Is My 88amp MIG more?

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IN my previous posts, i had tried to do ss with my Lincoln Pro-Core 88amp machine and finally gave up and swiycheded back to flux-core wire. Im make a cart now and the flux-core is working fine. And im getting better atr adjucting it.After reading many other posts, it seems that that machine with gas cld doquite a few other things. From what i read, with gas, it can do aluminium, copper as well as mild steel. And better than flux-core. My questions is: Wld i be better off, after i burn up the rest of this 10lbs of flux-core and then switch back to argon gas and use that for mild steel and then get a TIG machine for Al and SS & Cu or shld i spend a heap of time trying to do those with  88amp MiG machine. I can of course just leave it as a flux-core unit also.ThanksBlueraven..
Reply:88 amps is probably not enough to do a reasonable job with anything more than thin sheet in aluminum (maybe not at all).  I can't really comment on stainless or copper (I dont do them).  If you want to feed wire, you might try jumping to a 175+ amp feeder.  You could accomplish much of what you want to do with that, but you would need the 240v outlet.  You could go the tig route, but that's a really different route to take...If you are looking to tig all these metals cheaply, that's a pretty tall order.  That will be difficult to find in a new machine (of a known brand) for less than $1500 (inverter) or $1200 (transformer).If you want to mig Al and SS, you could probably get by for about half that in a mm175 or a hobart185.Used machines are another story, but jumping into the used tig market is not for the faint of heart (there is a lot more decisions to make when comparing used tig machines, at least I think there are).  In my opinion, used mig machines are not as big a problem.  Mostly you just need to know the amps, duty cycle, overall condition, for larger machines you might like the presence of newer neat features  (pulse, spot timer, etc.), and shipping weight.Just some thoughts you might consider when making a decision.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Thanks SB,thats useful info. Seems like this small Lincoln machine aint good for much but1/8" or less mild steel. I welded some expal\nded metal to the 1/8" steel but even the low setting birned it up unless i moved the ard away ever so often.Well look like another machine is in order.Is it poss to hook a wire spooler to my ac/dc Lincoln Acc Welder. I think its 225 AC and 125 DC.BR
Reply:The wire feeders wont run of the 225 welder.   Gots to do with open circuit voltage I think  DDA52 has more info on this than I do..  But yeah  Woiuld need a larger machine to do this and a voltage sensing wire feedIF it Catches...Let it Burn
Reply:You could make a cv spool gun work off the lincoln mig (but not the ac/dc lincoln), but it would still be 88 amps max and really no better than what you already have.  You MIGHT be able to make a wire "feeder" work off that ac/dc machine (MIGHT is the crucial term).  To work, the feeder would have to be voltage sensing, like chris said, and capable of running in CC mode...but even at that, you would (if everything actually worked) only get a max of 125 DC amps in return for a bunch of money in that feeder.  That add-on feeder would be about $500+ well used and more than $1000 new.There is the possibility of buying a wire feeder unit and a welding power supply (like the several multiprocess machines that are available).  These combine the stick and mig features in modular form.  They are very expensive new, but can be had more cheaply, if you know what you are looking for.Note, none of the above options are a suggestion I would make in your situation.  In all honesty, I think you would come out much better buying a whole new bigger mig welder, if wire is your preference.  For about $1200 or there abouts, you could get a very nice new 210 amp mig machine.  For about $650 you could get a nice new consumer-level 175 amp machine.  Less used.  These are off the top of my head, but you can check ebay just to be sure or google welding supplies and go through online retailers' inventories.(Just a note, if you are looking at those sub-$100 spoolguns on ebay, don't.  They wont work with the ac/dc 225/125 at all.)I am sure there are lots of opinions on this, and mine is just one...so, gather more info before you make a decision.  It's always good to be informed when shopping for an important purchase.Last edited by smithboy; 01-04-2006 at 06:06 PM.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Now thats enough knowledge for me to understand i dont know and to go ahead and get a new designed machine for the purpose i want. I can do ok with the ac/dc buzz box on larger mild steel. Multiple passes if necessary. A large amp mig wld be great tho.Heck for what im looking at, Im up in the $2k range.. What i dont understand is, I see the Syncrowave comes with all the stuff to get started, torch, foot pedal etc., but what abt the Miller dynasty and the Maxstar. They look very compact but do they come with the stuff to get going the torch and the pedal etc.? Whats the adbvantage of the smaller compact version for a home shop situation. I really like the electronic led read outs and finger touch controls and the memory must be really helpful..Oh well..guess ill read more on the miller site. Maybe visit a dealer too.Thanks Again for the input.BR
