Anyone have a Lincoln 175t??

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I am wondering what your experience is with the wire speed on this machine. It seems when I get on tap d and e that .030 wire will not "stub" into the work even at its highest speed setting. Does this occur with you?? I put some 0.035 in my machine today and it seemed to run better. What are you experiences with this machine?? I seem to find the machine running best at the highest wire speed settings on 1/8 and 1/4 material....I am wondering if my wire feed isn't working properly.
Reply:Sorry for the double post
Reply:I don't have that machine but I would check the tension on the wire feed.Drivesector Hobart Handler 140Hobart Handler 180Ready Welder 2Hobart Air Force 400Airco Stinger 225Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."OZZY"
Reply:Already did its perfect.
Reply:It seems when I get on tap d and e that .030 wire will not "stub" into the work even at its highest speed setting. Does this occur with you?? I put some 0.035 in my machine today and it seemed to run better.
Reply:Sandy when I say stubbing I do mean where the wire comes out faster than the welder can burn it off and yes I agree you are correct its not what you want. I was reading something on here or the other forum about setting the wire speed from the fastest until it makes the nice frying sound. It seems to me my machine with the smaller wire just won't output enough wire to get anywhere slower than almost all the way up all the time. Oh and I was/am using solid wire. Hate to say it but I wish I would have gotten a bigger machine as I can see in the future upgrading and that's what I didn't want to have to do.
Reply:Hate to say it but I wish I would have gotten a bigger machine as I can see in the future upgrading and that's what I didn't want to have to do.
Reply:You are very close in your description. I don't weld a bunch I have just been using 1/8 and 1/4 coupon through aways from work to practice on. What I wish is that the machine could feed wire faster lets say up to 500 ipm. Which would allow you to do any thickness steel the machine could handle with either .025 or .030 wire (which is what it runs best). Also to me it seems the machine doesn't want to run super smooth at its higher end. One thing I will say about these smaller machines they are the berries on thinner stuff they really really shine there.
Reply:Also to me it seems the machine doesn't want to run super smooth at its higher end. One thing I will say about these smaller machines they are the berries on thinner stuff they really really shine there.
Reply:For the amount of welding I do this machine will last me about 2 lifetimes. But I am really starting to enjoy getting better at welding so I have been spending time practicing. With that said I could have bought a mm 210 or a lincoln 215 and forgot about the whole thing forever.
Reply:Here are the wire speeds that I measured on my MIGPak15 (SP-175T)Wire Feed Calibration – Lincoln MigPak 15 - September 3, 2006         Setting       inches/minMin…………….  481……………….  512……………….  903……………….1404……………….1905……………….2656……………….3207……………….3808……………….4409……………….50010……………..560Max…………...563Rick V
Reply:Rick thanks for the time it took to measure those. I am going to play with mine and see what they are.Have you done any 1/4" with your machine?? or 1/8"?? Wondering where your settings are?? and how the penetration is??
Reply:Hey Robo48!Actually, someone here suggested I calibrate my previous machine (Campbell Hausfeld - uck!) and so I did the same with the new Lincoln.  I use a stop watch and at each setting I simply measure in inches how much wire comes out in 10 seconds.  (I rewind it, then do it again.)  Multiple by 6 and you have the speed in inches/minute - quite useful when you are reporting a problem and seeking advice.... as in - "What wire speed ya usin?"What have I done?  Thin gauge and 3/16 - see my post called "MIG Welds don't stick" - the last 2 posts where I got the Lincoln and used it - lot of details there.If I recall rightly, for the 3/16 stuff, I used setting C or D with a wire feed at about 4 - something like that.  Hey, I have only welded less than 1 foot total length - so I am not an experienced user!I did use some 1/4 inch mild steel plates to enclose a padlock - D @ ~4.5.  I find the top setting (E) just melts too much base metal with 1/4 inch plates.  So, far, I have been using CO2 with 0.023 wire for all the above.I hope that helps,Rick VGeez, I just got my machine a few weeks back.  Rather
Reply:Thanks again Rick I will read your other thread. I am going to assume you are getting good results from the .023?? Penetration?? Aesthetics??
Reply:Robo48,I had a 70 Amp Campbell Hausfeld (Canadian Tire) and it appeared to be fine with flux core - but was real short on MIG capability = max capacity was almost a lap joint between two 1/16 inch thick plates.  The change to the SP-175T (MigPak 15) was fabulous!  There was no comparison; the Lincoln was vastly superior - not just in penetration but the smoothness of the arc.Good results?  Yes.  Example today:  Wife complained (hmmm standard fare) of loose handle on kitchen pot.  OK - pot is stainless, screw holding handle to pot is rusted!  The screw took a square screw driver bit - but nothing seemed the right size and I couldn't get the screw out.  OK - I stuck a square screwdriver tip in the screw, grabbed the welder (setting C @ 2.5), squirt, squirt, squirt!  Three nice clean welded blobs that flowed between the screw and the driver tip.  NOTE:  You can't do this so easily with flux core.  It would be a mess overkill melt with stick.  I am real happy with this welder.Needless to say, the screw came out - replaced it with stainless and the wife was happy.I am happy with the 0.023 wire and I have four more 2 lb rolls on the shelf.  However, I also have three 2 lb rolls of 0.030 on hand and one 2 lb roll of 0.035 in case... of what I don't know - but I am ready.I haven't had a need to do 3/8 or 1/2 inch thick material yet - so I have not felt the limitations of the 175 machine yet.  I saw your concern about the larger thicknesses on another posting.  I can't help you there.However, the 175 amp Lincoln machines are now mass consummer items; you can buy em at Home Depot, etc.e.g. In my home town (Ottawa), you can buy a Lincoln SP-175 on special at BOC welding distributor for $900 Canadian.  However, a few weeks back, you could buy it on super-sale as a MigPak 15 from Canadian Tire for $550 - less the gas regulator and tank hose.Important Point: Once you step above 175 amps, you must pay non-consumer, professional-welder welding store prices.Here the current promotion price list in Canadian $ from BOC:Lincoln SP-175T .......... = $900Lincoln Power MIG 215... = $1870Millermatic 251 ............. = $2,370Millermatic 350P ........... = $4,200In my case, having paid only $550 for an SP-175T, it is almost another $1300 to step up to a Lincoln Power MIG215.  Would I like 215 amps at 30% duty cycle instead of my 130 amps - Sure!.... but not at THREE TIMES the price.  For me, because I am still learning, the capability versus $ balance says an SP-175T is ideal for me.Later, if I really were to get into welding thicker metal on a routine basis then .... why would I go for at 250; I'd spring for a 350 - but I don't know what I am talking about... I'm not there yet.You can ask the Crusties!Also, there must also be pleny of threads on this site about welding 1/2 inch and larger; you could search on MIG 215, MIG 350, Millermatic 251, Millermatic 350, etc and see what the recommendations/applications were.I was happy with my first welder till I ran against its limitations - then I dumped it.  Right now, I am happy with the SP-175T - no limitations for my applications yet.  In your case, if you are unhappy because of real limitations or perceived ones coming real soon (1/2 inch steel, 3/8 aluminum plate, etc.), then maybe it would be best to upgrade now.  Still, this is all theory - do you have a real limitation?  My gosh, imagine upgrading to a 250 amp unit only to discover that you really should have gone for the 350 amp unit!  Aahhhh! Mind Boggling!  Check out those, 'Thinking of Pulling the Trigger' posts on the bigger welders - those guys were concerned about spending big $ on the wrong machine.... that may help your thinking.Best O Luck!Rick V
Reply:Needless to say, the screw came out - replaced it with stainless and the wife was happy.