New Lincoln Electric MIG wire feed welder
I've long debated shelling out the cash for a wire feed welder (though I think I probably do better with a stick welder, just because of experience). I had my shop wired with a 220V/50A circuit, just for that very thing. I almost got one when I built my Brew Frame, but just ended up using my dads (actually, started out using his MIG wire feed, but went back to using the very old stick welder for most of it). But every once in a while, a project or idea comes up, and I sure wish I had a welder. My wife certainly doesn't think it is needed, and she is probably right, but what self-respecting man can brew his own beer, have a kegerator in his shop, and NOT own a welder? Exactly...

Anyway, I finally decided to get a Lincoln Electric Pro-MIG 175 wire feed welder. This is a pretty nice 220V system that can do GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding, commonly called MIG, and requiring shielding gas) or it can do FCAW (Flux in Core Arc Welding, which is typically what normal wire feed welders do and does not require shielding gas). I picked one up off Ebay for $500 + S&H (retail is $640), and I got a cheap $39 welding cart and a $49 auto darkening helmet from Harbor Freight. Got a couple extra electrode tips, some gloves, welder hammer, MIG pliers, and a few other small odds and ends from a discount online welding supply house.

I also sprung for the aluminium welding inner sleeve/drive wheel conversion kit, because I was planning to build an aluminium diamond plate storage box for the back of the RV (this requires the use of Argon shielding gas). Well, turns out that raw material for the project was about double what I could buy a Better Built Crew chest at D&B Supply for (and probably a LOT better made than what I could do). Still, I need to weld a frame for the 48" wide and 20-26" deep box to fit on, so I've got some angle iron to weld to the 4" square tube bumper of the RV. So, I will still get to use the new welder.

Right now, I'm just going to practice some welds with it, uh, once I get the 220V plug issue worked out (I have a NEMA 10-50P style 220V 50A circuit in my garage, and the welder comes with a NEMA 6-50P style plug that is only about 3' long). I think I'll wire a second box up next to the current one with a 30A breaker in it and a NEMA 6-50P style outlet, then I'll dummy up a 35" to 45' long extension cord to the cart with 10-AWG 3-wire).
Style of recepticle I have on left in my shop; what the welder has on right




- posted by Jeff @ 9:45 AM | 0 comments