PA 200 ST & LN-25

[Shield Arc]

Got all the downed trees taken care of, from the storm that blew through. So I thought I'd see how my brother-n-law's PowerArc 200 ST would do running some .045" NR-212 self shielded flux core wire. This little machine sure runs hot! 104-AMPS for flat welding. 80-AMPS for vertical up hill. I don't think it did to bad my self!

 

[CNC Dan]

That's great news! Now if I see a VS wire feeder on CL for cheap money, I might pick it up.

I would have been afraid that the PA200ST (or any inverter) wouldn't play nice with a wire feeder. Does the wire feeder require 120 v AC, or does it get it's power from the weld current?

 

[Shield Arc]

On the inside of the LN-25 there is a switch. CV / VV, (right above the drive rolls) on these welders you'll want VV. See the little red clamp on the ground clamp? (In the picture above). That's how the LN-25 gets its power.

Can't wait to get back down to California to my brother-n-law's and try my PowerArc 300 with the LN-25.

 

[dntfxr]

That is a cool setup! How do the vs wire feeders running on a cc welder do compared to a regular mig? In comparison is it any harder or does it require different technique?
Also SA, I know you've had experience with the Everlast 200, 200st, and 300; how do they compare running 7018 and 6010? Which do you like best?

 

[Shield Arc]

When running an LN-25 on a CV power source, I can't tell any difference from a dedicated Mig welder. On a CC power source there is very little difference. The LN-25 can handle some of the worst engine drive welders I've ever seen. The first generation LN-25s, some of Miller's engine drives we had to lower the RPMs because the welder put out too many volts. So there was no wire feed until you struck an arc. Far as I'm concerned the LN-25 is a fantastic wire feeder!:cool2:


Between the PowerArc 200, PowerArc 300, and the PowerArc 200ST. I'd say the PowerArc 200 is the weak link. Only reason I say that, is you have to hold a very close arc length when running 6010. But with 7018, it welds every bit as nice as my $5,500.00 Lincoln V350-Pro!:shocked:

In my opinion, all of these Everlast welders just love ESAB's Sureweld 10P-Plus 6010. And ESAB's Atom Arc 7018, and ESAB's Acclaim 7018.

 

[dntfxr]

Thanks I appreciate your experience and info. I'd kicked around getting a wire feeder and using it with my Dialarc, but hadn't considered it could be used with a little stick inverter too. If I went that route it would add a lot of versatility being able to burn stick or wire in the field off my generator, vs just mig or flux core with the 211 like I'm leaning toward. And I do have a few hundred pounds of Atom Arc 7018's! :drink:
I doubt the wire feeder would weld nearly as nice as the new Millermatic though...
Is it easy to set the feeder up with shielding gas?

 

[Shield Arc]

I doubt the wire feeder would weld nearly as nice as the new Millermatic though...

Is it easy to set the feeder up with shielding gas?

How much you wanna bet? My Lincoln V350-Pro, and my LN-25 will weld circles around a Millermatic.


Sure just need a gas regulator / flow meter, and some hose. Be very careful if you buy a used LN-25! Some come without a gas solenoid, and without a contactor. Without a contactor the wire is hot at all times. The old LN-22s were that way. Amazing how many contact tips you go through when the wire is hot all the time.

 

[CNC Dan]

On the inside of the LN-25 there is a switch. CV / VV, (right above the drive rolls) on these welders you'll want VV. See the little red clamp on the ground clamp? (In the picture above). That's how the LN-25 gets its power.

Can't wait to get back down to California to my brother-n-law's and try my PowerArc 300 with the LN-25.

I have a PA300 too(amazon mis-priced deal) , and I am egear to hear how the hot start/arc force effect wire feed welding.

I took a look on Craigslist tonight and saw an LN-25 listed for $1000. Looked like a newer model in good shape. What would be a good price for a used LN-25?

https://worcester.craigslist.org/tls/5271318261.html

 

[woodlandfarms]

Whoa.. slow down you experts. What did you just do? Hooked your Stick Welder up to the wire feed of a mig welder?

Or is the wire feeder a dedicated piece of equipment that fancy welders own so they can change the power heads....

Intrigued, will never do it as my Mig is a lincoln 180C but intrigued...

 

[CNC Dan]

Whoa.. slow down you experts. What did you just do? Hooked your Stick Welder up to the wire feed of a mig welder?

Or is the wire feeder a dedicated piece of equipment that fancy welders own so they can change the power heads....

Intrigued, will never do it as my Mig is a lincoln 180C but intrigued...

The LN-25 is the feeder part of MIG welder. It can be atached to a constant current stick welder because it can vary the wire speed to obtain the right voltage.
Neat trick really. A normal MIG welder you set the voltage and the wire speed, and the amount of current is the result, and with the LN-25 you set the current and desired voltage, and the amount of wire speed is the result.

 

[Shield Arc]

I have a PA300 too(amazon mis-priced deal) , and I am egear to hear how the hot start/arc force effect wire feed welding.

