how to get the most out of an sp-100?

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A little background I own a motorcycle shop and i bought a Lincoln sp-100 a couple years ago just to so some small jobs and I use it for a lot more than i expected. Its great most of the time but it struggles on thicker stuff. What can I do to get the most out of it. My setup.030 copper coated wire75/25 argon co2 mix Used for mild steel the max is around 12 gauge some times a little thicker with a few passes. I have heard that i can get better penetration with smaller wire. .23? Others have said .35 fluxcore. so what is the best size wire for max penetration. I prefer to use a gas shielded wire. also Lincoln sell a cord kit that has a 25 amp plug instead of the 15 amp stock. will that really make a difference(I have a separate 25 amp receptacle in the shop I can use) on front its says that it puts out more amps with this cord. But I have never popped a breaker with it on a 15amp wide open. I also have a 10,000 generator with 70 amp 110v output or 35amo 220 that I could make a plug for if it would help when I welding heaver stuff?I wont a bigger welder but cant afford one right now.
Reply:You can plug its existing plug into a 20A receptacle already which will provide plenty if you do need it.A thinner solid wire might give you a little more, and using 100% CO2 gas will also give you an edge, but a .030" or .035" self-shielded flux-cored wire will make a big difference in penetration, worth it if you need it.
Reply:When I used my Loncoln 100 for years, the best results for gas was using.023 wire. For dirty metal, .030 innershield was the best, but harder to find in stock, so I usually used .035.And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:I think it says right inside the door it weld 5/16 with flux core.  Just plug the stock cord into a 20 or more amp breaker.  I did a bunch of tests with mine. On a 15 amp breaker it put out 88 amps and blew the breaker after a few seconds.  This was on J8 with .023 wire.  On a 30 amp circut I got just 99 or 100 amps.  Pics of the welds are posted elseware.  If you aren't blowing a 15 amp breaker, you are not using it hard at all.That machine was built to run .023.  That is all I have used in mine in many  years.I don't use my SP100 a lot, but I will never part with it.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:I've had my sp-100 for over 10 years, flux core .035 all the time. the duty cycle kinda sucks but you need to use a 20 amp circuit like the others have suggested, you'll get better performance from the machineTennessee Squire Association
Reply:oops, I meant .030 flux coreTennessee Squire Association
Reply:Originally Posted by bugman53A little background I own a motorcycle shop and i bought a Lincoln sp-100 a couple years ago just to so some small jobs and I use it for a lot more than i expected. Its great most of the time but it struggles on thicker stuff. What can I do to get the most out of it. My setup.030 copper coated wire75/25 argon co2 mix Used for mild steel the max is around 12 gauge some times a little thicker with a few passes. I have heard that i can get better penetration with smaller wire. .23? Others have said .35 fluxcore. so what is the best size wire for max penetration. I prefer to use a gas shielded wire. also Lincoln sell a cord kit that has a 25 amp plug instead of the 15 amp stock. will that really make a difference(I have a separate 25 amp receptacle in the shop I can use) on front its says that it puts out more amps with this cord. But I have never popped a breaker with it on a 15amp wide open. I also have a 10,000 generator with 70 amp 110v output or 35amo 220 that I could make a plug for if it would help when I welding heaver stuff?I wont a bigger welder but cant afford one right now.
Reply:if you are not doing long runs the stock regulator should be ok, try it out befor spending the $$ for a new one.flux core will get the best penitration but strait Co2 and .023/.025 all about the same is the best choice for wire if you want to stick to solid.welcome aboard. summer is here, plant a tree for mother earth. if you dont have time or space, sponcer some one else to plant one for you.feel free to shoot me a PM or e-mail me at [email][email protected] i got lots of time.
Reply:I have an aftermarket regulator not sure of the brand without looking at it but it has a plastic tube with a ball that floats to show the flow and its adjustable i think it will do co2. Thanks for the help. Im going to run out and get some smaller wire and co2 and go burn some metal. What are the downsides of co2?
Reply:CO2 will burn sightly hotter so it won't be able to do material as thin as an argon mix, say 20-ga instead of 24-ga at the same skill level.  Also, esp. at medium and higher voltages, it will have a little more spatter, but it still comes off easily.
Reply:i would have to sauy mac about coverd it. keep in mind 20gage is still doable, just a lil more dificult. and what lil extra splater you do get is easily wire brushed off in most cases. summer is here, plant a tree for mother earth. if you dont have time or space, sponcer some one else to plant one for you.feel free to shoot me a PM or e-mail me at [email][email protected] i got lots of time.