Reply:the problem with ac/dc 225/125 and a suitcase,  no experience with spool gun,  is that the suitcase needs I think its like 14 volts to run.  Well my bobus will do it, but the thunderbolts or the lil red tombstones wont.  Go in and talk to a local weld supply guy,  they will be able to give you better answers.   If you dont like the answers youg et,  call another one.  If they say basically the same thing, you can always ask a third opinon, but why.  Id only go with third if the first two are off.  Then, of course one thing is you know a little bit about your dist.  And two if it doesnt work in your favor they will tell you what they have, and you will feel more confident walking in there and getting the right machine.  There are some @ssholes, but Ive had very good luck with my dists being very honest, very helpful, and at times infortuatnly for them they kinda screw their own business by beinga little too honest. But they know in this trade a mans word is gold.  And its what keeps you a float or makes you sink a lot more than making a cheap sale.  Its just my opinion, but you might consider it.  The ebay is good, but the local guys can give you localized pricing too.  In my area for instance local prices are much cheaper than in many other regions.  So its I guess whatever you feel more confident in.  Also, when you buy consumables...you do want to buy them at the welding supply.   Home iimprovement stores and walmart sell consumbles, but the prices and quality is better in welding supply.  If nothing else because of a hgiher turnover of product in welding supply vs walmart for consumables.  Just my 2 cents nothing moreIF it Catches...Let it Burn
Reply:Originally Posted by BlueravenNow thats enough knowledge for me to understand i dont know and to go ahead and get a new designed machine for the purpose i want. I can do ok with the ac/dc buzz box on larger mild steel. Multiple passes if necessary. A large amp mig wld be great tho.Heck for what im looking at, Im up in the $2k range.. What i dont understand is, I see the Syncrowave comes with all the stuff to get started, torch, foot pedal etc., but what abt the Miller dynasty and the Maxstar. They look very compact but do they come with the stuff to get going the torch and the pedal etc.? Whats the adbvantage of the smaller compact version for a home shop situation. I really like the electronic led read outs and finger touch controls and the memory must be really helpful..Oh well..guess ill read more on the miller site. Maybe visit a dealer too.Thanks Again for the input.BR
Reply:The biggest advantage for many folks is that they get to pay more.  The inverters are undoubtably better suited for particular tasks.  They allow a lot more portability and have several features/characteristics not available in a transformer-based (like the syncrowave) machine.  Specifically, the inverters allow for more control over the wave form...so, in some instances, welding more exotic metals becomes easier and more controlable.  That control really becomes important if you are doing high $$$$ work that has to be x-ray perfect (or expecting to do that kind of work in the future).  But, until you are doing that kind of work or until you develop pretty good tig technique, those features are a lot less valuable or necessary.  That's not to say don't buy a really nice inverter machine cause you want one to learn to do stuff.  If you have the money and want a thing...heck...buy it.  Satisfaction is an important feature of a purchase.I was just putting myself into your position and considering what I would do in your place.  You have some experience with a fluxcore machine, so, a nicer mig machine might be the best next step.  Jumping from a 88 amp wire feeder to a $2500 inverter tig machine is a big jump and in a fairly different direction.  This would be like trading a VW rabbit for a titanium mountian bike.  They both will get you from point A to point B, but in a very different fashion.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Chris,I just looked on the lincoln website for the voltages for the tombstone.  It says its output voltage in dc is 25 (ac also), but I wonder....there is obviously a typo in the description because for the one that runs off 50 hz, it has a duty cycle of a WHOPPING 215%....WOW!!!!  That means for every 10 minute period, you can weld 21.5 minutes before you have to let it cool down.  Imagine the productivity gain there....I guess lincoln really is making some huge advances in welding technology if they have a both a welder and a time machine in one package...all for less than $300.  I would send this into Jay Leno...but he probably wouldnt think most folks would find that all that funny.check it out...http://content.lincolnelectric.com/p...ature/e260.pdfSmithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:SB,thats a good one. I think Leno wld but not many others. Sounds like your looking at just an ac machine. Mine is, Valentine present from "she who must be obeyed"(g), is the AC/DC one with output of 225 AC and 125 DC. Works great and more filling.On a side note, Im from Ga also. Born in thomaston, school in Warner Robins, in Atl for 10 yrs and them up here 1980. Sure miss those warm days and the spring. Course its heaven up here in the summer and fall.Take Care,BR
Reply:SB,I looked at it. Yeah thats neat huh. thats why i like the dc mode with the 7018. I always get more work done than i planned for ,!BR
Reply:if your looking for a mig that will do alum you will want to make sure it has built in spool gun controller, I bought a millermatic 175 then I bought the spool gun and controller to do alum and that cost more than the welder, if your looking at miller I think the 210 is the smallest that has the gun controlleralso the argon is usually used for alum with mig and most metals with tig, if you want to go with mig you will want 75/25 for steelI have a lincoln weld pack 100 I just keep it as a second machine with flux core in it, it is handy since it is 110v I can just grab it and go  to use it places I cant take the miller 175Last edited by mattc; 01-05-2006 at 04:11 PM.Matt the Alaskan red neck
Reply:I guess those tombstones are a bit more now.  My first welder was a AC 225, because the ac/dc machines at the time were $300 and the ac only machines were $160.  Inflation....I guess sound a bit like my dad there...."back when you could buy a coke and a lincoln welder for a nickle."Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:smitty,  I think I could be wrong but there gone up faster than inflation.  I dont know why.  I had the ac/dc one.  Id never buy an ac one if there was a dc option.  But then im just partial to stick.  Ive never owned a wire feed of my own.  Everything done with stick, or oxyace.       Ive learned to weld thin emt tubing with stick.IF it Catches...Let it Burn
Reply:oops....  i wasnt donebut you need dc or that thinner control....ok  just my .02IF it Catches...Let it Burn