Disappointment

[cleppla]

After much much delay I finally got to do some welding for my barracuda project. Right away I am disapointed. I found my welder is not up to the job. It's a lincoln weldpak 100  (100 amp max) unit.  So I think I am in the market for a new welder.   Can anyone suggest what   I minimum AMP service I should go with?  I was looking at a lincoln 180 which has a 180 AMP service. Would this be up to the task?

Thanks Chris

[SPEC]

I think that the weldpak 100 is a little small are you using gas? you might be surprised at rhe difference that wire size makes on the 110 machines...
I had a 100 in my pit kart ran off 6500 watt generator with .023 and .030 wire you had to take your time but it would do 1/4" buy they're duty cycle sux...weld for 2 minutes wait 8 minutes till it cooled down enouph for the arc to get stable...weld for 2..
Now if your using flux core wire..... :-[
Get the kit and try gas...the kit will transfer to the 180 if you need to go up in size...
Or toss it in the back of the wagon...and bring it up...my 251 is just collecting dust

[cleppla]

I am/was using gas.  The beads were sitting on top of all of my work. No penetration.  The friend who helped me with the work space finished the work with his stick welder. Too much grinding and re-welding for that (it seemed)


Chris

[SPEC]

If I remember right
Those had reversable leads...Have you switched them?
The'll be inside the wire door under the drive rolls

[cleppla]

Yup.  They do.  I've had this unit setup for gas for years.  I had used this setup for auto body work and some other projects. This steel is thicker than what I was working on before. I tried different settings with no luck.



Chris

[chuckorlando]

I got the same welder and it's welded every thing I've tried. I turn the heat up and wire speed down and just weld the piss out of it. I need a bigger one though cause if It's thick I normally weld both sides

[cleppla]

Thanks chuck for the info.    I had my speed up and the heat up.   I contacted a guy tonight who has a lincoln 180 AMP 220v for sale.  Not too bad of a price ($350) and he is local.


Chris

[Reidy02]

Hey Chris did you get my PM?

[chuckorlando]

I love mt little welder. But it's not a big boy welder. It's awsome at a camp site though.

[cleppla]

Picked up my new welder yesterday.  Lincoln Mig Pro 180. Practically brand new.  The guy I bought it from was upgrading to a Snap-on model.    I cant wait to try it out sometime this week.