Question about new mig rig...

admin

Hey i'm looking at buying a new mig rig but im having some trouble deciding on which route to go. I'm looking at getting a 255 or 256 which i have used before and really like, but the problem is I tend to do a lot of field welding. I know the 255 and 256 are meant to be used in the shop but is it a bad idea to use them as a mobile rig as well? Im not really big on getting a gas/diesel rig because I do a lot of shop work as well as field work. I appreciate any help. Thanks -Jesse
Reply:The question for field work is, where will you get power? Mig does not do well out in windy places, mo betta use flux-core wire outside. But still, where do you plug in? The Miller Renegade was discontinued, but may still be out there...http://compare.ebay.com/like/120753183935Larger machines can power portable feeders easily. It takes some amount of research to find what you need. Look around, deals are all over the place.Otherwise, buy a long, heavy extension cord.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Well right now i have a generator mounted in the truck i use for power, but i hear what your saying. Im alittle worried about not having the cable reach I need, but 90% of the time i can park close enough to my work. I guess the right way would be to have a ranger or something in the truck and have a promig at the shop. Thats not really an option right now though. Im not a pro by any means, but i am trying to grow and get the right equipment for the future. I know the 255 pretty well but do you think their is a better route for shop and field work? Thanks alot for the help.-Jesse
Reply:Put the 255 in your shop and pick up an engine drive that can operate with a feeder or LN-25This way in the field you can not only mig weld but stick and arc gouge also.Future investment.Any engine welder will drive a LN-25. But for best welding make sure it has CV.Look for a 14 pin feeder plug, Use the welders code number on Lincoln's web site and get the owner's manual. The older Lincoln feeders ran on 115 volts, The new ones run on 42 volts.Make sure the welder has the connections in the feeder plug to operate the feeder you want to buy.
Reply:I have looked at a few engine driven and they seem over kill for the majority of the work i'm doing. (mainly automotive, but often times i am called to fix gates and things like that).... How big of an engine driven would i need to run the ln-25 well? Just so i know, is their a reason why using something like the 255 for field sometimes is a bad idea? I'm guessing its because its meant to be a shop welder, and the fact you have to power it. Thanks a lot for the help. I must have missed the day when they taught you about welders when i got my cert. -Jesse
Reply:Cons:Power for the 255PIA loading unloading unless you have an enclosed trailer with rampTruck, get caught in the rain= bummerHow much welding amps you need on location?Options:Lincoln's new 180 class is dual voltage now, could run it 100' off of extension cordsMiller 211Miller Passport Plus (it kicks ***)gates and stuff you could run it on 120v most likely.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 did a gate repair using a bluestar 6000, spectrum 300 and a sp135.3/4 inch square tubing. Used the blue star as a generator and ran the spectrum 300 on 115 volts. Right now you have a good generator so to get the most bang for your buck. You might want to look at 115 or 230 volt hand carry welders. The powermig 140 or millermatic or a passport. All are cheaper than the LN-25 The 115 volt welders do 1/8 inch and smaller very well. the 230 volt units almost make 1/4 inch. In one pass. There are a lot of different types of welders and feeders out there. Some are light duty for home use, some are light industrial and some are heavy industrial. Your 225 is a light industrial welder. With in each of these three classes there are lighter and heaver made welders. Compare the powermig 140 found at your LWS to the same welder at home depot or lowes. The LWS unit has more metal in the drive and continuous  adjustment of weld voltage. HD welders have more plastic parts in the drive and a 4 setting voltage switch.Try to find places that are demoing different welders. Fairs, trade shows, farm equipment shows and some LWS have demo units. Call Lincoln, Miller or other and ask for a location that they are demonstrating at. They might surprise  you and come to you with a couple of machines they think you might want to buy.
Reply:Right now I have 180c, its fine for light gauge, but I need something that will handle 1/4" +. I definitely need a 230V now. I also have used a 175 hd (230V) at a shop i worked at for a long time and it seemed to work very well on almost anything but I would blow the breaker a lot and over clock it. Now would something like the miller 211 be a better when ran off and genny in the field. I have never used one but I would think it could handle up to 1/4 ok.
Reply:Was wondering what process you are using?  Flux core wire in a 211 should cover all the work you mentioned.  Best, Ralph
Reply:I have had several shop type mig machines,  They are a real pain to load up if you want to do mobile.   Now I use my Powcon Inverter with the ESAB suitcase for everything.  At less input amps than a Miller 256 I can weld up to 400 amps and mig pretty all day long at 250amps.   Easy to go mobile with an Inverter power source and a suitcase. will run fine off a generator too..Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Right now i use l56 and mix gas most of the time, again because a lot of the work is in the shop. occasionally iIl use flux, but thats mainly for field in bad weather. I dont really mind taking the rig and the gas with me because i go back and forth a lot between shop and field so I just keep the same setup all the time. I'll be honest, if i had the money i would have a shop welder and a truck welder, but thats not an option right now so i need to find the best for long term at this point. The 180c I have now is roughly the same size as say a 211 and I dont have much trouble taking that around. I worry alittle bit about running a good 230v welder on a normal genny with a 50-100' big gauge extension cord. I really appreciate all the help guys.-Jesse
Reply:You could also change the wheels on the 255C so it is easier to move around on rough surfaces.
Reply:Yeah, thats true, but that thing is really big to get on and off the truck if i cant reach the work from the truck. Bottom line, if i have to buy a mig thats not gas powered, which would you recommend for a 230V that will be for shop and field. Thanks a lot for the help-Jesse
Reply:Sorry, double posted....
Reply:Yeah, thats true, but that thing is really big to get on and off the truck if i cant reach the work from the truck. Bottom line, if i have to buy a mig thats not gas powered, which would you recommend for a 230V that will be for shop and field. Thanks a lot for the help-Jesse