a gas tank, extra tips, and some other stuff, so Ill pick that up as well!

Man, i was really impressed with that unit!
Ill post pics of the welds I did with it later on!

Chicago

 

[Mace]

030 flux core??

typicaly it is .035 flux..

 

[chicago]

030 flux core??

typicaly it is .035 flux..

NOPE!
The lil trial spool that came with it was 030....
It also came with THREE 030 tips!
I was surprised too, as I was expecting the 035, with the assorted tips.

Keith

 

[Mace]

They probably just expect you to run gas anyway...
(and use the .030 wire)

 

[chicago]

They probably just expect you to run gas anyway...
(and use the .030 wire)

LOL

Not me...
Ive kind of adopted your theories on the gas vs. flux core debate regarding weld penetration...
Wether its valid or not, Im gonna stick with using flux core for the more structural type stuff I have to weld, and use the gas for the body panels.
I know that gas welds have better appearance and are easier to clean and all that... Fact is, I dont mind doing the clean up work if I THINK it penetrated even a little bit better!

Keith

 

[fj40charles]

LOL

Not me...
Ive kind of adopted your theories on the gas vs. flux core debate regarding weld penetration...
Wether its valid or not, Im gonna stick with using flux core for the more structural type stuff I have to weld, and use the gas for the body panels.
I know that gas welds have better appearance and are easier to clean and all that... Fact is, I dont mind doing the clean up work if I THINK it penetrated even a little bit better!

Keith

Keith,

I know this doesn't help much now.. I guess you could have gotten a bigger welder with plenty of power (200+ amps) and you would not need to worry about using flux core.... Of course there is the small issue of money we all have to worry about.

I think HH187 is perfectly capable of welding 3/16 in one pass with solid mig wire. Might be able to do 1/4" with some beveling.

Charles

 

[Mace]

Keith,

I know this doesn't help much now.. I guess you could have gotten a bigger welder with plenty of power (200+ amps) and you would not need to worry about using flux core.... Of course there is the small issue of money we all have to worry about.

I think HH187 is perfectly capable of welding 3/16 in one pass with solid mig wire. Might be able to do 1/4" with some beveling.

Charles

Yep..

I would just run gas.. but keep the flux core around for when you run out of gas on Sunday