Wire Welder Question

Jeff NWOH · Dec 26, 2016

Picked up this Lincoln SP 200 at auction a couple weeks ago. It is set up for .035 wire. I was debating getting a feed roller for .045 solid wire and trying that. The guy at the lincoln dealer didn't seem to think I needed any more than 035 in a 200 amp welder.

This thing is twice the size of my current welder which is a 235 amp machine. I've only run 035 in that. I'm pretty sure the lincoln will be considerably more welder than what I have now and my thinking was that the bigger wire would let me put more amperage into the weld.

I have no intention of getting rid of my old welder, so I would probably just leave the 035 in it and swap the bottle as opposed to changing wire.

So what say the experts? Is there any advantage to the larger wire on this machine or not?

Larry EC-OH · Dec 26, 2016

I would stay with the .035 wire. This is a 60% duty cycle machine and it should be able to do everything you want if you stay with the .035 wire.

My 2 cents,

Larry

JD Seller · Dec 26, 2016

What are you welding???? I mainly use .035 wire. I have the setup for .045 wire but usually only use it on 3/4 and thicker steel. Also look a the duty cycle of each welder. Many smaller welders only have a 30-40% duty cycle at maximum amperage. So the larger machine could very well have a much higher duty cycle.

Jeff NWOH · Dec 26, 2016

Mainly 1/2" and under. My other welder is probably more like 20% at full amperage where this Lincoln is 60% and most likely 100% where I would normally weld with it.

Jeff NWOH · Dec 26, 2016

Sounds like you know your lincolns. I'll run the 035 and see how it goes. I'm probably over thinking it.

jon f mn · Dec 27, 2016

I use .035 wire in my 250 amp machine and it works for anything up to 1/2" steel. I've use one roll of .045 in the 20+ years I've owned it. I do use .045 dual shield for larger projects like cutting edges and such where I want to save time over using 7018.

big tee · Dec 27, 2016

It all depends what your going to weld. I have a miller 252 and when I rebuilt my tile plow I bought a roll of 45 wire-changed the drive rollers and tip and welded. Now have 35 wire in it-only time I wish I had 45 in it is when I weld on tractor pull weight brackets or hitches.---Tee

BarnyardEngineering · Dec 27, 2016

Physical size of the welder has nothing to do with power output. It's only a 200A welder.

Doug - Iowa · Dec 27, 2016

I have an SP200 identical to yours and run 035 in it. You won't gain much by moving up to larger wire. The attributes of this machine are the controls for fine adjustment, spot, and stitch. The original market for these was body shops where they are great on sheet metal. And being a Lincoln they just run and run.

Jeff NWOH · Dec 27, 2016

It's also at least twice as heavy. Does that count for anything?

Jeff NWOH · Dec 27, 2016

Thanks for the info. Any idea how old it is?

Doug-Iowa · Dec 28, 2016

Could be late 80's. Go to Lincoln's website, you can download all the manuals and info. You will not find better customer support than Lincoln. Not knocking Miller I have those too but I've had just super results with Lincoln tech support.

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us/support/Pages/operator-manuals.aspx?type=name&q=SP200

What gun you running on it? There are two or three querks with that machine if you have questions just email me [email protected]

Jeff NWOH · Dec 28, 2016

It came with a tweco #4 that was pulled apart on the welder end. My brother hooked me up with a Profax 250 amp gun he had laying around to try it out, but its kind of rough shape.

I've since put the tweco back together, but haven't tried it. I also have a Lincoln Magnum 400 here, but it doesn't have an adapter on the welder end.

I'll probably just run the profax for a while, but think I'd like to end up with the Magnum on it eventually. That Tweco is an awful big/heavy gun.

I'll jot your email down in case I need it.

Thanks.

Wire Welder Question

Jeff NWOH

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Larry EC-OH

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JD Seller

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Jeff NWOH

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Jeff NWOH

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jon f mn

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big tee

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BarnyardEngineering

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Doug - Iowa

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Jeff NWOH

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