advice needed on 155 lincoln weldpack

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first of all thank you for all the advice on this board...very, very helpfuli have never welded (although my father has done a lot of oxy/acyet and arc welding inhis younger daysi was just given a 155 lincoln welder with 0.035 innershield wire....it does not have a mig conversion kit; I do have a big tank of argon/co2 and another tank of i believe nitrogen(they did not come with the welder...i just happened to have them...no gauges)my father and i are hoping to use this welder to weld in sheetmetal (from a donor car)to and old alfa romeo we are working on....a few questions:1. should i buy the mig conversion kit for this unit, or can i weld in the sheetmetal    pieces with what i have (from doing a search on this board, i surmise that i need    the mig kit or i could burn a hole in the metal)2.  what welding setting would you suggest i start with (i was hoping someone had    previously used this machine for car sheetmetal)3.  if i do buy the conversion kit...what gauge wire would you use (some say 0.20 and    others 0.25 when i searched the web)the car has been sittng in my garage for 4 years and if don't get at it soon, my wife will askme to sell it!Last edited by alfaman42003; 09-25-2012 at 03:57 PM.
Reply:I've welded door panels with .023 wire- an important detail to check is, can the machine accommodate and weld very thin wire. That is to say, can the wire feeder deliver wire into the weld fast enough.If it can you'll need the MIG conversion kit: flux core wire (Innershield) will weld heavier material, but not car panels. The conversion kit may come with a regulator.
Reply:1. I will assume that the 155 is a mig wleder, 220 volts and does not have a gas solenoid kit.  The 035 innershiled is way hot and even though you could go 030 tough to use on sheet metal for a beginner.Buy the gas solenoid kit, a set of 023 drive rolls, tips and maybe even a new gun liner.2. Your machine probably has over lapping voltage ranges, With a piece of scrap, the gas flow set at about 25 cfh, you will need a flowmeter kit, and the next to lowest setting. turn your wire speed up to about 5 and strike an arc. Adjust the wire speed untill the arc turns crisp sounding, like frying bacon,nozzle about 60 degree angle to the plate and about a 3/8 stand off. Check your results, if you burn through then drop to the lowest range if your wire will not melt or stubs against the plate increase your range and start the process over.Even though the wire comes anywhere from 020 to 023 the drive rolls, tips and liner will work so buy what is available. The argon/co2 is your best gas.
Reply:My 155 has the solenoid in the machine. Bought a reg kit and good to go but I haven't been down to .023 yet. I think it's a double groove roller .23/.030-.035 would have to look.
Reply:Look on the inside of the flip up door.  You may find a starting point set for 023 wire.List of dive rolls and gun parts.  The correct polarity for mig and flux core wire.Take the code number to lincoln's web site and down load the owner's manual if you need one. accessories and options are listed in the manual.Look on the back of your welder for a gas fitting and a black hose connected to the gun power block on the drive assembly. The gas kit is just the valve with fittings and the black hose. Plus a regulator and hose. No valve in your welder you will need the complete kit. Have valve and fittings then just a regulator and hose. Many to chose from. wide range of price. All lincoln magnum 100 migguns are ready for gas.Just put a gas nozzle on the end with a correct size tip.023 wire in a gun with 035-045 liner will feed ok. The wire may move around a little on its own in the arc. switching to a 023 liner will just keep the wire steady for more precise welding along a small seam.
Reply:Im pretty sure your gonna need to change the polarity. I cant remember stuf like if its forward or reverse polarity but I do remember that MIG is opposite of FLUX CORE. Also, get the chart from LINCOLN that shows the wire speed and current settings for the gauge that you wanna weld. The charts paste to the inside of the machine where the wire goes. Great for when you dont remember. My weldpack 100 came with xtras in Spanish and French. They should work for your 155 on the A thru D current settings but for E your on your own. If you dont have this chart, I can mail you the one in French or take pics of the English. Again, change your polarity before switching or your gonna waste gas and wire. And Nitrogen wont work.Last edited by Insaneride; 09-25-2012 at 08:53 PM.Reason: Nitrogen