Lincoln Ranger 8 Generator/Welder Question?

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Hey gang,Im new to the forum so I appreaciate the opportunity to ask a few quesitons. Recently I inherited my Grandfather's Lincoln Ranger 8 and over the last 6 months I've enjoyed relearning how to  Arc weld. It's been a few years but I quickly picked it. So one day I was over at my buddy's farm and he has recently bought a LE Gas Sheied mig. He was showing me some of the features and i was astonished how easy it looked compared to Arc welding. So here's my question, can I turn my ranger 8 into a mig welder and if so How? There are displays on the front that show wire feed but I don't see any wire feeder. Not sure if that is something that could have been bought as an accessory or not. Below is a picture of my front panel! Thanks for your comments ahead of time!Eric
Reply:Yes it is an accessory/add on. I run a Miller Super32 feeder(cc/cv so I can swap between machines). Plug it into your positive cable and ground regular. The feeder has a sensing ground that you clamp to your work. If you don't run flux core wire you'll need shielding gas. Leave your machine on dcep(DC+) unless you find a roll of wire that calls for another setting. Not likely. Unless I get a smoking deal, I wont buy a feeder that isn't constant current/constant voltage(cc/cv). Get what works for you. There's a lot of good advice here from a lot of different people. Search the posts for wire feeder and you can see a lot of takes on the types of feeders. Good luck. You've got a very good machine.Arcon Workhorse 300MSPowcon 400SMTPowcon SM400 x 2Powcon SM3001968 SA200 Redface1978 SA250 DieselMiller Super 32P FeederPre 1927 American 14" High Duty LatheK&T Milwaukee 2H Horizontal MillBryan
Reply:Welcome to the forum Eric and congrats on the machine.The very basics of the matter is stick and TIG welding are done using CC (Constant Current) welders while MIG and flux-core welding are done using a CV (Constant Voltage) machine.  Your Ranger 8 is designed and equipped to perform as both a CC and CV power source to maximize its versatility.  However, in order to MIG or flux-core weld with it in CV mode, you would need a separate wire feeder unit which is where the MIG gun would come into play.  You'll forgive me if I don't list the almost endless list of shop and portable type wire feeders that can be used to accomplish the MIG welding process using the Ranger 8 but I can give you a starting point to research the subject.In the upper left corner of the faceplate you'll find the unit Code# that you can use to download the appropriate manual here http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us...r-manuals.aspx from the Lincoln website.  In it, you can read up on a number of different Lincoln wire feeders (shop and portable - referred to as suitcase) that can be used with the Ranger 8.Last edited by duaneb55; 12-23-2013 at 11:41 PM.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Thanks guys, seems cheaper to go buy a Stand Alone mig welder then spending 2k on a suitcase one or am I misssing something?Eric
Reply:Originally Posted by erubashThanks guys, seems cheaper to go buy a Stand Alone mig welder then spending 2k on a suitcase one or am I misssing something?Eric
Reply:You don't need to spend $2K on a suitcase. Any VS feeder will work and one member here just picked one up today for $300 IIRC. $600-900 is typical for a used one, though they run more and occasionally less used. I don't know the Lincoln feeders well enough to make suggestions on what other feeders would work on that machine except the "generic" voltage sensing (VS) type feeders.Keep in mind that to equal the output a suitcase feeder is capable of off that Ranger you are talking well over a $2K stand alone mig unit. A good used suitcase will set you back about what a new 180 to 200 amp class "hobby" mig would. A small mig like that would do say 1/4" to 3/8" material. A good suitcase would easily do 1/2" + off that Ranger for the same money. If you needed to do really thin steel, then maybe a stand alone mig might be a better choice, or possibly if you wanted to run alum off a spoolgun ( not sure whats needed to do that with Lincoln machines.)Good used VS feeders include LN 25's from Lincoln, Miller Super S32P's, 8vs and 12VS units and old Hobart Hefty's just to name a few.Last edited by DSW; 12-24-2013 at 12:47 AM..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:What they already mentioned and that is a clean machine.Ranger 250 thick stuffHobart Handler 140 not thick stuffthe pane and oxy setup
Reply:Where are you located? If your local id be willing to let you try out my 12vs  on your welder
Reply:Ebay has several Miller S32P12 feeders for less than $500, many come with a gun. Just need wire , gas and a hose with a flowmeter.Miller xmt304,  Miller S22 p12, Miier Maxstar SD, Miller 252 w 30A, Miller super32p12, Lincoln Ranger 9, Thermal Arc 181I with spoolgun, Hypertherm 10000 ,Smith torches. Esab 161lts miniarc.
Reply:Seriously you guys are the best! I never expected so many responses so quickly.  First off, Mike Im in Nashville so Im not sure where you are or if that's local or not but thanks for the kind offer any hoo! Second as it pertains to my reason for a potential conversion is only to learn the art of mig welding simply because my buddy made it look so simple but truth be told I had a great teacher growing up who taught me to master the fundamentals of arc welding and everything else comes with practice so I never found arc welding to be difficult. The one thing he did teach me about welding is that you can tell much by the sound of the arc but with The ranger 8 that is much more difficult being though it's loud and Im never more than 10 ft from it around the shop so i've had to focus more on "RELAX your hand and WATCH the PUDDLE!  I can't justify dropping a bunch of money when I only do it as needed around the shop fixing equipment or fabricating things I need! For example See below, I built this cart dolley last night with scrap and I'll tell ya it's much easier to move my table saw now.So I think I'll probably look for a stand alone model and use it for more of my thin guage stuff since I have found that the Ranger 8 will burn thru most thin guage even on it's lowest setting (Unless of course Im doing something wrong). That being said this morning I came across a Hobart Handler 125 Flux Core and thought I would get your opinion on it, it's advantages and disadvantages etc. Thanks again gang and Merry Christmas!Eric