# Welders - wow, quality does make a difference! **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [November 13, 2012, 6:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/welders-wow-quality-does-make-a-difference/227164 "2012-11-13T06:40:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![97FormulaWS-6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/97formulaws-6/32/7384_2.png) [@97FormulaWS-6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/97FormulaWS-6)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 6:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/welders-wow-quality-does-make-a-difference/227164/1 "2012-11-13T06:40:48Z")
So, I had attempted to learn how to weld a few years ago with an off-brand MIG welder that my dad has. After hours and hours over a week of messing around, no matter what I did I couldn’t get it, and couldn’t run a bead to save my life; I could barely get an arc to be stable. I needed a welder for the Firebird Resurection, so… I picked up this bad boy over the weekend: (not mine but same model) ![http://i.ebayimg.com/t/LINCOLN-Pro-MIG-180-HD-ELECTRIC-WELDER-NEW-IN-BOX-/00/s/MzAwWDMwMA==/$T2eC16VHJF8E9nnC7NsnBQEN0gvhZ!~~60_35.JPG](http://i.ebayimg.com/t/LINCOLN-Pro-MIG-180-HD-ELECTRIC-WELDER-NEW-IN-BOX-/00/s/MzAwWDMwMA==/%24T2eC16VHJF8E9nnC7NsnBQEN0gvhZ!~~60_35.JPG) Lincoln Pro-MIG 180 Holy SHIT what a difference! After setting it up; my first attempt with Flux-Core wire was a solid good looking bead for a first timer. I spent about 15 mins just running a couple beads, and this thing welds like butter; I understand why they say “anyone can learn to MIG” now. I still have to buy a tank ($300 to buy/fill a 125cf tank out here). But I think it’s time for a trip to the local metal store and get what I need to build a cart. I’ll post some pics later. ---
**Author:** ![XwalkerX](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/xwalkerx/32/7598_2.png) [@XwalkerX](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/XwalkerX)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 6:43am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/welders-wow-quality-does-make-a-difference/227164/2 "2012-11-13T06:43:41Z")
:tup: ---
**Author:** ![Haenszel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e68b1a/32.png) [@Haenszel](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Haenszel)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 6:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/welders-wow-quality-does-make-a-difference/227164/3 "2012-11-13T06:48:38Z")
Out of curiosity, what did you have before? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 6:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/welders-wow-quality-does-make-a-difference/227164/4 "2012-11-13T06:49:41Z")
Lincoln is a top notch welder, there is a reason the HF welders are $100 ---
**Author:** ![97FormulaWS-6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/97formulaws-6/32/7384_2.png) [@97FormulaWS-6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/97FormulaWS-6)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 7:05am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/welders-wow-quality-does-make-a-difference/227164/5 "2012-11-13T07:05:30Z")
> [@Haenszel](#): > > Out of curiosity, what did you have before? I don’t even know that my dad’s was/is. All I know is it was a basic black box cheap MIG welder. This is the first one that I bought; and probably the last MIG I’ll buy; should last my lifetime for what I’m going to use it for. (Hell, I’m already looking at Diversion 180 machines to pick up next! LOL) ---
**Author:** ![Norb\_O](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/norb_o/32/5189_2.png) [@Norb\_O](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Norb_O)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 9:16am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/welders-wow-quality-does-make-a-difference/227164/6 "2012-11-13T09:16:47Z")
interesting. I have a Farmhand 125 (rebranded Century I think?) and it’s meh. Maybe next year I can scoop one of these ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 9:24am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/welders-wow-quality-does-make-a-difference/227164/7 "2012-11-13T09:24:25Z")
I had the same experience. Tried harbor frieght and couldn’t do anything with it. Bought a real welder, actually from Don(Carnut) and it was night and day difference. ---
**Author:** ![LUKE\_L](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/luke_l/32/7462_2.png) [@LUKE\_L](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LUKE_L)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 10:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/welders-wow-quality-does-make-a-difference/227164/8 "2012-11-13T10:00:33Z")
Pics of welds…? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/51bf81/32.png) [@Hass](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Hass)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 10:17am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/welders-wow-quality-does-make-a-difference/227164/9 "2012-11-13T10:17:58Z")
Those run on 230/1/60 right? If so, definitely a good pick up. I don’t think it’s capable of a spraying some 70S wire though… If you’re welding without gas, make sure you’re using gasless wire. If you start using gas, make sure you use dual shield wire. ---
**Author:** ![97FormulaWS-6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/97formulaws-6/32/7384_2.png) [@97FormulaWS-6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/97FormulaWS-6)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 10:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/welders-wow-quality-does-make-a-difference/227164/10 "2012-11-13T10:31:18Z")
> [@Hass](#): > > Those run on 230/1/60 right? > > If so, definitely a good pick up. I don’t think it’s capable of a spraying some 70S wire though… > If you’re welding without gas, make sure you’re using gasless wire. If you start using gas, make sure you use dual shield wire. yup, 230/1/60 @ 20A. Actually it came with a 2# spool of 0.025 SuperArc L-56 (70S) wire edit - after some reading - unknown if it’ll do Spray, it’s probably just on the lower end if it can; but still, for what I need it’s more than enough. ---
