lincoln compact 185

[andy pen]

Hello all, got to replace my clake 151te as some rotton scrotts stole it!!!!
Looking at a lincoln 185 but I am wondering if it might be a bit to powerful for car panels,which it will do alot of if I buy,I know its going to be plenty for the heavy stuff I do just a bit worried about the thinner panel work.Anyone able to advise?

 

[madkayaker]

what's the min it will go down to

 

[andy pen]

what's the min it will go down to

Sorry should have put that in first , 35 amp at 15.7 volt according to the plate.

 

[madkayaker]

i have always believed that 30 is the max for body work however i have never welded cars

 

[Slim Shady]

that will be fine for cars. just move fast and you will have no problems.
P.S. that is a nice machine, pretty good for stainless and light alum.

 

[andy pen]

Thanks for the replies,think this could be O.K.for me and the insurance money is burning a hole at the moment.The old clarke 151 was fine on thin but did struggle to do heavy so looks like I'll be ok on that end now just a bit worried about the thin stuff.But I'll think I might give it a go as they do seam to be a good machine from the replies here and a little bit of reading on the net.Just need to get it now.

 

[slimjim]

if the welder has a higher than 25amp minimum, then you will need to get aquainted with this, if your welding thin metal

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/thin-metal.htm


thats the advantage of the portamig, goes way down to 15amp, whilst mine tops out at 215amp

 

[andy pen]

Thanks again for all the replies much appreciated.I'm having second thoughts now as it will be used mostly to do car body work.A bit more thinking on this one might just replace with a clarke 151 again and buy a stick for 6mm and up as I really dont use it on heavy very often.Will look at portamig as seams to have a good range but I know nothing about that make yet internet search now I think.The more I read the more choices I get the more compicated it gets to choose.

 

[andy pen]

Well I dint end up with the lincoln but got a cebora 130 pocket turbo seams like a good little machine.Not got it on the big bottle yet but seams fine with a little argon disposable.Any hints tips and general coments on this machine very welcome