Welder upgrade question
Hedgehog
Always Off-Roading Jeeper
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My current welder is a Lincoln 140, a 110v machine. It runs well but has an occasional fan problem where the fan rumbles and cycles. It's never not worked, but is questionable. All I've run through it is flux core wire, but would like to move up to using gas. It's capable of it, but I've been thinking since you need to change the polarity of your leads to use Argon/Co2 gas, why not get another machine set up specifically for MIG gas operation.
On Craigslist there is a Lincoln 180 for a decent price. This one is a 220v machine, while not being a do all, end all machine it does have quite a bit more power. The 220 set up is no problem. So, I'd end up with 3 welders. A stick Thermal Arc for the BIG stuff, a Lincoln 180 MIG set up for Argon/Co2 gas and a Lincoln 140 set up for flux core wire. From what I can gather MIG welding with gas is much cleaner and a little cooler than flux core making welding thinner metals cleaner and easier.
Does my logic make sense and has anyone used a Lincoln 180HD? Opinions welcome.
On Craigslist there is a Lincoln 180 for a decent price. This one is a 220v machine, while not being a do all, end all machine it does have quite a bit more power. The 220 set up is no problem. So, I'd end up with 3 welders. A stick Thermal Arc for the BIG stuff, a Lincoln 180 MIG set up for Argon/Co2 gas and a Lincoln 140 set up for flux core wire. From what I can gather MIG welding with gas is much cleaner and a little cooler than flux core making welding thinner metals cleaner and easier.
Does my logic make sense and has anyone used a Lincoln 180HD? Opinions welcome.