180 MIG's

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Newbie here,looking to make a purchase and want something capable of up to 1/4" and 220v.It appears that this would be in the 180 range,can some one tell me the difference between the Lincoln PowerMig 180c vs SP 180T ?I see there are reconditioned SP 180Ts available.Also are all 180's from the big 3 similar in capability ?Also can someone explain what the spoolgun additions are ?And exactly what typically goes bad in a MIG and needs to be replaced ?I don't live in the US so I would be shipping the machine out andobviously would want to be able to know that parts are available if something goes bad.Lennard
Reply:The Lincoln 180C has  Continuous Voltage selectionThe 180T has Tapped Voltage selectionMax Capacity is really the same with the 3 Big- 180amp machinesThey each handle the range differently though.Lincoln 180C same class as the Miller 180- both Continuous VoltageLincoln 180THobart Handler 187where are you located?Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:I live in Trinidad.What is the difference between Tapped and Continuous ?
Reply:If you want 1/4" solid wire capability, I definitely wouldn't recommend one of the 180 amp Lincoln units. The reason being that the Lincoln units aren't able to produce the same level of top end power as the Millermatic 180 or Hobart handler 187. The Miller and Hobart units are capable of outputting around 1.5 -2  more top end volts then the 180 amp Lincoln units. What this means is with solid wire, the Millermatic 180 and Handler 187 are able to output around 185 amps; whereas, the Lincoln units top out around 170 amps.ESAB Migmaster 250 Hobart Ironman 230Multimatic 215TWECO Fabricator 181i & 211iHH125EZ - nice little fluxcore only unitMaxstar 150 STH - very nice
Reply:I don't know all that much about the various flavors of Lincoln migs.  They make several of them that seem to overlap markets.   The Millermatic 180 will do what you're after and you'll be able to get parts for it just about anywhere.  Its a great little machine too.   I'm sure the Lincolns are good too, I just prefer Blue.  The things that go 'bad' in a mig??   Contact tips, gun liners, gas nozzles, triggers, wire guide tubes, drive rolls (after ALOT of use).  None of these parts are expensive or difficult to change or hard to find.  They are all considered 'consumable' parts of the machine and expected to be changed on occasion.Continuous voltage adjust is definately sweeter than tapped.   Tapped works fine, but being able to dial it in anywhere you want it is nicer.Spool gun allows you to feed aluminum wire without fooling around with it tangling up after the drive rolls in the feeder or inside the torch whip.  Aluminum wire is soft and doesn't like to be pushed from the rear.  It likes to be pulled from the front.  The spool gun eliminates the long wire run in the torch whip by putting the roll of wire right in the gun so it only has to go about 6 inches in a straight line before it reaches the weld.  Feeds much better than trying to push it down the mig gun.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:thanks for the replies.so the circuitry/motors do not generally go bad or at least can be replaced ?also is the Innershield wire the same as other flux wires ?
Reply:As another newbie, I bought the 180T over the 180C just to simplify my life.  With the tapped control it's fairly easy to find the correct setting, but I imagined myself screwing around with the continuous adjustment til the cows came home.  Tim
Reply:The pc boards and wire drive motors usually don't go bad.  If it does go bad under warranty, you should be able to get it fixed for free.  If a board goes bad out of warranty, you may as well buy a new machine cause the boards are usually almost as much as the whole machine.  The motor shouldn't be too bad.Innershield is Lincoln's trade name for self shielding fluxcore wire.  Innershield NR211 is the same as other brands E71T-11.  NR232 is E71T-8.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:My only concern would be with the power issue. I don't know if 220v power in Trinidad is the same as 220v power here. I don't know if the hertz is the same, and if different if it makes that big a difference to the machine for this application. Hopefully Transit or one of the electrical guru's knows the answer. I'm a bit curious myself..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I think I will be going with the Hobart 187, it is not continuous but seven steppedhowever the price is cheaper than the other 2 and there is a big Hobart dealer locally with 3 year warranty.Are the Hobart's guts similar to the others ?Also is the Miller Autoset worth it or just a nice to have ?
Reply:The Hobart 187 has a very good reputation. And since you have a local dealer, it would seem to be an excellent choice for you.It's my belief that welding is quite complicated and once you figure out the very basics, that the Autoset feature will get turned off and the welder set manually. There's always that tiny adjustment one step past what the door chart recommends and Autoset won't know it. What worked for me when learning (TIG), was writing down every adjustment, for each metal and thickness, that worked in a notebook. Then when I returned after a welding lull, I just looked up my settings and continued welding.If you'd like, you can jump up to User CP and add Trinidad in your location, mine says Colorado. It will show up on each post.9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:Ok, changed my mind and just ordered the Millermatic 180 from Indiana Oxygen,they were a little cheaper.Been wasting too much time reading comparisons etc.I guess I need to get an auto helmet now, but don't want to break the bank though.
Reply:Good, better choice than the Hobart, not as many cheap plastic parts in it.  One of the reasons you generally find them at a less expensive price as the Miller.  As for the Lincoln, I own a Weldpak 180 HD found at Home Depot and is the same as Powermig 180 and SP180T with tapped control and it constantly smokes 1/4 material with hard wire !!!A few of my toys !LinuxMintManjaroMiller Roughneck 2E Lincoln WeldPak 100HTP MTS 160 Chicago Electric 80amp Inverter   Victor O/A
Reply:The Weldpak is not the same as the PowerMig:Power Mig has a Cast AL drive roll system where as the Weldpak 180HD has a Plastic drive systemI'm not knocking the Weldpak but it is not the same Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Maybe not, but power, and other specs. it is.  Unless you care to argue that with a Lincoln tech rep from the factory.A few of my toys !LinuxMintManjaroMiller Roughneck 2E Lincoln WeldPak 100HTP MTS 160 Chicago Electric 80amp Inverter   Victor O/A
Reply:Originally Posted by smawgmawMaybe not, but power, and other specs. it is.  Unless you care to argue that with a Lincoln tech rep from the factory.
Reply:No offense taken, and I wasnt trying to be sarcastic, just refering to the capabilities.  A few of my toys !LinuxMintManjaroMiller Roughneck 2E Lincoln WeldPak 100HTP MTS 160 Chicago Electric 80amp Inverter   Victor O/A