Is my welder up to the task?

[KDXSR5]

So my dad has a Lincoln sp100. He has only used flux core in it for a couple of little projects he has done. It has not been used in over a year. He has the kit to use gas on it. My question is if I convert it to gas (I don't much like flux core) and run .035 wire in it can I use it to weld suspension brackets and sliders onto my toyota frame? Will it have enough power to do that? I know that I need to have the metal very clean to weld, I am not really looking for welding tips unless they pertain to this model welder or others like it. I know the basics. The only wirefeed machines I have used have been much larger Miller models so I really have no experience with the little sp100 or any models like it. Thanks in advance for any help, I am fairly clueless when it comes to different welders. If you need more info let me know and I will try to get it for you.

[TIMS89CRAWLER]

I have a lincoln weld pack 100 which I believe is close to that and I used 75/25 gas and .025 wire and was not comfortable welding suspension... I know 4rnrrick uses the weld pack 100 on his builds too and his welds are nice so I guess it can go both ways....

[KDXSR5]

I have a lincoln weld pack 100 which I believe is close to that and I used 75/25 gas and .025 wire and was not comfortable welding suspension... I know 4rnrrick uses the weld pack 100 on his builds too and his welds are nice so I guess it can go both ways....

Thanks for the info. .025 seems pretty small wire for metal that is the thickness of frames. I wonder if you would feel different after using .030 or .035? I guess a good welder can make just about any welder make decent welds as is the case with 4rnrrick.


EDIT: I searched his Tuki build and with his 110v welder he uses

.023 wire and 84/16 steel mix gas on EVERYTHING!

I guess I just prefer the thicker wire. Maybe I should try some thinner stuff and see how it goes.

[KDXSR5]

Did some searching on pirate, didn't find much but did find this:

Lincoln highly under-rates thier machines whereas Miller is a little closer to real numbers. I had an old Lincoln SP100 110v mig/fc machine, the specs said no thicker than .105" with .030" gas and .125" with fc. This machine would buzz .125" with gas without a problem, also did thicker with multi-pass wire.
As others said, the 110v will do the job but it needs to be fitted, clean and don't hit the duty cycle. I seemed to get the best penetration from pushing the weld, it's tougher cause you can't see the puddle but that's why you need to practice.

[Hammerhead]

I have a 100 and a 175...

In the 100 I run .023 er70s6 wire with 75/25 gas and I can run slick as a wistle up to almost 3/16" parent metal thickness...

In my 175 I run .035 er70s6 wire with 75/25 gas for anything over .075 thickness...


The 175 is easier for frame thickness type projects but the 100 will get it done with proper care and good welding techniques.

[KDXSR5]

I guess I will convert it to run on gas then buy a few different sized spools of wire and see what works best. I have a spare frame sitting out in my driveway that I could drag to the shop to practice on. Nothing helps more than practice. Like I said earlier, I have only used much larger Miller models so this 110v stuff is new to me. I personally have not used the sp100, only my dad has. I am looking into welding on sliders and some leaf spring mounts and such. Just general 4x4 stuff but I need it to be safe. If I have to I will just save up and get myself a nice used millermatic to ensure I can get safe welds. Only problem is that will have to be put off for 1+ years so no more building on my truck that requires welding.

[GJToyotabug]

my neighbor uses a little 110v wire welder without gas and seems to do very good with it he built his front and rear bumpers and rock sliders with it. my rear bumper was also welded up with a 110v welder with gas ( what the mix was) and .25 wire and did a great job burned right into the 1/4 inch thick C  

[fordh8r]

You can run the flux-core wire without any trouble to the quality of the welds.  All my stuff is welded with this and everything works fine. My spring hangers (front and rear), Shock mounts and hoops, steering box mounts, sliders, bumpers, custom x-member for my duals and even the sheetmetal stuff for my half doors and floor extension around my shifter for my dual cases.