**Author:** ![1QIKZ](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/1qikz/32/6112_2.png) [@1QIKZ](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/1QIKZ)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 10:51am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/welders-wow-quality-does-make-a-difference/227164/11 "2012-11-13T10:51:58Z")
Cool…or hot if you will. ---
**Author:** ![95dime](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/95dime/32/7514_2.png) [@95dime](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/95dime)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 11:07am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/welders-wow-quality-does-make-a-difference/227164/12 "2012-11-13T11:07:39Z")
nice :tup: i was able to produce some great welds with a gas mig harbor frieght welder my neighbor had before it died… it was the welder i learned on actually. i went with a hobart when i got mine, good price and made by miller, they have miller guts in em. lincolns are great machines though, you do notice a difference when going to a quality machine. the only tig welders ive used were actually lincolns… ---
**Author:** ![yamba6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/yamba6/32/5161_2.png) [@yamba6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/yamba6)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 11:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/welders-wow-quality-does-make-a-difference/227164/13 "2012-11-13T11:09:35Z")
You trucked that car out to Utah? ---
**Author:** ![97FormulaWS-6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/97formulaws-6/32/7384_2.png) [@97FormulaWS-6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/97FormulaWS-6)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 11:47am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/welders-wow-quality-does-make-a-difference/227164/14 "2012-11-13T11:47:57Z")
> [@yamba6](#): > > You trucked that car out to Utah? You been living under a rock or something? I did that back in July! ---
**Author:** ![LAFENGAS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lafengas/32/7573_2.png) [@LAFENGAS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LAFENGAS)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 2:35pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/welders-wow-quality-does-make-a-difference/227164/15 "2012-11-13T14:35:55Z")
welder makes a huge difference. I’m getting back into the fabrication game down here in FL. yay! I just picked this up a couple weeks ago…but i haven’t taken it out of the box yet. ![http://welders.co/wp-content/themes/seo%20friendly%20autoblog%20amazon%20store%20-%20blue%201.1/scripts/timthumb.php?src=http://welders.co/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/b7161_millermatic_welders_51OdwymHiiL.jpg&w=500&h=300&zc=2&q=100](http://welders.co/wp-content/themes/seo%20friendly%20autoblog%20amazon%20store%20-%20blue%201.1/scripts/timthumb.php?src=http://welders.co/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/b7161_millermatic_welders_51OdwymHiiL.jpg&w=500&h=300&zc=2&q=100) ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/welders-wow-quality-does-make-a-difference/227164/16 "2012-11-13T14:40:31Z")
Mine was very similar to that. I think it was a millermatic 175 ---
**Author:** ![ieatpaint](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ieatpaint/32/7311_2.png) [@ieatpaint](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ieatpaint)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 5:14pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/welders-wow-quality-does-make-a-difference/227164/17 "2012-11-13T17:14:12Z")
I have a lincoln too, I love it. Mine is a little smaller so I really have to prep well and make sure the conditions are optimal but for a small machine it’s really easy to use. ---
**Author:** ![LXIFLYBY](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lxiflyby/32/7399_2.png) [@LXIFLYBY](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LXIFLYBY)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 9:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/welders-wow-quality-does-make-a-difference/227164/18 "2012-11-22T09:09:02Z")
going from flux core to c25 gas makes the welds look 100X better also. If you dont care what they look like just grind them down with an angle grinder. I do highly reccomend using the shielding gas though. the results are night and day. Prep seems to make a big difference in the weld quality too (be free of dirt grease paint rust etc before welding) ---
**Author:** ![DelfinAshley](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/delfinashley/32/3401_2.png) [@DelfinAshley](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/DelfinAshley)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 10:24pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/welders-wow-quality-does-make-a-difference/227164/19 "2012-12-14T22:24:55Z")
Thanks for putting up such an informative post as it will really be elpfull to people who are looking forward to buy one in future as having an idea up hand does help us in choosing the exact thing. ---
**Author:** ![yamba6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/yamba6/32/5161_2.png) [@yamba6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/yamba6)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 6:55am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/welders-wow-quality-does-make-a-difference/227164/20 "2012-12-17T06:55:19Z")
> [@DelfinAshley](#): > > Thanks for putting up such an informative post as it will really be elpfull to people who are looking forward to buy one in future as having an idea up hand does help us in choosing the exact thing. Huh? I swear this is the second post I’ve seen the exact same way. Spam?