I am about to buy a '93 Mack CH613 tractor with an aluminum dump trailer.
The trailer will need relining soon. The seller estimates it will cost about
$1,000 to have the welding done. He already has the sheet aluminum.
I am considering buying a Lincoln SP-175 MIG welder to do the work instead of
having it done. There are two versions, the SP-175T and the SP175+.
Anyone have experience with this machine? Is the more expensive version worth
it? (It has continuous voltage control, but adds about $80 to the price.)
Both machines require a $45.00 kit to push the aluminum wire.
I have MIG welded steel, but not aluminum. Is it all that hard to learn?
Is there a better place to buy than:
https://weldingsupply.securesites.com/cgi-bin/einstein.pl
The welder plus the consumables will be about the same money as having the
welding done, but I get a new (tax deductible) toy!
On the plus side, this seller will ship this machine for $7.50! I called to
verify this, because it sounded too good to be true.
I originally found this welder on Ebay, but this dealer is cheaper, and buying
from the dealer guarantees the three year warrantee.
Oh, and I already have a spare oxygen bottle that can be swapped for the bottle
needed for the MIG.
All opinions welcome.
Thanks,


Ron Thompson
On the Beautiful Florida Space Coast, right beside the Kennedy Space Center, USA

http://www.plansandprojects.com
My hobby pages are he
http://www.plansandprojects.com/My%20Machines/

Severe stupidity is self correcting, but mild stupidity is rampant in the land.
-Ron Thompson

"Ron Thompson" wrote: (clip) On the plus side, this seller will ship this
machine for $7.50! I called to verify this, because it sounded too good to
be true.(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I bought a Lincoln 135 from Indiana Oxygen, and they shipped it free.
Dealing with them was a pleasure. I don't know how their price would
compare, but they usually have listings on e-bay with "buy it now" pricing.
so it should be easy to check.

Ron Thompson wrote:

Anyone have experience with this machine?

No.

Is the more expensive version worth
it? (It has continuous voltage control, but adds about $80 to the price.)

That's worth it.


Both machines require a $45.00 kit to push the aluminum wire.

A different "hose package" (as we call it). Or just the core? Swapping
just the core is a PITA, you should ask what includes the extra 45$. I
doubt that you get a complete package for that prize. Also, the
wire-driving rolls are different for Al. Are they included?


I have MIG welded steel, but not aluminum. Is it all that hard to learn?

No, not that difficult. After you have found out the propper setup
(volatge and feed) you are done. 1 hour of experimenting and you know
it. Be aware, that the welds don't look very nice and that you will have
troubles welding below 2 mm of thickness. Preheat the part where you
start to weld.

The welder plus the consumables will be about the same money as having the
welding done, but I get a new (tax deductible) toy!

That's always an argument :-)


HTH,
Nick

--
Motor Modelle // Engine Models
http://www.motor-manufaktur.de
DIY-DRO - YADRO - Eigenbau-Digitalanzeige

"Ron Thompson" wrote: (clip) On the plus side, this seller will ship this
machine for $7.50! I called to verify this, because it sounded too good to
be true.(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I bought a Lincoln 135 from Indiana Oxygen, and they shipped it free.
Dealing with them was a pleasure. I don't know how their price would
compare, but they usually have listings on e-bay with "buy it now" pricing.
so it should be easy to check.

Thanks,
I saw their listing. They are higher than the place I linked to, even with the
shipping.


Ron Thompson
On the Beautiful Florida Space Coast, right beside the Kennedy Space Center, USA

http://www.plansandprojects.com
My hobby pages are he
http://www.plansandprojects.com/My%20Machines/

Severe stupidity is self correcting, but mild stupidity is rampant in the land.
-Ron Thompson

I actually saw the Lincoln Electric 175 at Home Depot the other day for
$599. Not sure what version it was, probably not the plus, but that
still seemed like a great price. I have not seen that at all the Home
Depots, but the one by my house has it. Also, I noticed that Sears
carries Hobart on their website, not sure if you can get it from them
in the store, but they seemed to have very competative prices to, to my
surprise.

I actually saw the Lincoln Electric 175 at Home Depot the other day for
$599. Not sure what version it was, probably not the plus, but that
still seemed like a great price. I have not seen that at all the Home
Depots, but the one by my house has it. Also, I noticed that Sears
carries Hobart on their website, not sure if you can get it from them
in the store, but they seemed to have very competative prices to, to my
surprise.
Thanks,
There is a cheaper Lincoln series made for the retail market. I think it is
called "Pro MIG" and the dealer can't even get it. It is quite a bit cheaper for
the same ratings. I was warned to stay clear of them for serious work.


Ron Thompson
On the Beautiful Florida Space Coast, right beside the Kennedy Space Center, USA

http://www.plansandprojects.com
My hobby pages are he
http://www.plansandprojects.com/My%20Machines/

Severe stupidity is self correcting, but mild stupidity is rampant in the land.
-Ron Thompson

On Thu, 26 Jan 2006 00:30:50 GMT, Ron Thompson
wrote:

I am about to buy a '93 Mack CH613 tractor with an aluminum dump trailer.
The trailer will need relining soon. The seller estimates it will cost about
$1,000 to have the welding done. He already has the sheet aluminum.
I am considering buying a Lincoln SP-175 MIG welder to do the work instead of
having it done. There are two versions, the SP-175T and the SP175+.
Anyone have experience with this machine? Is the more expensive version worth
it? (It has continuous voltage control, but adds about $80 to the price.)
Both machines require a $45.00 kit to push the aluminum wire.
I have MIG welded steel, but not aluminum. Is it all that hard to learn?
Is there a better place to buy than:
https://weldingsupply.securesites.com/cgi-bin/einstein.pl
The welder plus the consumables will be about the same money as having the
welding done, but I get a new (tax deductible) toy!
On the plus side, this seller will ship this machine for $7.50! I called to
verify this, because it sounded too good to be true.
I originally found this welder on Ebay, but this dealer is cheaper, and buying
from the dealer guarantees the three year warrantee.
Oh, and I already have a spare oxygen bottle that can be swapped for the bottle
needed for the MIG.
All opinions welcome.
Thanks,


Hi Ron,

IMO, I don't think this is a big enough machine to do what
you what.

Rated: 130 amps, 20 volts, 30% duty cycle

It also looks like it has a 10 foot whip, which is a long
ways to try pushing aluminum wire. Most people that do
serious work use spool guns for aluminum.

Per the spec sheet from Lincoln, (see:

http://content.lincolnelectric.com/p...ature/e735.pdf

for this info direct)it is only rated for 22 gauge to 3/16
inch for aluminum. If you preheat, you can get 3/16 to 1/4
inch, which I think is stretching it a bit. The 30% duty
cycle will kill you trying to weld for any period of time
other than short bursts.

If you are going to be welding on a large aluminum dump
trailer, you better get something with some oomph! I would
watch for a Millermatic 200 (or 210) with a spoolgun used.
These are 200 amp machines with _60%_duty_cycle_at_the_full
200_amp_machine_output. Lincoln has similar machines, but
I'm not familiar with their comparable model. I'm sure
somebody else will know that

I bought mine new ~15 years ago. Figure about $1500 for the
welder (this included the argon/CO2 mix, bottle and flow
regulator) and another $1000 for the spool gun, new prices.

Just my 2 cents worth (shrug).
--
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids MI/Zone 5b
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