I am thinking about buying a Lincoln 175 HD mig welder 220 volt.Does anyone have any thoughts on this piece of equipment.It is for the home work shop.I will be using it to build utility trailers and truck ladder racks. Thanks Tony
I sort it out this way:
structural steel = trailers = STICK sheet metal = autobody = MIG aluminum = ladders = TIG you-name-it = arts and crafts = GAS TORCH
I don't think I would want to be driving down a busy highway behind a trailer MIG welded by a newbie.
I own one, and would recommend it with confidence. Just watch on those thicker members to turn up the heat and watch out for cold lap. Use adequate bracing and triangulation, and watch for vibration and stress cracking.
For all the lighter stuff, like truck racks, it rocks!
Steve
"Speechless" wrote: (clip) I don't think I would want to be driving down a busy highway behind a trailer MIG welded by a newbie. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Not just MIG. Please, I hope you have the good sense to do your learning on things like shelf brackets and ornamental iron--not on life-threatening possibilities.
I saw one a friend of mine bought from Big Tex. Absolutely atrocious welding, and this was from a big company that should have good welders.
Fact is, there is no inspection of welding, either by big corporations (well, not much inspection, obviously) and no inspection of newbie projects.
Buying from a name brand trailer maker does not guarantee you will get a trailer that has been welded properly. And a trailer that has been welded by a newbie isn't necessarily a POS. Some POSs are name brand and even powder coated.
Steve
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