Lincoln Mig Pak 180

[Hilbilly]

I've had a Lincoln Mig Pak 15 for 15 to 20 years and love the thing but it wouldn't weld aluminum. So when I saw the Mig Pak 180 on sale for a really good price I bought it. It is capable of welding aluminum and it has slightly more power at 180 amps. I got it all set up and was looking at the settings table and noted something odd. Under the Mig c25, 0.035 wire size column, it shows both the voltage and wire feed settings being reduced for materials thicker than 12 gauge material. That doesn't make sense to me and I'm thinking maybe the voltage settings for the 10 gauge and 3/16" materials should be 4.5 E not 4.5 D.

Anyone have one of these welders that can confirm that the settings listed are right or wrong. I don't have any 0.035 wire yet or I would just try it to see.

Here is the table I'm referring to:

 

[deereman75]

I'm not really convinced I'd use 035 wire in one of those. I had one for a while and I had the best luck with 023. Both knobs turned up as high as they go, and adjust travel speed to suit. Within reason obviously. Very thin material will need adjustment.

 

[yomax4]

I've had a Lincoln Mig Pak 15 for 15 to 20 years and love the thing but it wouldn't weld aluminum. So when I saw the Mig Pak 180 on sale for a really good price I bought it. It is capable of welding aluminum and it has slightly more power at 180 amps. I got it all set up and was looking at the settings table and noted something odd. Under the Mig c25, 0.035 wire size column, it shows both the voltage and wire feed settings being reduced for materials thicker than 12 gauge material. That doesn't make sense to me and I'm thinking maybe the voltage settings for the 10 gauge and 3/16" materials should be 4.5 E not 4.5 D.

Anyone have one of these welders that can confirm that the settings listed are right or wrong. I don't have any 0.035 wire yet or I would just try it to see.

Here is the table I'm referring to:
View attachment 676384

They are really the same machine as far as output. Real world usable output is 130 amps. The pak 15 is easy to add a spoolgun to as well. They just didn't do at the factory. It's as easy as adding a switch between the wire feed board and wirefeed motor to switch back and forth from mig gun to spoolgun. I can send a diagram if wanted. you can buy a decent spoolgun on ebay for around $100 and a double throw switch for $3.00. I've done it multiple times. Can't help on the chart. I never use them. Good Luck !

 

[Hilbilly]

I'm not really convinced I'd use 035 wire in one of those. I had one for a while and I had the best luck with 023. Both knobs turned up as high as they go, and adjust travel speed to suit. Within reason obviously. Very thin material will need adjustment.

I've probably gone through around 5 or 6 11lb spools of 0.030 solid wire and 4 11lb spools of 0.035 flux core with my Mig Pak 15 so far. I still have the original 2 lb spool of 0.025 wire and have used some of it but not much. Most of the welding I do is thicker material and I just use the settings that are shown on the welder. It has been an awesome welder and I've certainly exceeded the duty cycle on many occasions. Especially when I built my grapple.

They are really the same machine as far as output. Real world usable output is 130 amps. The pak 15 is easy to add a spoolgun to as well. They just didn't do at the factory. It's as easy as adding a switch between the wire feed board and wirefeed motor to switch back and forth from mig gun to spoolgun. I can send a diagram if wanted. you can buy a decent spoolgun on ebay for around $100 and a double throw switch for $3.00. I've done it multiple times. Can't help on the chart. I never use them. Good Luck !

According to the manuals that came with the machines, the duty cycles are both rated at 130 amps but the rated output is 155 amps for the Mig Pak 15 and 180 amps for the Mig Pak 180. I believe your point is that the machines can't be operated above 130 amps for any length of time, before giving them a rest and that is a valid point. I typically don't do extended periods of welding but have on occasion. When I built my grapple, a few years ago, I definitely exceeded the duty cycle and never had the welder shut down or exhibit any signs of trouble. For that project I was welding 3/8" mild steel at max settings and was welding for hours at a time. Obviously taking short breaks to position myself or materials but I doubt I was only welding 3 minutes out of 10. Maybe I just got lucky, or the damage will show itself soon enough.