I took a look on Craigslist tonight and saw an LN-25 listed for $1000. Looked like a newer model in good shape. What would be a good price for a used LN-25?

https://worcester.craigslist.org/tls/5271318261.html

I posted this same subject in the Everlast section over on Welding Web. I made the statement how hot this little welder is. Mark said it may have something to do with the automatic hot start, and arc force.
I know when I Tig weld with my PowerArc 300 I turn the hot start, and arc force off. My Lincoln V350-Pro has adjustable arc force, when using a wire feeder the arc force is called Pinch. The Pinch is really nice for like welding vertical up hill. You turn the Pinch up, and it dries the puddle up, not as flowing, so vertical up hill is a piece of cake to run. Now when flat welding I turn the Pinch down low, and I get a nice flowing puddle.
I just wonder if the adjustable arc force on the PowerArc 300 will do the same.

Personally I think that is high for that LN-25. If it came with full assortment of V-groove, and serrated drive rolls, then maybe! For that LN-25 I think $700.00 is the very most I'd pay.

Whoa.. slow down you experts. What did you just do? Hooked your Stick Welder up to the wire feed of a mig welder?

Or is the wire feeder a dedicated piece of equipment that fancy welders own so they can change the power heads....

Intrigued, will never do it as my Mig is a lincoln 180C but intrigued...

The LN-25s are what we used in the field. You can run Mig through them, if you have a CV power source. If you only have a CC power source like these little stick welders, they run T-11 self shielded flux core wire like a dream. First time I saw a CV engine drive was in the very early 1980s. Oh sure some of the older Lincoln engine drives had an add on CV box.
These LN-25s are a great wire feeder, its amazing all they can do!

 

[yomax4]

The early versions of these voltage sensing feeders were really suited for TGS self shielded wires. They newer generations have gas solenoids, meters, burnback and slick style designs. When the big coal power plants have an outage and they rebuild the burner walls, they run 100' or more cable from the power supply and simply carry the suitcase feeder as they go. With the addition of meters and or digital read out you can monitor and adjust on the fly. You will see 8 pack and 12 pack racks of power supplies and the rack is hard wired to the power source. The welders each grab a feeder and away they go. Very cool to behold.

 

[dntfxr]

How much you wanna bet? My Lincoln V350-Pro, and my LN-25 will weld circles around a Millermatic. .

How about from the PA200 or 300, how would it compare?

 

[Shield Arc]

How about from the PA200 or 300, how would it compare?

Well they won't run Mig, they're CC only welders. Here is what Mig looks like when run on a CC only welder. I did this with my 1966 Lincoln SA-200 engine drive.
Very, very hot!

 

[bdog]

I doubt the wire feeder would weld nearly as nice as the new Millermatic though...
Is it easy to set the feeder up with shielding gas?

Nope. I have a Millermatic 252 and I just bought a LN-25 to run off my Invertec V-350 for welding heavier material and more amps than the 252 can handle. As bonus I can run the LN-25 off my gas powered welder as well for mobile wire feed welding.

It uses shielding gas no problem or you can do flux core for welding portable outside in the wind.

 

[dntfxr]

Thanks I appreciate your experience and info. I'd kicked around getting a wire feeder and using it with my Dialarc, but hadn't considered it could be used with a little stick inverter too. If I went that route it would add a lot of versatility being able to burn stick or wire in the field off my generator, vs just mig or flux core with the 211 like I'm leaning toward. And I do have a few hundred pounds of Atom Arc 7018's! :drink:
I doubt the wire feeder would weld nearly as nice as the new Millermatic though...
Is it easy to set the feeder up with shielding gas?

Sorry I should have been more clear here, I wasn't saying I thought any Millermatic would do better than a big cv machine with a ln25, but rather running the feeder off a small cc inverter like the Power Arc verses a small Millermatic like the 211.
So let me see if I got this right. In my case I don't have a good option for mobile welding so I could spend 1000$ and get a MM211 that will mig and fluxcore, verses spending 1000$ for a Powerarc and used wire feeder that will stick and fluxcore. Is that right?
A wire feeder is probably overkill for me, maybe I should just get a 211 and a pa300.

 

[Big Barn]

dntfxr, you have so many options! I suppose only you know for sure what will work best depending on application, situation and budget.

Here's another route to consider: Brand new Lincoln or Tweco 3in1 machines in the $1000 range. Mig Stick DC tig. dual voltage inverters. Put it on your credit card get the airmiles and 3 year warranty.

Here's my Tweco/ Thermal Arc



Happy researching (and shopping)!

Terry

 

[Big Barn]

Oops sorry. Just noticed you HAD considered this route in an earlier post
I'd better grab another coffee.

Terry

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

For me, I'm ready to see the PowerArc 300 work on this.

 

[dntfxr]

Thanks Terry I'm kinda considering all options right now. BTW good looking welds SA, as usual ! I like that bender in the background too, you have all the cool toys!! :thumbsup: