When choosing a welding machine your welding experience, as well as your individual welding jobs, will be crucial when making a decision on what to buy. Investing in a great tool is important because it will save you from disappointments on the job. Making a decision can be a pain but the best thing you can do is to consider a tool from a well-established and respected brand.
Speaking of Brands the Lincoln brand is one to consider when it comes to MIG welders. They create some of the best MIG welding machines and the Lincoln MIG 180 HD welder is one of them. It comes with a variety of perks that will take your welding to a whole new level. In this Lincoln 180 HD review, we will discuss the different features and everything you need to know about this particular tool. Find out if this MIG welder is the one for you.
Things to consider when buying a MIG welder
There are plenty of things to consider when buying a welder. Below we shall mainly discuss what you can consider when buying a MIG welder. These factors are important because they will let you determine what will work best for your needs.
Duty cycle
The duty cycle of a welder is normally liable on a 10-minute period. Meaning a welder running on a 230-volt input is going to have 130a/20v/30%. The 30% is the duty cycle implying that 30% of 10 minutes will be 3 minutes. The less the voltage input the more you will get to weld before the machine overheats. When buying a MIG welder, consider one that has a duty cycle that will enable you weld for more time before overheating depending on the number of tasks that you want to handle.
Application
Welders do come with different capabilities. Consider the type of welding that you will be doing so that you will select a welder that will handle all your needs effortlessly. MIG welders are limited when it comes to welding aluminum because it is a very thin metal. However, with the optional spool gun welding aluminum is possible.
Spool gun
As we mentioned, MIG welders can’t weld aluminum unless you attach a spool gun. When buying a MIG welder you will need to buy a spool gun which comes separately on some models. Consider a spool gun which comes with a quick-release feature for better welds on aluminum.
Safety features
When dealing with tools like welders safety is the number one priority. We are not talking about wearing safety Gear alone, we also mean the welder of choice must come with features that will ensure your safety. Make sure the welder of choice has thermal overload protection, short circuit overload protection among other safety features.
Size, weight, and portability
A MIG welder with a manageable size and weight is a great choice. You wouldn’t want to have problems when it comes to carrying the device. Also, the portability of the welder is very important. This is the ease of transporting the tool from different site locations effortlessly.
Lincoln 180 HD MIG welder
The Lincoln 180 HD MIG welder is a reliable industrial welder designed with welders of all classes and skills in mind. It is versatile meaning you can work on a variety of materials including aluminum. Setting up the device is quick and you don’t have to be an expert to do so.
Additionally, the design is simple for easy use by anyone including beginners. The generous output range of this device is 30A to 180A which is ideal for light-duty applications. If you are in need of a welder with a general Duty cycle for light industrial projects, then the Lincoln 180 HD welder will be a great choice.
However, if you are in need of a more powerful MIG welding machine to handle heavy-duty tasks then you need to check other options. It is also a little heavier than other models as it comes weighing 66 pounds. You can only go about this if you don’t mind using a wheeled cart for transportation. Moving on the skills you possess in welding will not matter because it comes made for everyone. Whether you are a professional, hobbyist or even a beginner you won’t have difficulty operating this machine.
Comparison to other brands
If you have been in the welding business for long, then you must know that there are plenty of brands out there. The Lincoln brand is one-of-a-kind and it’s no secret that it’s among the best. Lincoln MIG welders are generally preferred by several welders because these machines are powerful and of higher quality.
However, they are more expensive than some other brands. For example, the Miller MIG welders are cheaper than the Lincoln welders. So in case you want to buy one you need to weigh your options very carefully.
Pros
- It comes with some unique extra features.
- Features dual power input.
- It is easy to set up and use.
- It features a good quality build in and out.
Cons
- The 180A is a lower output for 230-volt input.
- It weighs 66 pounds which is heavier compared to other models.
- The power switch is too small for most users.
Lincoln 180 HD features and benefits
This Lincoln welding machine comes with a number of wonderful features which will benefit you and all your projects. Below are some of them.
Output level
This unit comes with an output range of 30A when at 208 volts and 180A when at 230 volts. The output is lower than what its competitors have to offer. However, it is a deal for light-duty industrial tasks. You can also get to change the output easily with the Adjustment knob that is on the unit. Switch between thick Steel to sheet welding without any hassle.
Versatility
The Lincoln 180 HD is designed to offer you both MIG and Flux core welding. However, you can also get to use it for TIG welding thanks to its compatibility with a spool gun. This can enable you to weld aluminum as well. That’s not all the device comes included with various accessories to enable you to work on different tasks such as fabrication, auto Body Works, agriculture, domestic repairs, among others.
Dual voltage input
With this device say goodbye to voltage limitations. The dual voltage Input of 208 volts and 230 volts lets you work anywhere. You can work at home or at the job site when you want to handle different projects. It is this feature that adds to the versatility of the machine.
Drive system
We love its adjustable Drive system. This feature minimizes the chances of the wire crashing and even tangling. With this feature, be sure to work without the worry of getting hurt.
Application
You can now weld Flux core wire with a thickness of 1/2 inch. What’s more important is the fact that it can weld 3/16 inch of Steel using gas shielding. Generally, you can use the device to work on various welding projects and you can get the best welds in the end.
User-friendly design
Whether you are a professional or an inexperienced welder, this machine has some simple controls that can be used by anyone. Don’t have to be a practiced welder to operate the device.
It comes with a manual which details the most important welding techniques for beginners. Aside from that you also get some accessories that will help you with operations.
Affordable
Lincoln MIG welders come at a higher price than other brands. However, this unit combines affordability and quality. If you are a beginner and you are on a budget then this unit is the right one for you. It doesn’t come at a high price like the others from the Lincoln brand.
Special features
This welder comes with some additional features which will offer you the best experience with the welder. Below are some of them.
Diamond core technology
This type of technology provides the user with a more forgiving arc. The arc is stable and you will not encounter a lot of spatter when welding.
Spool gun
The unit comes with a 100sg spool gun which can be used when you need to weld aluminum metal. This is convenient because you don’t have to buy it separately like what is needed with other models. When out of the box you can just plug it in and start working.
Brass to brass connectivity
This feature ensures that you get maximum conductivity. It will help you get the best output range.
Conclusion
This Lincoln welder model is a multifunctional, powerful unit that will offer you lots of benefits. It was designed with different kinds of welders in mind. The number of low duty tasks that this unit can handle will amaze you. No matter your experience with welding machines you will not go wrong with this one.
All you have to do is to invest in it and we guarantee you will do much more than you ever needed with this device. That’s about it with this Lincoln 180 HD review. We hope you can now tell if it’s the one for you.
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