Magnum Pro 250

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I wanna feel special and write a product review  Why should the "other" guys have all the funSpecs:250amps 100% duty cycle15' standard cable/linerawesome stress relief springsGeneral impressions:  It's a large gun, and a bit heavier than my Spraymaster.  The handle is very different than most guns I've seen.  It's a round handle which feels identical to a stinger.  This was a real plus for me.  I'm developing arthritis (I guess), and can't make a full closed fist anymore, and have constant pain when I grasp things.  This gun feels more comfortable than a contoured grip gun.  And, since I don't do a great deal of wire welding, the crossover from rod to wire "feels" better to me if the grips are the same.The raised trigger is nice.  It's readily identifiable when wearing thicker gloves.  The pull is very defined.  It's staged.......ie there is definite travel before contact is made, and pull increases just before contact.The extra gun length is a plus, and it's also a drawback.  On (for me anyway) long runs, the heat from the arc is almost non existant with the diameter wire I was using.  Your hand is further from the tip of the gun.  On the flip side, the gun length requires getting used to.  You have to plan ahead when it comes to possible obstructions.Heat dissipation:It was pretty good from what I can tell.  I ran 120" non stop, except for quick cleaning before subsequent passes, and the gooseneck was still not too hot to touch (not cool, but not enough to cause a burn).  The handle never got the slightest bit warm.Contact Tip:The contact tip is pretty large in diameter.  I suppose this is for better heat dissipation.  I believe the tip is still proprietary, I'm not sure aftermarket tips are available.  It has unique threads too.  The threads are Acme style threads.  Supposedly this is so the threads won't bind after being repeatedly subjected to high heat.  I found that you can't just hand tighten the tips, they have to be tightened with pliers (not tight, but snug) or the tip has a tendancy to come loose after running a bit of wire.  I don't like the standard fat tip, and have ordered tapered tips.  I can see better with a tapered tip at the stickout I'm running with .035 wire.  I'm in close and tight at between 1/4" and 3/8" inch.  The standard tip has a tendancy to touch the sides of the fillet angle (t joint), and because of this you have a tendancy to want to increase stickout. This did affect the weld consistancy.  Also because I like minimal stickout, the joint is partially obstructed behind the on the unwelded side of the tip as you travel.  It makes following the joint line difficult.Larger diameter wire, with it's longer allowable stickout would be no problem with the standard tip.PIC ONE  The test piece.  20" long, 6 passes piled on top of each other in very short order.  No pause except for quick runover with cup brush between passes.PIC TWO A look at one of the passes.  Despite the fact that it was very windy and no place to brace my arm it was relatively consistent.  I feel that stickout varied because of my not being used to such a large diameter tip, and worrying about contact with the metal at such a short stickout.  You can also see that I'm getting a little lost occasionally due to not being able to see the joint.  I feel tapered tips will be the bomb just like the ones I'm using on the Spraymaster.PIC THREE Comparison between the larger Magnum, and the traditional sized SpraymasterPIC FOUR Comparison between the Magnum, and a regular stingerPIC FIVE An interesting pic showing the effects of running close and hot with flux core wire.  Spatter builds on the tip, despite using anti spatter dip, forms a cone, and as it becomes more encrusted it is driven into the puddle by the wire eventually.  You can see it enter the puddle, and you shrug  I didn't notice any inclusions but did notice a slight puddle irregularity.  I do believe the puddle is hot enough to burn it off and incorporate it into the slag already generated by the puddle. Attached Images"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Tip size, and threadNicely raised trigger Attached Images"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Quick in and outBoy, I wasn't kidding about the wind today.  We had multiple tornadoes here in the central part of the state today.  Winds were running 30-50 around hereHope all the fellow Okies did allright todayI'm gone"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Sam , very nice, but what are we running, looks like flux core and and LN25. What wire are you using and what do you have for a power source? Is it CV, welds look real nice. I have been thinking about a Magnum 300 or 400 to run my LN25 with hard wire and gas."Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum"Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DCMillermatic 251   Syncrowave 300   30A spoolgunLincoln MP210Hypertherm 45(2) LN 25(2) Lincoln Weldanpower 225 CV(4) SA200   1 short hood    SA250    SAM 400
Reply:The welds are erratic compared to the other day(other thread).  Bunch of factorsGun asideIt's the same old Lincoln Innershield .035 flux core, same power source RAnger GXT 250, same settings as other day.  But for extreme wind, new gun, etc.  Oh yeah, almost forgot it was CV..I don't think you could go wrong on your decision, but try to use one before you buy it.  It's different than other guns IMHO.  Balance and grip.I do very little wire, and have limited experience with a wide range of hardware.  But based on my impressions, I'd make the  same decision again.  I kept the gun, and I like it.  You might hate it.Be very careful when relying on aftermarket adaptors to fit your existing equipment.  I was originally given Tweco adapters and they didn't work.  The Lincoln adapters worked perfectly.  True genuine Lincoln adapters weren't a bit more expensive than aftermarket, at least from my supplier.Price was about 50 dollars higher than a comparable cheaper aftermarket gun.  I don't know if this makes a difference.  Also.........this gun had been sitting around for a while because someone ordered it, and didn't pick it up, so I might have gotten a better deal....214 out the door.   For me, I'm pretty much sold on keeping Lincoln running with a Lincloln.  This might be stupid, but that's me.  I'm an OEM kinda person.Last edited by farmersamm; 05-10-2010 at 11:54 PM.Reason: forgot a period, and a space"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/