New tool: used MIG welder

[Ford F834]

I've been wanting to get my own welding set up for quite a while, but good machines are expensive... and I did not want a cheap-o junk welder that can barely do exhaust pipes. Used welders didn't appeal to me much as people don't tend to get rid of them if they are any good...

It is with a great deal of sadness that I say that my good friend Steve who shortened my crew cab frame and sold me the 1981 F150 passed away from cancer this September. A mutual friend from work told me that Steve's wife was trying to get what she could out of all of his cars and tools. To make a long story short I bought the welding machine that Steve used to shorten my frame. It had been left outside but had plastic over it. It feeds wire and strikes an arc, so I figured it was worth a gamble on it.

It is a Lincoln Weld Pak 5000 HD 220v Mig. It is missing the argon bottle, hose and regulator but I've been told I could try flux core wire until I get the gas parts. It came with a cheap Chicago Electric helmet. I think it is a harbor freight deal, but it is adjustable auto darkening and seems to work. I know there are much better machines out there, but hopefully this one will serve me through the building of my truck projects. Time to read up on how to use it, and pick up a few supplies for it... I'm excited! 😀

[Gary Lewis]

That is bitter sweet - lose a friend but gain a tool. 😢

But, that should be a good tool. I don’t know what all brands Scott sells, but it might include Lincoln.

And, you may have the same helmet I have. It works for welding and solar eclipses. 😜

[Ford F834]

I read that some people watched the eclipse through welding helmets but this one does not always black out when pointed at the sun. I tested it in the shop at work by tagging a piece of scrap steel to a grinder and it darkened each time so I think it is safe.

Scott had Miller welders at the gtg. They were nice but quite out of my budget. So far I'm into this one $300 for the machine, metal cart, helmet, pair of gloves and a bag of tips. It has some wire in it but I don't even know what kind or size. I've found 20 cf argon bottles on eBay for $85, hose and regulator set for $35 and an argon fill is ~$80. I don't expect the same results that I was getting out of Scott's $1,600 machine and $275 helmet, but hopefully it will do a respectable job for my purposes.

My diesel build has quite a few things that need welded:

Fish plate the frame
Intercooler charge pipes
Core support modification for IC
DNE2 to BW1356 adapter
DNE2 cross member
Cross member for Bronco tank
Front hitch receiver
Traction bars (eventually)
Some kind of steps
I might even chop the '81...

[Gary Lewis]

Mine was reliable up to the very last on the eclipse. But just at the darkest, and we were at 90%, you had to ensure you were looking directly at the sun.

Anyway, you made a good purchase and will get good use out of that welder. I can't imagine being without one.

[85lebaront2]

One thing a friend of mine found out the hard way, he bought a Lincoln Mig welder from Lowe's, when he needed something for it, I think the drive for the wire feed, he went and ordered it from Lincoln only the find even though it was the same model, it had a different setup inside it. I think he told me there was a long model number that was different from the ones sold through welding supply houses.

Based on that, I looked at a number of sources and discovered Northern Tool is actually listed as a Hobart distributor, so I bought a Hobart.

[Ford F834]

Good to know, thank you. I assumed that Lincoln being a major name that parts would be available, but evidently I will need to be very careful when ordering to be sure I get the right one. To further complicate things, I believe this model is called different things depending on where it was sold.

[Gary Lewis]

Judging by Scott’s Victor Welding Supply Facebook page they do sell Lincoln equipment. So if you have trouble finding parts I’m sure he would help you. He remembers you as he mentioned you recently.

[Ford F834]

Gary Lewis wrote

Judging by Scott’s Victor Welding Supply Facebook page they do sell Lincoln equipment. So if you have trouble finding parts I’m sure he would help you. He remembers you as he mentioned you recently.

Thanks! I will keep Scott in mind. I'm pretty sure I found the Facebook page...

https://www.facebook.com/Victor-Welding-Supply-365351830302703/

[scbill]

I have had this model for many years now, get the gas setup...you will not regret it. A really good choice for a DIY shop. When you run a pass, just brush it, and you're done, no slag to clean off, also you can better see what you're doing, no banging a rod to get started, just put it in place and pull the trigger.