125 hd not hot enough,can it be hot rodded

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Hi all. I have a lincoln 125hd that just doesn't seem to get hot enough. I tried to weld a wheel today and it simply wouldn't penetrate. I used to have a weld pack 100 that was much hotter than this 125. I am not happy with this one at all. First off the 100 had a rheostat where the 125 has a switch with set positions. I knew that was going to be a problem when I got it, but thought I was getting a slightly higher powered machine. It does have the gas set up on it. (they don't come with it, you have to buy it extra and install it) Any how my question to anyone that may know. Is there a way to get this thing to weld hotter? Can it be customized in some way? Can I put a rheostat in it, and will it help at all? If not this sucker is headed to the scrap yard. Any help is appreciated, and thank you in advance.
Reply:Gas mig will often run colder than FC. There's not a lot you can do to supercharge a small machine. If you want more heat, you need more input power.I'm not sure what standard you are using to judge "hotter" with as well.  The practical limit on those 2 machines is probably something like 3/32" (14 ga) or so at best, under real world conditions. Picts would help..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:picts of what? the machine? it is a standard 125hd with the gas hooked up to a 75/25 mix of argon O2. What I mean by hotter is penetration. The welds will not lay down. They are all look like rope on top of steel. My 100 would weld at least 1/4 inch or 3/8 with no problem at all. The welds would lay down and burn right in and this pos will not at all. I am thinking of going to .024 wire instead of .030, to get some more heat and penetration. I am thinking maybe I got a bad roll of .030 wire. I know that the closer to the wall I plug the machine in, the hotter it runs. I have a 100 ft extension cord that cost me almost 3 bills, that is suppose to handle it, but it doesn't. If I plug straight to a dedicated outlet with a 25 amp breaker, it will run a bunch hotter. That is impossible to do when I am out on the road working. I will send you a generic pic of the machine,but I doubt that is what you mean. Thanks for the reply.
Reply:Well that didn't work for the picture. I am not really sure how to send a picture and have to get to work. I will try later. Thanks again.
Reply:To post a picture use the paper clip and follow the directions.If you have a weld pak 125 HD It is rated almost the same as the SP 100.Post the code number and We will know for sure what machine you have.Try slowing your wire speed a touch and slow your hand motion. Give the puddle and chance to melt and flow. Preheating thick metal helps also. Going out 100 feet you will need 10 gauge cord. All connections will need to be good, clean and tight.Make sure miggun connections are clean and tight, Make sure miggun is not falling apart under the rubber boot at the welder end of the gun. The weld wires have a bad habit of breaking there, because people like to wrap the miggun around the welder way to tight.
Reply:do you have the polarity to the work and gun set correctly? it is reverse of running flux cored.  Otherwise you are just another sucker who bought an underpowered machine for the intended purpose thinking they saved money and got a deal.  you are going to need to go to a 230v machine you also did not tell us what thickness and metal type u r trying to weld..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:Originally Posted by mfre1111.  My 100 would weld at least 1/4 inch or 3/8 with no problem at all.
Reply:go back and reread the original post. He was trying to weld a wheel.....with a 110v welder. It's probably a wheel for the trailer he is building out of 1/4" angle and welding it all with the 125HD
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWDespite what you might think, your welds on 1/4" and 3/8" with that machine are cold and are NOT penetrating well. A bend test done on one of those welds will prove that easily. Even 1/8" is pushing that machine beyond practical use. These small machines are notorious for making pretty welds with no penetration when used on thicker steel.I was talking about picts of the welds done with both machines, so we can see the issues 1st hand.
Reply:The WeldPak 100 (I have one) has a selector switch for voltage and a rheostat for wire speed as does the 125hd.  Essentially they are the same machine.  Seems you might be trying to compare flux-core and mig with the two machines.Gordie -- "I believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
Reply:Originally Posted by BCTimberwolfgo back and reread the original post. He was trying to weld a wheel.....with a 110v welder. It's probably a wheel for the trailer he is building out of 1/4" angle and welding it all with the 125HD
Reply:i would go to your local airgas dealer. buy a 255 powermig sticker, and slap it on the side of the machine. that should pep it up a littleDynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:About the only way to get more penetration with that machine would be to pre-heat the metal before welding and switching to flux core wire.  This is why I always tell people that ask me what kind of welding machine they should buy to buy one that is bigger than they think they will need.  Good luck.
Reply:The 125HD is a 80amp machine, barely.I would upgrade.More welders than you can imagine! Arc-Heat Welder Repair and Sales4360 Commerce Circle Unit EAtlanta GA 30336Phone# 404-736-6494
Reply:You are trying to use the welder for work it was never intended to handle.All mfg are at fault for making these baby welders.I have a Miller 130 for light work.It weighs 65 pounds because the transformer is built heavy enough.Other welders with the same ratings weigh half that.MIG welding is NOT easy.This is mfg BS put out to sell welders.I have used a friends Airco 160 mig/stick welder.It did good work.One writer warned people to avoid small mig welders because using them would sour you on welding.One joker bought a 70A 115 volt welder and planned to use 7018 rod with it.Wont fly.