Santa came early and left welder(s)

[gsganzer]

Well, Christmas came early for me this year. My new business has been going great and the time was right to take on some capital expenses. I figured I'd take them for this fiscal year, so I bought a Lincoln 305G engine driven welder (thanks for your input Shieldarc!!)

It's one heck of a beast and is definitely overkill for any personal use I might have for it, but potential business use, it fits the bill nicely It welds like a dream (not that I'm a welder by trade), but I bought a can of 5P+ rods and have been burning them up getting myself back in the groove (with what little free time I've had). I'll run some 7018 rods next. I also stumbled upon a used Lincoln LN-25 Pro suitcase mig at a great price. It just arrived yesterday, so I haven't set it up yet. I'll probably set it up for FCAW-G or FCAW-S and weld some barn trusses in the near future. Anyone have any suggested wire, size, shield gas, setting recommendations that I might consider to start with? I'm just playing with things right now, but I'll probably work of some qualified weld procedures for AWS and ASME at some point.

 

[Big Barn]

Congrats to you AND Santa for a wise choice. I have a 305G also that I use for back up power for my house.

Terry

 

[gsganzer]

Congrats to you AND Santa for a wise choice. I have a 305G also that I use for back up power for my house. View attachment 489334

Terry

I REALLY like the skid/pallet you have for yours! Did you make it or buy it? Any plans?

 

[4570Man]

Congrats to you AND Santa for a wise choice. I have a 305G also that I use for back up power for my house. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=489334"/> Terry

I've got a much older model that has 36 hours on it. It ran at least 30 of them powering the house.

 

[gsganzer]

Big Barn,
Did you not put quick connects on your welder lead lugs? It looks like you still use the hex nut/lug setup and not quick connects.

 

[Big Barn]

Thanks. Sorry no plans. Just made it with 8" channel fork pockets so that it could be fork lifted "end wise" into the back of my pickup.

The fork pockets sit at right angles on 4x4's so that it can be moved (cross wise) easily in my garage or shop with a pallet jack.







The "D"rings on each side of the skid are for tie down only. NOT lifting.


Terry

 

[Big Barn]

Big Barn,
Did you not put quick connects on your welder lead lugs? It looks like you still use the hex nut/lug setup and not quick connects.

Haha. As a rule, yes. I bought this machine used (under 60 hours). The cables came with it. Haven't got around to purchasing Lug to female Tweco adapters.

Terry

 

[Shield Arc]

For self shielded flux core wire I've had the best luck with Lincoln's K-126 guns. I like the 15-feet length. Far as Mig guns I like the Tweco guns. But you will need adapters to run them on a LN-25.

 

[Big Barn]

For self shielded flux core wire I've had the best luck with Lincoln's K-126 guns. I like the 15-feet length. Far as Mig guns I like the Tweco guns. But you will need adapters to run them on a LN-25.

I'd never even SEEN a fluxcore gun until recently. I consulted with Shield Arc before buying one. (Thanks SA, BTW!)



Terry

 

[Shield Arc]

That 350-amp, 60% rating is a joke! I've run those guns at 450-amps 10-hours a day, running 70-pounds of wire a day. Not one problem with them at all:thumbsup:. About every 40-hours of welding it is a good idea to blow them out. We use to remove the gauge on an oxygen bottle, remove the contact tip, place the end that goes in the feeder on the opening of the oxygen bottle and blow them out.