Thanks for the offer to show me how to add the switch. However I don't need to now, since the 180 has a built in switch, which was the main reason for getting it. Plus it was on sale for a really good price. I did find a post some time ago where someone showed how to add the switch to the Mig Pak 15 but directions weren't clear so I never bothered. I was actually considering getting the 210MP but I don't need or want a multi process welder. I have a 295 amp AC buzz box and with the mig, it covers pretty much everything I think I will ever get involved in plus the 210MP was 3 times the cost of the 180. Got the Mig Pak 180 on sale for $600CAD (about $450 US) and I can't turn down a good deal. Next time I go to the big City I will get a spool of 0.035 wire and try the settings shown on the welder to see if they work.

In the meantime, if anyone has experience with these settings please let me know.

 

[Hilbilly]

I'm not really convinced I'd use 035 wire in one of those. I had one for a while and I had the best luck with 023. Both knobs turned up as high as they go, and adjust travel speed to suit. Within reason obviously. Very thin material will need adjustment.

I've probably gone through around 5 or 6 11lb spools of 0.030 solid wire and 4 11lb spools of 0.035 flux core with my Mig Pak 15 so far. I still have the original 2 lb spool of 0.025 wire and have used some of it but not much. Most of the welding I do is thicker material and I just use the settings that are shown on the welder. It has been an awesome welder and I've certainly exceeded the duty cycle on many occasions. Especially when I built my grapple.

They are really the same machine as far as output. Real world usable output is 130 amps. The pak 15 is easy to add a spoolgun to as well. They just didn't do at the factory. It's as easy as adding a switch between the wire feed board and wirefeed motor to switch back and forth from mig gun to spoolgun. I can send a diagram if wanted. you can buy a decent spoolgun on ebay for around $100 and a double throw switch for $3.00. I've done it multiple times. Can't help on the chart. I never use them. Good Luck !

According to the manuals that came with the machines, the duty cycles are both rated at 130 amps but the rated output is 155 amps for the Mig Pak 15 and 180 amps for the Mig Pak 180. I believe your point is that the machines can't be operated above 130 amps for any length of time, before giving them a rest and that is a valid point. I typically don't do extended periods of welding but have on occasion. When I built my grapple, a few years ago, I definitely exceeded the duty cycle and never had the welder shut down or exhibit any signs of trouble. For that project I was welding 3/8" mild steel at max settings and was welding for hours at a time. Obviously taking short breaks to position myself or materials but I doubt I was only welding 3 minutes out of 10. Maybe I just got lucky, or the damage will show itself soon enough.

Thanks for the offer to show me how to add the switch. However I don't need to now, since the 180 has a built in switch, which was the main reason for getting it. Plus it was on sale for a really good price. I did find a post some time ago where someone showed how to add the switch to the Mig Pak 15 but directions weren't clear so I never bothered. I was actually considering getting the 210MP but I don't need or want a multi process welder. I have a 295 amp AC buzz box and with the mig, it covers pretty much everything I think I will ever get involved in plus the 210MP was 3 times the cost of the 180. Got the Mig Pak 180 on sale for $600CAD (about $450 US) and I can't turn down a good deal. Next time I go to the big City I will get a spool of 0.035 wire and try the settings shown on the welder to see if they work.

In the meantime, if anyone has experience with these settings please let me know.

 

[yomax4]

I've probably gone through around 5 or 6 11lb spools of 0.030 solid wire and 4 11lb spools of 0.035 flux core with my Mig Pak 15 so far. I still have the original 2 lb spool of 0.025 wire and have used some of it but not much. Most of the welding I do is thicker material and I just use the settings that are shown on the welder. It has been an awesome welder and I've certainly exceeded the duty cycle on many occasions. Especially when I built my grapple.



According to the manuals that came with the machines, the duty cycles are both rated at 130 amps but the rated output is 155 amps for the Mig Pak 15 and 180 amps for the Mig Pak 180. I believe your point is that the machines can't be operated above 130 amps for any length of time, before giving them a rest and that is a valid point. I typically don't do extended periods of welding but have on occasion. When I built my grapple, a few years ago, I definitely exceeded the duty cycle and never had the welder shut down or exhibit any signs of trouble. For that project I was welding 3/8" mild steel at max settings and was welding for hours at a time. Obviously taking short breaks to position myself or materials but I doubt I was only welding 3 minutes out of 10. Maybe I just got lucky, or the damage will show itself soon enough.

