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What is the general consensus on the older Lincoln Idealarc MIG welders, specifically the SP-200 and larger models? I've sen quite a few of them pop up on Craigslist, and have considered buying one of the 200 or larger models. Are these pretty solid machines, and how do they compare to newer MIG machines of similar amperage? Any reason to stay away from one?
Reply:
Originally Posted by Jason280
What is the general consensus on the older Lincoln Idealarc MIG welders, specifically the SP-200 and larger models? I've sen quite a few of them pop up on Craigslist, and have considered buying one of the 200 or larger models. Are these pretty solid machines, and how do they compare to newer MIG machines of similar amperage? Any reason to stay away from one?
Reply:For a shopwelder, I've always thought of the SP200 to be a fine machine. I don't own one,,,, but I do use one on a regular basis, that one of my customers owns. Seems to be a fine machine, and easy to dial in the sweet spot. Denrep mentioned feeding issues,,,,, I never experienced it, perhaps due to bad rollers, worn liner, or just a cheap gun? I will mention, also, usually when I used this welder, it was on thin-wall aircraft tubing, on grape harvester picking heads .... climbing around, twisting around, bending around, various parts, in place on the grape harvester. Never any feeding problems.The SP200, as I recall, was lincoln's equivalent to the MM200,,,, the last of the real transformer type wire-feed welders, before they started loading them up with a bunch of electronics. Despite the name, both were 250 amp class machines.Personally,,,,, just like the MM200, if I ever saw a SP200 for a decent price, I'd snap it up. Also, I would consider in the budget, the cost of a modern up-to-date gun and liner. The Tweco's are an old standby, still good, but there's better ones out there now.
Reply:Excuse my ignorance, but is the SP-200 a 200 or 250a machine? Also, what would be considered a good price on one?
Reply:Jason, the old days they used to number machines at whatever it could do at a 40% or 60% duty cycle. Understanding, of course, that most people wanted to buy a machine, they could use for their normal work, day in and day out. Max was often considerably more. Depending on the type of equipment. This for the most part stopped in the mid to late 80's. Engine drives are still being rated, barely, at a useable duty cycle,,,,, most mig machines being built and sold today, are numbered very close to the top end. So almost any 200 machine sold 20 years or more ago, is very probably equivalent in power and capabilities, to any 250 machine sold today. Especially true about the wirefeeders. This all happened, between all three major manufacturers,,,, Lincoln, Miller, and Hobart,,,, just between 1987 to 1990 or so.
Reply:
Originally Posted by Jason280
Excuse my ignorance, but is the SP-200 a 200 or 250a machine? Also, what would be considered a good price on one?
Reply:The '89 Miller CP250TS I had was rated 250 amps 100% duty cycle. I don't know what the max output was, probly at least 300 amps. Millermatic 350P is rated 300 amps at 60% duty cycle, max output is 400 amps.XMT 304 CC/CV is rated 300 amps at 60% duty cycle, max output is 400 amps.Bobcat 250NT is rated 250 amps at 100% duty cycle. I don't know what the max output is, probly 300 amps.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:In the mid 1980's I worked in a county vehicle repair garage, and we had a 225AC buzzbox or the Lincoln SP200 MIG to do all of our fabrication and repairs with. I learned MIG welding on that SP200, and it could be dialed in to a sweet arc on any thickness within its range. I made hydraulic tanks (seam welding 16 ga sheet metal), trailer hitches on everything from pickups to dumptrucks, and did repair welding on cars, trucks, tractors, trailers and even a jail door with that unit. I do remember it hitting its limit on big stuff, 1/2" to 1/2" or more, on grader frames and such, but everything else was a cakewalk for that welder.Other than the huge size (about 32" wide if I remember), we had no trouble dragging it all over the shop. I even remember lifting it up on a forklift many times to get the reach needed to do repairs to light guards on dump trucks and graders, etc.There's an SP200 Idealarc MIG on C/L near me, with a brand new Tweco gun and hose, and a ginormous tank of argon on it (maybe a 330cf?), for $1000Last edited by Steevo; 04-28-2012 at 09:10 PM.
Reply:
Originally Posted by denrep
I had an SP-200. I remember a lot of wire feed trouble.Next thing is the SP-200's feeder is integral with the cabinet's side, making the cabinet wide, so the machine's larger size is tougher to move around a crowded shop, than say the more narrow Millers of the same era. And since the SP-200 feeder is not a separate unit, there is no way to extend the feeder away from the power source, or to even aim the feeder in the general direction of the work, as is often required on larger "floor work" jobs. Also the gun's cablehose exits the power source at floor level. So the machine's limited reach often requires installing a longer reach cablehose, which compounds feeding problems. Functionally I think the SP-200 is a fine light duty machine, but probably better suited for stationary or bench work, rather than jobs that require lots of moving around.Any of Lincoln's older large industrial machines, with a separate feeder such as an LN-7 or LN-9, are very tough, reliable, and serviceable machines. Of course input power will probably have to be three phase.Good Luck
Reply:my buddy has an sp-200 that i've used a bunch. very good machine. i could possibly describe it as finicky. meaning it takes a little playing with to find the sweet spot. once your there, it will make a bad welder a good welder.
Reply:Ive got a Lincoln SP200 for sale if interested. John. 818-470-6280 |
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发表于 2022-9-26 15:51:24