Help - Extreme Nubie Flux Core

[Spike56]

I believe Lincoln Electric in Euclid, Ohio still assembles larger commercial units there using parts and components sourced 'worldwide' of course. I know they do still draw their wire there and produce SMAW electrodes as well.

Believe you are correct about Lincoln. Also, Miller Electric is an American arc welding and cutting equipment manufacturing company based in Appleton, Wisconsin. Miller Electric, has grown from a one-man operation selling products in northeastern Wisconsin to what is today one of the world's largest manufacturers of arc welding and cutting equipment. U.S.
My welder Miller 142 says was made in Appleton. Just assembled or number of USA parts, I don't know.

 

[5030]

The line between 'assembled' and built has blurred with the advent of 'World Class Manufacturing'.

My Lincoln engine drive bears a 'Made in USA' sticker as well but removing the outside cover reveals components made offshore. Made in Euclid, Ohio but the parts were shipped in overseas containers to them and put together here.

Lincoln also has a huge electric motor division based in Mentor, Ohio and I suspect the same applies there as well.

My late dad retired from Lincoln. consequently, Lincoln electric is a family thing for me.

Spent many a day at the Euclid plant before OSHA and all the BS associated with it plus I used to deliver steel coil and sheet to them with a big truck, prior to retirement.

Very interesting place or was back then. I have not been there in at least a decade now.

The receiving bay where I unloaded the steel in, was also the bay where they tested to the point of failure, the commercial engine drives selectively pulled from assembly. Hot as heck in there in the summer and pleasant in the winter with all the heat produced by the running units which were all on resistor load banks, some of the load banks were outside and water cooled.

One place I always liked to deliver at simply because of them employing my late father. It's a huge plant and sits right next to the 'Shoreway' in Euclid, Ohio at the East 185th street exit.

 

[BlueKnife]

I believe Lincoln Electric in Euclid, Ohio still assembles larger commercial units there using parts and components sourced 'worldwide' of course. I know they do still draw their wire there and produce SMAW electrodes as well.

I believe that's correct. My sister-in-law used to work there. As you say though, they're basically just put together there. The parts are made elsewhere.

 

[California]

we have a local dealer who I know and it was a retirement gift to myself.

In that case you deserve the best! Congratulations on your retirement!

 

[etpm]

Purchased a Miller 142

I goofed in my first reply to your post. I did not notice that you had bought a Miller machine. I thought, from the model number, that you had bought a Lincoln machine. And besides the two wirefeed welders I have I also have a 200 amp Lincoln square wave TIG welder, which I love. So anyway I thought I should say that I also own two Miller welders. One is an ancient Miller Gold Star welder. It is at least 40 years old and still works great. The welder is an AC and DC TIG and stick machine but it has a special setting. At the lower range it has a 1 to 10 amp range. This was a rare special that Miller offered and when I bought the machine used I lucked out because I used that really low amperage setting a lot. I also have a Miller 300 amp wire feed welder. It came with a 25 foot long push-pull whip, called a Python. A push-pull whip differs from the usual whip on a wire feed machine in that it has a motor in the welding gun that pulls the wire while the welding machine pushes the wire. This is especially useful when using aluminum welding wire because it is so soft compared to other welding wires. And 25 feet is way to far to push aluminum wire. It is also too far to push .023 diameter steel wire. Anyway, the machine is a beast. Not only will it weld at 300 amps on a 60% duty cycle, but it will do so for years and has so many features that it is smarter than me. And it welded the Whidbey Island Fire Boat for the South Whidbey Fire Department. From scratch. I bought the welder used from the company that built the boat. So I am sure your new Miller machine will give you many years of good service. Especially after I looked at the specs for your welder I am convinced you will be able to make good welds pretty fast if you have even a small modicum of skill. That machine will make a lot of decisions for you so that making good welds will be easier. The specs say it can weld 3/16 steel with one pass. This means, with proper preparation and skill, you will be able to weld at least 1/4 inch thick steel with multiple passes. With pre-heating, such as with a weed burner torch, you should be able to weld 5/16 thick steel.
Eric

 

[Spike56]

The line between 'assembled' and built has blurred with the advent of 'World Class Manufacturing'.