Thanks for the offer to show me how to add the switch. However I don't need to now, since the 180 has a built in switch, which was the main reason for getting it. Plus it was on sale for a really good price. I did find a post some time ago where someone showed how to add the switch to the Mig Pak 15 but directions weren't clear so I never bothered. I was actually considering getting the 210MP but I don't need or want a multi process welder. I have a 295 amp AC buzz box and with the mig, it covers pretty much everything I think I will ever get involved in plus the 210MP was 3 times the cost of the 180. Got the Mig Pak 180 on sale for $600CAD (about $450 US) and I can't turn down a good deal. Next time I go to the big City I will get a spool of 0.035 wire and try the settings shown on the welder to see if they work.

In the meantime, if anyone has experience with these settings please let me know.

Both of those machines are Solid. They'll take a lot of abuse. Same with the 115v version. Indestructable.

 

[deereman75]

My point was I found it to perform better on thicker steel running globular transfer with 023 (which it could just barely do) than short circuit transfer by the chart with larger wire.

 

[Hilbilly]

My point was I found it to perform better on thicker steel running globular transfer with 023 (which it could just barely do) than short circuit transfer by the chart with larger wire.

OK, you're talking waaaay above my pay grade. Now I have to look up globular transfer and short circuit transfer. I'm just a back yard hack but certainly enjoy being able to stick pieces of steel together.

 

[deereman75]

For those machines I found they ran a decent boarderline globular transfer if you use 023 wire, max volts, wire feed to highest number (10?) And 75/25 gas

At least worth trying those settings and seeing how you like it

OK, you're talking waaaay above my pay grade. Now I have to look up globular transfer and short circuit transfer. I'm just a back yard hack but certainly enjoy being able to stick pieces of steel together.

 

[deereman75]

I don't have it anymore, I recently upgraded to a Powermig 260. But for what they are, they're a decent little welder.

 

[Hilbilly]

Just watched this video and learned a lot. I now see that I should NOT be using my little mig for thicker materials.
Modes of Metal Transfer | Short Circuit vs Spray vs Globular

So I have a couple of questions.
1) Does flux core give better penetration?
2) What welder should I use for thicker materials, the AC stick or should I have a welder that can do spray transfer (sure like the penetration that gets).

 

[deereman75]

Gas shielded fluxcore (such as Lincoln outershield or arctec XR71) is really nice stuff. Self shielded works well also.

Stick is a very good option for heavier or more critical materials. With AC I'd be using 6011 and 7014 (or 7024 if you're doing flat position only)
DC stick is still king though.

 

[BukitCase]

If you can afford it, it's nice to have a machine that's beefy enough to handle spray transfer; but you should read up on spray BEFORE deciding on a machine. Spray is NOT what you want for anything other than heavier stuff and FLAT welding ONLY. Doesn't work well on vertical or overhead welds. (also known as OOP, Out Of Position)

I tried spray on my MM252, makes REALLY PRETTY (and STRONG) welds - TOTALLY different sound from short circuit.
Downsides - needs different gas, so one more bottle to keep, will blow through thinner materials real easy. I've found it's simpler to just use stick on heavier stuff, especially if it needs to be welded OOP. I also have a MM211, so I COULD leave the 252 set up for spray and use the (not quite balls enough for spray) MM211 for short/circuit lighter stuff - IMO it's just not worth the hassle.

I think I saw something about PULSED spray being a LITTLE BIT more forgiving OOP, but that tends to raise the cost of the welder even MORE... Steve

 

[Hilbilly]

I think I will stick with what I have. It's been good enough for the last 17 years and it should be for the time I have left on this side of the grass.

I tried the 180 last night with mig, C25 gas and 0.030 wire. Settings were 9 E, which is max voltage and one step down from max wire feed. I used that setup to weld a 5/16" thick sprocket onto a mild steel stepped hub that was 3/4" at the thickest part and about 1/2" thick at the base of the step. I'm pretty sure the 180 produces more heat than the Mig Pak 15. I welded the backside of the sprocket to the thickest part of the hub (I chamfered the hub) and the outside face of the hub turned blue from the heat. I then compared some 6013 and 6011 to the same mig setup, on some scrap 1/4" angle. Judging by the discoloration on the backside of the steel, it looks like the mig was just as hot or hotter than some of the stick welds. I think I will cut the angle iron later to see what the penetration looks like.

I also setup the spool gun. All I need now is some Argon so I can try my hand at aluminum.