Part of why the flux-core wire works well with this and gets good penetration is because it is run (+) ground or reverse polarity which digs deeper during the weld process (as you probably know).    Surley the welds aren't as pretty as with solid wire but neither is a weld that is done with 6010/6011 rod but yet it's stronger for the same size weld because of it penetration.  Does that mean you can't achieve decent looking welds? No, it just means you may have to practice with it a bit to get the feel for the machine and the wire.

Although it works on metal that might still be a little dirty because of the flux-core it does work well with cleaner metal to start with. The flux helps float out any impurities in the metal as well as create the shileding gas which you don't get with the solid wire and shielding gas. One huge benifit to flux-core wire too, if you happen to be working in a bit of wind the welds won't be affected so easily since the shielding gas is created at the arc point and not projected from the nozzle towards the weld point. Just something to consider as to where you'll be using the machine. 

If you do switch to solid wire you'll also have to make sure the polarity of the machine is correct for the wire. Just FYI. Oh, and do yourself a favor, if you're gonna run an extension cord make it a good size (wire ga) one so you have fewer, if any, issues with the operation of the machine.

Hope it all works out for ya! 

[KDXSR5]

You can run the flux-core wire without any trouble to the quality of the welds.  All my stuff is welded with this and everything works fine. My spring hangers (front and rear), Shock mounts and hoops, steering box mounts, sliders, bumpers, custom x-member for my duals and even the sheetmetal stuff for my half doors and floor extension around my shifter for my dual cases.

Part of why the flux-core wire works well with this and gets good penetration is because it is run (+) ground or reverse polarity which digs deeper during the weld process (as you probably know).    Surley the welds aren't as pretty as with solid wire but neither is a weld that is done with 6010/6011 rod but yet it's stronger for the same size weld because of it penetration.  Does that mean you can't achieve decent looking welds? No, it just means you may have to practice with it a bit to get the feel for the machine and the wire.

Although it works on metal that might still be a little dirty because of the flux-core it does work well with cleaner metal to start with. The flux helps float out any impurities in the metal as well as create the shileding gas which you don't get with the solid wire and shielding gas. One huge benifit to flux-core wire too, if you happen to be working in a bit of wind the welds won't be affected so easily since the shielding gas is created at the arc point and not projected from the nozzle towards the weld point. Just something to consider as to where you'll be using the machine. 

If you do switch to solid wire you'll also have to make sure the polarity of the machine is correct for the wire. Just FYI. Oh, and do yourself a favor, if you're gonna run an extension cord make it a good size (wire ga) one so you have fewer, if any, issues with the operation of the machine.

Hope it all works out for ya! 

Thanks for all the info! The welder is in a nice big shop with no drafts so if I can safely run solid core I would really prefer that. The only question is will solid core penatrate the frame material enough. I guess i could start practicing with flux core but I just really REALLY prefer solid core.

My dad made a nice extention cord for it when he bought it so that is not a problem.

The 6010 analogy is a pretty good one. I like it, makes sense to me.

I guess I will just try different things until I find what I like. Thanks again for all the info!


I am still open to more suggestions, keep them coming!

[fordh8r]

Maybe what you could try is to make a couple of pieces welded with the two different wires and bend them at the welds to see how they hold up. Kinda like they do for welding certs... Or try them both for a while to see if you can just learn to use both, I have. 

[94MtnYote]

  heres something out of my welding text book:  Maximum penetration is obtained when a drag angle of 10 deg. is used. The penetration is deeper b/c the arc tends to run into the pool and create a greater concentration of heat.... anyway if you're using a smaller machine it might help. You can also maximize penetration with different shielding gases.
  you're dad finally handed over the welder,    sweet!!!   

[86bobbedtoy]

I say go for it.
I use a lincoln promig175-220 mig w/030 wire and a 035 tip
just tryed it once and loved it.

[TacoRunner]

So my dad has a Lincoln sp100. He has only used flux core in it for a couple of little projects he has done. It has not been used in over a year. He has the kit to use gas on it. My question is if I convert it to gas (I don't much like flux core) and run .035 wire in it can I use it to weld suspension brackets and sliders onto my toyota frame? Will it have enough power to do that? I know that I need to have the metal very clean to weld, I am not really looking for welding tips unless they pertain to this model welder or others like it. I know the basics. The only wirefeed machines I have used have been much larger Miller models so I really have no experience with the little sp100 or any models like it. Thanks in advance for any help, I am fairly clueless when it comes to different welders. If you need more info let me know and I will try to get it for you.