My Lincoln engine drive bears a 'Made in USA' sticker as well but removing the outside cover reveals components made offshore. Made in Euclid, Ohio but the parts were shipped in overseas containers to them and put together here.

Lincoln also has a huge electric motor division based in Mentor, Ohio and I suspect the same applies there as well.

My late dad retired from Lincoln. consequently, Lincoln electric is a family thing for me.

Spent many a day at the Euclid plant before OSHA and all the BS associated with it plus I used to deliver steel coil and sheet to them with a big truck, prior to retirement.

Very interesting place or was back then. I have not been there in at least a decade now.

The receiving bay where I unloaded the steel in, was also the bay where they tested to the point of failure, the commercial engine drives selectively pulled from assembly. Hot as heck in there in the summer and pleasant in the winter with all the heat produced by the running units which were all on resistor load banks, some of the load banks were outside and water cooled.

One place I always liked to deliver at simply because of them employing my late father. It's a huge plant and sits right next to the 'Shoreway' in Euclid, Ohio at the East 185th street exit.

I grew up not too far from there. Matter of fact, my Uncle (who I cannot recall his name, last name Harris I think) was some type of big shot there. He offered me a job right out of high school. But, at that time, Lincoln was really really busy and he said when they asked you to work weekends also you "had" to work. That is, although voluntary, it really was not. Even though the pay was great I chose not to accept because I did not want to work 7 days a week. Good decision ? Who knows.

 

[Spike56]

I goofed in my first reply to your post. I did not notice that you had bought a Miller machine. I thought, from the model number, that you had bought a Lincoln machine. And besides the two wirefeed welders I have I also have a 200 amp Lincoln square wave TIG welder, which I love. So anyway I thought I should say that I also own two Miller welders. One is an ancient Miller Gold Star welder. It is at least 40 years old and still works great. The welder is an AC and DC TIG and stick machine but it has a special setting. At the lower range it has a 1 to 10 amp range. This was a rare special that Miller offered and when I bought the machine used I lucked out because I used that really low amperage setting a lot. I also have a Miller 300 amp wire feed welder. It came with a 25 foot long push-pull whip, called a Python. A push-pull whip differs from the usual whip on a wire feed machine in that it has a motor in the welding gun that pulls the wire while the welding machine pushes the wire. This is especially useful when using aluminum welding wire because it is so soft compared to other welding wires. And 25 feet is way to far to push aluminum wire. It is also too far to push .023 diameter steel wire. Anyway, the machine is a beast. Not only will it weld at 300 amps on a 60% duty cycle, but it will do so for years and has so many features that it is smarter than me. And it welded the Whidbey Island Fire Boat for the South Whidbey Fire Department. From scratch. I bought the welder used from the company that built the boat. So I am sure your new Miller machine will give you many years of good service. Especially after I looked at the specs for your welder I am convinced you will be able to make good welds pretty fast if you have even a small modicum of skill. That machine will make a lot of decisions for you so that making good welds will be easier. The specs say it can weld 3/16 steel with one pass. This means, with proper preparation and skill, you will be able to weld at least 1/4 inch thick steel with multiple passes. With pre-heating, such as with a weed burner torch, you should be able to weld 5/16 thick steel.
Eric

Wow, a 300 amp machine ! Well, I used a Miller Stick a few times and managed to glue together some metal, but no big projects to speak of. The stick was Very difficult for me to use. Just a hobby I have always been interested in. Will see once I get setup. All I need now is some time where my wife is not dragging me around shopping.

 

[5030]

I grew up not too far from there. Matter of fact, my Uncle (who I cannot recall his name, last name Harris I think) was some type of big shot there. He offered me a job right out of high school. But, at that time, Lincoln was really really busy and he said when they asked you to work weekends also you "had" to work. That is, although voluntary, it really was not. Even though the pay was great I chose not to accept because I did not want to work 7 days a week. Good decision ? Who knows.

I could have as well but declined. Lincoln had and I presume still has some interesting work rules. My dad had no issue with them however and he did quite well there.