Lincoln powertec 271c

[Neil t]

Morning all
New on here, would like anyone's input good or bad on a lincoln 271c mig
Uses would be workshop at home- fabrication 2-8mm steel and car / land rover work,
At work welding brackets on 10mm web rsj's for auger feed systems in dairy units.

Welder needs to be single phase as my workshop & some remote farms still don't have 3ph, was looking at miller but 220 is a little small and I can get a good deal on a lincoln 271 with very good local back up.

Cheers in advance
Neil

 

[pedrobedro]

It's a Lincoln, you don't need to ask. A friend of mine had one on trial and it needs 32 amp.

 

[Neil t]

Cheers for input, supply not a prob as I'm commercial spark by trade!
Could get away with cheaper brand but thought buy good once and should last well with spares easily available in future.
Have read a few people with wire feed probs on some lincolns but poss no more than other brands and I don't know under what circumstances,
There is to much choice in the world !

 

[chevy2]

Bought my Lincoln mig new in 1985 and it still works great,
thats build quality for you.

 

[bc30se]

271c is an upgraded 250C - look at my review here...
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/lincoln-powertec-250c-esab-origomig-250c.3920/#post-44618

to add, 271c i a single phase... won't be that good as a 3ph stuff...


and still I hate the feeder on these machines....

I upgraded my 250c with a lincoln 4roll feeder and still sucks compared to chineasium, as a power source and arc it's great,

But anyway too heavy.. better go for iverter SPEEDTEC...

 

[Neil t]

Bc30se, I had read your post previously, it was one of the things I've read that gave me concern but then numerous people rate lincoln high so still not sure what to get.
(Is 250c exactly the same feeder drive as 270c does anyone know?)
As an electrician I'm aware 3ph is spot on but I live in very rural area an 3ph supply would be huge cost and would limit use as some dairy farms still have only single phase.
Don't want to go down inverter route as very light an convenient but looking for setup to last 15-20 yrs and traditional transformer machine will be more robust long term

 

[bc30se]

Yes, 270c uses the same twin roll that I neglected... anyway don't you feel it ridiculous... 250amps without a 4roll? what happens with this twin under 200amps you will only learn...

Still, the powertec line is not free from electronics, the welder has some PCB inside, which is sealed by the way...

this is the four roll that doesn't work in my thread (should have been there out of the box), t, the old motor stays, the feeder gets replaced but the holes are there for it, perhaps they use a standard panel, so.... upgrade is always possible, paid 100pounds for it.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1600x1068q50/207/img5804resize.jpg

 

[Neil t]

Thanks for info, appreciate everything will have pcb's just I prefer transformer base machines.
Was going to order lincoln this week but not sure,
Just out of interest why doesn't your four roll drive work?
Are you feeding 0.6mm on 4 or 5M torch or something?
Might put up post in buying section to see what people recommend, just it's a good local supplier and back up in always handy

 

[bc30se]

I use 0.8mm wire, genuine lincoln rolls, it starts nice and smooth but then the rolls start to slip on the wire when welding continuously under huge amps (160+), you could say that the tip gets too hot and the wire seizes.. but I tried oversized tips like 0.9 for ali and then 1.0 and it did not help, you have to compensate with speed but it is only a partial help. I use a quality torch (lincoln) which I shortened from 4.5 meters to 2.30 meters now (not a slight change), quality tips, quality liners, I stopped using the gas heater and increased the flow irrationaly trying to cool the tip (pure C02 or mix all the same), it acted like that even when welding in severe cold outside (it once happened). Thus I started to think there is some problem with power supply to the motor under loads? I don't really get it... it just drives me crazy..., and it was much worse with the twin roll I got rid of... when you harden the adjustment screw, the wire gets curled as it would usually do.

When you don't need continuous seams... and you weld your piece here and there occasionally, it is perfect, the arc is just a charm, and it is so damn precise, it's rock stable even when spraying which I often do with the use of 0.8mm

 

[Neil t]

Two minds what to do,
Are you the very unlucky one?
Would tick all boxes for me if it fed ok but v expensive to find out.

Shop has sold quantity of lincoln powertecs and only one prob was 4M torch on 0.6mm wire + worn liner
Not doubting your problems at all just unsure what to do

 

[bc30se]

buy transformer esab, ORIGO, my friend did so and never complained.. (after my advice against linc), go with 4roll for such a big power output.

Or... jsut go to the shop, ask them to try one, set 160 amps, bring some big piece with you and weld... weld continuosly for 5 minutes or so... if it doesn't have any glitches.. take it...

 

[Neil t]

Next prob, people tell me recent Esab's aren't the same quality that they used to be, but perhaps I think about it all to much!

 

[wheresmejumper]

Personally, I wouldnt buy an esab with your money.
More troublesome than any other 'big' brand

 

[Neil t]

The amount of welding I do a cheaper unit would probably be fine but I always like to buy good , be pleased and make it last.
I narrowed down to Miller or Lincoln but equivalent miller (think it's 252) isn't sold in uk cos it's not CE marked.
Hence lincoln 271, do I go for it or not?
More I think less I know

 

[bc30se]

Go for it, but talk to the dealer and tell them to let you test it, it's your right anyway...

 

[Neil t]

cheers for your input mate!
i can see where your coming from with the problems you've had but don't understand why it still play's up with 4roll and short torch,
like you said as if theres issue with motor or it's supply
will have a word today with dealer and see whats what.
think whatever brand I buy you can have a "Friday afternoon " one