DO NOT USE .035 WIRE WITH THIS SMALL MACHINE.

[TacoRunner]

You will not get the penetration that you need.

MAX wire size is .030 yes you can run the .035 but you dont want to trust me. You dont have enough Amps.

I would use the flux core if I were you. With such a small maching you will not get the penetration necessary to weld 1/8"

[boggerunner]

im using a lincoln 140c with .035 flux core wire and making great penatration for all my suspension, and bumper work, even built a few 3 links with it, but i wouldnt trust the weld pak100 for any thing more than body work

[Toymin8r]

My whole suspension and SAS was done with a Lincoln WeldPak 100 (Same amperage as yours) and I have never had a problem at all after 8 years.  The guy doing the work was a pro though.

[KDXSR5]

DO NOT USE .035 WIRE WITH THIS SMALL MACHINE.

Noted.

You will not get the penetration that you need.

MAX wire size is .030 yes you can run the .035 but you dont want to trust me. You dont have enough Amps.

I would use the flux core if I were you. With such a small maching you will not get the penetration necessary to weld 1/8"

I guess I will start practicing with the flux core

[Hammerhead]

Reread the whole thread - many people including myself enjoy great success with 100 amp machines on material over 1/8 inch. 

As for not getting enough penetration I can melt quarter size holes through a Toyota frame with my 100.  If you use the proper oscilation patterns penetration can be achieved no problem.  Of course the larger welders will do it faster and with less effort but that isn't what we are discussing is it? 

[KDXSR5]

Reread the whole thread - many people including myself enjoy great success with 100 amp machines on material over 1/8 inch. 

As for not getting enough penetration I can melt quarter size holes through a Toyota frame with my 100.  If you use the proper oscilation patterns penetration can be achieved no problem.  Of course the larger welders will do it faster and with less effort but that isn't what we are discussing is it? 

As of right now the machine still has some flux core in it so I will probably practice some with that and then convert to gas and try running what you and a few others have suggested.

[fordh8r]

As of right now the machine still has some flux core in it so I will probably practice some with that and then convert to gas and try running what you and a few others have suggested.

Atta Boy! Go for it! 

[Hammerhead]

Practice is key for improving any skill.  Round up any scrap metal that is not usable for a project and start burnin' stuff together.  Once you feel confident enough for small projects around the shop take on some fabbing like a small welding table or a grinder stand.  Those were the favorite projects selected by most of our students...

[KDXSR5]

I have a dirtbike trailer I need to modify. That will probably be my first project once I become confident with it.

[fordh8r]

I have a dirtbike trailer I need to modify. That will probably be my first project once I become confident with it.

Perfect!    Have fun. 

[94MtnYote]

I have a dirtbike trailer I need to modify. That will probably be my first project once I become confident with it.

get to work and post pics! 

[junya92toy]

use co2 gas you get better penetration. and its cheaper. Use 030 wire. 035 really is good at 100 amps and up. 030 will give you more range. and of course if you need to, preheat

[93tonkatoy]

Practice, practice, practice. Get to KNOW your welder. Stick as much metal together as you can. Weld with higher settings, and see how that acts, weld with lower settings see what that does. Weld uphill, downhill, upside down, it will tell you what you need to know about your welder and give you more confidence in your ability. Try to break the welds, and see what kind of penetration you've gotten in the different positions and settings. The weld will only be as good as the person running the welder. You can get good penetrating welds with innershield flux core wire, you just have to understand how.

[85toyextcab]

Use .030 75/25 and weld what ever you want. As long as you half ass kno what your doin it should be fine man. If you do not feel comfortable then pay some one to weld it man.. I weld for a living and i wouldnt be scared to weld with that.. Thats my